Nakiska is a Cree word that means “to meet” or “meeting place.”
The Nakiska Ski Resort is one of the largest ski fields in Canada, and it's also one of the most scenic. In 1988, the resort was the site of that year’s Winter Olympics. It has well-maintained Olympic-grade runs but aside from that, it is a family-friendly ski hill located in the beautiful Kananaskis Provincial Park.
Spectacular scenic landscapes, a rich history, and a convenient location make the Nakiska Ski Resort a perfect family-friendly getaway. Its gentle and well-maintained beginner slopes also make it the perfect place to learn skiing and snowboarding, for both adults and kids.
Families also love the resort because of its size and simplicity. Parents can visit with their kids and enjoy the slopes in full view of each other. It also does not get many local and international visitors as it has to compete with larger mountains such as Banff, Lake Louise, and Sunshine Village ski resorts. Its patronage mostly includes friends and kin who have a long relationship with each other and the ski resort.
This resort is also the perfect place for beginners to learn to ski on a smaller and less intimidating hill. It has great wide-open runs for skiing and snowboarding, groomed to perfection. Beginners and intermediates can comfortably gain their confidence on this mountain before tackling steeper terrain on other resorts down the Trans-Canada Highway.
Compared to the neighboring ski fields, lift tickets and services at Nakiska Ski Resort are also more pocket-friendly. On average, you may save up to $30 on lift tickets and passes per day.
Nakiska Ski Resort was purpose-built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. In fact, the Olympic flame still burns at the entrance to the resort. In 2008, it was named Alpine Canada’s (ACA) official training center.
Nakiska Ski Field is estimated to be open
Between the dates of November 16, 2022, and estimated to close on April 28, 2023, for the 2022 season.
Ski life Services at Nakiska Ski Resort open as early as 8:15 AM and last to close is at 5:00 PM.
The terrain at Nakiska is wide open and expansive, allowing for plenty of runs and trails to enjoy. It has fantastic Olympic-length runs and features a decent vertical. The resort’s inception as a ski racing site also means that it has invested heavily in snow sports infrastructure.
Nakiska’s terrain is small and this makes it easy for groups and families to have a great fun day. If you visit the resort a few times, its features are easily memorable helping you navigate the mountain with ease. This means that groups and family members can split up to explore different areas without getting lost.
The ski field features 106 acres of skiable terrain which is skewed more towards intermediate riders. However, there are also ample skiing and snowboarding opportunities for advanced and beginner thrill seekers.
Nakiska Ski Resort’s 25 kilometers of slopes are classified into the following:
Beginner Terrain
The resort’s beginner terrain is suitable for novice riders who want to try their hand at gliding down bunny slopes or less-experienced skiers who want to learn how to carve their own lines on the groomed trails.
The novice slopes are located near the mountain’s base. They have easy-to-use lifts such as the 100-meter magic carpets and the beginner-friendly Bronze chair lift. Confident beginners can transition to the quad chair for a faster and farther ascent up the mountain.
On these gentle slopes, there is a designated children-specific area known as the Kritter World. Here, parents can leave their kids in safe hands as they hunt for more challenging terrain. At Kritter World, kids can also learn to ski or snowboard under friendly instructors, or engage in non-ski activities such as tubing or tobogganing.
Intermediate Terrain
Most of Nakiska’s skiable area (59%) is intermediate terrain of varying steeps. It has plenty of well-groomed corduroy runs with pleasant groomers and plenty of opportunities to advance to more challenging pistes.
Advanced Skiing
The top of the mountain features a few challenging runs for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders who want a challenge. For those looking for a little more adventure, there are even some black diamond runs available. A couple of these runs are also marked as double blacks where daring thrill-seekers can test their limits.
The resort also has terrain parks and pipes that open early as the season starts, aided by the resort’s snowmaking infrastructure.
Like Mt Norquay’s lift system, the lift network in this resort is not so extensive as it does not need to cover a large terrain.
The names of Naskiska’s 6 lifts are derived from the resort’s Olympic heritage. Each aerial lift bears either Olympic, Gold, Bronze, or Silver in its name. The Bronze chair is the only fixed-grip chair and is located in the beginner area. The rest of the chairs are all high-speed quads that you can use to get around the ski field.
The following are the named lifts at the resort:
There are virtually no lift lines at this resort which makes it a great alternative destination from the surrounding mountains. Riders get treated to an interesting experience where the Gold chair ducks under the Olympic chair.
