Where to cross country ski in Kananaskis: Canmore Nordic Centre, Kananaskis Village/Ribbon Creek, Mount Shark, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, and West Bragg Creek.
Kananaskis has several networks of groomed cross country ski trails at Canmore Nordic Centre ($), Kananaskis Village/Ribbon Creek, Mount Shark, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (start at Pocaterra, Boulton Creek, Elk Pass, or Peter Lougheed Discovery and Information Centre), and West Bragg Creek. Whether you’re looking for beginner, intermediate, or advanced trails, you’ll find plenty to choose from in Kananaskis. Need help deciding where to go? We’ve broken down which areas are beginner friendly, best for skate skiing, and suitable for skiing with your dog – and made some trail recommendations.
If you’re looking for amenities like flush toilets or warming huts… Canmore Nordic Centre has a Daylodge, concession, showers, wax rooms, and warming hut; Pocaterra has a large warming hut with flush toilets at the trailhead; and Peter Lougheed Discovery and Information Centre has washrooms, trail reports, exhibits, and a lounge and theatre.
The best spots for skate skiing in Kananaskis are Canmore Nordic Centre (note: trail fees in effect 9 am – 5 pm), Mount Shark, and West Bragg Creek, but there are also a few skate ski trails near Kananaskis Village/Ribbon Creek.
Want to bring your dog? Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted on groomed cross country ski trails throughout most of Kananaskis, but dogs on leashes are permitted at West Bragg Creek and Mount Shark.
(If you’re looking for places to ski in Calgary, see Where to Cross Country Ski in Calgary.)
Keep reading to learn more about each cross country ski area in Kananaskis. We’ve also included trail reports and trail maps for each ski hub, so you can check conditions and save maps to your phone before heading out. Don’t forget to bring The Ten Essentials and bear spray too!
Table of Contents
1. West Bragg Creek
West Bragg Creek is a popular cross-country skiing area near Calgary with over 60 km of groomed trails in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. There’s a warming hut and cell phone hotspot near the parking lot, and trails are well marked. Most of the ski trails are rated intermediate (blue), but there is beginner and advanced terrain too. Best of all, this awesome park is less than an hour from Calgary!
Nordic Pulse Grooming Report | AB Parks West Bragg Creek Trail Report | Trail Map
West Bragg Creek Recommended Ski Trails
- Easy Trails: Mountain Road (great views of Moose Mountain), Bunny Loop, Chickadee Loop, Hostel Meadow Loop, and part of East Crystal Line.
- Intermediate/Difficult Trails: You can make a nice short loop of Sundog and Crystal Line. For a scenic 20 km loop, ski Mountain Road, Mountain View, Tom Snow/Moose Loop, and Crystal Line.
- Skate Ski Trails: East Crystal Line + Sundog = Skate Loop (5.3 km, 100 m gain)! Other options include Chickadee Loop, Elbow North, and Hostel Meadow Loop.
West Bragg Creek – Know Before You Go
- Parking: West Bragg Creek Day Use (Google Maps pin), 45 minutes from Calgary
- Amenities: Warming hut with cellular hot spot, outhouses, picnic tables near parking lot and throughout the park
- Park pass required: A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park in Kananaskis.
- Multi-use trails: Many cross country ski trails are shared with hikers, snowshoers, cyclists, and horses. Yield to horses and share the trails with other park users.
- Dogs permitted? On leash.
2. Canmore Nordic Centre
Canmore Nordic Centre has over 65 km of groomed trails for both classic and skate skiing minutes from downtown Canmore. Trail fees are in effect from 9 am – 5 pm (ski the 6.5 km illuminated loop from 5 pm – 9 pm for FREE!), but they’re well worth it for the quality of trail grooming and amenities. There is snowmaking on 20 kilometres of trails, and trails are groomed daily, conditions permitting. In addition to a large Daylodge with concession and beautiful warming hut, Canmore Nordic Centre boasts a skating rink, toboggan hill, and disc golf course!
Nordic Pulse Grooming Report | AB Parks Canmore Nordic Centre Trail Report | Trail Map
Canmore Nordic Centre Recommended Ski Trails
- Easy Trails: Banff Trail, Banff Loop, Coal Cut (runs through meadow), and Banff Beyond Meadow (goes past the warming hut) are the best beginner trails at Canmore Nordic Centre.
- Ski Banff Trail to the warming hut: 2.6 km one way
- Ski Banff Trail to the Banff/Cold Shoulder Junction and return on Banff or Banff Loop-Banff for an 11 km round trip ski.
