A SKI WEEKEND IN JASPER, ALBERTA

Last updated: October 30, 2024

Every winter season, ski and snowboard enthusiasts head to Western Canada’s ski resorts to enjoy some awesome skiing or snowboarding. One of my favourites to spend a Ski Weekend is Marmot Basin Ski Resort near Jasper, Alberta.

The small town of Jasper is within Jasper National Park. At 11,228 sq km (4,335 sq miles), it’s the largest national park inside the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

This place sits on traditional lands of the Beaver, Cree, Ojibway, Shuswap, Stoney, and Métis Nations. Besides, it is one of the 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Canada.

About 5,000 people live here year-round, but up to 12,000 seasonal workers live here each winter. Besides, in 2023, the readers of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine voted Marmot Basin as the third best ski resort in Canada in their annual Reader’s Choice Awards!

Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks.

Marmot Basin Ski Resort

General Information about the Ski Resort

Address: 1 Marmot Rd, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada

This ski resort is a 25-minute drive south of Jasper. According to its website, it has the “highest base elevation of any major Canadian ski area”, at 1,698 meters (5,570 ft). The summit is at 2,612 meters (8,570 ft)! That’s why it’s open longer than other ski resorts, from mid-November until early May.

On average, more than 440 cm (14.4 ft) of fresh snow falls every year.

This area covers 1,720 acres, and skiers and snowboarders can choose from seven lifts and 91 runs for all abilities.

The terrain consists of groomed runs, tree runs, moguls, powder runs, alpine bowls and chutes. If you’re into even more excitement, check out their two terrain parks, with jumps, rails, boxes, and jibs!

I’m a beginner, so I prefer to ski the green (novice) and some blue runs, which have helped me improve my skills a lot! I like to take the Canadian Rockies Express Lift all the way to the top, then ski back down until the base (bottom), ready to do it all over again!

View from the Canadian Rockies Express Lift and a map of ski runs at Marmot Basin.

Food & Beverage Facilities at Marmot Basin

If your legs need some rest, stop at one of the food and beverage facilities. You can just leave your skis or board at one of the racks outside next to these spots, which is very convenient!

We’re having lunch at the Cariboo Chalet at the base of the mountain, which has a bar and grill, and café area. Or you can stop mid mountain at Paradise Chalet for a rest. There’s a nice outdoor sitting area, so you can watch these magnificent mountains while sipping a drink!

But as in many places popular with tourists, the prices can be quite high, so if you’re on a budget, bring your own food and drinks instead. You can find more details about these facilities here.

Retail Store, Rental Shop & Little Rascals Nursery

But of course, Marmot Basin Ski Resort offers more than just skiing or snowboarding and eating, lol! You can also buy tons of gear at the Outdoor Limits Retail Store and rent equipment at the rental shop, which are at the base of the mountain.

Besides, this is a great spot for families, as there’s the School House Chair and Learning Area, and lessons can be booked for kids and adults. The Little Rascals Nursery is open as well (for kids from 19 months to six years). It’s open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays from 8:30 am to 4 pm.

Events at Marmot Basin Ski Resort

Marmot Basin Ski Resort hosts a ton of fun events each season, such as Demo Days, Ski with Jasper the Bear, and the Jasper Pride & Ski Festival. Please find more info about upcoming events here.

Admission Cost & Ski Lift Tickets

Here are the full day lift ticket prices during the 2023/24 season:

Adult (18-64 years): C$ 139.00

Senior (65-79 years): C$ 112.00

Youth (13-17 years) and students from 18-24 years (with ID): C$ 112.00

Adaptive ski pass: C$ 112.00

Junior (6-12 years): C$ 49.00

“Mites” (children under 6 years) and “Super Seniors” (80+) are C$ 5.00.

In 2021, Marmot Basin made the move to RFID ski passes and tickets, so visitors get a card during their first visit of the season. You’re supposed to put it into the left sleeve pocket of your jacket and it will be scanned automatically before entering the lift. This card can be used all season long.

You can also purchase lift tickets at the Marmot Sales Centre in downtown Jasper (611 Patricia Street,  Jasper, AB T0E 1E0), or at the Guest Services Office at the base of mountain.

Photo credit: @Celinparadise

Marmot Basin can get very busy on weekends, especially if there’s a special event going on. So if you’d like to escape the crowds, it’s best to visit on a weekday.

Special Deals & Directions to Marmot Basin Ski Resort

If you’re a local who comes to Marmot Basin a lot during the season, you should look into the Marmot Escape Card. It allows you to ski for half price, all season long! You’ll also get discounts when paying for food or drinks, or renting equipment on site, as well as certain accommodations in Jasper.

You can also buy a regular Seasons Pass at Marmot Basin Ski Resort.

If you don’t have a car, you can get from Jasper to Marmot Basin and back with the Marmot Ski Shuttle bus (at C$ 22 plus 5% tax roundtrip), or book a taxi with Cariboo Cabs or Mountain Express Taxi & Limousine.

If you’re driving, you can just park at one of the four parking lots inside the resort right next to some runs! So all you need to do is put on your skis or snowboard, and get crackin’!

Marmot Basin is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm and the resort facilities close at 5 pm. If you’re interested in current snow and weather conditions at the resort, please find their Weather Forecast and Snow Report here.

Was Marmot Basin Ski Resort affected by the Jasper Wildfire?

Thankfully, Marmot Basin Ski Resort wasn’t affected by the Jasper Wildfire in summer 2024. So preparations are in full swing for the resort opening in mid-November!

