Marmot Basin
Marmot Basin sits inside Jasper National Park, far quieter than the better-known Banff resorts thanks to its position deep in the Canadian Rockies. The base sits at 1,698 metres, the summit reaches 2,612, and the only sounds at the bottom of a run might be a passing elk or a distant pair of caribou.
Pistes and lifts
Run counts and piste kilometres are indicative. Green runs only exist in France, Spain, Andorra, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Japan, the United States, Morocco, Algeria, Lesotho, South Africa, Egypt, Canada, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Chile; Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Germany start at blue. Indicative average snow depth near the top of the resort, in cm.
There is no ski-in/ski-out lodging at Marmot Basin at all. Jasper National Park rules keep the base car-park only, so every visitor drives or shuttles the nineteen kilometres up from Jasper townsite each morning. The reward is a mountain that empties out by 4 pm and a national-park town to come back to.
Get to know the resort
Marmot Basin spreads 7 lifts across 1,675 acres in one of the most protected landscapes in North America. The lower mountain offers long, confidence-building blue cruisers down to the main lodge, the middle station opens onto wide intermediate ridges, and from the Knob Chair the terrain steps up into Eagle Ridge, the Marmot Basin Headwall and the hike-to expert lines on Caribou Knob, which deliver some of the most isolated descents on the continent. Snow is reliably deep and dry from late November to early May, and on a quiet weekday it is genuinely possible to ski a fresh line at 11 am. There is no village at the base, only a day lodge and parking; visitors stay in Jasper townsite, nineteen kilometres down the access road, with its lantern-lit main street, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and the Maligne Canyon ice walks for rest days. Wildlife sightings are routine, with elk wandering the town and caribou occasionally crossing the highway. The far position, three and a half hours west of Edmonton, keeps crowds away and rewards travellers ready to commit. Suits intermediates after empty pistes, off-piste experts hunting hike-to lines and anyone who values an unfiltered national-park setting over slopeside bars.
Good to know
- The terrain is well balanced: 18 green, 30 blue, 28 red and 15 black runs, which suits a mixed group skiing together at different levels.
- With a base at 1,698 m climbing to 2,612 m, snow reliability is among the best on our index (score 90/100).
- At 140 km of piste on 7 lifts, it is a substantial mountain that earns a multi-day stay.
- The lifts typically turn for about 25 weeks a season, planning around late January to late February tends to land the most reliable cover.
Hotels in Marmot Basin
Hotels and apartments around the lifts. Compare prices on Booking, Expedia and Hotels.com.
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
Is Marmot Basin good for beginners?+
Marmot Basin offers 140 km of pistes across 7 lifts, from 1,698 m to 2,612 m. Whether it suits beginners depends on the dedicated learner zones at the base of the slopes, so check the local ski-school options for green and blue run access.
When is the best time to ski Marmot Basin?+
The season runs from Nov 9 to May 4, with a snow score of 90/100. The best conditions are usually from late January through February, while spring skiing in March and April brings longer days and softer afternoons.
Where should I stay for true ski-in/ski-out?+
There is no ski-in/ski-out lodging at Marmot Basin at all. Jasper National Park rules keep the base car-park only, so every visitor drives or shuttles the nineteen kilometres up from Jasper townsite each morning. The reward is a mountain that empties out by 4 pm and a national-park town to come back to.
How big is the Marmot Basin ski area?+
Marmot Basin has 140 km of marked pistes served by 7 lifts, between 1,698 m and 2,612 m of altitude.
Is Marmot Basin more for beginners or experts?+
Marmot Basin counts about 91 marked runs in total. The colour breakdown above shows how they split by difficulty, a good guide to whether the resort fits your level.
Other ski destinations
Similar style, different mountain.
Banff Sunshine
Canadian Rockies
Lake Louise
Canadian Rockies
Whistler Blackcomb
Coast Mountains
Revelstoke
BC Interior