The owners of Nakiska Ski Area have announced plans for it open for summer activities in the area, starting in 2027.
The plans, from Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR), include mountain bike trails, walking and hiking trails, serviced by the existing Silver Chairlift, and a 970-metre-long roller coaster that will operate out of the winter tubing area in front of Nakiska Day Lodge during the summer and winter.
RCR describes the gravity-assisted roller coaster as combining “the thrill of riding an urban amusement park roller coaster with the outdoor alpine backdrop,” while putting the rider in control of the speed to allow them to experience the thrill of racing down the slopes at their own pace.
Nakiska Ski Resort will be among a growing number of ski hills installing slides, including Revelstoke Mountain Resort and Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, which is scheduled to open one this spring, after the ski season.
Courtesy: Grouse Mountain Resort
Former mountain bike pro and master mountain bike trail designer Matt Hadley, who is based in Canmore, has been contracted to help design the mountain bike trails, which RCR says will be built to industry best practices from the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) and Whistler Trail Standards.
Nakiska Ski Resort, located within the Evan Thomas Recreation Area, about 100 kilometers west of Calgary, opened in 1986 and hosted the alpine skiing events for the 1988 Winter Olympics.
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The RCR says all new activities being planned will take place within the existing Nakiska lease area, which is on Crown land designated for recreational use.
In December 2025, Alberta government announced the creation of three new all-season tourism areas in the provinceincluding Nakiska, Castle and Castle, which will be the first on provincial lands in Alberta.
The provincial government claims that all-season resorts can help relieve pressure from the recent boom in national park visitors by providing alternative recreational opportunities.
However, environmentalists and wilderness protectors have expressed concerns about the impact that increased human use will have on both the environment and wildlife populations.
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