Medicine Lodge Ski Area

2 words. “Natural” “Snow”. Medicine Lodge Ski Area is arguably one of the most unique resorts I have seen during my journeys. Since this resort does not man-make snow, they rely completely on mother nature to operate the ski area. That being said, even when they do get new snow, they refrain from doing too much grooming since they are hesitant to take away from the hill’s natural state. I was lucky enough to have gotten some fresh snow the night before my visit to Medicine Lodge and it made for some of the best turns of the year for me.

Medicine Lodge Ski Area is located 11 kms west of Bentley, AB and 15 kms south of Rimbey, AB. They have 1 main Tbar, 2 handle tows, 11 total trails and just under 500 vertical feet. Families and kids are their majority customer which contributes to their friendly, small town atmosphere. Management at Medicine Lodge actually base their operating hours around the school schedule to give kids ample opportunity to get out and ski. They also run school programs during the week and open up the hill to the public on teachers’ ‘Professional Development’ days.

New this year is the “Medicine Lodge Learn to Ski Program”. This program is for those ages 6-10 and runs 3 Saturdays in a row from 10:30-12:30pm. It includes a full day lift pass, full day rentals and 1.5 hours of instruction. For more information on these lessons call 403.350.9411.

What you may not know about Medicine Lodge

Medicine lodge has everything you need for an enjoyable day of skiing. They have a full rental shop, a day lodge, a concession and qualified ski instructors, for those who have never been out before.

The concession does not have a deep fryer! For those who are looking for a healthy alternative to concession food while out on the hill, Medicine Lodge is your answer. They have daily fresh soups and chili if you are seeking a little homemade taste.

Top 5 reasons to visit Medicine Lodge

1. Price

The prices at Medicine Lodge are very affordable. A full day adult lift ticket will cost you only $23 and a seasons’ pass is only $176. Rentals are reasonable as well since a full ski outfit (15 and older) will run you only $22 for a full day. For more information on rates and rentals call 403.748.2025.

2. Friendliness

From the moment you walk in the doors you can feel the friendly atmosphere at Medicine Lodge. Everyone here knows each other and it almost feels like its own small town. Numerous people offered to take me out and show me around the hill and everybody says hello as they walk by. If you haven’t had the chance to be a part of the Medicine Lodge atmosphere then I suggest you do it soon, you won’t regret it!

3. Natural snow

Not everything is groomed. Operators do not groom all terrain at this resort even after a fresh snowfall. They groom only enough area to provide a solid ‘learn to ski’ area and leave the rest of the hill untouched and natural. If you like to ride through powder and loose natural snow then Medicine Lodge Ski Area is the place for you.

4. Location

Medicine Lodge is located very close to several Alberta towns. Red Deer is only 40 minutes away and the towns of Bentley, Rimbey, Sylvan Lake, Ponoka, Rocky Mountain House and Lacombe are all within a reasonable distance of this hill. It provides a great option to residents of these communities that don’t want to make the long journey out to the Rocky Mountains.

5. Rental shop

There is an awesome rental shop here with 110 pairs of skis, 20 snowboards, 130 pairs of ski boots and 110 pairs of snowboard boots. If you haven’t quite committed to purchasing your own gear yet and want to learn before you buy, Medicine lodge has a great rental shop that can get you outfitted and on the mountain in a hurry.

Congratulations to Taryn Heagy who was our Go Big! Contest winner and took home a pair of lift tickets for Medicine Lodge Ski Area. Also a big thank you to Motel 6, Red Deer for providing my accommodation during my visit to Medicine Lodge Ski Area.

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