The Best Runs At Lake Louise Ski Resort

There’s something for everyone at the ski resort, but advanced to expert skiers and riders will have the most to choose from. Lake Louise has a lot of steep riding, but that’s not to say the mountain doesn’t have its fair share of mellow groomers perfect for taking in the views.

This is a basic overview, but outside of the defined runs there is so much skiing at Lake Louise. We’ve had a season pass at the resort since 2018 and are continuing to find more secret spots around the mountain. For more information check out our guide to the Lake Lousie Ski Resort.

At nearly 4,200 acres there is a lot beyond the defined runs. Plus some “runs” are just big open zones with tons of lines and ways to ski them. Experts and advanced skiers will be the runs most spoilt for choice of course! It’s definitely mountain every hardcore skiers should tackle at least once in their life.

The Best Runs At Lake Louise Ski Resort

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Beginner Runs At Lake Louise

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Jerry’s Jungle

This short run is perfect for beginners and intermediates looking to learn how to ride through the trees. It’s a small natural gully with widely spaced trees and a gentle slope. Even advanced riders will have run, ripping through the area and jumping off the various small side hits.

Lookout

This is a fantastic run down Larch Mountain, offering nice winding turns, small sections of steepness, and amazing views. It’s a great run that several of the more advanced runs on the mountain dump into. Watch for the bottom before you get to the Larch chair, as it’s a little flat.

Wiwaxy

It’s one of our favorite runs on the mountain! It’s divided into two parts: Upper Wiwaxy and Wiwaxy. The upper section is only accessible from intermediate to advanced runs that start at the Top of the World or Pipestone Express. More confident beginners can use Home Run or Sunset Terrace to access Upper Wiwaxy. However, once on the run, it’s wide and offers phenomenal views across the valley.

The lower section of Wiwaxy is the mountain’s “beginner zone,” which encourages slower skiing and riding. It’s the perfect spot for a mellow run, to take in the views, and to work on your turns. We regularly ride this run.

Pika

This gentle run is a classic for beginners at the resort. From the top of the gondola, it works its way around the backside of the mountain. As it travels to Temple Lodge and Larch Mountain, you get fantastic views of the resort’s more advanced terrain and a wonderful shot of Mt Temple.

The run has several bends and steeper pitches, but it’s still a beginner’s run. Advanced skiers can also use the run to access the Pika Trees, which offer some of the best tree skiing on the mountain.

Saddleback

This one is available later in the season, and it’s definitely a more difficult beginner run. The resort did its best to find a descent down the very expert-focused back bowls. It provides tremendous views of the backside without navigating the more difficult terrain.

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Intermediate Runs At Lake Louise

Juniper/Juniper Jungle

This challenging intermediate run has some big turns and decently steep sections. It’s also super popular as it connects the upper intermediate terrain park with the larger lower terrain park.

Charlie’s Choice

A great intermediate with some tremendous views of the Bow Valley. The whole run floats above the valley and dumps right onto Upper Wiwaxy. Charlie is also the ski resort’s owner, so it’s a fitting name!

Boomerang

The best groomed run down the backside provides amazing access to some of the most advanced chutes and runs on the mountain. If you take it to the Ptarmigan Chair, it’s probably one of the longest runs at Lake Louise.

Larch

A great run with the same pitch all the way down the front side of the Larch Mountain. The resort is huge, and everyone should make a few laps down Larch Mountain.

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Advanced Runs At Lake Louise

Ptarmigan Glades

The best tree skiing in the Canadian Rockies is at Lake Louise. Strong skiers can find a huge selection of tree runs around the resort, but some of the most easily accessible and widely spaced trees are the Ptarmigan Glades.

Eagle Flight

A bit of a hidden secret that’s not so hidden as it’s easy to access and right on the frontside of the mountain. The only caveat is that it requires a short hike from the top of the gondola, so most skiers miss it. This means getting fresh tracks late in the day is often possible.

Upper Boomerang

Much of the mountain’s backside is expert terrain that can be challenging for many skiers. However, Upper Boomerang is an easier run that offers good snow. The large alpine ridge is often wind-loaded and offers excellent conditions for those willing to hike from Boomerang. Once you drop down the ridge, head skiers left to Brown Cow for another powder-loaded bowl.

West Bowl

The West Bowl is a huge zone on the mountain, and when conditions are right, it offers some of the best powder turns. While its aspect receives plenty of sun, the spring runs are a blast in mid-April. It’s got some amazing tree skiing on the lowers runs of the bowl and the upper alpine zone is amazing for opening it up on a powder day.

East Bowl

A long traverse across the top of the ridge from the Paradise Chair leads you to the East Bowl. It sits right above the gondola and often has a fun little wind lip you can drop off or slash. It goes right down into the East Bowl Trees, which sit above the Pika Trees, for an awesome run hidden away from most.

Pika Trees

Our favorite tree runs on the mountain are the Pika trees. The run drops down off of Pika and has a nice fall line. It’s often missed by many on the mountain so powder stashes when conditions are good often remain.

Third Gate

Even in low light which is often the case with the backside of the mountain the more southernly face of the Whitehorn offers better vision. Although it’s rated at as an advanced run at Lake Louise it would definitely be an expert at easier resorts. It’s an ungroomed alpine bowl and has some small rock bands to navigate. It isn’t overly steep, but certainly not mellow by any means.

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Expert Runs At Lake Louise

Boundary Bowl

One of the best spots on the mountain, the boundary bowl requires a decent hike to the end of Boomerang Ridge and then a difficult traverse over the steep Brown Cow Main Colouir. Those who put in the effort are almost always rewarded. Just don’t duck the ropes as the slopes outside the resort often hold wind slabs which have been triggered by skiers.

ER 6

Widely regarded as one of the steepest runs on the mountain with plenty of rock and cliff bands to navigate. The top section of the run is often a challenge with wind effected snow. However, the lower slopes open up and can hold significantly deeper snow than elsewhere on the mountain.

Dropout

Those hoping to ski ER 6 would benefit from a lap down Dropout which sits just opposite the run. It’s also steep, but has fewer hazards to contend with and it mellows out pretty quick.

Swedes

A classic run down the backside of the mountain. It’s requires a short hike along Paradise Ridge. It’s decently steep with some cliffs and rock bands to navigate so a good challenge for those not ready for the more difficult runs at the resort.

H Gully

The lettered “Gullys” at Lake Louise is our favorite zone to ride on a powder day. They offer some of the steepest skiing and are almost always wind loaded with amazing powder.

The H Gully gets tracked out the least as it’s tucked away from the easier to reach runs. While the I Gully is the resort’s extreme run that is rarely skied as the stars need to align for the right conditions.