- Intermediate Trails:
- Make a 12.5 km loop with 130 m elevation gain via Banff – Banff Loop – Bow – Meadowview (turn left at the meadow, at Junction 38) – Banff.
- Make a loop of Lynx and Salt Lake.
- In early season, ski the 2.5 km Frozen Thunder loop. Snow is saved from last season to give nordic ski athletes an early start!
- Difficult Trails:
- Coyote and Freddie’s Flip are a couple scenic and challenging trails.
- Olympic, part of the World Cup race course, features big climbs and screaming fast downhills. It’s a tough route, but I love it! 5.39 km, 150 m elevation gain.
- Skate Ski Trails: Various including Banff Trail
Canmore Nordic Center – Know Before You Go
- Parking: Canmore Nordic Centre (Google Maps pin), 1 hour and 15 minutes from Calgary.
- Trail fees: Ski trail fees are in effect at Canmore Nordic Centre from 9 am to 5 pm. Purchase day passes onsite at the lodge.
- Night skiing: FREE night skiing is available from 5 – 9 pm on a 6.5 km illuminated loop.
- Amenities:
- The Daylodge is open from 9 am – 5:30 pm daily and has a concession, washrooms, and showers.
- The Chandra Crawford Warming Hut, located 2.6 km down Banff Trail, is open from 9 am – 9 pm daily.
- Rentals and lessons are available from Trail Sports, across the street from the Day Lodge (Phone: 403-678-6764 for reservations, open 9 am – 6 pm daily).
- There’s a toboggan hill behind Bill Warren Training Centre, a disc golf course (beside the toboggan hill), and skating rink (south of the daylodge / to the left of the training grid).
- Wax Room Building (Wax rooms #1 & #2 are free to use, but may not be available during ski races).
- Park pass required: A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park in Kananaskis.
- Dogs permitted? NO
3. Kananaskis Valley / Ribbon Creek
There’s a nice network of cross country ski trails around Kananaskis Village and Ribbon Creek that’s fun to ski when there’s enough snow. I love that there is ice skating, dining, lodging, and rentals nearby. If you’re lucky enough to score an appointment at Kananaskis Nordic Spa, you can soak in their wonderful hot pools after skiing! (See our story Warm Up and Chill Out at Kananaskis Nordic Spa for more info.)
Nordic Pulse Grooming Report | Ribbon Creek Cross Country Ski Trails Brochure | AB Parks Kananaskis Valley Trail Report | Trail Map
Kananaskis Valley / Ribbon Creek Recommended Ski Trails
- Easy Trails:
- Terrace Trail & Terrace Link make a 3 km loop that is great for beginners. With minimal elevation gain, intermittent mountain views, and proximity to Kananaskis Village, this is a family favorite. It’s possible to ski further by adding on Kovach (intermediate), Bill Milne (easy), or Ribbon Creek (intermediate) Trail. Ice skate on the pond/rink after, or hit the pub!
- Bill Milne Trail is flat, scenic, and perfect for beginners if you start at Ribbon Creek (if you start at Kananaskis Village, you’ll have a big hill to climb on the way back). Note that the bridge is washed out on the Wedge Connector, and you will have to cross Highway 40 about 100 metres north of Mount Kidd RV Park.
- Ribbon Creek to Wedge Pond: 17 km round trip, 125 m elevation gain
- Kananaskis Village to Wedge Pond: 20 km round trip, 182 m elevation gain
- Troll Falls, Marmot Creek Falls, and Upper Falls is an awesome winter hike to three sets of frozen waterfalls. We don’t recommend cross country skiing here, as this trail is extremely busy on weekends and holidays.
- Intermediate trails:
- Kovach can be combined with Aspen (easy) and Terrace (easy).
- Ribbon Creek is a challenging 4.4 km loop with tight turns and short, steep hills.
- Difficult Trails: Skogan Pass Trail is prone to large ice flows, so check the trail report before you go.
- Skogan Pass is a good trail for strong skiers that takes you around the east side of Nakiska ski resort for panoramic views from the pass.
- A shorter option, is to ski Skogan Pass Trail to Sunburst or High Level to reach Hummingbird Plume Lookout, site of an old fire lookout.
- Skate Ski Trails: Bill Milne Trail, Terrace Link, and Terrace North
Kananaskis Valley / Ribbon Creek- Know Before You Go
- Parking & Directions (click links for Google Maps directions): Ribbon Creek Day Use or Kananaskis Village, 1 hour and 15 minutes from Calgary
- Amenities: Pit toilets at Ribbon Creek Day Use; public washrooms, ice skating, dining (casual to fine dining) at Kananaskis Village
- Rentals and lessons: Kananaskis Outfitters at Kananaskis Village
- Park pass required: A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park in Kananaskis.
