Situated in Alberta’s Jasper National Park, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge features rustic, luxury elegance in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. I traveled by train here on Rocky Mountaineer’s Journey Through the Clouds and was able to experience spring in Alberta, Canada. This year-round destination is ideal for active adventure seekers, as well as those looking to escape, relax and rejuvenate in gorgeous surroundings.
What started off as 10 luxury tents standing on the shores of Lac Beauvert, Jasper Park Lodge now offers 446 rooms and suites on the rambling 700-acre stretch of land in Canada’s iconic Rocky Mountains. While the Fairmont property is well maintained, the cedar resort chalets have been around for awhile. Currently, the resort is undergoing a $16 million multi-phase, multi-year renovation plan that will encompass all areas of the historic hotel. The 122 guestrooms, including all Junior Suites, Lakefront Suites, junior suites with fireplaces and additional rooms have all been renovated.
My room, #435, a junior suite in Grant House, featured a king bed, wood burning fireplace and recently renovated bathroom with a large shower. While all rooms are easily accessible to the lake, rooms in the Grant House do not have a lakefront view. As always, the Rose bath and shower amenities were appreciated, as were the wonderful Fairmont down pillows. I like them so much that I have a pair of these pillows at my house. (Not selling anything here, simply making a note of the fact that guests are able to purchase beds, linen and pillows here.)
As I was visiting Jasper in April, golf, horseback riding and lake activities were not operating yet. April is considered the shoulder season, and as such, offers affordable luxury pricing., Thanksgiving and the winter season are also value time periods at the lodge. This is the ideal time to explore Jasper National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the bears are starting to emerge from their dens. If you travel here by train, as I did, Rocky Mountaineer also offers value pricing at the beginning of the season. While I can’t guarantee wildlife sightings, we did see deer, elk and Big Horn Sheep right away, both on the train and at Jasper Park Lodge!
Year round activities
The outdoor swimming pool and hot tub offer views of the mountains and look out to beautiful Lac Beauvert. In 2011, Jasper was designated as a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada because of its ideal dark sky viewing conditions aka limited light pollution. Jasper National Park is known as the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserve, so ya, it’s a great location for star-gazing.
Additionally, the resort offers Fairmont Spa – maple-butter body wrap anyone? Of course, there is year-round dining as well. Options include Emerald Lounge, ORSO Trattoria, Moose’s Nook Chophouse and Oka Sushi. If this is a special occasion, there’s always the choice of in-room dining or a catered party in one of the signature cabins. I’d recommend cocktails by the outdoor firepit, followed by a BBQ in Outlook Cabin; you can thank me for this fabulous idea, later.
My husband is the golfer in our family and writes the golf reviews here. He would be all over this mountain golf course designed by Canada’s master golf course architect Stanley Thompson. Opened in 1925, this 18-hole course is set in the heart of the Canadian Rockies and offers elevated tee boxes and holes backing up to mountain views that will take your breath away. The photo below is of the 14th hole. Rumor has it that the term “bear par” applies here because if a bear appears on the course, golfers simply take a “bear par” and play through to the next hole. P.S. no bear incidents have caused injury to guests or the animals.
Need to know:
While Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge does charge a $15 daily resort fee, it covers a lot of hotel benefits. The lodge offers guest shuttle service on property. Your fee covers access to the swimming pool, hot tub, steam rooms, fitness center & saunas. It also includes scheduled fitness classes such as aquatics and yoga classes. Seasonal family-friendly activities such as snowshoeing, ice skating, hockey stick rental, cross country skis & toboggan rentals are included in the resort fee. Local & toll-free phone calls are complimentary, as well as many resort activities. If you arrive via train, or simply don’t want to drive, shuttle service to downtown Jasper is offered. Valet service for your golf clubs, bike or ski’s are included. For the literary among us, online access to newspapers & magazines is included. Finally, children’s and teen centers are available on site.
The property is pet-friendly with a $50 fee per room, per night. Thankfully, there is no size limit on dogs. If you don’t have a dog or can’t travel with your pet, Fairmont has a canine ambassador program. Check at the front desk to see if Stanley the Labrador Retriever is available for a stroll around the lake. The 45 minutes Lake Beauvert Loop trail is an easy 45 minute walk on a fairly flat, dirt trail. Great for hiking, biking or nature walks, the trail is not handicap accessible.
Rates start at $229 (Canadian) and vary per room type and season. Self parking is available for free at the lodge or $20 daily for valet parking.
Insider tip:
If you are a Presidents Club Member (and why wouldn’t you be, membership is free) you’ll receive complimentary internet access. Additionally, each President’s Club member receives the first hour free of a mountain bike rental. For additional insider tips follow luxury travel writer @Nancydbrown on Twitter or Instagram @Nancydbrown and @FairmontJPL and Instagram @fairmontjpl
If You Go:
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge 1 780 852 3301
1 Old Lodge Road
Jasper, Alberta
Canada TOE 1EO
Jasper Park Lodge review, YouTube video and all photography by travel writer Nancy D. Brown.