Ski In Panorama For A Holiday Break

All Panorama terrain is above the tree-line and there is an abundance of glade skiing, uncrowded wide-open groomed trails, and excellent snowboarding and cross-country trails.

The resort village lies at 1,160m above sea level and has commendable services and amenities. There is a day lodge, a ski and clothing store, rental and repair shop, cappuccino bars, games arcade, ski school, lockers, village grocery/liquor store, and a video store; while nearby Invermere and Radium Hot Springs have additional facilities.

Panorama Mountain Village ski resort has 100 slopes and 1,140 hectares of terrain and is known for its high percentage of intermediate, advanced and expert runs.

Nine lifts, including three high-speed quads and an 18-person gondola, run over the huge 1,220-metre vertical at an hourly rate of 7,000 people to supply the pistes, the longest of which is 4.8kms. Snowboarders also get two terrain parks and a half-pipe to play with.

For alternative skiing and snowboarding, Kimberley Alpine is an uncrowded ski resort to the south of Panorama Mountain Village and is an intermediate skiers' paradise with good beginner areas. For tougher terrain, Kicking Horse resort lies to the north and has fantastic powder. Nearby Radium Hot Springs and Fairmont Hot Springs offer a break from the slopes.

The ski season at Panorama Mountain Village ski resort runs from November to April and children under five years ski for free, while minors and seniors receive discounts. The most convenient way to get here is to fly to Calgary and transfer by pre-booked shuttle bus to the lodgings.

Skiing in Panorama

Panorama Mountain Village is an enjoyable medium-sized ski resort that offers plenty of skiing challenges in a laid-back and uncrowded setting. Experienced skiers and snowboarders will enjoy Panorama Mountain the most for its powder runs, expert and intermediate terrain parks, and half-pipe.

There are 100 runs at Panorama Mountain that are divided into 20 per cent beginner slopes, 55 per cent for intermediates and 25 per cent for advanced and expert sliders; the longest slope is 4.8kms. Panorama also has other impressive statistics, such as the 1,140 hectares of skiable terrain, a 1,220-metre vertical, terrain parks, and 22kms of cross-country trails.

Set at an altitude of 1,160m above sea level, the resort village is extremely friendly and uncrowded and has all essential amenities, including ski/sports shops and rentals, a day lodge and a ski school. There are 2,500 beds with slope-side access at Panorama Mountain, in hotel and condo units.

Panorama Mountain's ski season extends from November to April and has its best snow conditions between January and March; 40 per cent of the terrain is covered by snowmaking machines. A combination of flying to Calgary International Airport and transferring by shuttle bus to the resort is the preferred travel option for getting to Panorama Mountain Village.

Après-ski in Panorama

Slope-side ski-in/ski-out restaurants and lodgings are on offer at Panorama Mountain Village, with numerous hotel and condo units providing 2,500 beds in all.

Outdoor hot tubs are available along with the Panorama Springs giant slope-side hot pools; while après-ski is in the Jackpine Pub, Kicking Horse Bar-and-Grill, Heli-Plex Bar-and-Grill and the Glacier Nite Club. Childcare is available for toddlers and children from 19 months to five years.

Other winter activities and facilities at Panorama Mountain include: heli-skiing, ice-skating and snowmobiling. Additionally, Panorama Springs features a big water park, hot tubs, sauna, and massage room. Hot mineral springs are also nearby. Panorama Mountain is somewhat lacking in the après-ski department, though there are a handful of quality restaurants and bars available.

Transportation in Panorama

Panorama Mountain Village ski resort is located 290kms southwest of Calgary, just to the southwest of Radium Hot Springs in southeast British Columbia, and is best visited by flying into Calgary and taking a pre-booked shuttle bus or hiring a car for the transfer to the resort. The remoteness of the resort makes self-drive fairly undesirable.

If you are driving however, the route from Calgary is straightforward and goes via Trans-Canada Highway 1 west, through Banff, to the junction with highway 93 at Castle Rock. Take highway 93 south to Radium, from where highway 95 goes to Invermere. Panorama Mountain Village is about 15kms southwest of there.

From Vancouver, Panorama Mountain Village ski resort is over a day's drive and 825kms along Trans-Canada Highway 1 to Golden, from where highway 95 goes southeast to Invermere.

Calgary International Airport is the gateway to Panorama Mountain Village and receives a multitude of overseas and domestic flights with major carriers. Daily shuttles run to Panorama Mountain Village ski resort from the airport and Banff, but must be pre-booked with accommodation. Cranbrook Airport, receiving daily flights from Vancouver and Calgary, is a faster alternative and is only 130kms to the south.

A daily Greyhound bus also runs to Invermere from Calgary at 18:15 and arrives at 22:35. Greyhound also runs one bus per day from Vancouver, departing at 18:45 and arriving at 08:35.