Sunshine Mountain Lodge in Banff, Canada

SDBanff Hotels › Sunshine Mountain Lodge Review
Updated: May 11, 2021
By Santorini Dave

Essentials
• Location: Sunshine Access Road.
• Hotel website: sunshinemountainlodge.com
• Hotel phone: 403-762-6500
Check prices on Booking.com

Review of Sunshine Mountain Lodge in Banff, Canada.

All-weather mountain lodge accessible via gondola only featuring bright, spacious, and modern rooms, several dining options, Banff’s biggest outdoor hot tub, and regular free shuttles to Banff.

Sunshine Mountain Lodge – Mountain-top boutique hotel with family-friendly rooms.

This hotel is in remote wilderness at Sunshine Village Ski Resort, a short drive from Banff, and can only be accessed by gondola. It is Banff National Park’s only ski-in/ski-out hotel, now open year-round. Summertime is popular for romantic getaways and those seeking a bit of adventure. Notably, the hotel features the largest outdoor year-round hot tub in Banff. There are numerous hiking trails at your doorstep and hiking guides are available for reasonable charges. The lodge has several on-site restaurants, including two that are modern and upscale and located in the Main Lodge, as well as a tavern-style bar/eatery. The rooms are modern, clean, and comfortable and offer terrific views. In winter, in addition to world-class skiing and snowboarding, the hotel also offers snowshoe tours and tobogganing.

See Also

Sunshine Mountain Lodge – Location

  • Area: 8 km west of Banff (20-minute drive). Located at Sunshine Village Ski Resort and accessed by gondola only.
  • Address: 1 Sunshine Access Road.

Sunshine Mountain Lodge – The Basics

  • Ages: Guests of all ages are welcome. Cribs and playpens are available. Daycare (winter only), kids menus in all restaurants, and large family and activity rooms.
  • Pet Policy: No pets allowed except service dogs.
  • View: Rooms at the front of the hotel (West Wing and Main Lodge) overlook the ski runs, while rooms at the back offer alpine forest views.
  • Private Pools/Jacuzzis: The Premier Kings and Lofts have jetted tubs in the West Wing. Some suites in the Main Lodge have jetted tubs and steam showers.
  • Laundry: Limited laundry services.
  • Parking: Complimentary outdoor parking at the gondola base.
  • Extras: Complimentary shuttle from the gondola base to the Banff town center runs every hour during the day (evenings also on Friday). Hotel staff handles all checked luggage before guests board the gondola. Complimentary gondola and lift tickets, complimentary equipment locker in the West Wing, and dressing rooms at the base check-in area for guests wanting to hit the slopes immediately on arrival.
  • When to Book: Booking 2-4 months in advance is recommended.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: +1-877-542-2633/403-762-6500
  • Email: reservations@skibanff.com
  • Website: sunshinemountainlodge.com

Sunshine Mountain Lodge – Amenities

  • Pool: No pool. Banff’s largest outdoor hot tub. Indoor sauna and cedar-lined dry sauna.
  • Spa: Verde Day Spa in the Main Lodge offers basic treatments like massages and facials.
  • Fitness Center: Small, basic fitness center.
  • For Disabled Guests: Fully accessible property with multiple accessible rooms.

Sunshine Mountain Lodge – Food and Drink

  • Restaurants: Eagle’s Nest Canadian Bistro – Upscale and modern with an elegant vibe. In the Main Lodge. Dinner only. • The Chimney Corner – Upscale, modern, and casual restaurant and lounge. Open for breakfast and dinner only. In the Main Lodge. • Mad Trapper’s Smokehouse – Tavern-style pub with an outdoor patio on the 2nd floor balcony. In the cabin next to the Main Lodge.
  • Winter-only Restaurants: Creekside Bar + Grill – Pub-fare, specials, theme nights, and live music. In the Creekside Lodge. • Goat’s Eye Grill – Burgers, hot dogs, salads, and fries. In the Goat’s Eye Lodge. • The Alpine Grill – In the Lookout Lodge in the village. • Restaurant el Lookout – Italian menu, including large selection of vegetarian dishes. In the Lookout Lodge. • The Sunshine Burger Company – Small burgers and hot dogs joint, with a couple of vegetarian options as well. In the Lookout Lodge.
  • Cafés: Java Lift Coffee Bar – Café offering Starbucks coffee and snacks in the Main Lodge. • First Tracks Café – Bagels, paninis, sandwiches, coffee, and beer. In the Creekside Lodge. ● Java Station – Located in the creekside lodge next to the gondola base. • Java Express – In the Lookout Lodge.
  • Bar/Lounge: Mad Trapper’s Smokehouse and The Chimney Corner are also lounges.
  • Breakfast: Not complimentary.
  • Room Service: In-room menu available.

