Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is a sprawling mountain retreat on the shores of Lac Beauvert, a turquoise lake in the heart of Jasper National Park, the largest and wildest of the Canadian Rockies parks. Rather than a single grand building, it is a village of log cabins and cedar chalets scattered across 700 acres of forest and lakeshore, with a celebrated golf course and some of the darkest skies in North America.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is a sprawling mountain retreat on the shores of Lac Beauvert, a turquoise lake in the heart of Jasper National Park, the largest and wildest of the Canadian Rockies parks. Rather than a single grand building, it is a village of log cabins and cedar chalets scattered across 700 acres of forest and lakeshore, with a celebrated golf course and some of the darkest skies in North America.
Location: Jasper, Alberta, Canada
The lodge lies a few minutes' drive from the town of Jasper, in Jasper National Park, part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Edmonton International Airport is around four hours away by road. The spectacular Icefields Parkway, one of the world's great mountain drives, runs south from Jasper to Lake Louise, past glaciers, waterfalls and the Columbia Icefield.
The park is famous for wildlife, from elk and bighorn sheep to black bears, grizzlies and caribou, and for Maligne Lake, with its iconic Spirit Island. In 2024, a major wildfire swept through parts of Jasper; the main lodge was spared, and the town and park have since been recovering and welcoming visitors back.
Jasper is quieter and less developed than Banff, with a small, friendly town and a vast wilderness on its doorstep. Its national park covers more than 11,000 square kilometres, making it the largest in the Canadian Rockies, and much of it can be reached only on foot, by canoe or on horseback.
Rooms and suites at Jasper Park Lodge
The lodge has around 440 rooms, set in a mix of log cabins, cedar chalets and signature cabins along the lakeshore and among the trees. Rooms have been renovated in recent years, combining rustic mountain style with modern comforts, and many have fireplaces and patios facing the lake or the mountains.
The signature cabins, some with several bedrooms, are ideal for families and groups, and include historic cabins where royalty and film stars once stayed. Request a lake-view room for the best experience.
Facilities at Jasper Park Lodge
The golf course, designed by Stanley Thompson and opened in 1925, is one of the most celebrated in Canada, winding through forest and around lakes beneath the peaks, with elk often grazing on the fairways. The spa offers treatments inspired by the mountains, and there is a heated outdoor pool open year-round.
Dining includes several restaurants and lounges, from fine dining to casual pub fare, with lakeside terraces in summer. Activities include canoeing, cycling and horse riding in summer, and skating on the lake, sleigh rides and skiing at nearby Marmot Basin in winter.
Wildlife is often seen around the property itself, from elk on the golf course and lawns to deer and the occasional bear in the surrounding forest, and the lodge's staff can arrange guided wildlife tours, fishing trips and rafting on the nearby Athabasca River.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is a clear night at Jasper, one of the largest dark-sky preserves in the world. Walk down to the shore of Lac Beauvert, away from the lights, and watch the Milky Way arc over the mountains, with a chance of the Northern Lights on clear autumn and winter nights.
By day, take a boat cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island, or ride the Jasper SkyTram up Whistlers Mountain for views across the Athabasca Valley.
Why Jasper Park Lodge is one of the best mountain hotels
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge earns its place because it offers a quieter, wilder Rockies experience than Banff or Lake Louise, in a vast, beautiful national park. It is large and spread out, and some cabins are a walk from the main lodge. But its lakeside setting, its golf, its history and its sense of space make it a superb base for families and anyone who wants to explore the northern Rockies.
The lodge has a long and colourful history: it opened in 1922, built by the Canadian National Railway, and hosted King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during the 1939 royal tour, as well as film stars including Marilyn Monroe, who filmed River of No Return nearby. Its central lodge was rebuilt after a fire in 1952.
When to go to Jasper Park Lodge
The lodge is open year-round. Summer, from June to September, is the best time for golf, hiking, canoeing and Maligne Lake cruises, and the busiest season. Autumn brings golden larches, the elk rut and dark skies, celebrated during Jasper's annual Dark Sky Festival in October. Winter brings skating, sleigh rides, cross-country skiing and skiing at Marmot Basin. Spring is quiet, with wildlife emerging in the valleys.
Questions, answered
- Was Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge damaged in the 2024 wildfire?
- The main lodge was spared, though some structures in the area were affected. The lodge and Jasper have since been welcoming visitors back.
- How far is Jasper Park Lodge from Edmonton?
- Around four hours by road from Edmonton International Airport.
- Who designed the golf course at Jasper Park Lodge?
- Stanley Thompson. The 18-hole course opened in 1925.
