BANFF NATIONAL PARK - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 78

pecially if you've descended the Bre-X line). Aside from Delirium Dive, the area is best
known for its excellent beginner and intermediate terrain, which covers 60 percent of the
mountain. The total vertical rise is 1,070 meters (3,510 feet), and the longest run (down
to the lower parking lot) is eight kilometers (five miles). Day passes are adult $84, senior
$70, youth $62, child $34, and those younger than six ride free. Two days of lift access
and one night's lodging at slopeside Sunshine Inn cost $275 per person in high season—an
excellent deal. The inn has a restaurant, lounge, game room, and large outdoor hot tub.
Transportation from Banff, Canmore, or Lake Louise to the resort is $18 round-trip; check
the website or inquire at major hotels for the timetable.
Rentals and Sales
Each resort has ski and snowboard rental and sales facilities, but getting your gear down in
town is often easier. Abominable Ski & Sportswear (229 Banff Ave., 403/762-2905) and
Monod Sports (129 Banff Ave., 403/762-4571) have been synonymous with Banff and the
ski industry for decades, and while the Rude Boys Snowboard Shop (downstairs in the
Sundance Mall, 215 Banff Ave., 403/762-8480) has only been around since the 1980s, it
is the snowboarder hangout. Other shops with sales and rentals include Banff Springs Ski
& Mountain Sports (Fairmont Banff Springs, 405 Spray Ave., 403/762-5333), Ski Hub
(119 Banff Ave., 403/762-4754), Soul Ski and Bike (203 Bear St., 403/760-1650), and
Snow Tips (225 Bear St., 403/762-8177). Basic packages—skis, poles, and boots—are
$40-50 per day, while high-performance packages range $55-70. Snowboards and boots
rent for $40-60 per day.
Cross-Country Skiing
No better way of experiencing the park's winter delights exists than gliding through the
landscape on cross-country skis. Many summer hiking trails are groomed for winter travel.
The most popular areas near town are Johnson Lake, Golf Course Road, Spray River,
Sundance Canyon, and upstream from the canoe docks. The booklet Cross-country Ski-
ing—Nordic Trails in Banff National Park is available from the Banff Visitor Centre.
Weather forecasts (403/762-2088) are posted at both visitors centers.