Marmot Basin
696 hectares, 91 runs in Jasper National Park. High elevation, uncrowded terrain, Indy Pass access.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
25 Nov 2026
Closes
2 May 2027
Days open
158
Annual snow
4.5m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Marmot Basin's summit reaches 2,612 metres, dropping 914 vertical metres to a base at 1,698 metres across 91 runs spread over roughly 696 hectares within Jasper National Park, Alberta. Terrain splits 30 per cent each for beginner and intermediate, 20 per cent each for advanced and expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 4.5 metres. The resort carries Indy and Mountain Collective affiliation. Seven lifts, including four quad chairs, one double chair and one triple chair, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift.
Marmot Basin holds a genuinely distinctive place among Canadian Rockies resorts as Jasper National Park's sole ski area, sitting among the highest base elevations of any resort in Canada. This considerable elevation, combined with comparatively light crowds relative to the busier Banff-area resorts, has built Marmot's reputation as an uncrowded, high-alpine alternative within the Rockies.
Joe Weiss first guided cross-country skiers into Marmot Basin via Whistlers Creek in the 1920s, and the first trail was blazed from the Athabasca Valley the following decade. The British Army used the basin for alpine training manoeuvres in 1942, before operator Toby Rayner built the first tow rope in 1961 out of spare parts salvaged from an old British Army truck.
Marmot Basin Ski-Lifts Ltd officially launched operations in Jasper National Park in 1964. The ski area remains owned and operated today by Rocky Mountain Skiing Incorporated, on land leased from the federal government of Canada. Adult daily tickets run at a flat 149 Canadian dollars.
914m
Vertical
91
Runs
1,720 acres
Skiable
4.5m
Annual snow
Indy / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
91 runs across 1,720 acres skiable
Marmot Basin in Jasper National Park is a compact, well-balanced mountain with 91 runs across about 696 hectares. It drops 914 metres from the 2,612-metre summit to a base at 1,698 metres, and the grading is unusually even: 30% beginner, 30% intermediate, 20% advanced and 20% expert. With about 4.5 metres of snowfall a year it is not the deepest of the Rockies resorts, but the layout is easy to read and the steeper terrain is a larger share than most skiers expect. Families can ski together here without anyone getting bored or out of their depth.
The Knob Chair reaches the highest terrain, with Charlie's Bowl, Party Slope and several steep chutes. The Paradise Chair covers black runs that are best on powder days, while Eagle Ridge opens the Chalet Slope trees and leads across to Eagle East, a small pocket of double black runs with rocky features and tight trees. Caribou Ridge adds bumps and natural hits for freeriders. Beginners have their own gentle slopes below. Marmot suits families, progressing intermediates and advanced skiers wanting steep, uncrowded lines, and its mix is hard to match among Alberta's mid-size mountains.
Terrain split
91
runs
91 runs across 4 grades
Beginner27 runs · 30%
Intermediate27 runs · 30%
Advanced18 runs · 20%
Expert18 runs · 20%
Time it right
When to visit Marmot Basin
The 2025-26 season at Marmot Basin ran from 21 November 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 4.5 metres at the resort's considerable elevation. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather in Jasper National Park.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Marmot's evenly balanced terrain. As an Indy and Mountain Collective resort, Marmot draws pass-holding visitors alongside travellers seeking Jasper National Park's comparatively uncrowded alpine scenery relative to the busier Banff corridor.
Marmot's considerable elevation and family-friendly terrain mix continue to support strong visitation throughout the season from across Alberta and beyond. School holiday periods bring family visitation given the resort's evenly split terrain across all ability levels.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Marmot Basin continues to build on more than six decades of history since its 1964 founding as Marmot Basin Ski-Lifts Ltd, itself following decades of informal skiing dating to Joe Weiss's 1920s guided tours. The resort's high elevation and Jasper National Park setting remain central to its enduring appeal.
Season 2026 - 2027
25 Nov 2026
Opens
2 May 2027
Closes
158
Days open
4.5 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Marmot Basin
Daily snow reports at Marmot Basin go back to 2025, 2 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
22 cm
Snowiest day
10 Dec 2025
95 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
229 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Marmot Basin, and where to stay
Marmot Basin sits within Jasper National Park, Alberta, with a base elevation of 1,698 metres and a summit at 2,612 metres across a 914-metre vertical drop over roughly 696 hectares. This considerable base elevation places Marmot among the highest-base ski areas in Canada.
The town of Jasper, a genuine national park community, offers extensive lodging, dining and services within a short drive of the resort, providing a considerably quieter alternative to the busier Banff townsite further south.
Alberta Highway 93A and the Icefields Parkway provide direct access to the resort from Jasper. Winter driving conditions on these routes can include snow and ice, and the resort's location within a remote national park means travellers should carry appropriate equipment.
Edmonton International Airport, roughly a four-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the region, with Jasper's considerable distance from major population centres drawing a genuinely dedicated visitor base seeking a quieter Rockies experience.
Where to stay
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Marmot Basin Webcams
4 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Marmot Basin's live webcams
Check live conditions across Marmot Basin with 4 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Upper Mountain2272m
- Get a real-time look at Marmot Basin's legendary upper bowls with this webcam. Perfect for checking snow conditions and visibility in the higher alpine terrain of Jasper's premier ski resort.
- Marmot Basin Web Cam | 360 Roundshot2272m
- Experience breathtaking 360-degree views from this Marmot Basin webcam at the Paradise Express summit station. Watch as weather systems move through while taking in spectacular vistas of the surrounding peaks and the entire ski area below.
- Mid Mountain1980m
- This Marmot Basin webcam offers the perfect mid-mountain perspective of current conditions. Check visibility and snow coverage across the resort's central skiing terrain before heading up the lifts.
- Lower Mountain1698m
- Monitor the action at Marmot Basin's central base village with this webcam. Get a clear view of the learning areas and base facilities while checking current conditions at Canada's highest base elevation ski resort.
Marmot Basin snow cams FAQ
How often do Marmot Basin snow cams update?
All Marmot Basin snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Marmot Basin.
Which Marmot Basin webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Upper Mountain webcam at 2,272m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Marmot Basin webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Marmot Basin lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Marmot Basin snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Marmot Basin snow cams?
Check Marmot Basin webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Marmot Basin lift tickets?
Use our Marmot Basin webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Marmot Basin webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Marmot Basin snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Marmot Basin intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.