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| Wanidu Tube Park at Nakiska Ski Area, Kananaskis |
What to Expect at a Tube Park
Tubing is a great activity for the whole family with no previous experience required. It's relatively gentle on adult bodies (unlike regular sledding,) and resorts test their parks regularly to make sure the runs are safe. (They'll make sure for example that you won't go flying over a berm at the end in icy conditions.)
Another great thing about tubing (over traditional sledding) is that you won't have to walk up the hill at the end of each ride down. There's always a magic carpet lift to get you (and your tube) to the top of the hill.
Basic required gear:
- Warm winter clothing - ski pants and a warm coat, winter boots, waterproof mittens or gloves, and a warm toque or hat.
- A helmet! Required for children at all resorts, and recommended for adults as well. And it's best to bring your own helmets with you if you have ski helmets. If you don't have helmets, you can usually rent them at the resort.
- Ski goggles - Recommended if it's windy or cold.
Basic Rules and Guidelines:
- Ski boots are not permitted in tube parks so make sure you have normal winter boots with you if planning a combo ski/tubing day.
- All participants have to ride in their own tube (family tubes at Winsport in Calgary aside.) You can usually slide down together with friends or family members though by holding on to each other's tube.
- I personally would not recommend tubing as a "great activity" for pregnant women or for people with neck or back conditions. Other red flags "could" include recent surgeries, high blood pressure, or problems with vertigo/dizziness. Overall though, if you are healthy and can handle a bit of light jarring to your body, tubing is a lot of fun for the whole family.
- Every tube park has individual height/age restrictions that should be consulted before visiting the resort. Most tube parks do have slower lanes though, practice lanes for beginners, or a means of making your ride a bit slower if visiting with young kids.
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| The Sunny Tube Park at Lake Louise |
Below is an overview of the four tube parks located within an easy driving distance from Calgary.
The Servus Tube Park at Winsport's Canada Olympic Park, Calgary
Height and age requirements - The minimum height requirement is 36 inches tall. Children between 36 inches and 42 inches may tube with an accompanying adult in a separate tube, holding on to the child’s tube during descent. Children over 42” tall may tube on their own.
Also note that children under the age of 12 must be under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian at all times. That being said, I have sent my 8-year old son up the magic carpet on his own to slide down with his tube (while I supervised below with a hot chocolate) and have never gotten in trouble for it. I think the "key" is making sure you are actively at the sliding hill watching your kids at all times, and that you've made sure your child knows what he/she is doing, knows how to ride the magic carpet safely, and is going to listen to all instructions given by park attendants.
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| The Servus Tube Park, WinSport Calgary |
Cost - Tube Park tickets are $20 for an AM session, $25 for a PM session, and $25 over the holidays and all tickets must be pre-purchased.
Visit the Winsport website for tube park hours and all other information.
And note for 2021-22, spectators of the tube park require their own tickets. (So you might as well join in the fun mom and dad!)
Also know for 2021-22 WinSport has implemented the Alberta Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) in accordance with the City of Calgary’s Vaccine Passport Bylaw at our ski and snowboard recreation facility. Proof of vaccination is required for everybody 12 and over.
The tube park opens on December 18th for 2021. And watch for discount nights on select Fridays. Dates are available on the website.
What sets this tube park apart from the others - First, the Servus Tube Park is the largest of its kind of Western Canada. In previous winters they have had up to 12 sliding lanes.
Second, Speed! When I visited the park recently, I was clocking speeds of 50+km/hour.
Third, this is the only tube park I know of with its own snack/beverage bar on site with bathrooms at the base of the sliding hill. Winsport has definitely taken care of everything to ensure you'll be able to spend your full two hours in the park without having to leave for anything.
What I like best about this tube park - The Servus Tube Park is a great "intermediate" tube park after you've tried some of the more "mellow" ones such as Lake Louise or Nakiska. Head to Winsport when you're ready for some serious speed and a decent thrill! (Note they do have discs they can place under your tube if you'd like it to slide more slowly rather than racing down at 50+ km/hours.
