Jasper, Alberta sits in Canada's largest Rocky Mountain national park and delivers genuine winter appeal. The town centers around Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, a 700-acre property on Lac Beauvert that recently renovated its cabins and rooms with forest and sky-inspired décor.
Guests access winter activities directly from the lodge grounds. Lake Mildred offers a 0.6-mile frozen skating surface, while 16 miles of groomed Nordic trails cross the snow-covered golf course. Embark Outpost & Provisions, located downstairs in the main lodge, provides complimentary rentals for ice skates, cross-country skis, snowshoes, and toboggans.
For downhill skiing, a regular shuttle connects the lodge to Marmot Basin, a 1,720-acre alpine resort spread across open bowls and gladed forests with 91 runs. The remote location means fewer crowds than other Canadian Rockies resorts.
Beyond skiing, SunDog Tours departs directly from the lodge for canyon icewalk experiences through Pleckaitis Canyon. The tour reveals frozen geology, with participants strapping on ice cleats to walk past ice floes and icicles cascading down cliff walls.
Jasper marks the holiday season early. For three decades, the Fairmont has hosted Christmas in November, a multi-day event featuring Food Network chefs leading masterclasses, tastings, and seasonal workshops. The lodge also hosts cookie-decorating, Santa's Cabin visits for children, and a lakeside ice bar during the main Christmas and New Year's period.
The town itself features twinkling lights, a Christmas artisan market, and a Holiday Mug Trail connecting iconic spots around Jasper.