The Best Winter Road Trip from Lake Louise to Jasper

Western Canada offers some truly amazing destinations — from the abundant wildlife, mesmerizing Canadian Rockies, thrilling adventures, and pristine lakes to charming mountain towns and warm-hearted people. Having spent two consecutive (American) Thanksgivings in Alberta 11/22-11/27, I’ve completely fallen in love with the area!

Alberta is incredibly popular in the summertime. However, when winter arrives, it transforms into a magical wonderland destination!

During my last visit, we primarily explored the enchanting town of Banff. This time, we opted for a road trip to venture further North! Check out my Banff Winter Guide here!

In this guide, I’ll be sharing my complete itinerary for the The Best Winter Road Trip from Lake Louise to Jasper. From how to get there, where to start and end, accommodations, and restaurants to must-see stops along the way, the coolest adventures, and everything you need to know before embarking on this unforgettable journey!

Why start in Lake Louise?

It’s conveniently accessible by flying into Calgary International Airport and starting your scenic drive, taking approximately two and a half hours. Along the route, you can make stops in Banff and Canmore, making the trip as captivating as the destination. The drive begins on flat terrain, and then out of nowhere, the giant mountains pop up — its truly amazing to see!

Lake Louise serves as the ideal starting point for your adventure. This quaint village caters to the desires of any outdoor enthusiast. Within the village, you’ll find Ski Lake Louise Resort, stunning Lake Louise, fun winter hikes, and an abundance of natural beauty. Also, the location places you in proximity to dozens of must-see destinations!

Where is Lake Louise Located?

Lake Louise is just a little outside of Banff (about 45 minutes) another very popular destination in Alberta.

How far is Lake Louise from Jasper?

The journey from Lake Louise to Jasper takes approximately three hours, with the majority of the drive unfolding along the beautiful Icefields Parkway. This scenic route promises stunning sights that will leave you in awe! The picturesque landscapes encountered along the way make the experience unforgettable!

How many days do I need for this road trip?

Six days total to fit everything in! Two nights in each town and the other two days for travel.

Is it worth visiting in the winter months?

Yes!! 100% worth it. It looks like a winter wonderland straight out of a movie. You can still explore so many of the famous, must-see spots. Everything just looks magical with a fresh coat of snow and blue skies!

The Best Winter Travel Guide from Lake Louise To Jasper

How to get to Lake Louise?

Simply fly into Calgary International Airport. From there, embark on a little over a two-hour drive, winding your way towards the mountains! The anticipation builds as the landscape transforms into the most beautiful mountains!

Tip: be sure to rent a car from Calgary Airport. I recommend doing so ahead of time, rent a all-wheel-drive vehicle! We always rent with Enterprise in Calgary and they are great.

Are there ski resorts along this road trip?

Yes! Both Lake Louise and Jasper have really fun mountains in prime locations.

Lake Louise Ski Resort is a phenomenal mountain that truly captivates in the Lake Louise region! It has become an annual tradition for us to spend a day skiing here. If you need ski rentals, make sure to swing by Wilson Mountain Sports, conveniently situated in the village of Lake Louise, just a quick two-minute drive from the mountain.

Marmot Basin stands out as a wonderful mountain in Jasper! Nestled high atop a mountain, you’ll find yourself immersed in unparalleled beauty as you embrace the experience of skiing at this amazing mountain! The lofty setting adds an extra layer of excitement to your adventure in the heart of Jasper. If you need rentals, stop by Totem Ski Shop in downtown Jasper!

The Best Places to Stay in Lake Louise

Lake Louise has some really nice hotel options. I recommend booking your stay as early as possible to secure your dates and for best price.

The Mountaineer Lodge | @mountaineerlodge

The Mountaineer Lodge is the perfect place to stay during your time in Lake Louise!! It’s located only two minutes away from Ski Lake Louise Resort, you can walk to the convenient stores in town right across the street, and this hotel even offers a shuttle that will bring you to the mountain! We loved their complimentary breakfast every morning as well as their hot tub to soak in after a cold day on the mountain. Their rooms are very clean and the staff is great!

Lake Louise Inn | @lakelouiseinn

The Lake Louise Inn is also in a great location. This hotel is clean and has some restaurants on site which is really nice!

The Fairmont Château Lake Louise | @fairmontcll

The most beautiful and luxurious accommodation in Lake Louise! Guests here are pretty much staying in a castle on a stunning, world-renown lake.

The Best Places to Stay in Jasper

Jasper has options for everyone! These hotels are all in prime location-

The Mount Robson Inn | @mountrobsoninn

The Mount Robson Inn is a sister hotel to the Mountaineer Lodge which means it’s another awesome place to stay. Located within walking distance to restaurants and shops in downtown Jasper and only a short drive from Marmot Basin. The Mount Robson Inn also offers a delicious complimentary breakfast and they have two hot tubs outside! We loved our room here, very clean and comfortable and the staff were friendly.

