Covid measures in Lake Louise, Alberta

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity. We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Lake Louise, AB, please refer to Canada’s COVID-19 travel guidelines and Lake Louise travel information. Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get in this adventure: An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area One or two days of backcountry ski touring What’s not included: Technical backcountry ski touring equipment Transportation Food and snacks Accommodations Lift tickets for the lift-accessed ski tour

How fit do I need to be?

To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to be in good physical shape. You will be on your feet for one or two full days, managing controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain. For the enjoyment and safety of everyone involved, participants must be approved to participate in advanced backcountry skiing tours either through a previous trip with the guiding service or through recommendations.

What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner-friendly, meaning anyone with a solid blue-level resort experience can have fun in the backcountry. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, heading out with a guide is your best bet. They’ll take care of the planning, introduce you to the basics, like skinning uphill, and teach you how to manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training to keep you safe.

What equipment do I need to bring?

For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring: Alpine touring skis, telemark skis, or splitboard with skins (can be rented) Touring boots and poles (can be rented) Three locking carabiners and two non-locking carabiners (for glaciated tours) Cord — 6mm, 4-6m (for glaciated tours) Sewn sling (for glaciated tours) Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented): Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon Lightweight snow shovel Avalanche probe Lightweight climbing harness for glacier travel (for glaciated tours) For personal items, we recommend bringing: Helmet Sunglasses and ski goggles Gloves and hat Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended) Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended) Down jacket or vest Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear, and socks Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people) Water bottle and 1L of water Thermos with a warm beverage — optional Food you can eat on-the-go First aid kit and small blister kit Sunscreen and lip balm Headlamp with fresh batteries Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 35-45L backpack) Camera — optional

Can I rent equipment?

All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent: Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe can be rented from your guide for $20 a day Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles can be rented from Wilson Mountain Sports or Ultimate Banff Sports Splitboards can be rented from Ultimate Banff Sports Ski rental locations are in Lake Louise and Banff, AB, and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and pricing: For these adventures, the max guest-to-guide ratio is 8:1. A minimum of 4 participants is required for the lift-accessed ski tour to run All prices are per person.For the standard tours, the cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows. For the private tours, the cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to ski with friends and family. Backcountry skiing in Lake Louise can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis. If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

Calgary International Airport is located around 1.5 hours from Banff and 2 hours from Lake Louise. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service providing hourly transport from the Calgary Airport to Lake Louise. Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.

A scenic river flowing through the Canadian Rockies

Backcountry skiers on a slope overlooking a lodge in Lake Louise

A skier, slope, and a snowy panorama in Lake Louise

Skiers descending a bumpy slope in Lake Louise

A valley and some mountains in the Lake Louise area

Lake Louise | Alberta

Backcountry Skiing in Lake Louise

5.00 ()

Season

Year round

Nearest city

Calgary, AB, is 2 hours away

Duration

1-2 days

Skill level

Beginner to advanced

Guides

Tom Wolfe, Jeff Bullock, Alpine Air Adventures

From $525 () / 1 day

Got any questions?

Overview
Itinerary
Brochure
Guides
Reviews
Things to know

The legendary Lake Louise houses some of the best backcountry skiing and ski touring in Alberta. Though surrounded by some of the Rockies’ most renowned ski meccas, the area still stands out thanks to its stunning tree glades, alpine bowls, and light, dry powder. Despite the abundance of hotels and excellent lift coverage, Lake Louise manages to maintain an air of true backcountry isolation. When you’re conquering the complex alpine terrain of Surprise Pass, Chickadee Valley, or any of the area’s legendary bowls, you’ll truly find yourself at one with Canada’s vast wilderness. Whether you’re new to ski touring or are looking to cross some iconic objectives off your bucket list, you can’t go wrong with Lake Louise. Find out more about backcountry skiing in Lake Louise from Greg Hill, ACMG ski guide extraordinaire, and soon-to-be assistant rock climbing guide.

Take on Lake Louise’s world-class alpine bowls and treeline runs
Phenomenal lift access gets you to the slopes in record time
First-rate terrain variety will satisfy newcomers and experts alike

Available itineraries

A Customized Day of Private Guided Backcountry Skiing

Experience some of Canada’s best backcountry skiing on this adventure in the Lake Louise area! Let your guide tailor the day to your wishes and take you to the best slopes Lake Louise has to offer. Whether you’re looking to work on your skills, learn some new tricks, or just have some fun on the untracked powder, your guide will keep you safe and show you the best and most appropriate lines.

Beginner & Intermediate Weekday Ski Tours

Discover Lake Louise’s stunning backcountry on an educational weekday ski touring trip! Join a seasoned backcountry ski guide in Lake Louise and Kananaskis County for some epic powder skiing and ski touring. Whether you’re a backcountry beginner or just looking to up your game, the Canadian Rockies’ diverse landscapes and pristine powder are sure to satisfy you!

Beginner & Intermediate Weekend Ski Tours

Looking to master the fundamentals of ski touring or upgrade your existing knowledge in the legendary Lake Louise ski area? This weekend-long ski tour is just the thing you need! An experienced ski guide will help you choose the right terrain and give you valuable backcountry ski touring instruction while keeping you safe on Lake Louise’s world-class slopes!

