Ski Jasper at Marmot Basin

One of the main reasons for people to visit Jasper during the winter is to take advantage of the fantastic skiing and snowboarding at Jasper’s own ski resort, Marmot Basin, just 20 minutes from downtown.
Although not quite as well known as the ski resorts in Banff National Park, Marmot Basin holds its own on the international stage, and has a loyal following of skiers and snowboarders who return year after year to take advantage of the uncrowded slopes, varied terrain, and the pristine wilderness of Jasper National Park.
Marmot Basin’s 86 trails offer an even distribution of beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain, making it a perfect ski destination for a mixed ability family or group of friends who may wish to ski different runs but still easily meet for coffee, lunch or even ride the same chairlifts.

Beginner to novice skiers and boarders will enjoy the gentle wide green runs from the School House T Bar or the longer green runs from the top of the Eagle Express Quad Chair.
Intermediates may head straight for the new Canadian Rockies Express Quad Chair which in just eight minutes will give you 2000 vertical feet of mostly blue and green runs back down to the base, or find more blue terrain from the Caribou Chair, the Eagle Ridge Quad Chair, and even the Knob Chair.
Advanced skiers and snowboarders will not be disappointed with the selection of black diamond bump runs, chutes and ungroomed bowls found throughout the upper mountain, and the steep treed terrain in the Eagle East area will be challenging even for the experts.
The Terrain Park is conveniently located so that it can be accessed by skiers and riders of all ability levels, and the selection of jumps and rails is better than ever.
Anyone requiring tuition will be impressed by the range of lessons and the quality of instruction offered by the ski and snowboard school, and if you need to rent equipment there is a well equipped rental shop at the base of the ski area.
If you don’t have a car, there is a ski shuttle from all the major hotels, and for a great deal on a hotel in Jasper including ski pass, you may wish to consider a discounted ski package.
Whether you visit for one day or one week, once you’ve been to ski Jasper there’s a very good chance you’ll be back for more!

Winter Sightseeing Tours

Jasper National Park is a magical place during the winter months and once you’ve made the journey to Jasper it’s well worth taking the extra step to get out and about and discover the Canadian Rockies, while taking part in fun winter activities along the way.
Sundog Tours offer a variety of winter excursions to suit all levels of adventure. Their Half Day Train Tour includes a one way train journey to Harvey, BC, followed by a guided journey back to Jasper by road on the Yellowhead Highway, and the Wildlife Tour will take you in search of Canadian Rockies fauna while viewing spectacular scenery in Maligne Valley. Active visitors will enjoy viewing stunning Maligne River ice formations on the Canyon Ice Walk, or mushing your own team of dogs on a Dog Sled Tour near Valemount, BC, and the Jasper to Banff Tour is a fantastic way to view all the major sights along the Icefields Parkway, where you can choose to be dropped in Lake Louise, Banff, or return to Jasper.
To find out more about these tours and for reservations, visit www.sundogtours.com.

50cm Powder Day at Marmot Basin!

Skiers and snowboarders in Jasper have been treated to phenomenal early season snow conditions at Marmot Basin. Today there was 50cm of fresh snow awaiting anyone who was willing to take a few hours off work, and you can be sure that plenty of Jasper locals did just that. One long-time local told us that today was the best skiing he had ever experienced in Jasper, which for mid November is quite a statement! Having opened for the season on November 11th, Marmot Basin is reporting a total of over 85cm in the last 7 days, which should set up the Jasper ski resort very nicely for the coming season.
With all the new snow, and the distinct lack of crowds at this time of year, now could be the perfect time to look closely at some of the early season Jasper ski packages.

Ski Season is Almost Here

It’s an exciting time for skiing in Jasper. In less than 2 weeks the local ski resort, Marmot Basin, is planning to open for the 2009/10 ski season. The tentative opening day is November 11th, and the start of the season will be more eventful than usual thanks to the brand new high speed quad chairlift.
The Canadian Rockies Express will be the longest high speed detachable quad in the Alberta Rockies and will transport skiers and riders from the base of the mountain to the area at top of the Paradise Chair in less than 8 minutes.
The slopes and lifts at Marmot basin were already uncrowded, and the addition of the new lift will mean even more time spent skiing and snowboarding than before.
According to their snow report, on October 29th there’s already 32cm of snow at mid mountain and 50cm in the upper mountain.
Excellent!

Hiking in Jasper Alberta

Jasper National Park is home to some of the most outstanding hiking trails in Canada. The hiking trails in Jasper are usually much quieter than in Banff National Park, and in a short amount of time you can find yourself in true mountain wilderness.
Some of our preferred short hikes include Maligne Canyon, and the Patricia Lake Circle, and if you are out for a full day hike you could try Opal Hills or the Cavell Meadows Loop. For a muti day backpacking experience, the Tonquin Valley is a wonderful destination for a 3 day hike.
Get full details on hikes in Jasper at the Parks Canada website.

Jasper Raft Tours

For anyone looking for an adrenalin filled day, you can’t beat the Jasper whitewater rafting experience, and who better to provide that experience than Jasper’s Whitewater Rafting Ltd. Choose between 3 tours – two at Class 2 white water rapids on the Athabasca River and one at Class 3 on the Sunwapta River. The tours last between 2 to 3.5 hours and include licensed guides plus all necessary equipment.
For more information and reservations, visit www.whitewaterraftingjasper.com.