Forest Park Hotel | @forestparkjasper

The Forest Park Hotel is another great option in downtown Jasper! Clean, stylish hotel with great food onsite.

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge | @fairmontjpl

We drove over to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and it looked beautiful! When staying at a Fairmont Hotel you are guaranteed to have an amazing experience!

Must-see stops on the roadtrip from Lake Louise – Jasper

These are all doable! We visited them all during our roadtrip this November and everything was so beautiful. Here are all the must-see stops in order from Lake Louise to Jasper:

Lake Louise Ski Resort

Ski for the day at Lake Louise Ski Resort! Lake Louise Ski Resort is one of the most beautiful mountains I’ve ever skied with great terrain! The views in all directions are just stunning. We are from NH in United States and had a blast skiing in the Canadian Rockies! If you have the Ikon Pass this mountain is on it under Ski Big 3!

Check out the Powder Keg Lounge located upstairs of the main lodge, it’s a great place to grab lunch and a few drinks!

Peyto Lake

Western Canada has so many beautiful, bright blue lakes but Peyto Lake is unique! It’s shaped like the outline of a wolf! In the winter, a short hike is required to get to the lookout.

Park here and be sure to wear warm clothes and winter boots to do the short hike! It’s nothing crazy, just a walk up a little bit of incline, totally worth it for the view you will see!!

We got lucky this year, the lake still was not frozen over in late November when we visited. The snowy trees with the bright blue water made for the most amazing view! We felt lucky to see Peyto Lake in that short window before it freezes over!

Emerald Lake

A scene from an actual winter wonderland!! Try and visit here after a fresh snowfall on a clear, sunny day for the best photo opportunities!

Emerald Lake is actually located in British Columbia and to our surprise there is an entire lodge down by the lake- Emerald Lake Lodge and it’s so beautiful. Emerald Lake is a bit of a drive but totally worth it while staying in Lake Louise!

Bundle up, and set aside time to walk around the Lake. There are little paths you can follow to get different views of Emerald Lake. Walk up the road to the Lodge, and check it out! There are places you can stop by and grab a drink or a bite to eat up at the lodge.

Visit Lake Louise

The iconic Lake Louise is definitely a must-see while in the area! It’s amazing to see in person. There is a parking lot for guests visiting the lake, be sure to park there and not at the hotel. You can’t miss the stunning Fairmont Chateau the sits right next to the lake, an absolutely beautiful hotel.

To get the best views of Lake Louise possible, I recommend hiking to the Fairview Lookout!

The Fairview Lookout Hike is 1.5 miles total and takes about an hour to complete. The hike is so worth doing, even in the winter time. You hike up a pretty good incline which gets you the the best viewpoint! From there, you can see all of Lake Louise, the Chateau and the ski resort! The views are just beautiful.

We did the hike right around sunset and it made for beautiful colors in the sky. We wore winter boots, jeans, hat, mittens, base layers, and a winter coat. We felt warm enough, if you start out cold you should warm right up as you start the hike!

Yoho National Park

Yoho National Park is one of the most beautiful National Parks I’ve ever visited!

You do need a park pass for your vehicle which you can purchase at any of the gates you see while driving.

Emerald Lake is located in Yoho National Park as well as the Natural Bridge, both are accessible in the winter! Give yourself time to drive through the park and stop for lots of photo-ops.

Visit the town of Field

Located in British Columbia in Yoho National Park, you will pass by the town of Field. We pulled over to check out the Yoho National Park Visitor Center and then explored town.

Field is small, only about 200 residents and it’s so beautiful. In town you will find a restaurant, cafe, and some lodging options. There is no grocery store or any retail shops. It’s a special little mountain/railway town with trains still passing through multiple times each day. It’s the smallest town we saw during our time exploring Canada, I loved it!

Icefields Parkway

The Icefields Parkway is one of the most scenic roads in the world. Hwy 93 is a scenic drive between Banff and Jasper, this is the road you will take to drive from Lake Louise to Jasper- it’s amazing!

Check the weather ahead of time and make sure it’s a sunny and safe day to drive. The drive nonstop takes just under three hours. Give yourself way more time than that!

With this being one of the most scenic roads in the world, you are more than likely going to want to pullover a handful of times for photos!

This is the route you will take when you travel from Lake Louise up to Jasper.

Abraham Lake

This is an absolute must see!! I cannot even begin to explain the beauty of this lake! And one of the best parts is that we were the only people there! (as far as we could see).

You can’t really go wrong with the timing of when you visit this lake. We hit it when the surrounding area was snow covered but the lake not quit frozen yet, making the blue water really pop!

Abraham Lake is known for its ice bubbles that are typically best to see January- February.

Be sure to make the stop to check out Abraham Lake while on your drive along the Icefields Parkway!

Marmot Basin

Marmot Basin is a ski resort located in Alberta’s Jasper National Park!

Marmot Basin sits high up in the mountains giving you some amazing terrain to ski and beautiful views of the mountains in all directions.

