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| Just over a month till we're back on skis! |
5 Reasons to Make Nakiska your Local Ski Hill this Winter
My son has a gigantic list of ski hills that he wants to visit this winter but we always choose Nakiska Ski Area as our "local ski hill" (and have for 8 years now.) We'll take several road trips to visit other resorts, but we plan to spend our home weekends out at Nakiska, our chosen "close to home" mountain ski resort for another year. I might even brave the slopes mid-week on my own while my son is at school.
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| Winter wonderland at Nakiska Ski Area, Kananaskis |
Read on below to find out why we choose Nakiska for a local Calgary hill
Ski as a family for ~ $1000.00 (approximate price per year if you take advantage of fall pricing) for the entire ski season with a family season pass at Nakiska.
You'll have to visit Nakiska approximately 4 times to have fully paid for your
season pass. After that you are saving money. Ski once a month from
December through March and that's already 4 times. Ski more, and you're
really saving.
Don't want to buy a season pass? You'll still find Nakiska to be one of the most affordable ski resorts near Calgary with lift tickets costing roughly $20.00 less than at most other resorts.
You can also buy an RCR Rockies discount card (or ask for one as a Christmas present) which gives you your first, fourth, and seventh ski day free at any of the four RCR (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) hills.
1. Affordable Skiing
Ski as a family for ~ $1000.00 (approximate price per year if you take advantage of fall pricing) for the entire ski season with a family season pass at Nakiska.
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| This kid skied for $20 last winter! |
Don't want to buy a season pass? You'll still find Nakiska to be one of the most affordable ski resorts near Calgary with lift tickets costing roughly $20.00 less than at most other resorts.
You can also buy an RCR Rockies discount card (or ask for one as a Christmas present) which gives you your first, fourth, and seventh ski day free at any of the four RCR (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) hills.
This would include Nakiska Ski Area, Fernie
Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, or Kicking Horse Mountain
Resort.
The other days are highly discounted (up to $30 savings per
day,) and you typically receive other deals with your card at local
hotels and restaurants.
The discount cards are usually available for purchase at stores around the city by late October.
For families with kids in grade 2 - here's what you'll want to know: Your child can ski at any of RCR's four resorts for $20.00 all winter long! The Grade 2 Fun Pass is available on the RCR website.
Children 5 and under can ski all winter long at all four RCR resorts for $20.00 with an RCR Rockies Tiger Pass, available for purchase on the RCR website. Families can also buy the Super Pass Tiger (which includes Lake Louise) for the same price.
Note as well in case you've heard that it's actually free to ski if you're 5 and under:
Students and seniors also receive discounts.
And, FREE skiing in the Beginner Area at Nakiska!
Children and adults alike have generally been allowed to ski for free in the beginner area at Nakiska serviced by the magic carpet. (Note you will still have to get a magic carpet pass from guest services but there has been no cost for this beginner pass in previous years.)
For all other passes and for full information, visit the Nakiska website.
Also, Did you Know about The RCR Advantage?
And while Nakiska is generally one of the first RCR resorts open, we did have the opportunity to ski for free at Kimberley one winter when Nakiska was having problems with one of their chairlifts. It's also good to know that if we visit Fernie, Kimberley, or even Kicking Horse, we will receive $20 in daily discounts per person - just for having a Nakiska season pass.
Other Winter Member Benefits (including discounted friends and family lift tickets) can be found here.
If you didn't see it in the previous paragraph, it bears repeating: Children and adults alike have generally been allowed to ski for free in the beginner area at Nakiska serviced by the magic carpet.
You will still have to get a magic carpet pass from guest services but there has been no cost for this pass in previous years.
Hopefully beginners will always be allowed to ski for free in the learning area because if you've ever tried running alongside your child on the bunny hill (not wanting to buy a lift ticket just to help a 2 or 3 year old learn to ski off the magic carpet run,) it's a lot of work. It's much easier to chase after a child if you, the adult, also have skis on rather than running down the hill in your boots.
Also, most kids who are just learning to ski will have a very short attention span and will only last at the hill for an hour or two. It's nice if you don't have to pay for skiing until they can manage half a day of skiing off the chair lifts.