My son has gotten a bit "spoiled" after trying out a variety of tube parks (multiple times) every winter. He still finds the Winsport park to be very exciting though and never gets tired of spending a half-day here. I can't say the same for some of the other beginner parks where he gets bored after a few runs.
The Servus tube park is a great "stand alone" park where you could visit WinSport just for the tube park and not feel like you had to have come for the skiing as well.
Finally, I love the new snack bar at the bottom of the park. It means that I can go grab a hot chocolate or coffee and "supervise" from the bottom of the hill once I've had my fill of sliding (because let's be honest, the kids could slide for hours!!)
Height and age requirements - Children must be 42" tall or 3+ years old with an adult (riding in their own individual tube.)
Cost - $21.95 for adults, $19.95 for youth (13-17) and seniors, $17.95 for children (5-12,) and free for children under 5 with a paying adult. Tube park passes are valid for a two hour period from your first scan.
Visit the Nakiska website for tube park hours and all other information.
What sets this tube park apart from the others - First, the Servus Tube Park is the largest of its kind of Western Canada. In previous winters they have had up to 12 sliding lanes.
Second, Speed! When I visited the park recently, I was clocking speeds of 50+km/hour.
Third, this is the only tube park I know of with its own snack/beverage bar on site with bathrooms at the base of the sliding hill. Winsport has definitely taken care of everything to ensure you'll be able to spend your full two hours in the park without having to leave for anything.
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| Snack bar at the base of the Servus Tube Park in Calgary |
What I like best about this tube park - The Servus Tube Park is a great "intermediate" tube park after you've tried some of the more "mellow" ones such as Lake Louise or Nakiska. Head to Winsport when you're ready for some serious speed and a decent thrill! (Note they do have discs they can place under your tube if you'd like it to slide more slowly rather than racing down at 50+ km/hours.
My son has gotten a bit "spoiled" after trying out a variety of tube parks (multiple times) every winter. He still finds the Winsport park to be very exciting though and never gets tired of spending a half-day here. I can't say the same for some of the other beginner parks where he gets bored after a few runs.
The Servus tube park is a great "stand alone" park where you could visit WinSport just for the tube park and not feel like you had to have come for the skiing as well.
Finally, I love the new snack bar at the bottom of the park. It means that I can go grab a hot chocolate or coffee and "supervise" from the bottom of the hill once I've had my fill of sliding (because let's be honest, the kids could slide for hours!!)
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| Sliding down the very fast lanes at the Servus Tube Park |
Wanidu Tube Park at Nakiska Ski Area, Kananaskis
Height and age requirements - Children must be 42" tall or 3+ years old with an adult (riding in their own individual tube.)
Cost - $21.95 for adults, $19.95 for youth (13-17) and seniors, $17.95 for children (5-12,) and free for children under 5 with a paying adult. Tube park passes are valid for a two hour period from your first scan.
Visit the Nakiska website for tube park hours and all other information.
Note prices above are from last year and have not been updated yet for 2021-22. An opening date also has not been determined.
And proof of vaccination is also required for all visitors 12+ for access to Nakiska this winter.
What sets this tube park apart from the others - If you have already purchased a lift ticket you can purchase a tubing ticket for an additional $10 for adult, senior & youth or additional $5 for children.
This makes for affordable family tubing and I'm now thinking we'll definitely hit up the tube park over the Christmas holidays. After all, at $15 for my son and I to add tubing on to our ski day, it's pretty affordable. (We'll just have to skip the lodge cupcakes and coffee!)
What I like best about this tube park - I think this is an excellent tube park for young children and "tube park newbies." There are only 3 lanes (and they aren't very long) so it's a good beginner experience that won't intimidate anybody. I'd personally bring my 3 year old child here before taking them to a larger park like Winsport.
