Whether you travel to Jasper in winter for fantastic skiing at Marmot Basin or visit in summer to hike and enjoy the natural beauty, you will be awestruck by the beauty of the area. Plan on a minimum of two to three days no matter what time of year you visit so you can experience the area to the fullest.
AM PM Limo has provided professional private transportation from both Calgary International Airport and Edmonton International Airport to Jasper National Park since 2010. As a result, we have encountered some common questions that many travelers ask when planning their visit.
The town of Jasper is a true winter playground, without the crowds you get at Banff and Lake Louise – mostly because it’s just that much harder to reach in winter.
Go skiing and boarding at Marmot Basin
For our readers’ convenience, here are the top 5 most frequently asked questions about skiing in Jasper, answered all in one place for easy reference
Q: Is Marmot Basin only for skiing?
A: This popular ski resort also offers snowboarding, and lessons for all experience levels. Additionally, there are other activities to be enjoyed in Jasper National Park. These include riding the Jasper SkyTram, hiking trails, canoeing, kayaking, ice climbing, rock climbing, wildlife viewing, sightseeing and more. (See below for detailed information.)
Additionally, the town of Jasper is only a short 25-minute drive away, and offers many hotels, restaurants & resorts for visitors to enjoy.
Q: What is the terrain like at Marmot Basin Ski Resort?
A: Marmot Basin has the highest base elevation in the majestic Canadian Rockies. Marmot offers 1,675 acres of accessible natural terrain as well as 3000-foot vertical drop. Furthermore, there are multiple features to delight winter enthusiasts of all ages. For more information about the resort and terrain, visit the Marmot Basin website.
Q: How many runs does Marmot Basin have?
A: Marmot Basin has 91 named runs on four mountain faces. Winter enthusiasts enjoy two terrain parks with a wide variety of boxes, rails, jibs, jumps, groomers, trees, bumps, alpine bowls and chutes. The resort is serviced by 7 ski lifts, including 3 high-speed quads, for a total lift capacity of nearly 12,000 skiers.
Skiing at Marmot Basin
The town of Jasper is a true winter playground, without the crowds you get at Banff and Lake Louise – mostly because it’s just that much harder to reach in winter.
Skating in Jasper
There are a couple of fantastic outdoor rinks. At the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge the public can access the 1 km loop on Mildred Lake. Enjoy beautiful views along with firepits where you can warm up.
Above the town on Pyramid Lake – just across from Pyramid Lake Resort, there is scenic skating on a large, shoveled section of the lake. The public are welcome.
Skating the Mildred Lake Loop
Go snowshoeing
There is a diverse array of trails in and around Jasper. Just be sure you go prepared with extra clothing, a thermos of something hot to drink and energy bars.
Near Medicine Lake try the easy snowshoe to Beaver Lake. If you have the time and energy continue to Summit Lakes – a 9.6 km return outing. At Medicine Lake there is also the option to snowshoe up Watchtower Canyon. It is utterly gorgeous.
On the Pyramid Bench there are several days worth of snowshoeing available on a maze of well-signed trails. Sometimes you may have to share with a fat tire bikers.
Don’t miss a section of the Valley of the Five Lakes Trail, accessible from the Icefield Parkway. At one of the five lakes you can enjoy a red chair moment.
Snowshoeing beside Medicine Lake
Do the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk
The one outing you must make time to do is the ice walk up Maligne Canyon. You can do it as part of a tour. That way you have all the right equipment and a guide that will give you lots of background information. There are even night tours. The other possibility is to do it on your but for safety reasons you should rent some microspikes or icers so you don’t slip on the ice.
The walk takes you up Maligne Canyon to a frozen waterfall where you might see ice-climbers in action. The canyon walls and ice formations are simply spectacular.
There is parking off Maligne Canyon Road near the 5th Bridge or up near the Maligne Canyon Restaurant.
Incredible views from inside Maligne Canyon in winter
Go cross-country skiing
There are places around Jasper where you can go for a quick jaunt, like the easy trails near the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge but longer options like the 15 km return ski on the Pyramid Lake fire road are also possible.
In the Athabasca Falls area you can ski to Leach Lake and enjoy views of Mount Kerkeslin. If you do any tours in this area, be sure to take the time to visit Athabasca Falls. You will need 30 minutes to an hour to walk all the trails and gawk at the power of the river.
