Established in ? the Canadian ski resort Fortress Mountain lies at 2040 metres altitude in the Alberta region of the Canadian Rockies. With the highest lifts and ski slopes at 2369m the area is not snow sure. Over ? snow cannons ensure artificial snow making covers ?km of trails, which equates to around 60 of the slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Fortress Mountain is Calgary at a distance of 113km or approximately ? minutes driving time. Their season runs from November to May.
SNO-man says
Full-service ski area located 45 minutes from the facilities of Canmore and close to the Nakiska Ski Centre. The base area complex at Fortress Mountain is situated at an altitude of 2040 m (6,692 ft), the highest in the Alberta Canadian Rockies. This lofty elevation ensures Fortress an annual snowfall 630 cm (21 ft) and a ski season that stretches from early November until late April. Fortress Mountain is thus often the first Alberta Mountain ski area to open for the winter and is the pre-season training site for the Canadian National Freestyle ski team. The casual and relaxed resort offers wide-open cruising as well as serious bumps.
Beginner Trails ![]() |
?% | Intermediate Trails ![]() |
?% |
Advanced Trails ![]() |
?% | Expert Trails ![]() |
?% |
View our detailed Fortress Mountain snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Fortress Mountain snow history.
Beginners | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Intermediate | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Advanced/Expert | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snowboarders | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Apres Ski | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Family/child Friendly | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snow-Sure | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ambience | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Value for money | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lift Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | C$? - C$? |
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Resort Opens | Nov 2020 |
Resort Closes | May 2021 |
( snow conditions often influence opening/closing) |
Downhill Runs | ?km |
total length of Fortress Mountain trails | |
Longest Lift-Served Run | 2km |
longest piste or trail reachable by lift | |
Slope Orientation | ? |
direction Fortress Mountain area faces | |
Top Altitude | 2369m |
top station of highest lift | |
Bottom Altitude | 2040m |
bottom of lowest run | |
Resort Altitude | 2040m |
centre of Fortress Mountain ski resort | |
Vertical Drop | 329.7m |
total descent from top lift to bottom piste | |
Skiable Vertical | ^v 329.7m |
can include extra hike up above top lift | |
Nearby resorts: |
The mountain has ?% beginner runs or nursery slopes, ?% intermediate, ?% advanced slopes and ?% for experts - the most difficult piste is the ?km ? run, with a steepness/slope angle of ?%. There is no night skiing.
Rating for skiing gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Rating for snowboarding gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Off-Slope activities include:
SNO-man says
Rating for apres ski gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
The Canadian resort is also known as -"Friendly Fortress" and has common misspellings:
The direction which the various Fortress Mountain slopes face can make or break your ski holiday. To guarantee good snow conditions, choose a resort with piste which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February pick a resort with sunny south facing slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a resort with cool and shady north facing trails will ensure you're not riding on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best destinations have areas which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating conditions whatever the weather. Fortress Mountain has slopes facing ?.
Rating for snow gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Fortress Mountain day and evening care plus snow ski schools and babysitting.
Special programmes are available for Kritters (3 to 5 year olds) with extra emphasis put on fun as they learn to ski. Kids from 6 to 12 years will learn ski area safety as well as new skiing skills. Youths from 13 years join the adults for ski lessons which last one and a half hours. Kritters and Kids lessons are for one hour. Snowboard lessons are available for kids from 6 years and up. Special clinics for adults are available in mogul skiing, snowboarding and powder skiing. Fortress Ski and Snowboard Club offers fun for the whole family with ski and snowboard programmes, development clinics and club socials. Programmes are for aged 4 and up. The Southern Alberta Freestyle Club teaches all 3 disciplines of Freestyle skiing - moguls, aerials and acrobatics.
3 stars out of 5 overall
Fortress Mountain shopping - fashion boutiques, outdoor gear and food shops
The Ski and Snowboard Shop at the base area let you test drive some of the best brands on the market, for one hour, with the best price guaranteed if you decide to buy. Fortress also has a Rental Shop with high performance skis, snowboards, cross-country and free-ride equipment all available. The Repair Shop offers tune-ups, base repair, boot fittings, binding adjustments and hot waxing.
Fortress Mountain value for money gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Fortress Mountain hire shops - overview of all shopping in Fortress Mountain
The Ski and Snowboard Shop at the base area let you test drive some of the best brands on the market, for one hour, with the best price guaranteed if you decide to buy. Fortress also has a Rental Shop with high performance skis, snowboards, cross-country and free-ride equipment all available. The Repair Shop offers tune-ups, base repair, boot fittings, binding adjustments and hot waxing.
Fortress Mountain ski rental shops value rating gets ? stars out of 5 overall
Fortress Mountain ski school - snowboarding course & skiing lessons
The official ski/board school is called Fortress Ski School and has ? teachers teaching in English and taking students from a minimum age of 4.sales@skifortress.ca www.skifortress.com 5917108
Fortress Mountain for beginners gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Fortress Mountain for intermediates gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Fortress Mountain for expert skiers gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Fortress Mountain for snowboarding gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Fortress Mountain snow sports - off slope winter mountain sports
Cross Country Skiing (langlaufen) in Fortress Mountain: 160km X C ski trails, Lessons available? Y
Easy XC Ski Trails: 160km Intermediate XC Trails: 0km Difficult XC Trails: 0km
Telemark Tuittion: N Telemark Rental 0 Paragliding schools: 0
Snow mobile Rental: 1 Toboggan Run Length: 0km
Fortress Mountain snow fun - off slope winter activities
Outdoor Ice Rink: 0 Indoor Ice Rink: 0 Balloon Flights: 0
Prepared Winter Walks: 0 Snowshoeing: 0 Hang Gliding : 0
Snow mobile Rental: 1 Toboggan Run Length: 0km Paragliding schools: 0
Fortress Mountain non skiing facilities also include Ice Sculpture, (Facilities in nearby Canmore).