The Canadian Rockies are some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Turquoise glacial lakes lie beneath walls of ice and rock, elk graze on the golf courses and the forests stretch for hundreds of miles through Banff, Jasper and Yoho national parks. The Canadian Pacific Railway brought the first travellers here in the 1880s, and the grand hotels it built, castles and châteaux in the wilderness, are still some of the most famous mountain hotels anywhere.
These are the Canadian mountain hotels in our collection: five in the Rockies, from Banff to Jasper, and the great ski-in ski-out hotel of Whistler, across British Columbia in the Coast Mountains.
The best hotels in the Canadian Rockies at a glance
- Best for the most famous view in Canada: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
- Best for a castle in the mountains: Fairmont Banff Springs
- Best for Moraine Lake at sunrise: Moraine Lake Lodge
- Best for a quieter, intimate stay: Emerald Lake Lodge
- Best for wildlife and dark skies: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
- Best for skiing: Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Banff National Park
1. Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise
Best for: couples, families and first-time visitors to the Rockies
Few hotel views anywhere are as recognisable: the turquoise lake, and at its far end the Victoria Glacier hanging between the peaks. The Canadian Pacific Railway built a log chalet here in 1890, and it grew into the grand château that stands on the shore today, now with BASIN Glacial Waters, a hydrotherapy area opened for winter 2025-26. In winter, the frozen lake becomes a floodlit skating rink. Read our review of Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
2. Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff
Best for: families, golfers, skiers and lovers of grand hotels
The castle in the Rockies was opened by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1888, its Scottish baronial towers rising from the forest above the Bow and Spray rivers. It has the Willow Stream Spa, one of Canada's best, a famous golf course and winter shuttles to Banff's three ski areas. Read our review of Fairmont Banff Springs.
3. Moraine Lake Lodge, Moraine Lake
Best for: couples, hikers and photographers
The only hotel on the shore of Moraine Lake, beneath the Valley of the Ten Peaks, a view that once appeared on the Canadian twenty-dollar bill. When the last shuttle leaves, the lake belongs to a few dozen guests, with free canoes and naturalist hikes. It opens in summer only. Read our review of Moraine Lake Lodge.
Yoho and Jasper
4. Emerald Lake Lodge, Yoho National Park
Best for: couples, hikers and canoeists
On a peninsula in a jade-green lake beneath the President Range, just over the Continental Divide from Banff, Emerald Lake Lodge is a quieter, more intimate alternative to the grand railway hotels, with fireplaces in every room, canoes at the shore and trails from the door. Read our review of Emerald Lake Lodge.
5. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper
Best for: families, golfers, wildlife lovers and stargazers
Rather than a single grand building, Jasper Park Lodge is a village of log cabins and cedar chalets across 700 acres on the shore of turquoise Lac Beauvert, in the largest and wildest of the Rockies parks, with a celebrated golf course and some of the darkest skies in North America. Read our review of Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
Whistler
6. Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Whistler, British Columbia
Best for: families, groups, skiers and golfers
At the very foot of Blackcomb Mountain, the Chateau is often described as the largest ski-in ski-out hotel in North America, with 519 rooms, Vida Spa and its own golf course. Whistler is about two hours from Vancouver airport. Read our review of Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
When to go to the Canadian Rockies
Summer, from June to September, is the classic season, with hiking, canoeing and long days; Lake Louise and Moraine Lake usually turn their famous turquoise from around mid-June, once the ice has gone, and July and August are the busiest months. September brings golden larches and fewer visitors. Winter, from December to April, brings skiing at Banff's three ski areas and Whistler, skating on Lake Louise, sleigh rides and dark skies in Jasper, and May and October offer the best value.
How to plan a trip to the Canadian Rockies
Calgary is the gateway to Banff and Lake Louise, about one and a half to two hours by road, and Edmonton is about four hours from Jasper. The Icefields Parkway, between Lake Louise and Jasper, is one of the most beautiful drives in the world, so a classic trip combines Banff, Lake Louise or Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake and Jasper over a week or more. Book early for July, August and Christmas. For eastern Canada, see Fairmont Tremblant and Hôtel Quintessence in Mont-Tremblant, and for skiing, the best ski-in ski-out hotels in North America. Explore all our hotels in the Canadian Rockies.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best hotels in the Canadian Rockies?
Our favourites are Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont Banff Springs, Moraine Lake Lodge, Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho and Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, plus Fairmont Chateau Whistler for skiing.
Is there a hotel at Moraine Lake?
Yes. Moraine Lake Lodge is the only hotel on the shore of the lake. It opens in summer only, from around June to early October.
Should I stay in Banff or Lake Louise?
Banff town has more restaurants and shops and easy access to three ski areas; Lake Louise is quieter and closer to the famous lakes. Many travellers stay a few nights in each.
When is the best time to visit the Canadian Rockies?
June to September for hiking and turquoise lakes, September for golden larches, and December to April for skiing.