One. The Nakiska Tube Park is conveniently located right next to the beginner ski area. Yes, the kids will beg to go tubing, yes, it's a lot of fun, and yes, you should try it at least once. If you think you'll be doing a lot of tubing, you can purchase a family tube park pass as well for the season. (Note that children must be 42" tall or 3+ years old with an Adult. Also, kids under 5 can get a free ticket with a paying adult)
Two. The hill is easy to find your way around on. There is no back side and the resort is small. You'll feel quite comfortable your first visit. (which I wouldn't say for bigger resorts)
Three. The Bronze chair is a great place to start with novice skiers who are ready to progress past the beginner area. Every run off this chair is green and the runs are short so little legs won't get tired half way down. As an adult who's spent many days skiing with a young child, I've always found it comforting to know that we can't ever get into trouble on this chair. There's no "accidentally ending up on a blue run," or "getting lost and having to guide a child down a black run."
Know in advance however that the Bronze Chair is not always open in November when the resort officially opens for the season. It is often one of the last chair lifts to open as the lower runs don't get as much snow as the ones higher up do. Also, once kids progress past the Bronze Chair, they will have to be ready to ski intermediate terrain. 59% of the hill is intermediate terrain with only 13% dedicated to beginner runs.
Four. New skiers will appreciate the quality and amount of grooming at Nakiska. For me, an intermediate skier, I love Nakiska's smooth groomers and am often scared at resorts that focus on more "natural" terrain. Moguls and powder may be awesome for more advanced skiers, but beginners will appreciate the perfect Nakiska corduroy.
Nakiska is Calgary's closest mountain resort and I can be parking my car in front of the day lodge within 45 minutes of leaving my house. This is great news for families who don't want to wake up at the crack of dawn to get to Banff, find parking at a big ski resort, get on a gondola before the resort opens, and be ready for first lifts - by 9:00!!
This winter I'm also looking forward to getting out to Nakiska on PD Days or school holidays. And I just might start visiting the hill mid-week with a girlfriend or two while my son has to go to school! (fresh untouched corduroy for mom on a quiet hill!)
Other perks for having a mountain that's close to the city:
Access and Parking:
There is no gondola that you must first ride to get to the ski area.
You'll never struggle to find parking. And no matter where you park, you're never far from the day lodge and the lifts.
The Day Lodge:
The day lodge at Nakiska is cozy and comfortable. It feels like home and we often just throw our hockey bag of gear/lunch/extra clothes under a table in the lodge. It's that casual!
Skiing with Young Children:
Kananaskis Village is conveniently located just down the road and is a great place to spend time after skiing or to hang out with younger kids who tire easily while the rest of the family is still at the hill. We like to get a coffee at the cafe in the Pomeroy Kananaskis Lodge and then we go hang out by the fireplace in the main lobby. (and they never seem to mind our crazy kids running around there)
Snow School:
The kids snow school at Nakiska is fabulous! And it's a great way to ease into your day. Drop the kids off at their lessons, go hang out in the lodge and grab a coffee, slowly bring all of your adult gear in from the vehicle, go out for a warm up run, and just relax for an hour or so. (or maybe that's just me as my husband would be out on the hill as soon as our son was dropped off at his lessons.)
Equipment Rentals:
Save time by reserving rental equipment ahead of time online.
Rent ski equipment for the kids for the season for $209.99 – $ 274.99 and then return the gear at the end of the season with the Wings Leased Ski Program. For this price, you'd be hard pressed to find new gear for the kids for a season. (And you know that their feet are going to grow again for the following year or that they'll need longer skis.) Avoid the hassle of buying new skis each year with this program aimed at kids 12 and under.
Non Skiers in the Group:
Finally, there are plenty of options nearby for the non-skier in your family. There are cross country ski trails that leave right from the Nakiska parking lot, there are snowshoe trails located at Kananaskis Village or at the Ribbon Creek Trailhead down the road, and there's an ice skating pond at the Village along with a small sledding hill. You can also rent cross country skis, snowshoes, and skates at the Village. With all these options, you just might have to spent the weekend!
My husband would be the first to tell you that "affordable" is a relative term but if you compare options, a weekend in Kananaskis doesn't have to break the bank. There are three main options that families can look into if you'd like to make a mini-vacation out of your ski day at Nakiska.
The Super Affordable Option: The HI Kananaskis Hostel is located down the road from Nakiska and offers reasonable rates in either private rooms or dorm rooms (divided by gender.) Kids have to be 6+ to stay in a shared dorm room but can be younger in the private rooms. For more information, check out the HI Kananaskis Hostel's website or read my previous blog post: Affordable Family Ski Vacations in the Canadian Rockies.
The "affordable" option: Not as cheap as the hostel above, but you get your own hotel room with this one. The Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino is more family-friendly than one would think given that there is a casino on site. It's also less than a 15 minute drive away from Nakiska and has an indoor pool with waterslide. There are often great deals on the RCR website that include lodging at the Stoney Nakoda along with lift tickets for Nakiska.
