You could call it «Lake Lindsey» in honour of the great American ski racer Lindsey Vonn, but Lake Louise is open to everyone as a jewel of Canada's Banff National Park.
This spectacular ski resort west of Calgary sits amid the breathtaking scenery of the Rocky Mountains and has three times been named Canada's Best Ski Resort at the World Ski Awards.
Vonn, the most decorated ski racer of all time, certainly feels right at home here. Of her 43 World Cup downhill victories, 14 came at Lake Louise, along with another 4 wins in super-G.
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But with 4,200 acres of skiable terrain and 30 feet of light, dry powder snow each year, Lake Louise is hardly the exclusive preserve of decorated Olympians.
Here's what you need to know about Lake Louise:
The Ski Area
It sits roughly 112 miles (180 kilometres) west of Calgary, in the province of Alberta, Canada, and 36 miles (60 kilometres) west of Banff. Calgary International Airport is just a two-hour drive from Lake Louise.
First opened by Canadian skiing pioneers in 1931, Lake Louise boasts 145 marked runs and 10 lifts, with sweeping views across the stunning Bow Valley to the ridge that marks the border with British Columbia.
There's something for everyone here, from gentle beginner slopes and tree-lined intermediate runs to wooded gullies and powder bowls in pristine surroundings.
Thanks to its unique layout, the top of every lift offers runs for skiers of all abilities.
The ski area is divided into three sections: the Front Side, home to the bulk of the runs beneath Whitehorn Mountain (8,652 feet/2,637 m); the smaller, wooded Larch area; and the chutes and steeps of the Back Bowls, a favourite with experts.
From top to bottom, the ski area drops 3,250 feet (991 metres), with the longest run stretching five miles (eight kilometres).
All told, the ski area breaks down into 25% beginner runs, 45% intermediate and 30% advanced.
The mountain has more than 11 dining spots, including the Lodge of Ten Peaks and Whiskey Jack Lodge in the main base area, Temple Lodge around the mountain in Larch, and the Whitehorn Bistro near the top of the Glacier Express lift on the Front Side.
Not far from Lake Louise lies Banff itself, a historic mountain town famous for its hot springs.
Above Banff sits Sunshine Village ski resort, with its notorious freeride zone known as «Delirium Dive», and a short distance away is Mount Norquay. Together with Lake Louise, they make up the region's «SkiBig3».
What Else
Well-heeled visitors will want to stay at the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, a luxury resort hotel that started life as a single-storey log cabin in 1890, overlooking the piercing emerald waters (in summer) of Lake Louise itself.
For everyone else, the quiet village of Lake Louise and its surroundings, 15 minutes below the resort, offer a range of places to stay, from cosy bed-and-breakfasts to luxury lodges.
The Post Hotel and Spa is rated the best restaurant in town by TripAdvisor, followed by the Walliser Stube at the Chateau Lake Louise.
Skoki Lodge is a remote backcountry retreat with a main building and three cabins sleeping 26, an authentic, historic base for skiing, climbing, hiking and fishing.
The good news for skiers and snowboarders is that winter is the low season at Lake Louise, which means prices don't go through the roof.
In summer, crowds flock here for hiking and time in the great outdoors, and that goes for the grizzlies too.
