Nakiska Eyes Summer Expansion With Lift-Access Biking

Nakiska Ski Area is proposing to expand into summer operations with lift-serviced mountain biking and hiking, positioning the plan as a way to boost tourism and ease crowding in Kananaskis Country while keeping development within its existing footprint.

The proposal would introduce lift-serviced mountain biking and hiking within Nakiska’s existing lease area, making use of its base-area infrastructure at a site that has historically operated only during the winter ski season.

A representative from Nakiska Ski Area told Bow Valley Insider the primary goal is to create year-round use of a facility that currently operates only in winter.

“A seasonal business then becomes a year round business, contributing to the provincial economy, adding employment, and more importantly providing a new summer destination to Calgary based families.” the company said.

The resort is located on provincially designated recreation land in the Evan Thomas Recreation Area in Kananaskis and would not expand beyond its current footprint.

Nakiska says all proposed activities would take place within the existing lease area, which it describes as a previously developed site with ski runs, lifts and supporting infrastructure dating back to the 1980s.

“At Nakiska we have been seeking this opportunity for 20 years,” the resort said.

Nakiska is also positioning the expansion within a broader tourism context, pointing to what it describes as a roughly $1.7-billion tourism gap between Alberta and British Columbia, which it says is partly driven by mountain bikers travelling out of province for lift-serviced riding.

“Over time and in our own small way we will help the Province reduce this deficit,” the company said.

Nakiska also says the proposal could help alleviate pressure on some of Kananaskis Country’s busiest day-use areas, including nearby trails such as Troll Falls.

Existing parking lots at Nakiska can accommodate approximately 1,600 vehicles but are currently closed during the summer months. Nakiska says reopening those facilities could redistribute visitor traffic across the valley. The resort says the plan would both redistribute existing visitors and attract new ones, particularly from Alberta’s mountain biking community.

“Nakiska will provide relief to the parking areas at Troll Falls trailhead, Ribbon Creek day use area, Kovach Ponds. Rather than driving further into the Kananaskis we believe visitors will stop at Nakiska,” the resort said.

Environmental considerations have been a central component of the proposal, with two environmental reviews, one completed in 2022 and another ongoing, focusing on wildlife activity within and around the resort area. Those assessments identified species such as grizzly bears and bighorn sheep, prompting changes to the layout of proposed summer activities.

“Bears tend to linger around the base of the existing Gold Chairlift. By identifying this habitat early, we were able to move biking and hiking trails away from that area,” the company said.

Bighorn sheep, which occupy alpine terrain above the resort, were also considered in the design. While most summer activities are planned for lower elevations, Nakiska says access to alpine areas would be restricted during sensitive periods, including lambing season.

“To mitigate this risk the connection from the resort to the existing Centennial Ridge trail will be closed, to match the existing provincial trail closure through the lambing season,” the resort said.

Nakiska says enforcement of seasonal restrictions would rely on a combination of physical closures, on-site staff and visitor education.

“During summer operations Nakiska will have a ‘Bike Patrol’ and interpretive team. Similar to winter operations, the Bike Patrol will be responsible for ensuring any closures are respected. The Interpretive team will be on hand to explain why. Access to Centennial Ridge will be physically closed and signed,” the company said.

The proposal emphasizes that the resort sits on previously developed land, arguing that expanding activity within an existing footprint reduces the need to disturb new terrain, though it may still increase human use in an area already frequented by wildlife. Nakiska is currently accepting public feedback on the proposal through its website as the environmental review continues.