Travel tips for trip to Banff/Lake Louise/Canmore ???

Am planning a nordic ski trip in December in the Banff/Lake Louise/
Canmore area and have a few questions as I'm on a slim travel budget
and need some pointers on places to stay and getting around.

So basically i'm looking for suggestions on cheap accommodations in
these areas (such as b&b's or hostels etc) and would like to know if
there are shuttle buses (or the like) to get around to the various
trails and if there is an airport shuttle from Calgary to any of these
areas. Also interested in hearing about any good ski trails in the
areas that you can recommend. Its the first time out skiing in this
area for me so any info/advice (good websites) would be appreciated.

Many thanks,
Cal

wrote in message
...
Am planning a nordic ski trip in December in the Banff/Lake Louise/
Canmore area and have a few questions as I'm on a slim travel budget
and need some pointers on places to stay and getting around.

So basically i'm looking for suggestions on cheap accommodations in
these areas (such as b&b's or hostels etc) and would like to know if
there are shuttle buses (or the like) to get around to the various
trails and if there is an airport shuttle from Calgary to any of these
areas. Also interested in hearing about any good ski trails in the
areas that you can recommend. Its the first time out skiing in this
area for me so any info/advice (good websites) would be appreciated.

Many thanks,
Cal


Me and my wife were there in February of 2006. There is a shuttle
from Calgary to Banff and Lake Louise.

We stayed at the Lake Louise Inn which is cheap.

Check out the skilouise.com website for more details.

Hope this helps

Alan

In article ,
writes:
Am planning a nordic ski trip in December in the Banff/Lake Louise/
Canmore area and have a few questions as I'm on a slim travel budget
and need some pointers on places to stay and getting around.

So basically i'm looking for suggestions on cheap accommodations in
these areas (such as b&b's or hostels etc) and would like to know if
there are shuttle buses (or the like) to get around to the various
trails and if there is an airport shuttle from Calgary to any of these
areas. Also interested in hearing about any good ski trails in the
areas that you can recommend. Its the first time out skiing in this
area for me so any info/advice (good websites) would be appreciated.

There is a large hostel in Lake Louise. It's a joint project
by Hosteling International and the Alpine Club of Canada.
http://www.hihostels.ca/PM/en/lakelo...?sortcode=2.22

--
These are my opinions, not necessarily my employer's. I hate spam.

On Sun, 2 Nov 2008, wrote:

Am planning a nordic ski trip in December in the Banff/Lake Louise/
Canmore area and have a few questions as I'm on a slim travel budget
and need some pointers on places to stay and getting around.


Anytime I've been there, the snow conditions were much
better in Lake Louise than in Banff. Canmore receives very little
snow since it is in the snow-shadow of Mt Rundel.

I once took a shuttle bus from Calgary airport to Banff- I think it
went to the Banff hostel (Tunnel Mountain), but I had to walk from there
to downtown and the local trails.

Someone else mentioned the hostel in Lake Louise. It will
be very busy between Christmas and New Year's, and on weekends.
There are some good trails within a short walk, in good conditions
you may be able to ski right from the door.

The main access trail is the "Tramway" which climbs from LL town up to
the lake itself (about 300 m climb). It connects to the Morraine Lake
trail (unplowed road) and Highway 1A (also unplowed road), both of those
have very good conditions, even with light snow cover. You can ski
across to BC and Yoho National Park on 1A and connect to the Lake O'hara
trail. From Lake Louse hostel to Lake O'hara is about a 40 km round
trip, with lots of climbing

On the other side of the Trans Canada from LL town is the Pipestone
trail system, I'm not sure if there is a bus there.

I'm pretty sure there are busses from LL town to the big downhill
resort. From near the base of that (at Fish Creek parking spot I think)
you can ski a nice, but relatively safe, backcountry trail over
Deception Pass (2500 m) to Skoki lodge.

I think these links still work for trail conditions
in Banff NP and Yoho NP:

http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/tcond/cond_e.asp?oPark=100092
http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/tcond/cond_E.asp?oPark=100438

--

David Dermott , Wolfville Ridge, Nova Scotia, Canada
WWW pages: http://www.dermott.ca/index.html

On Nov 2, 5:54*am, wrote:
Am planning a *nordic ski trip in December in the Banff/Lake Louise/
Canmore area and have a few questions as I'm on a slim travel budget
and need some pointers on places to stay and getting around.

So basically i'm looking for suggestions on cheap accommodations in
these areas (such as b&b's or hostels etc) and would like to know if
there are *shuttle buses (or the like) to get around to the various
trails and if there is an airport shuttle from Calgary to any of these
areas. *Also interested in hearing about any good *ski trails in the
areas *that you can recommend. Its the *first time out skiing in this
area for me *so any info/advice (good websites) would be appreciated.

Many thanks,
Cal

The Canmore-Banff-Lake Lousie is a great area for Nordic skiing but
like much of North America getting to trail heads is largely private
car oriented. Here's a link to the area's transportation options:
http://www.banfflakelouise.com/plan-...getting-around

My recollection is that the shuttle from YYC to Canmore or Banff is
rather expensive. But the bigger problem is getting the the trail
sites once you get to the area. The Lake Lousie hostel being the
exception where you could walk to the Tramline trail, but you would
still be somewhat constrained without transportation. You can also
walk to the Goat Creek Trailhead from Banff town, but Banff is
relatively low (elevation) and snow may be less reliable.

The Mt. Shark and Kananaskis Country trail heads are some distance
from Canmore and other than busses accomodating senior citizen ski
outings, its pretty much private cars in those two areas. Canmore
Nordic is on the outskirts of town and a good uphill walk to the
Centre.

My recollection is that Canmore Nordic, Mt. Shark and some Banff and
Lake Louise (e.g Moraine Lake Road) trails are groomed for skating.
Kananaskis is trackset for classic.

If you do rent a car, take note that the snow is usually cold and
dry. Many of the locals do well with just 2-WD cars.

In terms of accomodations, Canmore is cheaper than Banff/Lake Louise
in general. Xmas-New Year pricing is an added cost.

BTW, In December think Winter solstice. My first trip to Canmore was
during the first half of December. Sunlight started around 8:30 and
it was pretty dark by 4 or 4:30.