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Why a Canadian Ski Resort Stays Open 30 Minutes Later in the Spring

Originally posted on Powder | By Matt Lorelli | Last updated Mar 19, 2025 1:49 PM ET

Spring is one of the best times to be a skier. With longer days, higher sun angles, and still plenty of chances for new snow, it's hard to complain.

Most ski resorts keep the same operating hours throughout the entirety of the season, regardless of the changing hours of daylight.

The standard operating procedure in North America for non-night skiing resorts is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but Banff Sunshine Village, one of Canada's largest and most popular resorts, is switching things up this spring season, and skiers are stoked.

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Beginning this past Saturday, March 15, 2025, Sunshine is keeping all lifts open an extra 30 minutes through Monday, May 19, 2025. Instead of closing at 4 p.m., all lifts will run until 4:30 p.m., and The Jackrabbit lift will run until 5 p.m.

The move is appreciated by skiers who yearn for more time on snow and are frustrated when lifts close at 4 p.m., despite the sun not setting until much later.

"The slopes are sunny and the village après vibes are impeccable. With over 12 feet of cumulative snowfall to date, we are springing into the final stretch of the season," writes Banff Sunshine Village. "That's over 2000 bonus skiable minutes added to your season! Ski why spring shines during Canada's Best Spring Skiing and Snowboarding at Banff Sunshine Village."

Banff Sunshine Village.Photo: EyesWideOpen/Getty Images

Banff Sunshine Village has benefited from a flurry of recent snowstorms. The resort has recorded 34cm (13 inches) of new snow over the last seven days, and 440cm (173 inches) total on the season.

An extra 30 minutes of operations might not seem like a lot on paper, but for local skiers looking to squeeze in a few extra turns each afternoon, it's a godsend.

The extra operating time comes at the perfect time of the year. March and April is when higher sun angles and longer stretches of daylight work their magic to produce every skier's second favorite type of snow— corn.

If you're heading up to Banff Sunshine for afternoon laps, consider following the sun and working on your goggle tan. Make the most of those valuable extra minutes on snow while you can!

Anecdotally, I sneak out to my local hill in the afternoon whenever I can. An extra 30 minutes of lift operations would negate the 30 minutes it takes me to drive to the hill, boot up, and hop on my first lift.

Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, an independent ski area between Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada, is leading the charge on extended hours. The ski area keeps some of its lift spinning until 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the spring.

Considering Mt. Rose is just a 20-minute drive from Reno, it makes sense that hundreds of skiers would take advantage of this bonus time each week.

Here's hoping more ski areas and resorts follow Banff Sunshine and Mt. Rose's lead.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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