The Canadian Rockies are magnificent and exciting to visit any time of year but particularly in the winter. When the mountains are covered in snow and the trees have a thick layer of frost, there is a certain magic in the mountain air. One of the best places to experience the winter magic the Canadian Rockies offer is Jasper and skiing is one of the best winter activities there. The boarding and skiing in Jasper at Marmot Basin is incredible.
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Jasper Skiing Video
Related: If you’re looking for fun things to do in the Canadian Rockies, check out our post about hiking Grotto Canyon in winter.
Jasper in January
Jasper has a plethora of activities to enjoy and places to explore in the winter. Every year in January they hold a winter festival called Jasper in January. This winter festival celebrates the beauty and many activities in Jasper and is a great time to explore and enjoy the small mountain town located in the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. We went to the opening weekend of Jasper in January and had a blast taking part in all of the festivities! Besides additional activities, there are some great deals on hotels and skiing in Jasper during the festival.
Side Note: Check out this hilarious ski mask. Perfect for the woman or man who has always wanted warm facial hair!
Jasper Skiing at Marmot Basin
Skiing in Jasper is a highlight of any visit to the Canadian Rockies. Marmot Basin has the highest base elevation of any Canadian Ski Area and is an incredible mountain to enjoy a day (or a week) on the slopes.
With almost 1000 meters (3000 feet) elevation change and 1720 acres of terrain, Marmot Basin offers something for everyone. There are seven lifts servicing 91 runs including groomed runs, trees, bumps, alpine bowls, chutes and terrain parks. Marmot Basin is open six months of the year (November to May). And with over 450 cm of powder averaged per season, there is amazing skiing in Jasper all winter long.
A Wide Variety of Terrain
It had been a while since our last time on the slopes, so we were feeling a little rusty. Fortunately, Marmot Basin has a wide variety of green and blue runs suitable for warm up. It also has plenty of double blacks for those who don’t need any warm up when skiing in Jasper.
Rentals and Lessons
There are group lessons and private lessons to help improve your Jasper skiing skills. There are also equipment rentals right on the hill. For the more advanced, there are programs and clinics offered to help you to get to know the mountain even better and fully experience the variety Marmot Basin has to offer.
On-Mountain Amenities
Marmot Basin also offers many great amenities on the mountain. There are 5 separate dining options including 2 cafeterias, 2 sit down restaurants and a coffee bar. The Eagle Alpine lodge is really cool as it is located mid mountain and is a great space to stop part way through a run for a snack, bathroom break or just to cozy up to one of the fire pits. The Caribou Chalet is another great dining option and is located at the base of the mountain. The Caribou Chalet offers brunch until 11:30 which is very reasonably priced and quite filling. We had brunch there at about 11:00 AM and really enjoyed it!
Once you experience skiing Marmot Basin, you will want to come back again and again. We had a blast and you will too!
Activities for Non-Skiers
Those that aren’t into Jasper skiing will want to check out the many other activities on offer. There are ice walks, hiking, tons of wildlife to see, snowshoeing, fat tire biking, sleigh rides, dog sledding, evening concerts and more. Jasper is also a dark sky preserve so you will be able to see some of the best night skies ever!
Jasper in January is an exciting festival and a great time of year to enjoy all that Jasper has to offer! For more information about visiting Jasper, visit the official tourism website.
Related: Jasper is beautiful in winter. Read our article Jasper in Winter – 12 Stunning Photos.
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