The "fancy" option: For those with a larger budget (or if you just really want to treat yourselves to a nice weekend away) there's the Pomeroy Kananaskis Lodge. We love staying here and relaxing in the pool with outdoor hot tub after a day on the slopes. And even if we don't stay overnight, most of our ski days end up here for at least coffee, drinks, or dinner.
Visit the RCR website for more on ski vacations, packages, and hot deals.
To read about one of our early season ski weekends at Nakiska while staying at the Delta Kananaskis Lodge, read my post: Off to a Great Start at Nakiska Ski Resort.
To read about one of our first experiences skiing at Nakiska, and why we fell in love with this small resort, read: Nakiska Mountain Resort - Raising the Bar in Family Excellence
To read about our experiences with ski school at Nakiska, read: In Support of Ski School - Quality Training and Fun
Tips and Tricks for Downhill Skiing with Kids
We love the Fernie and Kimberley Alpine Resorts and can't say enough good things about these two resorts for families.
Read about our First Family Ski Trip to Fernie Alpine Resort here.
And read about our First Family Ski Trip to Kimberley Alpine Resort here.
You can also read this story from last winter: The Ultimate Family Ski Weekend at Kimberley Alpine Resort.
And, 5 Reasons for Families to Love Fernie Alpine Resort
Want to visit one of RCR's other resorts this winter?
Purchase a Nakiska season pass and choose the Ski BC add on option. You'll receive 2 Ski Days at either Fernie, Kicking Horse or Kimberley. The option is valid all season long but you must purchase the pass at the same time as your Nakiska Seasons Pass.
Alternately, buy a RCR Rockies Discount Card and you'll get your 1st, 4th, and 7th day free at any RCR resort. I've found that these make great Christmas gifts!
And when the time comes to book your vacation with accommodation, you can search for packages, deals, and vacations on the RCR website. You can also sign up for last minute deals that you'll receive via email.
Tentative Opening Weekend for Nakiska is usually early to mid November.
Disclaimer: I have partnered with RCR over the past several years.
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| My boys cruising down the easy groomers at Nakiska |
Other affordable perks at Nakiska
For families with kids in grade 2 - here's what you'll want to know: Your child can ski at any of RCR's four resorts for $20.00 all winter long! The Grade 2 Fun Pass is available on the RCR website.
Children 5 and under can ski all winter long at all four RCR resorts for $20.00 with an RCR Rockies Tiger Pass, available for purchase on the RCR website. Families can also buy the Super Pass Tiger (which includes Lake Louise) for the same price.
Note as well in case you've heard that it's actually free to ski if you're 5 and under:
"Kids 5 and under are technically free at all RCR ski resorts. To get them on the lift they need to have a lift ticket to be picked up at the ticket window for free each day they are there. The Tiger pass however allows parents to skip going to the ticket window each day to get a free ticket and allows them to go straight to the lift all season like a regular pass."
Students and seniors also receive discounts.
And, FREE skiing in the Beginner Area at Nakiska!
Children and adults alike have generally been allowed to ski for free in the beginner area at Nakiska serviced by the magic carpet. (Note you will still have to get a magic carpet pass from guest services but there has been no cost for this beginner pass in previous years.)
For all other passes and for full information, visit the Nakiska website.
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| Practicing in the Beginner Area at Nakiska (which is free for adults and kids) |
Also, Did you Know about The RCR Advantage?
"As a season pass holder at any of the RCR resorts – Receive free skiing at any RCR resort when your resort is closed! Which means, come December and your home resort isn't open, head to one of the other 3 resorts and still get those ski days in! Receive $20 daily discounts ($15 at Nakiska) on lift tickets at other RCR resorts when your resort is open."
And while Nakiska is generally one of the first RCR resorts open, we did have the opportunity to ski for free at Kimberley one winter when Nakiska was having problems with one of their chairlifts. It's also good to know that if we visit Fernie, Kimberley, or even Kicking Horse, we will receive $20 in daily discounts per person - just for having a Nakiska season pass.
Other Winter Member Benefits (including discounted friends and family lift tickets) can be found here.
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| November skiing at Nakiska |
2. Nakiska is GREAT for beginners
If you didn't see it in the previous paragraph, it bears repeating: Children and adults alike have generally been allowed to ski for free in the beginner area at Nakiska serviced by the magic carpet.
You will still have to get a magic carpet pass from guest services but there has been no cost for this pass in previous years.