The ski resort is located just outside of downtown Jasper. You can make this a stop along your drive on the Icefields Parkway or come back and visit for a day while staying in Jasper.

The drive up to the mountain took longer than we thought, it’s really up there!

If you like to ski, set aside a day or half a day at this mountain! You will have a blast!! If you need rentals, rent from Totem Ski Shop in downtown Jasper.

Malgine Canyon

Malgine Canyon is a slot canyon located in the National Park not far outside of downtown Jasper. In the winter you can rent spikes and hike down into it! It’s highly recommended to wear spikes because of how icy it gets in there. You can rent ice spikes from Totem Ski Shop in downtown Jasper!

You can find guided tours in town to do the ice walk if you are interested but it’s also very doable on your own with the correct gear!

The trail is very easy to follow, you can download AllTrails if you want to track the hike!

Sunwapta Falls

A magnificent waterfall!! A 2.0 out and back style hike that is doable in the winter months!

Spikes and warm gear are recommended for Sunwapta Falls. The hike in the winter time is stunning! The bright blue water with the snow surrounding is a must see sight.

Track your hike using AllTrails!

Athabasca Falls

The Athabasca Falls hike is an absolute must do!

It’s on .6 mile out and back, very easy for high-reward views!

We did this one in late November and did not wear spikes, just winter boots and were fine. Be sure to bundle up for the hike though.

Athabasca Falls are amazing to see in person with the thick ice freezing all around making the color of the water extra vibrant!

Take a helicopter flight with Jasper Hinton Air

In my opinion, this is the best way to see Jasper!

We did the 30 minute tour with Kristie and it was absolutely amazing! She took us on a ride through the mountains while being the ultimate tour guide.

Reach out to Jasper Hinton Air when you arrive in Jasper, tell them what kind of tour you want to do, how many people, and which days work for you. They will help you find the best time for a clear day for flying!

I highly recommend doing this! Her prices are very fair and you will have the experience of a lifetime!

View wildlife

Jasper National Park is where we saw the most wildlife during our time in Canada. There is high possibility you will see it anywhere between Lake Louise and Jasper so always be on alert, especially while driving.

Explore the areas just outside of downtown Jasper, we saw big horn sheep, elk, deer, and more!

Be sure to always keep a good distance away and respect the animals, this is their home.

Best Restaurants in Lake Louise

Trailhead Cafe: Coffee and breakfast
Powder Keg Lounge: A fun sports bar located at the base of Lake Louise Ski Resort. They have great food and drinks! Stop in for lunch, even if you aren’t skiing!
Kuma Yama: Ramen and Sushi also located at the base of Lake Louise Ski Resort!
Travel into Banff for dinner: The drive to Banff is about 40 minutes. Downtown Banff has lots of great options for dinner.
Timberwolf Pizza & Pasta: Located inside Lake Louise Inn you will find the perfect place to get dinner! We loved the pizza and beers here plus the staff are very nice.

Best Restaurants in Jasper

Bear Paw Bakery: Coffee, delicious pastries, breakfast, & lunch
De’d Dog’s Bar & Grill: Local spot with pub food
Jasper Brewing Company: Brewery with great beers & food- lunch or dinner
Terra: Beautiful restaurant, farm and forage, amazing cocktails, good vegan + vegetarian options
Folding Mountain Brewing: about 40 min outside of downtown Jasper, we went here after helicoptor tour, amazing food and beers- we loved this place!

Lake Louise/Jasper Travel Tips

Wake up early to get the most out of your day! There is so much to do/see you want to utilize all hours with sunlight.
Exchange some currency before you come, all of Canada uses CAD.
Always make sure you gas tank is full before starting the drives.
Check the weather and keep an eye out for any snow storms, try and avoid driving during any big ones.
Dress warm!! It gets COLD here in the winter months and all of the cool things you want to explore are outdoors, be prepared with many layers.
Flying drones is illegal in most places and if you get caught there are hefty fines.
People are friendly in both towns we explored.
It’s custom to tip 15-20% at restaurants.

Where to fly home from

We decided to fly out of Edmonton International Airport- the drive from downtown Jasper to Edmonton Airport is about four hours.

You also have the option to fly back out of Calgary airport which is just under five hours.

The photo below is the route we took- we started at Calgary International airport, spent a couple of nights in Lake Louise at the Mountaineer Lodge. We then drove up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper and spent a couple of nights at the Mount Robson Inn then flew home out of Edmonton International Airport.

We made many stops along the way for exploring and adventuring! I really liked this route.

Enjoy your winter road trip adventure from Lake Louise to Jasper! I really hope this guide has been helpful for you. There is so much beauty to be seen and explored from the areas of Lake Louise to Jasper. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you are going to have the time of your life!

If you have any questions about this roadtrip, the towns, or anything in the nearby areas please ask!

Follow along with me on Instagram where I am most active with all of my adventures!

The Best Winter Road Trip from Lake Louise To Jasper