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 (65”) | 53 cm (21”) | 241 cm (95”) | 91 cm (36”) |
| May | 137 cm (54”) | 0 cm (0”) | 208 cm (82”) | 15 cm (6”) |
Village, Restaurants and Other Activities
Mt. Norquay and Sunshine Village are both close to Banff which means there’s access to a wide range of restaurants, bars and other activities to keep you entertained when you’re not on the slopes. In the resort itself, Sunshine Village offers more to do and feels more self-contained. However, only Mt. Norquay offers tubing so you may find yourself visiting both resorts during your trip.
| Activity | Available in Sunshine Village | Available in Mt. Norquay |
| Dining | 10 locations | 4 locations |
| Spas/ Massages | Yes | Yes |
| Dog Sled Tours | Yes | Yes |
| Fat Biking | Yes | Yes |
| Ice Fishing | No | Yes |
| Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides | Yes | Yes |
| Ice Skating | Yes | Yes |
| Helicopter Skiing | Yes | Yes |
| Snowmobile Tours | Yes | Yes |
| Snowshoe Tours | Yes | Yes |
| Ice Climbing | Yes | Yes |
| Tubing | No | Yes |
Ski School
Both Sunshine Village and Mt. Norquay offer group and private sessions for all ages and abilities. The lessons at Mt. Norquay are cheaper compared to Sunshine Village however the terrain is more limited so you’re likely to get more out of a lesson at Sunshine compared to Mount Norquay.
See the table below for lesson prices.
Prices are based on the most up to date info at the time of writing and are subject to change. Please check the resort websites for up to date prices. Note that not all lessons are listed below, just examples to give you guideline prices for comparison.
| Lesson Type | Sunshine Village Price | Mt. Norquay Price |
| 2 Hour Private (Adult) | $325 | $279 |
| Full Day Private (Adult) | $699 (5 hours) | $499 (4 hours) |
| Half Day Group (Adult) | $149 | $129 |
| Full Day Group (Adult) | $179 | $179 |
Accommodation
In Sunshine Village there is only one on-mountain accommodation option, Sunshine Mountain Lodge. This gets booked up very quickly and is quite expensive. Another option is to stay in Banff town itself which is lively and a great place to be based during your stay.
Mt. Norquay does not have any on-mountain accommodation, however it is a 10 minute drive from the town of Banff. There are over 30 hotels and plenty of condos available in the area to suit all budgets.
Location and Traveling
Although Mt. Norquay and Sunshine Village are both located closely to one another, Mt. Norquay is much more accessible.
Sunshine Village is only accessible by gondola once you get to the base so it’ll take you approximately 20 minutes to get up there. It is also slightly further from Banff, Lake Louise and Calgary and parking fills up very quickly so you’ll need to get there early.
| Location | Distance from Sunshine Village | Distance from Mt. Norquay |
| Calgary | 1 hour 30 minute drive | 1 hour 20 minute drive |
| Calgary International Airport | 1 hour 45 minute drive | 1 hour 30 minute drive |
| Banff | 20 minute drive | 10 minute drive |
| Lake Louise | 45 minute drive | 40 minute drive |
Additional Costs
Day lift tickets and equipment rental is cheaper in Mt. Norquay compared to Sunshine Village, making Mt. Norquay a much cheaper day out for the family. Check out the tables below for prices.
*Prices are based on the most recent ski season at the time of writing and are subject to change. Please check the resort websites for up to date prices.
Remember you can also get some deals to ski at the “big 3” (Sunshine, Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay) if you want to ski at multiple resorts during your stay.
| Ticket Price Day Lift (Peak Season) | Sunshine Village | Mt. Norquay |
| Adult | $136 | $97 |
| Teenager | $106 | $74 |
| Child | $53 | $38 |
| Senior | $106 | $74 |
Standard Adult Equipment Rental Prices
| Equipment Rental (Daily) | Sunshine Village | Mt Norquay |
| Skis and Poles | $46 | $43 |
| Boots | $21 | $17 |
| Helmet | $14 | $10 |
| Skis, Poles and Boots | $57 | $45 |
High Performance Equipment Rental Prices
| Equipment Rental (Daily) | Sunshine Village | Mt. Norquay |
| Skis | $66 | $46 |
| Boots | $26 | $17 (same as mid-range) |
| Skis, Poles and Boots | $72 | $56 |
Child (12 and under) Equipment Rental Prices
| Equipment Rental (Daily) | Sunshine Village | Mt. Norquay |
| Skis and Poles | $29 | $27 |
| Boots | $12 | $12 |
| Helmet | $14 | $10 |
| Skis, Poles and Boots | $36 | $32 |
Which Resort is Best?
Sunshine Village offers a better skiing/ snowboarding experience compared to Mt. Norquay as it is much larger so has more trails for all ability levels and the snow quality is better. However, Mt. Norquay is more accessible and cheaper so is still a good option for a day trip.
If you are just planning on visiting one resort on your trip, go for either Sunshine Village or Lake Louise and consider taking a day trip or going night skiing in Mt. Norquay if you are staying in or around Banff.
Check out my comparison between Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay and my comparison between Sunshine Village and Lake Louise.
