Sunshine Village and Mt. Norquay are two ski resorts which are located very closely together in Banff, Canada, but what is the difference between them? In this article, I’ll be directly comparing the pros and cons of Mt. Norquay and Sunshine village so you can decide which to go to next!
Mt. Norquay vs Sunshine Village
Sunshine Village is a significantly larger resort and has better snow quality compared to Mt. Norquay. Mt. Norquay is cheaper and is located closer to Banff town and Calgary compared to Sunshine Village. Mt. Norquay is the only resort which offers night skiing.
| Aspect of the Resort | Best Resort |
| Number and Variety of Trails | Sunshine Village |
| Night Skiing | Mt. Norquay |
| Snow Quality | Sunshine Village |
| Ski Village | Sunshine Village |
| Cheapest Tickets/ Rentals | Mt. Norquay |
| Most Accessible Location | Mt. Norquay |
Ski Map and Pistes
Sunshine Village is a much larger resort compared to Mount Norquay and has 3500 acres of skiable terrain compared to Mt. Norquay’s 190 acres.
Sunshine Village has a wide variety of terrain and trails to suit all ability levels. Mt. Norquay doesn’t have many trails for intermediate level skiers (blue circle) and mainly caters for expert skiers. There also some trails suitable for beginners but not as many compared to Sunshine Village.
- Average Ski Season Dates for Sunshine Village Resort: Early Nov – Late May
- Average Ski Season Dates for Mt. Norquay Resort: Early Nov – Late April
Mt. Norquay is the only resort out of the Banff big three (Sunshine Village, Lake Louse and Mt. Norquay) that offers night skiing.
Here is a link to the piste maps for both resorts:
| Statistics | Sunshine Village | Mt. Norquay |
| Base Elevation | 5450 feet (1660 m) | 5500 feet (1680 m) |
| Top Elevation | 8960 feet (2730 m) | 8040 feet (2450 m) |
| Skiable Terrain | 3500 acres | 190 acres |
| Vertical Drop | 3361 feet (1070 m) | 1650 feet (503 m) |
| Total Trails | 120 | 60 |
| Green Circle Trails (Beginner) | 23% | 38% |
| Blue Square Trails (Intermediate) | 46% | 25% |
| Black/ Double Black Diamond Trails (Expert) | 31% | 37% |
| Longest Run | 5 miles (8 km) | 0.75 miles (1.2 km) |
| Night Skiing | No | Yes |
Snow and Weather
Sunshine Village has a higher elevation compared to Mt. Norquay which means it has better snow quality and a longer ski season. If you’re looking for the best ski experience possible then Sunshine Village is by far the best option.
- Average Ski Season Dates for Sunshine Village Resort: Early Nov – Late May
- Average Ski Season Dates for Mt. Norquay Resort: Early Nov – Late April
| Month | Temperature in Sunshine Village | Temperature in Mt. Norquay |
| November | -7°C / 19°F | -6°C / 21°F |
| December | -14°C / 7°F | -12°C / 10°F |
| January | -12°C / 10.5°F | -13°C / 8.5°F |
| February | -12.5°C / 9.5°F | -12°C / 10°F |
| March | -7°C / 19°F | -5°C / 23°F |
| April | -1°C / 30°F | 1°C / 34°F |
| Month | Base Snow Depth Sunshine Village | Base Snow Depth Mt. Norquay | Peak Snow Depth Sunshine Village | Peak Snow Depth Mt. Norquay |
| Nov | 81 cm (32”) | 35.5 cm (14”) | 97 cm (38”) | 35.5 cm (14”) |
| Dec | 112 cm (44”) | 53 cm (21”) | 127 cm (50”) | 71 cm (28”) |
| Jan | 135 cm (53”) | 74 cm (29”) | 178 cm (70”) | 84 cm (33”) |
| Feb | 157 cm (62”) | 71 cm (28”) | 213 cm (84”) | 94 cm (37”) |
| Mar | 183 cm (72”) | 66 cm (26”) | 241 cm (95”) | 102 cm (40”) |
| Apr | 165 cm (6 |