Another possibility west of Athabasca Falls is to ski the groomed cross-country ski trail along Moab Lake to a set of red chairs. There is a 7 km and 15 km option.
Try fat biking
Rent a fat bike in town or at the Fairmont and head off to bike the large network of trails in the Pyramid Bench area or the easy trails around Old Fort Point, on the east side of the Athabasca River.
You can pack a lot into just a few days in Jasper – perhaps before of after a trip to Banff and Lake Louise.
People come to Jasper in summer for the scenic boat trip to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake, for wildlife viewing, the SkyTram, fantastic hiking, paddling along with a trip to the Miette Hot Springs.
Visit Spirit Island
Spirit Island in Maligne Lake is one of the most photographed places in the world. Book the 90-minute Maligne Lake boat cruise – called the best boat cruise in Canada by millions. It’s also possible to rent a canoe or kayak and paddle down to the island but you should be well prepared if you do that as the lake is glacially cold.
Maligne Lake scenery
Ride the SkyTram
Whip up Whistler Mountain on the SkyTram in just 7.5 minutes to experience the alpine environment – on foot – or simply by enjoying a view, perhaps with a view.
The View from the Jasper SkyTram
Soak in the Hot Springs
The Miette Hot Springs are a solid hour’s drive from Jasper via a winding road into the Fiddle Valley. Hop from pool to pool depending on what temperature you’re after. But be warned – this is one of the most popular activities in Jasper National Park.
The Miette Hot Springs
Take a hike
The hiking around Jasper is superb. Some of the top day hikes include Bald Hills, Geraldine Lakes, Opal Hills, Indian Ridge (accessed from the SkyTram) and the Sulphur Skyline. Angel Glacier and the Cavell Meadows – especially if you catch wildflower season would also be worthwhile.
The pretty Cavell Meadows hike
Wildlife viewing
Wildlife is also plentiful in Jasper in the summer. If you drive the road to Medicine Lake the chances are remarkably high, you’ll see something – especially elk and bears. There are wildlife viewing tours that can be arranged once you reach Jasper.
Go for a paddle
Jasper is home to a number of lakes and the Athabasca River. You can paddle the local lakes with Pyramid Lake an excellent choice as they rent boats onsite. You can also rent canoes at Maligne Lake. At the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge you can rent SUP’s, kayaks, canoes and pedal boats.
Paddling on Pyramid Lake
Q: How long is the drive from Calgary to Jasper? And Edmonton?
A: The driving time from Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Marmot Basin Ski Resort in Jasper National Park is approximately 5 hours. The town is about 430 km northwest of the city.
From the Edmonton International Airport, it takes four hours in good weather to cover the 400 km.
AM PM Limo provides expert chauffeurs as well as luxury transportation for travelers in Calgary, Edmonton and throughout Alberta. Our courteous, professional drivers are thoroughly trained for navigating the region’s roadways, in even the harshest of weather conditions. Our mission is to ensure that you reach your destination safely, on time and in complete comfort.
Here’s what you get with AM PM when you reserve your ride to / from Marmot Basin:
Rates for transportation to/from Calgary & Marmot Basin Ski Resort, Jasper National Park
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Chauffeured luxury vehicle suited for smaller groups of 2-4 passengers. |
$975 |
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Spacious yet elegant, and great for tours & excursions. Ideal for groups of 4-6 passengers. |
$1,150 |
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Spacious interior, luggage space and ease of boarding/exiting the vehicle make this the ideal transportation for 10-13 passengers. |
$1,150 |
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Ample space for up to 24 passengers to ride in comfort, with extra luggage room at the rear and in overhead bins. |
$1,500 |
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Dodge Ram Truck Stretch Limousine The first of its kind in Alberta! A Dodge Ram pick-up stretched to limousine proportions, with the half-ton rear-end enclosed for storage space. The roomy vehicle interior comfortably accommodates up to 16 passengers. |
$1,549 |
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The ultimate mode of transportation for groups of 18-30 passengers. Custom lighting effects, state-of-the-art sound system and plenty of room for moving around in the interior make this ride as extraordinary as the destination. |
$2,200 |
If you have additional questions or would like to book your ride to/from Marmot Basin Ski Resort, call the helpful reservation specialists at AM PM. Of course we are available at any time of day or night at: 403.475.5555.
We look forward to helping make your Marmot Basin ski trip as exciting (and hassle-free) as it can be!