Menu
Sunshine Village - Sunshine Village  tree outdoor landscape nature mountain sky autumn plant cloud background lake painting forest surrounded distance

Sunshine Village - Cross-country skiing

Alberta North, Alberta, Canada

Sunshine Village Statistics

Difficulty

Easy

Elevation gain

2,730 meters

What are the activities at Sunshine Village ?

Hiking

Skiing

Cross-country skiing

See photos of cross-country skiing at Sunshine Village

Why choose a trail at Sunshine Village?

Sunshine Village is a Canadian ski resort, located on the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rockies within Banff National Park in Alberta and Mt Assiniboine Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of three major ski resorts located in the Banff National Park. Because of its location straddling the Continental Divide, Sunshine receives more snow than the neighboring ski resorts. The Sunshine base area is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) Southwest of the town of Banff, Alberta. By car, it is about one hour and thirty minute drive from the city of Calgary. The Sunshine exit on the Trans Canada Highway is 8 km (5.0 mi) west of the town of Banff. Sunshine Village ski runs and lifts are accessed via an eight-person high-speed gondola. The gondola takes people from the parking lot (or bus terminal) to Goat's Eye mountain in 10 minutes and to the upper Village area in 18 minutes. There are 9 chairlifts and 120 trails within the alpine valley formed by the three mountains (Mount Standish, Lookout Mountain, and Goat's Eye Mountain) that constitute Sunshine Village. In summer the resort runs a shuttle bus service to its attractive walking trails and alpine meadows.

Sunshine Village is a ski resort located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The resort is situated on the Continental Divide, adjacent to the towns of Banff and Lake Louise. Sunshine Village offers downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing.

The cross-country skiing at Sunshine Village is some of the best in the world. There are over 100 kilometers of groomed trails that wind through the forests and meadows of Banff National Park. The trails are well-marked and range in difficulty from easy to expert. There are also several kilometers of ungroomed backcountry trails for those looking for a more challenging experience.

Sunshine Village is open from late November until early May, making it one of the longest ski seasons in North America. The resort has a variety of accommodation options, including hotels, condos, and chalets. There are also several restaurants and bars on site, as well as a grocery store and retail shops.


What are the services on site?

Rate & open hour

Access fee $ 0.00
Schedule

From sunrise to sunset

Coordinates
-115.7632758
51.1151858

What are the coordinates and address of Sunshine Village?

Sunshine Village
1 Sunshine access Rd, Banff, AB T1L 1J5, Canada

Customer Reviews

4 out of 5 stars

Based on 10 reviews

Recent reviews

Laura Kiel
Laura Kiel

4 out of 5 stars

Many people have a personal vendetta against this hill, for whatever reasons. If you look at this hill solely for what it is, a ski resort, it's not too bad. It's close to Calgary, gets good snow, and has a wide variety of terrain. However, it's not very steep for the most part and it is quite easy to ride pretty much any trail, if that's what you are into. The gondola ride is annoying, especially when it breaks down and you end up waiting in line, wishing you had gone to another hill... but when you really boil it down, it takes about the same amount of time to get to either hill when Sunshine isn't having Gondy issues... Tourists show up by the bus load and can make for a mid morning rush at the lifts, but if you get there early you can usually get some decent runs in before the snow gets tracked out. If you are having an issue with the flats, might I suggest building some confidence and gaining some speed? Honestly, there are only two spots where I have problems if it's a powder day, but when riding the groomers and using speed I can get up all the berms. The hill up the road has a much worse flat spot on the back side and there aren't any steeps to gain speed for it, so Sunshine wins on the flatness. I won't say it's my fav hill, but all in all you'll have a good time, just as you would at any other hill. How can you not? But I would suggest you bring your own lunch... overpriced and not very good.

Jane Maxwell
Jane Maxwell

2 out of 5 stars

I would rate this mountain 2.5 stars. Best thing going for it is its proximity to Calgary. The boarding is ok. More of a skiers hill as there is a lot of flat spots. For us boarders that means unbinding and doing the old one leg skate along. Powder is good on its day - which is seldom. I prefer to drive the extra 45 minutes and go to Lake Louise.. Well worth it. Even though LL does have more ice, even on powdery days - especially ski out. Fernie is the best, but that's ages away. Bottom line is don't go to this mountain unless you are a skier or the conditions are siiiiiiick. Then it may be worth it.

Leo Thomas
Leo Thomas

3 out of 5 stars

I really like the hill, Ive been going here for years with my family and really enjoy it. I prefer it to lake louise as I find it to be less icy. I was kind of disappointed when we went there last week they charged full price and goats eye and angel weren't even open. Thats literally 3/4 of the mountain not opened and they charge you full price!

Anna Maier
Anna Maier

5 out of 5 stars

One of Canada's best ski resorts. Long season, tons of snow, fun atmosphere. I've skied Sunshine Village my whole life and can't wait for next season.

Starting Point

The cross-country ski trailhead at Sunshine Village is located in Banff National Park in Alberta. To get there, take the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) to Banff and then follow the Sunshine Village signs.

Why visit Sunshine Village

Banff is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and for good reason. The Sunshine Village ski resort is located just outside of Banff town and offers stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. The resort has over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, making it a great place for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. There are also plenty of activities off the slopes, including dog sledding, snowshoeing, and ice skating. In the summer months, the resort turns into a hiking and biking paradise.

Let’s Answer Your Questions - FAQ

What is the level of difficulty of Sunshine Village ?

Easy

What is the elevation of Sunshine Village?

2730.00 M

Is the place are families friendly?

No

Is there an information center / service center / reception?

No

Explore other trails near Sunshine Village

Marmot Basin  snow outdoor mountain sky nature skiing covered ice landscape slope

Marmot Basin

Alberta North, Alberta

Beginner
Elevation 2612 m
Lake Louise Ski Resort

Lake Louise Ski Resort

Alberta North, Alberta

Mount Norquay  snow outdoor sky nature mountain tree skiing ski cascade

Mount Norquay

Alberta North, Alberta

Beginner
Elevation 2451 m
Nakiska Ski Area

Nakiska Ski Area

Alberta North, Alberta