Cozy Up and Count Stars in the Canadian Rockies This Winter

When the sun sets behind the Canadian Rockies in Jasper National Park, Alberta, the soaring peaks and deep valleys plunge into a peaceful stillness defined by crisp air, inky skies, and the shimmer of thousands of stars. Your evening in this small mountain town is just beginning.

You’ve spent the day chasing powder turns at Marmot Basin ski area, and the indigo glow in the western sky signals it’s time for aprés-ski bevvies at a downtown lounge. Later, you’ll join a stargazing tour to search for celestial landmarks before sliding between Egyptian cotton sheets at your lakeside resort, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

Night-sky tourism is trending, and Jasper is the ideal destination to explore after dark, thanks to its designation as Canada’s largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve. Beyond the chance to see other galaxies or the rings of Saturn through a telescope, Jasper has perfected the hours between dusk and dawn with fireside moments and wood-fired saunas, craft cocktails and mountain cuisine. Here’s how to stay warm, nourished, and inspired after night falls.

Get hygge with it at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

Few spots in Jasper are as welcoming as the town’s original resort, where wood smoke curls into the night sky from the chimneys of cabins and suites clustered around Lac Beauvert. In winter, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge embraces the Nordic concept of hygge — unplugging and being snug — with simple pleasures found around the resort.

After time outdoors, whether ice skating or snowshoeing, let the lakeside barrel sauna melt away the day’s exertions, then dunk in frigid Lac Beauvert for a Canadian twist on a cold plunge. Indoors at the spa, cocoon beneath heated stones during a massage, or simply exhale into the eucalyptus steam room’s enveloping air.

The lodge’s true hygge havens, though, are its newly renovated rooms, suites, and cabins. With warming amenities and decor touches like plush robes and slippers, comfy sofas facing the fireplace, and soft throw blankets to cuddle up in, you won’t want the night to end.

Experience the ultimate après.

A big day on the slopes calls for a round of Mountain Caesars — Canada’s answer to the Bloody Mary — at Lume, the mountain-view bar at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Swap stories about the day’s adventures at the sleek wraparound bar with unimpeded views of mountain silhouettes, and share canapés on a cozy sofa.

Pair your Caesar with a charcuterie board layered with local artisan meats and cheeses, or indulge in some elevated appetizers like elk meatballs with tzatziki and smoked mint chimichurri. For family bonding time before dinner, pick up a deck of cards or a board game from the health club and let the fun begin.

Refuel for tomorrow’s explorations.

Dining at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is an elegant affair, with roaring fireplaces and wood accents for ambiance. The food is equally elevated. Executive chef François Lecouvez marries local ingredients with his culinary roots to create mountain cuisine with a French flair that brings people together around the table.

This fusion of Alberta beef with French sides and sauces is on full display at The Barbicon, the lodge’s new steakhouse, where the dining room centers on the lodge’s original 1922 Tyndall stone fireplace. Order your striploin or beef tenderloin as the chef recommends, and pair it with béarnaise sauce and a side of velvety French-style mashed potatoes.

Find family favorites like burgers and flatbread pizzas at Elderwood, a nature-inspired restaurant with earth-toned banquettes and vaulted ceilings that evoke a timber-framed lodge. Even the craft cocktails seem to toast the fading light with names like Afterglow and The Lantern.

Go to town on smoked meats, bold spirits, and craft brews.

For a night on the town, Jasper packs in welcoming pubs and restaurants along Connaught Drive, the main drag that parallels the train tracks. At the townsite’s north end, Evil Dave’s Grill serves comfort food with Western influences — think bison and wild boar meatloaf, and cowboy sushi with grilled meat instead of raw fish.

Newcomer The Maligne Range is a distillery and restaurant in one. Whisky tastings feature house-made barrel-aged products, plus whiskies, ryes, and bourbon-inspired spirits from across Canada. Pair the Maple Smoked Old Fashioned with the restaurant’s signature Alberta beef brisket that’s smoked on site.

Just down the road, the Jasper Brewing Company pours sessionable après-ski beers including hazy IPAs, refreshing pilsners, and malty ales. If you find yourself lingering a while, they’ve got you covered with late-night classics like chicken wings, poutine, and nachos.

Reconnect with the night sky.

As the night winds down, don’t forget to look up — there are numerous ways to stargaze in Jasper National Park. With limited artificial light, you can see thousands of stars and the arm of the Milky Way on clear moonless nights.

On site at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, the Jasper Planetarium provides a fun introduction to the night sky. The immersive show teaches why darkness matters to plants and animals and shares Indigenous star stories. Planetarium manager Tyler Burgardt recommends that northern lights chasers drive to nearby Pyramid Lake or Medicine Lake, or as far as Maligne Lake, where the wide open sky above the water gives you a dazzling view of the heavens.

For a deeper dive into the world of astronomy, dress for the weather and join a guided stargazing tour with Jasper Star Trails. On the shore of Lake Annette, you’ll learn to recognize iconic star patterns such as Orion’s Belt and the Big Dipper, see guiding stars like Polaris (the North Star), and spot planets through a telescope.

With an average of 15 hours of daily darkness in Jasper between November and March, it’s no wonder there are so many ways to welcome the day’s end with family and friends. Start planning your visit to cozy up and count stars in Canada’s best dark-sky destination.