Lift-Accessed Backcountry Skiing

If you are still new to backcountry skiing or simply don’t want to waste time on uphill travel, lift-accessed skiing from the Lake Louise Resort is your best choice. Reach the exquisite fresh powder in areas like Pumpkin Bowl, Wolverine Ridge, and Corral Paths within minutes, and spend the rest of your day on the slopes. Try out tree skiing or explore some of the alpine bowls—your friendly and experienced guide will introduce you to the best powder in the area!

Advanced Tours & Ski Mountaineering

Great snow conditions and challenging terrains around Lake Louise are ideal for advanced skiers who wish to upgrade their skill and get their adrenaline pumping! Fresh champagne powder and plenty of bluebird days combined with steep slopes and unbelievable views over the lake will quench your thirst for the ultimate thrill rides. Let your guide do the planning so you can have the adventure of a lifetime!

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Meet your guides

5.00

Tom Wolfe

IFMGA/ACMG Certified Guide

Tom Wolfe is an ACMG/IFMGA-certified mountain guide who’s been guiding since moving to Canmore in 1995, the place he calls home. His winters consist of a mix of ski guiding at lodges, heli-ski operations, and remote backcountry destinations throughout western Canada. During the warmer months, Tom spends his days on water. He is a certified Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Instructor and Wilderness Canoe Guide.

5.00

Jeff Bullock

When he first stepped foot in the mountains, Jeff knew this was home. He’s been wondering what adventures the snow capped peaks have in store since he was 12. Jeff started training for his ACMG/IFMGA mountain guide certificate in 2002 and started his own business, Alpine Air Adventures. To this day, he has yet to find a better feeling than sharing his passion for adventure you can only find high up in the alpine kingdom of the Canadian Rockies

5.00

You’re never on your own in the Banff wilderness because the experienced professionals from Alpine Air Adventures are here to guide you. While they know how to have a great time, they’re always mindful of advanced safety practices. They’re committed to showing each of their guests the best of the Rockies while protecting them every step of the way.

5.00 (2 reviews)

Kent Ulrich

I had 2 guides; Tamara and Jeff, both we exceptional, not only were they very experienced and accomplished guides, they were fun, and helped make my adventure even better. I wanted to learn as well as have an experience and I did. I would completely recommend them.

I had booked 2 days and both were exceptional. My guides Tamara and Jeff gave me two amazing backcountry experiences, one was the Surprise Pass route which was on my “must ski list” and it completely met all my expectations.

Stephen Barr

Jeff Bullock is where it is at. Competent, quiet leadership. Felt at once both safe in his guidance and yet he is not over bearing in anyway. Let\’s you figure things out without being a mother hen.

Stupid good powder conditions helped, of course, elevate our trip to Rogers Pass, and Emerald Lake during our Powder Warrior trip to well OVER expectations!

Things to know

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Lake Louise, AB, please refer to Canada’s COVID-19 travel guidelines and Lake Louise travel information.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
- - An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - One or two days of backcountry ski touring
What’s not included:
- - Technical backcountry ski touring equipment
  - Transportation
  - Food and snacks
  - Accommodations
  - Lift tickets for the lift-accessed ski tour
To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you need to be in good physical shape. You will be on your feet for one or two full days, managing controlled descents in variable conditions. All participants should feel comfortable on challenging blue or black-level resort runs and be able to carry a loaded daypack while skinning up variable degrees of terrain.

For the enjoyment and safety of everyone involved, participants must be approved to participate in advanced backcountry skiing tours either through a previous trip with the guiding service or through recommendations.
Backcountry skiing isn’t just for pros looking for the ultimate thrill ride, it’s also beginner-friendly, meaning anyone with a solid blue-level resort experience can have fun in the backcountry. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, heading out with a guide is your best bet. They’ll take care of the planning, introduce you to the basics, like skinning uphill, and teach you how to manage the terrain. They also have the experience and avalanche training to keep you safe.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
- - Alpine touring skis, telemark skis, or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
  - Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
  - Three locking carabiners and two non-locking carabiners (for glaciated tours)
  - Cord — 6mm, 4-6m (for glaciated tours)
  - Sewn sling (for glaciated tours)
  - Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
  - Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
  - Lightweight snow shovel
  - Avalanche probe
  - Lightweight climbing harness for glacier travel (for glaciated tours)
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
- - Helmet
  - Sunglasses and ski goggles
  - Gloves and hat
  - Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
  - Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
  - Down jacket or vest
  - Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear, and socks
  - Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
  - Water bottle and 1L of water
  - Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
  - Food you can eat on-the-go
  - First aid kit and small blister kit
  - Sunscreen and lip balm
  - Headlamp with fresh batteries
  - Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 35-45L backpack)
  - Camera — optional
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
- - Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shovel, and probe can be rented from your guide for $20 a day
  - Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles can be rented from Wilson Mountain Sports or Ultimate Banff Sports
  - Splitboards can be rented from Ultimate Banff Sports
Ski rental locations are in Lake Louise and Banff, AB, and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes and pricing:
- - For these adventures, the max guest-to-guide ratio is 8:1.
  - A minimum of 4 participants is required for the lift-accessed ski tour to run
  - All prices are per person.For the standard tours, the cost is per person and it doesn’t decrease as the group grows.
  - For the private tours, the cost per person decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to ski with friends and family.
Backcountry skiing in Lake Louise can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Calgary International Airport is located around 1.5 hours from Banff and 2 hours from Lake Louise. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service providing hourly transport from the Calgary Airport to Lake Louise.

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.