- Dogs permitted? On leash.
For more fun things to do around Kananaskis Village, see our Kananaskis Valley Winter Activity Guide.
4. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
With over 75 km of groomed trails for cross-country skiing, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (PLPP) is a nordic skier’s delight. Its higher elevation means you can count on good (or better) snow when many other parts of Kananaskis are icy. In addition to scenic trails, the park boasts a large Information Centre with wifi, exhibits, washrooms, and lounge; and cozy warming hut at Pocaterra.
With the large network of trails, you can ski as much as you want in a day, or make it an overnighter and ski to Elk Pass Cabin (reservations required through the Alpine Club of Canada)! Most of the terrain in PLPP is intermediate or advanced, but there are some beginner trails near Elkwood Amphitheater.
Nordic Pulse Grooming Report | PLPP Cross Country Ski Trails Brochure | AB Parks PLPP Trail Report | PLPP Ski Trails Map
PLPP Recommended Ski Trails
- Easy Trails: The easiest trails in PLPP are around Elkwood Amphitheatre (Google Maps pin).
- Amos and Wheeler make a nice 5 km loop around Marl Lake.
- Across the road from the parking lot, there are 5 km of beginner trails around William Watson Lodge.
- Intermediate Trails:
- Pocaterra is one of the easiest blue trails, and has a large warming hut with washrooms near the trailhead. There are also training grids near the hut, if you’d like to do some warmup drills. 2.5 km one way with 18 m elevation to Pocaterra campground (nice family-friendly ski) / 9.9 km one way with 250 m elevation to Whiskeyjack. Park at Pocaterra (Google Maps pin).
- From Boulton Bridge Parking (Google Maps pin), you can make a 4.6 km loop with Moraine, Fox Creek, and Boulton Creek; OR a 16.8 km loop of Moraine and Fox Creek to Elk Pass, returning on Hydroline, Fox Creek, and Moraine.
- Tyrwhitt Trail is almost at 2000 metres (1,981 m), so the snow is fantastic. Worth skiing to if you don’t mind a climb to get there. Start at Boulton Bridge or Elk Pass.
- Difficult Trails: Ski to Blueberry Hill or Lookout for amazing views and a good workout.
- Blueberry Hill: Take Elk Pass Trail 4.3 km to the junction, and continue climbing to Blueberry Hill, which overlooks Upper Kananaskis Lake. The view is partially blocked by trees but it’s still really nice – see photo above! 15.5 km, 600 m elevation gain.
- Lookout (elev: 2,073 metres) offers awesome panoramic views, but you’ll have to work for them. We recommend starting at Boulton Bridge Parking and skiing Whiskeyjack Trail to Lookout. Return via Hydroline, Fox Creek, and Moraine. Some sections are very steep, and there is a hairpin turn on the south side about 1 km from the lookout, so take it easy on the way down. 17.5 km round trip, 500 m elevation gain.
- Skate Ski Trails: N/A – Most trails in PLPP are too narrow for skate skiing. Try Mount Shark, Canmore Nordic Centre, or West Bragg Creek.
PLPP – Know Before You Go
Pocaterra Day Use is located 1.5 hours from Calgary, Elk Pass Trailhead is 1.75 hours from Calgary, and the other parking areas are 1.5-1.75 hrs away.
There is no cell phone service in the park, but there is wifi at Peter Lougheed Discovery & Information Centre, and there are pay phones at Canyon Day Use, William Watson Lodge, and Fortress Junction Service Centre (10 minutes north of Pocaterra).
- Amenities & Directions (Click links for Google Maps directions)
- Peter Lougheed Discovery & Information Centre is open 9 am – 4:15 pm daily and has wifi, flush toilets, information counter, interpretive museum, lounge, and theatre.
- Pocaterra Warming Hut has flush toilets and a gas fireplace, and is open 8:30 am – 8 pm daily. There are also outhouses near the parking lot.
- Boulton Bridge Day Use has pit toilets and fire pits.
- Canyon Day Use has a pay phone, fire pits, and outhouses.
- Elk Pass Parking Lot has pit toilets.
- Elkwood Amphitheatre (aka Elkwood Ski Parking or Marl Lake Parking) has outhouses.
- William Watson Lodge has payphones and first come first served picnic sites. Note that the lodge and cabins may only be reserved by seniors or people with disabilities.