Hopefully beginners will always be allowed to ski for free in the learning area because if you've ever tried running alongside your child on the bunny hill (not wanting to buy a lift ticket just to help a 2 or 3 year old learn to ski off the magic carpet run,) it's a lot of work. It's much easier to chase after a child if you, the adult, also have skis on rather than running down the hill in your boots.
Also, most kids who are just learning to ski will have a very short attention span and will only last at the hill for an hour or two. It's nice if you don't have to pay for skiing until they can manage half a day of skiing off the chair lifts.
 |
| My husband teaching our son to ski in the beginner area at Nakiska |
Other Great Features at Nakiska for Families with Beginner Skiers
One. The Nakiska Tube Park is conveniently located right next to the beginner ski area. Yes, the kids will beg to go tubing, yes, it's a lot of fun, and yes, you should try it at least once. If you think you'll be doing a lot of tubing, you can purchase a family tube park pass as well for the season. (Note that children must be 42" tall or 3+ years old with an Adult. Also, kids under 5 can get a free ticket with a paying adult)
Two. The hill is easy to find your way around on. There is no back side and the resort is small. You'll feel quite comfortable your first visit. (which I wouldn't say for bigger resorts)
Three. The Bronze chair is a great place to start with novice skiers who are ready to progress past the beginner area. Every run off this chair is green and the runs are short so little legs won't get tired half way down. As an adult who's spent many days skiing with a young child, I've always found it comforting to know that we can't ever get into trouble on this chair. There's no "accidentally ending up on a blue run," or "getting lost and having to guide a child down a black run."
Know in advance however that the Bronze Chair is not always open in November when the resort officially opens for the season. It is often one of the last chair lifts to open as the lower runs don't get as much snow as the ones higher up do. Also, once kids progress past the Bronze Chair, they will have to be ready to ski intermediate terrain. 59% of the hill is intermediate terrain with only 13% dedicated to beginner runs.
Four. New skiers will appreciate the quality and amount of grooming at Nakiska. For me, an intermediate skier, I love Nakiska's smooth groomers and am often scared at resorts that focus on more "natural" terrain. Moguls and powder may be awesome for more advanced skiers, but beginners will appreciate the perfect Nakiska corduroy.
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| First visit to the Nakiska Tube Park -and it was a blast! |
3. Location, location, location!
Nakiska is Calgary's closest mountain resort and I can be parking my car in front of the day lodge within 45 minutes of leaving my house. This is great news for families who don't want to wake up at the crack of dawn to get to Banff, find parking at a big ski resort, get on a gondola before the resort opens, and be ready for first lifts - by 9:00!!
This winter I'm also looking forward to getting out to Nakiska on PD Days or school holidays. And I just might start visiting the hill mid-week with a girlfriend or two while my son has to go to school! (fresh untouched corduroy for mom on a quiet hill!)
 |
| We can't wait to get out skiing LOTS this winter! |
Other perks for having a mountain that's close to the city:
- It's easy to return home for a mid to late afternoon nap if you have younger kids
- You can master the art of the "relaxed start" - especially if you have a seasons pass
- You'll never spend more time in the car than you will skiing
- You'll definitely be home for dinner (even if you leave after the chairs close for the day) and won't be driving in the dark
- It's easier to justify a half day of skiing with younger kids
(something you wouldn't do if you had to spend 3+ hours driving to and
from the hill)
- You'll appreciate the proximity of Nakiska on snow days when roads
are icy and you wonder if you should even be out on the highways
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| Learning to ski at Nakiska Ski Area |
4. Nakiska is EASY
Access and Parking:
There is no gondola that you must first ride to get to the ski area.
You'll never struggle to find parking. And no matter where you park, you're never far from the day lodge and the lifts.
The Day Lodge:
The day lodge at Nakiska is cozy and comfortable. It feels like home and we often just throw our hockey bag of gear/lunch/extra clothes under a table in the lodge. It's that casual!
Skiing with Young Children:
Kananaskis Village is conveniently located just down the road and is a great place to spend time after skiing or to hang out with younger kids who tire easily while the rest of the family is still at the hill. We like to get a coffee at the cafe in the Pomeroy Kananaskis Lodge and then we go hang out by the fireplace in the main lobby. (and they never seem to mind our crazy kids running around there)
Snow School:
The kids snow school at Nakiska is fabulous! And it's a great way to ease into your day. Drop the kids off at their lessons, go hang out in the lodge and grab a coffee, slowly bring all of your adult gear in from the vehicle, go out for a warm up run, and just relax for an hour or so. (or maybe that's just me as my husband would be out on the hill as soon as our son was dropped off at his lessons.)