I also like that the tube park is located right beside the beginner ski area (the bunny hill.) And, it's free to ski in the beginner area (with a special beginner pass from the day lodge.) Tubing would make for a great add on with young children who tire of skiing after an hour or two. (And could be a good treat or reward for good effort on the bunny hill.)
Other activities to enjoy in the area (aside from the obvious downhill skiing) - There is a normal sledding hill at the Village behind the Pomeroy Kananaskis Lodge (assuming there is enough natural snow for sliding.) There's also a small skating pond at the village. Come out for a couple hours of tubing and then go down to the village for a skate, a coffee in the Lodge and a short walk around the resort grounds.
Finally, you can add some cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or winter hiking to your day trip by exploring any of the trails starting from Kananaskis Village or Ribbon Creek down below. The trailhead for Troll Falls is a short drive from Nakiska as well.
Follow this link for more information on snowshoeing in Kananaskis.
Also check out Ten Reasons to Spend Time at Kananaskis Village this Winter.
Height and age requirements - Children must be 42″ tall and 4+ years to use the tube park. (note this is a higher age and height requirement than the other three area resorts.)
Cost - $42 for adults, $36 for youth (13-17) and seniors, and $28 for children (4-12.) Children under 4 years of age can not use the tube park. Tube park passes are valid for a half day session (morning, afternoon, or evening.)
It's highly recommended that you pre-book your session to the tube park.
Visit the Mount Norquay website for tube park hours and all other information.
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| Wanidu Tube Park at Nakiska Ski Area |
What sets this tube park apart from the others - If you have already purchased a lift ticket you can purchase a tubing ticket for an additional $10 for adult, senior & youth or additional $5 for children.
This makes for affordable family tubing and I'm now thinking we'll definitely hit up the tube park over the Christmas holidays. After all, at $15 for my son and I to add tubing on to our ski day, it's pretty affordable. (We'll just have to skip the lodge cupcakes and coffee!)
What I like best about this tube park - I think this is an excellent tube park for young children and "tube park newbies." There are only 3 lanes (and they aren't very long) so it's a good beginner experience that won't intimidate anybody. I'd personally bring my 3 year old child here before taking them to a larger park like Winsport.
I also like that the tube park is located right beside the beginner ski area (the bunny hill.) And, it's free to ski in the beginner area (with a special beginner pass from the day lodge.) Tubing would make for a great add on with young children who tire of skiing after an hour or two. (And could be a good treat or reward for good effort on the bunny hill.)
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| Gorgeous scenery at the Wanidu Tube Park in Kananaskis |
Other activities to enjoy in the area (aside from the obvious downhill skiing) - There is a normal sledding hill at the Village behind the Pomeroy Kananaskis Lodge (assuming there is enough natural snow for sliding.) There's also a small skating pond at the village. Come out for a couple hours of tubing and then go down to the village for a skate, a coffee in the Lodge and a short walk around the resort grounds.
Finally, you can add some cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or winter hiking to your day trip by exploring any of the trails starting from Kananaskis Village or Ribbon Creek down below. The trailhead for Troll Falls is a short drive from Nakiska as well.
Follow this link for more information on snowshoeing in Kananaskis.
Also check out Ten Reasons to Spend Time at Kananaskis Village this Winter.
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| Troll Falls near Kananaskis Village |
Mount Norquay Tube Park, Banff
Height and age requirements - Children must be 42″ tall and 4+ years to use the tube park. (note this is a higher age and height requirement than the other three area resorts.)
Cost - $42 for adults, $36 for youth (13-17) and seniors, and $28 for children (4-12.) Children under 4 years of age can not use the tube park. Tube park passes are valid for a half day session (morning, afternoon, or evening.)
It's highly recommended that you pre-book your session to the tube park.
Visit the Mount Norquay website for tube park hours and all other information.
The tube park opens on December 18th for 2021 and proof of vaccination is required for all users 12+.
