First Timers

Is it your first time skiing or snowboarding? Thank you for considering us to start your skiing/snowboarding journey! Here are some important things to know. We highly recommend booking a lesson if you have never been skiing/snowboarding before.

First things first, please read through the Alpine Responsibility Code. These are the “Rules of the Road” for ski hills.

  1. Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid people or objects.
  2. People ahead or downhill of you have the right-of-way. You must avoid them.
  3. Stop only where you are visible from above and do not restrict traffic.
  4. Look uphill and avoid others before starting downhill or entering a trail.
  5. You must prevent runaway equipment.
  6. Read and obey all signs, warnings and hazard markings.
  7. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
  8. You must know how and be able to load, ride and unload lifts safely. If you need assistance, ask the lift attendant.
  9. Do not use lifts or terrain when impaired by alcohol or drugs.
  10. If you are involved in a collision or incident, share your contact information with each other and a ski area employee.

We are located at 10980 17 Street NW in the Strathcona Science Provincial Park in the river valley nestled between Edmonton and Sherwood Park. We have a large parking lot with an overflow parking lot next to the tubing hill. However, when we are busy over holidays and for events, our parking can be limited. We always recommend arriving early for scheduled lessons, tubing, and tickets. When you arrive at the hill, you can head to the front desk or a lift ticket kiosk if you purchased your lift tickets in advance. Our guest services team is happy to help you with lessons, rentals, lift tickets, and more!

We highly recommend booking a lesson if you have never been skiing/snowboarding before. Booking a lesson will help you gain confidence both on the hill and on the lifts. Starting a new sport can be scary and this is your best shot on building habits that last!

We have private lessons, drop-in Discover group lessons (weekends only) and 3 day Discover group lesson camps available. We recommend you book your lessons in advance to ensure a spot. You can view our private lesson availability here and our group lesson availability here.

Everyone on the hill must have a lift ticket, even if you didn’t plan on using the lifts. Trust us, you want to use the Thunder Snail (100ft) and SunRunner (300ft) carpet lifts when you’re learning.

  • The first option would be a Bunny Hill only lift ticket. ($27 in person or $22.95 online) This will permit you access to the front facing hill (everything you can see from the parking lot) which includes all three carpet lifts.
  • The next option would be a full-day or 4-hour lift ticket. These tickets allow you all over our hill (except the tubing hill) including the use of our two chairlifts.
    We recommend you have a lesson or spend at least 3 days on the Bunny Hill before you move to the larger runs and chairlifts. This is for everyone's safety, including yours.
  • Finally, when you book a lesson with Sunridge, your full-day lift ticket is included.

We offer ski and snowboard rentals for full-day or 4-hours. This includes your skis/snowboard, ski/snowboard boots, your helmet, and ski poles if you want (we don’t recommend using poles until you’re a blue level skier.) Rentals purchased with a lesson are for the full-day.

Helmets are strongly recommended for all guests on the hill. Helmets are mandatory in lessons, for school groups, and in the terrain parks and ski-cross.

We have two chairlifts at Sunridge; the Coal Miner triple chair and the Parkview quad chair. You are required to be wearing ski/snowboard equipment and have a lift ticket to ride the lifts.

Your first time on the chairlift can be scary so here are some tips and tricks to help you.

  • Stand off to the side and watch other guests load the chair.
  • Before you get up to the chairlift, remove pole straps from your wrists and hold them in one hand. Snowboarders should have their back foot out of the binding.
  • Ask for help! Our ticket checkers and lift operators can show you how to safely load.

Have fun! - You are going to fall and maybe be cold. But skiing/snowboarding is the best thing to do in the winter! Be prepared to fall in love with the sport.

Our final advice.

  • Don’t take yourself too seriously. Everyone on the hill had a day one that looked exactly like yours!
  • Wear waterproof gloves
  • Dress in layers and make the top layer waterproof.
  • Be safe and stay in control.

General Information

Sunridge Ski Area is conveniently located just east of Edmonton and the North Saskatchewan River. With easy access from both Yellowhead Trail and Anthony Henday Drive, we’re quick and convenient to reach from Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, St. Albert, and surrounding communities.

Yes, Sunridge offers free parking! However, on busy days like holidays and race weekends, parking may be limited. We always recommend showing up early for any pre-bought tickets or lesson programs to ensure you have enough time to find parking.

Our early season hours are:

  • Mon - Fri: 5pm to 9pm
  • Sat & Sun: 9:30am to 5pm

Our regular season hours are:

  • Mon - Fri: 9:30am to 9pm
  • Sat & Sun: 9:30am to 5pm

Operating hours can vary due to season, weather conditions, and holidays. Stay up to date on our current hours by checking out the hours page on our website or social media channels before visiting.