- Fortress Junction Service Centre has a gas station, pay phone, coffee, ice cream, washrooms, and camp store.
- Park pass required: A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park in Kananaskis.
- Dogs permitted? NO
5. Mount Shark, Spray Valley Provincial Park
Mount Shark has 20 kilometres of cross country ski trails hidden away down Spray Lakes Road. This beautiful trail network is unique in that its trails are groomed for classic and skate skiing, and dogs are allowed (on leash) on groomed trails. It’s also pretty quiet since it’s about 30 km down a gravel road.
Enjoy rolling trails with mountain views, then have Afternoon Tea at Mount Engadine Lodge on your way back! (If you’re interested in staying at the luxurious lodge, see our story Glamping at Mount Engadine Lodge.)
Nordic Pulse Grooming Report | AB Parks Mount Shark Trail Report | Mount Shark Ski Trails Map
Mount Shark Recommended Ski Trails
Save the ski trail map to your phone and follow the colored markers around the ski area to do the loop of your choice!
- Easy Trails:
- Blue Loop (2 km)
- Watridge Lake Trail (3.7 km one way, 30 m elevation gain): Ski through forest and meadows to Watridge Lake. Turn left at the junction and continue for 200 metres to reach the lakeshore. If time allows, hike to Karst Spring (800 metres, 100 metres elevation from the lake).
- Intermediate Trails: Red/Black Loop (5 km)
- Difficult Trails:
- Red/Purple Loop (5 km)
- Red Loop (5 km)
- Yellow Loop (10 km)
- Green Loop (15 km) – The west side of the loop is not maintained. Ski at your own risk!
- Skate Ski Trails: Biathlon Range Area, Draco, Hercules, Mount Shark Helipad Access, Orion, Pegasus, Ursa Major, Virgo
Mount Shark – Know Before You Go
- Parking: Mount Shark Parking Lot (Google Maps pin)
- Amenities: Outhouses, picnic tables
- Know before you go: A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park in Kananaskis.
- Dogs permitted? On leash.
What to Bring
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Nordic Ski Gear
- Cross country skis, ski boots, ski poles in a ski bag for easy transport
- Ski wax, synthetic cork, and scraper kit if you have waxable skis: carry this kit with you so you can apply more wax as needed, and change wax as conditions change.
- Swix Skin Cleaner and Swix Skin Boost (de-icer) for skin skis: apply cleaner after skiing, and skin boost before skiing, as needed. You usually only need to do this once or twice a season.
See our story Choosing Cross Country Skis for an intro to cross country skis. TL;DR: I highly recommend skin skis so you don’t have to wax! They go a bit faster than waxless (fish scale) skis too!
Nordic Ski Wear
1. B Daehlie North Jacket, 2. Kari Traa Eva Skirt, 3. Smartwool Run Cold Weather Targeted Cushion Crew Socks, 4. Buff Lightweight Merino Multifunctional Headwear, 5. Aurora Heat reusable handwarmers
WHAT TO WEAR
Cross country skiing is like winter running. You will get warm fast, but will also cool down quickly when you stop, so it’s important to dress in breathable layers, and bring extra clothes.
Start with merino wool base layers and wool crew socks, then put on softshell pants and a full-zip fleece hoodie or half-zip fleece top. (In mild weather, you may prefer thermal tights with ankle zips and an insulated skirt.) At the trailhead, put on nordic ski gloves, a Buff (neckwarmer), and wind-resistant beanie.
WHAT TO PACK
Pack a down jacket, mittens, Aurora Heat reusable handwarmers (save 10% off your first purchase with PLAYOUTSIDE10), and extra socks in your backpack.
You should also carry The Ten Essentials including: water, high calorie snacks, a headlamp, a GPS/satellite communicator* (or compass) and map of the area, first aid kit, sunscreen, and bear spray (bears don’t sleep all winter, and cougars and wolves don’t hibernate!). Carry bear spray in a Frontiersman Bear Spray Holster or Scat Belt.
*A Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator is highly recommended for contacting Search & Rescue and emergency contacts in the event of an emergency, or communicating with friends and family when you are out of cell phone range. A monthly satellite service plan is required to send an SOS, text messages, and GPS coordinates.
More Winter Fun
- Where to Cross Country Ski in Calgary
- Choosing Cross Country Skis
- 15 Fun things to do in Calgary this winter
- 14 Fun things to do in Canmore this winter
- 10 Fun things to do in Banff this winter
- 9 Fun things to do in Lake Louise this winter
- 12 Things to do in Jasper this winter