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| The beautiful Mount Norquay Tube Park |
What I like best about this tube park - This tube park is a great "intermediate/advanced" park, so after you've tried some of the more "mellow" ones such as Lake Louise or Nakiska, head to Mount Norquay for some serious speed and a decent thrill! Mount Norquay has the longest tube lanes in Alberta as well!
As I said earlier, my son has gotten a bit "spoiled" after trying out a variety of tube parks (multiple times) every winter. He can definitely spend hours at this park though.
Finally, The Norquay park is a great "stand alone" park where you could visit Norquay just for the tube park and not feel like you had to have come for the skiing as well.
Read more here: Ski and Play at Mount Norquay in Banff
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| Family fun at Mount Norquay |
Other activities to enjoy in the area (aside from the obvious downhill skiing) - You'll be conveniently located near the Town of Banff if you want to add on to your day in the mountains with a visit to the hot springs, a ride up the Banff Gondola, or a walk on one of the town trails.
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| Hiking above the clouds at the Banff Gondola |
Sunny Tube Park, Lake Louise Ski Resort, Banff
Height and age requirements - Children must be at least 3 years old to ride in the tube park. And as with all tube parks, all children are the responsibility of their parents or guardians at all times. (even though it would be super tempting to sit on the sunny lodge patio with a beer while the kids were sliding!)
Cost - $35 for adults, $30 for youth (13-17) and seniors, $20 for children (6-12,) and free for children ages 3-5. Tube park passes are valid for the day.
A family pass for up to four people is $109.00. ($20 add on price for additional children.)
Seasons pass holders get FREE tubing.
Lake Louise Plus Card holders pay only $5 for a tubing day pass.
Other discounts are available if you have a valid lift ticket for the day or a Ski Big 3 Season pass.
Visit the Lake Louise website for tube park hours and all other information.
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| Tubing at the Sunny Tube Park, Lake Louise |
What sets this tube park apart from the others - This is definitely a tube park for skiers and snowboarders who already have a lift ticket for the day, a seasons pass for the resort, a Louise plus card, or another applicable pass or discount card. There are great discount deals to be had for affordable tubing (or even free tubing with your seasons pass.)
What I like best about this tube park - This is not really a "Stand alone" park where you'd drive to Lake Louise just for the tubing. I also can't imagine you'd spend more than an hour in the small sliding area. That being said though, I think this is an excellent tube park for young children and "tube park newbies." There are only 2 lanes (and they aren't very long) so it's a good beginner experience that won't intimidate anybody. I'd personally bring my 3 year old child here before taking them to a larger park like Winsport.
This is also a great alternative to Mount Norquay if you want to go tubing in Banff with smaller children (since kids have to be 4+ to slide at Norquay.)
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| Great scenery from the Sunny Tube Park at Lake Louise |
Other activities to enjoy in the area (aside from the obvious downhill skiing) - I highly recommend a guided snowshoe tour while at the resort if you are not a skier (or even if you are a skier but want to change it up for the day.)
You can read about our snowshoeing adventure at Lake Louise last winter here: Family Guide to the Lake Louise Ski Resort.
You can also purchase a sightseeing gondola / tubing combo package if you want to get up the mountain for some awesome views but don't want to go skiing or snowshoeing.
And for cross country skiers, I recommend reading Family Cross Country Ski Trips - Our Favourite Destinations Near Calgary
And check out this story as well - Family Cross Country Skiing at Lake Louise.
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| Snowshoeing at the Lake Louise Ski Resort |
Awesome info! We were considering taking our two-year old twins on a winter trip to the area, but we weren't sure what the age restrictions were for sledding. Do you think it'd be worth waiting until they were three or at least taller to make the most out of the trip?
ReplyDeleteHi Brandon, I don't know how far you are traveling from, but for sure the twins won't remember much of the trip at this age and it's always tricky finding family-friendly activities to do in the winter with young kids. You can go skiing if you've started the kids skiing (but otherwise, they'll likely be in day care while you're out on the hill.) Feel free to send me an email if you want at koob.tanya@gmail.com
DeleteTanya, Rockies Family Adventures