Banff Ski Resorts See Exceptional Early Snowfall Ahead of the Holidays

What began as a promising start to the ski season in the Bow Valley has quickly turned into one of the most remarkable early winters locals can remember. A sequence of strong Pacific systems has delivered storm after storm across Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, and Norquay, building natural coverage that usually takes weeks longer to develop. By mid-December, all three resorts were operating with far more terrain, deeper bases, and more consistent conditions than is typical for this point in the season.

For many in the Bow Valley, the shift has been obvious. December normally brings a cautious mix of early-season grooming, limited openings, and thin tree lines, yet this year the mountains have taken on the look and feel of a well-established winter. Skiers, operators, and business owners describe a rare alignment of factors: sustained snowfall, cold overnight temperatures, strong snowpack development, and a forecast that continues to favour new accumulation.

The result is an early winter that has caught attention across the Rockies and beyond, setting the stage for a holiday period that is shaping up far stronger than recent years.

Bow Valley Ski Resorts Enter the Holidays With Unusually Deep Coverage

At Lake Louise, 146 runs, all 13 lifts, and three terrain parks are now operating, supported by a 136-centimetre settled base and 363 centimetres of snowfall so far this season. Avalanche control continues each morning, but the breadth of accessible terrain has surprised even long-time locals. One rider described the start as “the kind of early season we almost never see.”

Sunshine Village is reporting similarly strong conditions, with seven-day snowfall totals reaching 88 to 104 centimetres depending on elevation. The resort’s high-altitude terrain has built a 216-centimetre upper-mountain base and a 166-centimetre mid-mountain base, allowing nearly all lift-accessed areas to open earlier than usual. Riders say the combination of cold nights, repeated storms, and consistent grooming has created one of the most reliable early-season snowpacks in years.

Norquay, celebrating its 100th season, has also benefited from the storm cycle, picking up 59 centimetres in the past week and opening its Norquay 100 Glades off the Mystic chair. While lower-mountain depths remain thinner, the upper mountain has recorded 140 centimetres of cumulative snowfall, giving locals far more terrain than is typical before Christmas. All lifts and the tube park are operating, providing a rare breadth of options for early winter.

Local Demand Grows as Domestic Travel Patterns Shift

The strong snow year is arriving at a moment when broader travel patterns appear to be tilting in favour of Canadian destinations. Reporting from both CBC News indicates that Canadians have scaled back U.S. travel through most of 2025. Political tensions, the weak dollar, and a softening desire to cross the border have reduced Canadian spending in some U.S. mountain towns, including Whitefish and Kalispell, where businesses report declines in visits and credit card activity.

At the same time, early-season conditions in the Canadian Rockies have drawn heightened domestic interest. SkiBig3 has reported 11 powder days since November and significant increases in ticket sales from both Canadian and international visitors. Canadian sales are up 10%, U.S. sales up 9% and U.K. and Australian markets are showing even larger jumps, with increases of 20% and 25% respectively.

Tourism experts suggest that weather is emerging as a critical deciding factor for travellers who might otherwise spend holidays or ski vacations across the border. Several U.S. resorts near the Canadian boundary have faced rain or thin early-season coverage, while the Canadian Rockies have been repeatedly hit with winter storms. For many visitors, the choice has come down to natural conditions rather than geopolitics.

A video circulating on Instagram this week underscored that divide.

A traveller who booked an early-season ski trip to Park City, Utah, arrived to find gravel roads and exposed dirt under the chairlifts, prompting thousands of comments from frustrated skiers across the U.S. Many pointed north, saying this is why they avoid booking Utah or Colorado before January. Several commenters urged travellers to “go to Banff,” noting that Lake Louise and Sunshine had already been delivering consistent powder days while some American resorts were struggling to open terrain.

A Unifying Start to the Season

Despite their differences in elevation and terrain, all three Bow Valley resorts enter the holidays with a shared theme. Snowfall totals are tracking well above seasonal norms. Terrain is opening at an accelerated pace. Visitor demand is rising. And the local mountains are offering the type of early winter that becomes part of long-term memory.

For Bow Valley residents, the historic start is more than a novelty. It is a reminder of what the region looks like when winter arrives early and stays consistent, and it sets a tone for the months ahead. With more storms on the horizon, the storyline is unlikely to change soon.