A status report on our current conditions and which trails are open is updated daily on our website here.

Walking or hiking is NOT permitted during the winter season. The only exceptions are:

  • If you wish to walk beside or assist your child without wearing ski or snowboard equipment, you may only do so on or beside the Thunder Snail (100 ft) carpet lift and you must have a $5 walking ticket which can be purchased at reception (limit one walking ticket per child). Due to safety concerns and capacity restrictions, walking tickets may be limited or unavailable on specific dates and times.
  • If you wish to watch your child from the base of the Bunny Hill, then you must have a Spectator ticket. These tickets are FREE and can be picked up at reception. Spectator lift ticket holders are not permitted to walk on the Bunny Hill or use the carpet lifts and you must be wearing appropriate on-snow footwear.
  • If an event is taking place (ski race, terrain park event) and there is a designated spectator area, then you must have a Spectator ticket. These tickets are FREE at reception. Spectators must be wearing appropriate on-snow footwear and are limited to the designated walking paths and spectator areas that are marked during the event.

There are cubbies located throughout the chalet and rental shop for your belongings. However, we do not have any lockers available. We recommend you leave all of your valuable belongings in your vehicle.

Pets are permitted in the parking lot and in spectator areas. (Spectating tickets are required and can be picked up for FREE at the front desk.) All pets must be on leashes and kept under control. Pet owners are required to clean up after their pets.

Pets are not permitted in the chalet. We do permit service animals in all areas excluding ski lifts and ski trails open for skiing.

Smoking is prohibited on the ski hill, in lift lines, on the lifts, on the deck, and in the chalet. Smoking/vaping is allowed in the parking lot only.

Yes, Sunridge has a lost and found and will keep all lost items for at least 2 weeks. Due to the high volume of lost and found each year, we cannot keep all lost and found items at our hill.

Sunridge is not responsible for any damage or theft from the lost and found.

Lift Tickets and Passes

Purchasing lift tickets in advance is not required; however, you can save by purchasing your lift ticket online ahead of time. Lift tickets are only required to be purchased in advance for special events such as Light Up the Night.

We do highly recommend purchasing tubing tickets in advance, as availability is limited and sessions often sell out ahead of time.

We do not offer family day tickets, however, our six-packs are fully transferable and can be used all on the same day. Check out our six packs here.

Our four-hour lift tickets can be purchased online or in-person at guest services. The four-hour lift ticket begins at the time it was printed so you are not limited to morning only or afternoon only.

No. Season passes are non-transferable and may only be used by the passholder. Any passholders caught sharing their season pass will lose their season pass for the season.

Visit the guest services team to see if the pass has been returned. If the pass has not been returned, you may get your pass reprinted for $20.

You can check out our lift ticket and season pass refund policy here.

Rentals

Everyone who is renting MUST have a rental waiver completed before they can receive their rentals. If the rentee is under 18 years old, a parent or guardian must complete the waiver for them. Rental waivers are available on our website in your account or you can complete the waiver at one of our waiver kiosks outside of the rental shop.

No, you cannot rent ski boots only as our certified rental technicians cannot twist your personal bindings to fit our ski boots. Skis only rentals are allowed.

Yes, off-hill rentals are available. To start your off-hill rental process, stop by our guest services team to pay for your off-hill rentals and provide a $300.00 pre-authorization per rentee.

No, the only equipment we offer for rentals is:

  • Skis
  • Snowboards
  • Boots
  • Helmets
  • Poles

Lessons

Yes, pre-booking is strongly recommended as we have set 3-day lesson camps that often sell out. Private lessons are also highly recommended to book in advance as they fill up quickly.

Children as young as 3 years old can join our parent and tot lessons or private lessons.

When you arrive at the hill you will need to visit a kiosk or the guest services desk to receive your lesson lift ticket (even if you have a season pass.) If you purchased rentals with your lesson, you will then head into the rental shop to pick up your rentals.

Once you have your lift ticket and rentals, you will meet our on-snow coordinator at the “Snow School Meeting Area” sign by the deck.

Snow Tubing

No, only the tubes provided by Sunridge are permitted on the tubing hill.

You must be 4 years or older and at least 42 inches tall to go tubing independently. Children 2 and 3 years old may ride in their own tube while tethered to an adults tube.

Helmets are highly recommended. You can bring your own (snowsport, hocket) or rent one from our rental shop for $16