Unfortunately, the wildfire destroyed 30% of buildings in the town of Jasper. When I went to Jasper in mid-October 2024, some restaurants and shops were still closed. So I recommend checking what’s open in Jasper before your visit.

Where to Stay in Jasper

I highly recommend staying in Jasper for a night or two. This small town has a great selection of accommodations, including hotels, hostels, and Bed & Breakfasts. Here are my two favourite places to stay in Jasper:

The Astoria Hotel

Address: 404 Connaught Drive, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada

The Astoria Hotel is the place to stay in town if you like historic accommodations, that are also close to shops and restaurants. First opened in 1925, it’s been family-owned ever since.

It’s hard to miss from the outside, because of its unique building style. But don’t worry, while this boutique hotel has an antique vibe, it’s not outdated at all.

Guests can book queen, twin, king, or mountain view rooms. The rooms have a fridge, smart TV, en-suite bathroom, and free wifi, and it is very clean.

Partial King bed room, and the antique room phone (it still works!) 😀

Jasper Downtown Hostel

Address: 400 Patricia St, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada

The Jasper Downtown Hostel is perfect for budget-minded travelers of all ages, but also families, who like a great value accommodation. This place has dorms (mixed and female only) for 7-8 guests, and private rooms, with private or shared bathrooms. I stayed in a female dorm and private room before, and I love that it has a fireplace!

The private rooms can accommodate 2-5 guests, and they have bunks, queen, twins, and queen/bunk bed combinations to choose from. Like other hostels, the Jasper Downtown Hostel has a full kitchen, lounge, lockers, and laundry facilities for guests to use.

Here’s a great overview of what this hostel offers, video credit of Jasper Downtown Hostel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0F6xlJTVic

Where to Eat & Drink

Same as other touristy places, Jasper has tons of cafés and restaurants to offer. Here are some places we checked out during our visits:

Lou Lou’s Breakfast & Pizzeria

Address: 407 Patricia Street, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada

Lou Lou’s Breakfast & Pizzeria is a smaller and a bit more budget-friendly restaurant in Jasper, but the food is very tasty! There’s a great selection on the menu. We ordered a Meatlovers’ Pizza and Pineapple and Mushrooms Pizza.

Gluten-free pizza is available as well, but unfortunately, I didn’t see any vegan pizza options. They also have salads, poutine, pasta dishes, burgers, and wings on their menu.

The De’d Dog Bar & Grill

Address: 404 Connaught Drive, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada

The De’d Dog Bar & Grill is right next to the Astoria Hotel! You can choose between many comfort food options, like Shepherd’s Pie, chicken wings, burgers, sandwiches, but also salads and a Buddha Bowl.

I’m having the latter, which is perfect for a healthy pick-me-up after a long day of skiing or boarding! After dinner, grab a drink and challenge your friends to a pool tournament! They also have live music quite often.

One Sushi Japanese Restaurant

Address: 622 Patricia Street, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada

One Sushi Japanese Restaurant is a perfect spot if you love sushi and other Japanese and Korean food! For Korean food, you can order Yangnyeom Crispy Chicken, Chibab, Dak-Gangjeong, and more!

We tried the Crazy Girl Special Roll, Veggie Teriyaki with tofu and rice, and Avocado Roll. Everything was to die for and the calm vibe of the restaurant and super friendly staff were just another bonus!

Fiddle River Restaurant

Address: 620 Connaught Drive, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada

While this rather classy restaurant is great for seafood, fish, or meat lovers (e.g. chowder, fish cakes, salmon, mussels, and steak), the Fiddle River Restaurant has a very small veggie selection as well.

I ordered their vegan Fiddle Veggie Bowl (Lentil and rice bowl with grilled veggies and chickpea fritters with a black olive and tahini dressing) and it was really yummy! Their desserts are really good, too! I hope that they’ll add more veggies entrées with time.

Directions to Jasper

If you’re driving, there are three different ways to get to Jasper:

From Calgary, take Highway #1 towards Banff, then travel north until you reach the Icefields Parkway (Highway #93). Then just keep going straight ahead and it’s about a 5-hour drive.

From Edmonton, keep following Highway #16 westbound, which takes about four hours.

From Kamloops, take Highway #5 North, then turn right at Highway #16 (eastbound) at Tête Jaune Cache. It’s about a 5-hour drive to Jasper.

The closest international airport is Edmonton (YEG).

If you don’t have a car, you can book a bus ticket with Thompson Valley Charters from Kamloops (Mondays and Thursdays) or Edmonton (Tuesdays and Fridays). It stops at the Via Rail Station in downtown Jasper.

SunDog Tours also offers daily bus service from Edmonton to Jasper and back. They also provide transportation from/to Calgary from October 2024 to April 2025.

Lastly, Via Rail Canada also goes to Jasper, so if you have time, hop on “The Canadian” from Vancouver to Toronto (or vice-versa). It goes either way twice a week and there’s also a train from/to Prince George and Prince Rupert three times a week.

Wrap Up on Spending a Ski Weekend in Jasper

Jasper, Alberta is the a great spot to spend a Ski Weekend. From awesome skiing or snowboarding to a great selection of hotels and restaurants, Jasper will have you covered.

So hopefully, I’ve inspired you to Spend a Ski Weekend in Jasper someday 🙂

If you’re visiting Calgary on your trip to Alberta and love cats, check out this blog post:

Pawsome Times at the Regal Cat Café.

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