Castle Mountain Resort

{{short description|Ski resort in Alberta, Canada}}

{{Infobox ski area

|name= Castle Mountain Resort

|logo= Castle Mountain Resort Logo.svg

|picture=

|caption=

|location= Municipal District of Pincher Creek No. 9, Alberta, Canada

|nearest_city= Pincher Creek, Lethbridge

|coordinates = {{coord|49|19|01|N|114|25|49|W|type:landmark_scale:50000|display=inline}}

|vertical= {{convert|853|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|top_elevation= {{convert|2377|m|ft|abbr=on}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.goski.ca/ski-resorts/Alberta/Castle-Mountain-Resort-Stats.asp|title=Castle Mountain - Ski Hill Statistics|author=GoSki|access-date=2008-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108170456/http://www.goski.ca/ski-resorts/Alberta/Castle-Mountain-Resort-stats.asp|archive-date=2008-01-08|url-status=dead}}

|base_elevation= {{convert|1453|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|skiable_area= 3500+ acres{{Cite web|url=http://www.skicastle.ca/mountain-stats.cfm |title=Castle Mountain Stats |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615071448/http://www.skicastle.ca/mountain-stats.cfm |archive-date=2013-06-15 }}

|pushpin_map = Alberta#Canada

|pushpin_label_position = top

|pushpin_relief = y

|number_trails= 94+

|longest_run= {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}}

|liftsystem= 6 (4 chairlifts, 1 T-bar, 1 carpet lift)

|lift_capacity=

|terrainparks= 2, 1 beginner park, 1 big hit park

|snowfall= {{convert|8.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|snowmaking= Yes

|nightskiing= No

|external_link= [http://www.skicastle.ca Castle Mountain Resort]

|}}

Castle Mountain is a ski resort located in the Westcastle Valley of southwest Alberta, Canada in the Rocky Mountains. It is approximately {{convert|260

|km|mi}} from Calgary and the Calgary International Airport; {{convert|140|km|mi}} from Lethbridge; and {{convert|50|km|mi}} west of Pincher Creek. The resort is renowned for long steep runs and an average {{convert|8.5|m|ft}} of snowfall yearly.

Despite the name, Castle Mountain Resort is not actually on Castle Mountain, which is about {{convert|240|km|mi}} away within Banff National Park. The name is derived from the Castle Rivers, and the nearby Windsor Mountain. Windsor Mountain was originally named by the Blakiston group of the Palliser Expedition as Castle Mountain, within days of the naming of the Banff peak by the Palliser group of the Palliser Expedition. The name was changed to Windsor Mountain due to its shape and visible 'towers', which are still named as the Castle Peaks, which resemble Windsor Castle.

The resort maintains 94 ski trails including 8 alpine bowls, with 10% beginner, 30% intermediate, 40% advanced, 20% expert terrain. Six lift systems with vertical rises from 445 to 50 m with the highest vertical being 863 m, are operated on the slopes of Mount Haig and Gravenstafel Ridge.

Castle Mountain Resort was opened in 1966. It was the site of the 1975 Canada Winter Games.