Sunshine Mountain Lodge – Rooms

  • Room Types: West Wing Loft Rooms • West Wing Premier Rooms • Main Lodge Suites • Deluxe Balcony Rooms • Deluxe Waterfall Rooms • List of all Rooms
  • Smoking Rooms: Sunshine Mountain Lodge is 100% smoke-free.
  • Best Room: The West Wing Loft Rooms offer 3 double beds, 2 ensuite bathrooms (1 with a jetted tub), a gas fireplace, and stunning views.
  • For Families: Adjoining rooms are available in both buildings. All West Wing rooms have 3 double beds and 2 bathrooms. Family and activity rooms, cribs and playpens, and complimentary activities such as snowshoe tour of Banff village and tobogganing. After hours at Mad Trapper’s for adults.

Sunshine Mountain Lodge – The Hotel

The hotel has 2 buildings.

The hotel consists of two buildings: the Main Lodge, which is the original hotel, and the West Wing (pictured), a newer addition next to it.

The big lobby is in the main building.

The lobby is located in the Main Lodge.

The base of the gondola houses many facilities.

The base of the gondola has several facilities including the hotel check-in area, the Bourgeau Lodge, and Sunshine Village’s executive offices.

The gondolas offer panoramic views.

This is the view from the gondola from the parking lot at the Sunshine Mountain base to the hotel and the bottom of the ski runs.

The chairlift goes all the way up to the mountain top.

Ride the chairlift in the summer, just steps from the hotel, to the mountaintop (elev. 7,875 feet) for amazing views with the option to hike to 4 pristine alpine lakes. Afterward, hike down to the hotel or if you prefer, ride the chairlift down.

Eagle’s Nest Dining Room offer high-end dining.

Eagle’s Nest Dining Room is an upscale, casually elegant restaurant.

Deluxe Waterfall Rooms are cozy and comfortable.

Deluxe Waterfall Rooms are located at the back of the hotel where your view is alpine forest and a small creek running alongside the hotel. No balcony.

West Wing Loft Rooms are large and comfortable.

West Wing Loft Rooms are large and bright with a modern décor and rustic atmosphere.

The rooms have 2 double beds.

They come with two double beds, one on the main floor and the other in the loft.

The bathroom is spacious and has a bathtub.

The modern bathroom is on the main floor and has a bathtub.

Main Lodge Suites with Balcony have King beds.

Main Lodge Suites with Balcony are located in the Main Lodge and feature King beds.

The suites feature fireplaces and sofas.

Each spacious room has a large sofa beside the fireplace.

Bathrooms have shower-tub combos.

The bathrooms are modern and come with shower-tub combos.

The kids' room has large couches and big TV.

The kids’ room is in the Main Lodge and features comfortable couches and a big screen TV.

Chimney Corner Lounge is a big sports bar.

Chimney Corner Lounge is a large sports bar in the Main Lodge.

Trapper's Tavern is very popular.

Trapper’s Tavern is a traditional ski lodge, especially popular with the après-ski crowd.

The hotel's outdoor hot tub is Banff's largest.

The hotel has Banff’s largest outdoor hot tub.

The hotel offers free hourly shuttle service to Banff.

The hotel’s complimentary shuttle to Banff departs every hour from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm and returns from Banff every hour. Friday night’s service is extended into the evening.

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.