Nakiska Ski Field is one of the most pocket-friendly resorts in Alberta. Its lift tickets and season passes are inexpensive, and you can buy them online from the resort’s website or at the resort ticket office before each season starts. If you order in advance, you may save money by taking advantage of the early bird discounts and sales.
The following types of passes are available to order.
Visit the resort’s website to find out more about the tickets, including access and perks you can enjoy with each ticket type.
For those looking for an adventure, you can also book online for the resort’s guided snowmobile trips offered through Banff National Park.
Curious to know what the snow is like today at Nakiska Ski Resort?
The following is a live webcam feed of the slopes at Nakiska Ski Resort. We’ve curated the best views to show you the current snow conditions from around the resort.
The snow conditions at Nakiska are generally good, with dry snow and powdery conditions being fairly prevalent throughout the season. The snowfield receives an average seasonal snowfall of about 2.5 meters. The lower snowfall may be attributed to the fact that Nakiska’s terrain is lower compared to that of some of the other resorts in Alberta.
To complement the natural snowfall, the resort has invested in a powerful snowmaking system operated by an experienced snow grooming team. The artificial snow machines cover up to 80% of the slopes.
Sometimes riders catch a lucky break and encounter a great snowstorm event with decent powder dumps. When this happens, experienced riders hop on to the Gold Chair to the left side of the summit, where they delight in the monster glades on a special gladed region.
In the following live graphic, you can see the currently estimated snow depth for Nakiska Ski Resort.
Knowing the projected weather conditions at and around the resort can help you plan your trip better.
The following graphic shows an updated forecast for Nakiska Ski Resort’s weather.
Nakiska ski resort does not have on-mountain accommodation. However, Kananaskis Town is only five minutes away and has a wide range of lodges and dining options to suit all riders’ needs and budgets. If you don’t mind the commute, you can also explore more options in Calgary, Canmore, or Banff.
The resort offers a wide range of accommodation options including hotels, condos, and private homes. All accommodations at Nakiska are located in a modern lodge with an elegant dining room serving up traditional Canadian fares such as poutine and bison burgers.
The rooms have flat-screen TVs, heated floors, king-size beds, and private bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs. There's also a large outdoor patio where you can enjoy drinks while watching skiers and snowboarders glide past below on their way down to the base.
Some of the best places to stay or dine include:
Nakiska ski resort does not have on-mountain accommodation. However, Kananaskis Town is only five minutes away and has a wide range of lodges and dining options to suit all riders’ needs and budgets. If you don’t mind the commute, you can also explore more options in Calgary, Canmore, or Banff.
The resort offers a wide range of accommodation options including hotels, condos, and private homes. All accommodations at Nakiska are located in a modern lodge with an elegant dining room serving up traditional Canadian fares such as poutine and bison burgers.
The rooms have flat-screen TVs, heated floors, king-size beds, and private bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs. There's also a large outdoor patio where you can enjoy drinks while watching skiers and snowboarders glide past below on their way down to the base.
Some of the best places to stay or dine include:
Nakiska Ski Resort is located 83 kilometers north of Calgary and is easily accessible by highway. The nearest airport is Calgary International Airport, which is only 10 minutes away by car or bus.
The resort is also close to Canmore, which is about 56 kilometers away (about a 35-minute drive).
Flying into Nakiska
The nearest airport is Calgary International Airport which is about 35 minutes away. The airport has many connecting flights from cities within Canada as well as international destinations. The main transfer options include renting a car or taking a pleasant bus ride to the resort.
Driving to the Nakiska Ski Resort
The ski field can be reached by taking Highway 2 east towards Canmore or west toward Banff National Park (follow the signs for Nakiska) or taking Highway 789 south from Lake Louise.
If you choose not to drive yourself, you’ll find many shuttle buses from the airport as well as Greyhound buses that pry the Nakiska-Calgary-Banff route.
Nakiska Ski Resort is located in the beautiful Rocky Mountain foothills of central Alberta, Canada.
The resort receives an average of about 2.5 meters every season. It also has an extensive snowmaking system that covers about 80% of the slopes.
The resort has about 105 acres of skiable terrain consisting of 25 kilometers of slopes for all abilities and levels.
Yes, there is ample parking at the resort, offered on a first-come-first-served basis. You can also find more parking options in the nearby Canmore and Kananaskis town
Yes, the resort has great beginner runs located on gentle slopes. The slopes are served by two magic carpet lifts that are easy to use and a fixed-grip double chair lift that confident beginners can ride on. There are also skiing and snowboard lessons for kids and adults as well as equipment rentals, sales, and repair.
Yes, if you’re driving up the alpine areas in Alberta, the local administration requires that all vehicles carry fitting snow chains.