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| This is the "peaceful way to start the day at Nakiska - kids in snow school! |
Equipment Rentals:
Save time by reserving rental equipment ahead of time online.
Rent ski equipment for the kids for the season for $209.99 – $ 274.99 and then return the gear at the end of the season with the Wings Leased Ski Program. For this price, you'd be hard pressed to find new gear for the kids for a season. (And you know that their feet are going to grow again for the following year or that they'll need longer skis.) Avoid the hassle of buying new skis each year with this program aimed at kids 12 and under.
Non Skiers in the Group:
Finally, there are plenty of options nearby for the non-skier in your family. There are cross country ski trails that leave right from the Nakiska parking lot, there are snowshoe trails located at Kananaskis Village or at the Ribbon Creek Trailhead down the road, and there's an ice skating pond at the Village along with a small sledding hill. You can also rent cross country skis, snowshoes, and skates at the Village. With all these options, you just might have to spent the weekend!
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| Cross country skiing at Kananaskis Village below Nakiska |
5. A Family Can Plan an Affordable Ski Weekend at Nakiska
My husband would be the first to tell you that "affordable" is a relative term but if you compare options, a weekend in Kananaskis doesn't have to break the bank. There are three main options that families can look into if you'd like to make a mini-vacation out of your ski day at Nakiska.
The Super Affordable Option: The HI Kananaskis Hostel is located down the road from Nakiska and offers reasonable rates in either private rooms or dorm rooms (divided by gender.) Kids have to be 6+ to stay in a shared dorm room but can be younger in the private rooms. For more information, check out the HI Kananaskis Hostel's website or read my previous blog post: Affordable Family Ski Vacations in the Canadian Rockies.
The "affordable" option: Not as cheap as the hostel above, but you get your own hotel room with this one. The Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino is more family-friendly than one would think given that there is a casino on site. It's also less than a 15 minute drive away from Nakiska and has an indoor pool with waterslide. There are often great deals on the RCR website that include lodging at the Stoney Nakoda along with lift tickets for Nakiska.
The "fancy" option: For those with a larger budget (or if you just really want to treat yourselves to a nice weekend away) there's the Pomeroy Kananaskis Lodge. We love staying here and relaxing in the pool with outdoor hot tub after a day on the slopes. And even if we don't stay overnight, most of our ski days end up here for at least coffee, drinks, or dinner.
Visit the RCR website for more on ski vacations, packages, and hot deals.
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| Winter at the Delta Kananaskis Lodge |
Additional Reading
To read about one of our early season ski weekends at Nakiska while staying at the Delta Kananaskis Lodge, read my post: Off to a Great Start at Nakiska Ski Resort.
To read about one of our first experiences skiing at Nakiska, and why we fell in love with this small resort, read: Nakiska Mountain Resort - Raising the Bar in Family Excellence
To read about our experiences with ski school at Nakiska, read: In Support of Ski School - Quality Training and Fun
Tips and Tricks for Downhill Skiing with Kids
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| Looking forward to the start of ski season in just over a month! |
Visiting other RCR Ski Resorts this Winter
We love the Fernie and Kimberley Alpine Resorts and can't say enough good things about these two resorts for families.
Read about our First Family Ski Trip to Fernie Alpine Resort here.
And read about our First Family Ski Trip to Kimberley Alpine Resort here.
You can also read this story from last winter: The Ultimate Family Ski Weekend at Kimberley Alpine Resort.
And, 5 Reasons for Families to Love Fernie Alpine Resort
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| Kimberley Alpine Resort has awesome tree runs for kids |
Want to visit one of RCR's other resorts this winter?
Purchase a Nakiska season pass and choose the Ski BC add on option. You'll receive 2 Ski Days at either Fernie, Kicking Horse or Kimberley. The option is valid all season long but you must purchase the pass at the same time as your Nakiska Seasons Pass.
Alternately, buy a RCR Rockies Discount Card and you'll get your 1st, 4th, and 7th day free at any RCR resort. I've found that these make great Christmas gifts!
And when the time comes to book your vacation with accommodation, you can search for packages, deals, and vacations on the RCR website. You can also sign up for last minute deals that you'll receive via email.
 |
| Fernie was our first big mountain resort that we skied at as a family in 2015 |
Tentative Opening Weekend for Nakiska is usually early to mid November.
Disclaimer: I have partnered with RCR over the past several years.
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