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SCOUT REVIEW

Sunshine Mountain Lodge is a fantastic option for skiers who love staying right on the mountain. The hotel is located at Sunshine Village’s resort base, which means it is just a gondola ride up the mountain.

A stay at Sunshine Mountain Lodge is certainly going to be a relaxing one. Since Sunshine Village doesn’t have a true ski village, and since this is the only accommodation on the mountain, your options are pretty well limited to skiing, eating, sleeping and soaking in the 40 person hot tub (Banff's largest outdoor hot tub!). You don’t need to drive anywhere and getting to the lifts each morning is as easy as walking out the front door.

Staying here is certainly a unique experience since you can only access the lodge via a gondola. To do this, you can either valet park your car at the gondola base, or catch a shuttle from Banff. Then you can jump in the gondola while your luggage is whisked up the mountain – which will be magically waiting for you in your room when you’ve finished the day’s skiing.

Many of the rooms are in the located in the part of the building that’s 20 years old, and therefore have a traditional ski lodge feel throughout. Many offer a good choice of view; either the spectacular Mountain Views or ‘Waterfall’ Views – which we think actually have a very pleasant, peaceful outlook onto snow-covered fir trees. These deluxe rooms boast a queen bed and single trundle. The Lodge Suites are a little nicer, and more spacious with a nice living area, fireplaces, balconies, and fantastic views of the mountain through floor to ceiling windows. They also feature a king bed, with a sleeper sofa available in a few of the units.

The West Wing (a separate building to the Main Lodge) has some fantastic updated rooms called Premier Rooms. Furnishings have a modern alpine feel with upgraded amenities, and boast a queen bed (and second murphy bed if needed), and private ground floor patio which allows you to ski right up to your room! The Loft Rooms in the West Wing are our top choice - featuring stunning views of Lookout Mountain through wonderful floor to ceiling windows. Each unit boasts a king bed in the loft and private bath, with an additional queen bed and queen murphy on the main floor. These rooms are perfect for families!

The facilities at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge are perfectly fine for a short stay. There’s a huge 40 person outdoor hot tub, a small gym, a lounge, a family room and kids game room to keep the little ones entertained each evening. There is also an on-site day spa for massage treatments. The lodge also offers a good choice of complimentary activities to guests, including use of snowshoes and toboggans, and has large ski lockers.

There are a handful of restaurants to choose from including Eagle's Nest Canadian Bistro, The Chimney Corner, and Mad Trappers Smokehouse, so the lodge is perfect for families who are happy to dine in-house restaurants on rotation. On Friday nights, you can head into Banff for the evening and catch the 10 p.m. last gondola back to the lodge. A shuttle bus is available to take you to and from the town of Banff. 

Sunshine Mountain Lodge is a top choice for families in Banff who seek ski-in ski-out convenience, and a more intimate stay away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Banff.

Who should stay here