Lake Louise opened the Richardson’s Ridge expansion for the 2025-26 season.The expansion lift became Lake Louise’s third new Doppelmayr detachable in five years.View up the line at tower 5.Doppelmayr stats sign.Tower 1 adjacent to the bottom terminal.View back toward Larch at tower 6.Rodomg up the line at tower 8.Nearly flat middle section of the line.Tower 15.View back toward Larch and Paradise lifts.Tower 16.Arriving at the return terminal.Unloading area.View from the summit.Tower 18 and the upper station.The final few towers.Looking down the line at tower 16.Tower 15 seen from above.Middle part of the line.Tower 13.T12.Tower 10 above Larch.View up at T11.Steepest part of the line below tower 7.Hold down tower 5.The first few towers.View up from the bottom terminal.Name on the side of the UNI-G station.Agamatic grip.Another view of the top station.Side view of a tower head.90 degree loading.Expansion area seen from Larch.Lift line overview.Base station tucked along the Pika trail.UNI-G drive station.Lift overview.Long maintenance rail and work carrier.Tall tower 4.Carrier with foot rests.Crossarm on tower 15.Upper station overview.This expansion also opened hike-to terrain above the top station.Side view of the return.Tower 3.Lower station just above Temple Lodge. A future surface lift may connect the two.
10 thoughts on “Richardson’s Ridge Express – Lake Louise, AB”
WH2OSHREDDER.February 19, 2026 / 7:15 pm
Thanks for these stunning pictures Peter. I have yet to ride this lift, but it looks beautiful. Interesting note to have that maintenance/parking rail, none of the other lifts built since 2020 have it (beside Pipestone and its parking barn). What’s the hike-to-terrain, I have not seen anything on the new map?
Castle got a very cold few days in the weekend, so that could have affected the lift. they said on the snow report that they had to perform cold weather tests.
Although it may feel “backcountry”, just like all of the other backside lifts at the Lake, you can access RRE from the base in one lift ride via the Grizzly Gondola.
This is an interesting change of how Doppelmayr built this lift compared to Juniper not too far away especially. Juniper had exclusively Canadian and Euro Towers with the hockey-puck footrests, while Richardson’s has regular EJ Chairs with the more comfier T-Footrests, only one Canadian Tower whilst the rest are American.
The tower choice depends entirely on manufacturing availability. Since Summit, Pipestone and RRE have regular footrests, I am convinced the resort used the “pucks” on Juniper for beginner comfort and safety. I would not be surprised if Sunnyside Express ends up getting them too this summer when it’s built.
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Thanks for these stunning pictures Peter. I have yet to ride this lift, but it looks beautiful. Interesting note to have that maintenance/parking rail, none of the other lifts built since 2020 have it (beside Pipestone and its parking barn). What’s the hike-to-terrain, I have not seen anything on the new map?
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Yeah, doesn’t look like anything on the map. Are you heading to Castle next Peter?
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Was planning to but I just found out Stagecoach Express is going to be down tomorrow so I will have to come back another time.
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That’s weird considering it just opened. Why is it down? Maintenance?
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Castle got a very cold few days in the weekend, so that could have affected the lift. they said on the snow report that they had to perform cold weather tests.
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Just found out in the news roundup. Stagecoach is getting a new motor.
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This is practically a backcountry lift with how far removed from the base area it is.
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Although it may feel “backcountry”, just like all of the other backside lifts at the Lake, you can access RRE from the base in one lift ride via the Grizzly Gondola.
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This is an interesting change of how Doppelmayr built this lift compared to Juniper not too far away especially. Juniper had exclusively Canadian and Euro Towers with the hockey-puck footrests, while Richardson’s has regular EJ Chairs with the more comfier T-Footrests, only one Canadian Tower whilst the rest are American.
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The tower choice depends entirely on manufacturing availability. Since Summit, Pipestone and RRE have regular footrests, I am convinced the resort used the “pucks” on Juniper for beginner comfort and safety. I would not be surprised if Sunnyside Express ends up getting them too this summer when it’s built.
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