8 Spectacular Winter Retreats To Visit in Canada
There’s nothing like snuggling up in a cozy hotel, inn or cabin during the winter. Add in a spectacular view and incredible winter activities and you’ve got the recipe for a magical winter getaway.
Luckily Canada has some truly amazing winter retreats available. Here, we are highlighting a few as inspiration for the upcoming winter travel season.
For even more inspiration, these winter getaways offer different ways to experience Canada’s colder months.
Rocky Mountain Winter Retreats
To start, if you’ve never been to the Rocky Mountains in the winter, this might be the year to go. While beautiful year-round, the Rocky Mountains are especially scenic with a dusting of snow on the trees and mountains.
The resorts are quieter in the winter months as well, which is a bonus when you’re looking for a quiet retreat.
1. Jasper Park Lodge, Alberta
This stunning Fairmont property is a village in itself. It is set on 700 acres in the heart of Jasper National Park, with views of Lac Beauvert and the surrounding mountain peaks. Cozy heritage log cabins and luxurious guest rooms are connected by picturesque pathways throughout the property.
You’ll have access to an onsite spa, multiple dining options, and outdoor fire pits. On top of that, with access to groomed cross-country ski trails, a skating rink, and toboggan hill, you might not want to leave! For those who want to explore Jasper National Park, this lodge is in close proximity to many of the most popular areas.
Overall, this is a great option for travellers looking for a winter retreat with full services and easy access to outdoor activities.
Customize your dream ski holiday in the Rockies on this 8-day ski excursion or ask our team to build an itinerary just for you. If skiing isn’t your thing, check out this 7-day winter excursion that combines other grand hotels of Banff & Lake Louise with activities (like an ice walk in a canyon!) and a stay at the cozy Jasper Park Lodge.
2. Banff Springs, Banff National Park, Alberta
The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel is one of the most famous landmarks in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Known as the “Castle in the Rockies,” this property is more than 130 years old and has an imposing presence set against the snow-covered mountain peaks, overlooking a picturesque valley.
The hotel is located inside Banff National Park, Canada’s first-ever national park. It is one of the earliest of the grand railway hotels built in the late 1800s by the Canadian Pacific. Today, it offers an onsite spa, dining options, ice skating, and winter outdoor campfires. It is also close to all of Banff’s amenities, such as dining, shopping and sightseeing.
For a truly immersive experience, stay at the Banff Springs on this10-day luxury winter package. The trip takes you from Vancouver into the Rocky Mountains, with resort stays along the way.
3. Mount Engadine, Alberta
Disconnect from the stresses of the modern world at the Mount Engadine Lodge, deep in the heart of Kananaskis Country.
Staying at this alpine retreat means you trade in Wi-Fi signals and cellphone reception for wildlife sightings and reconnecting with nature and each other. Stays here include gourmet chef-prepared meals and there are plenty of ways to get active outside.
Stay in the lodge, a cozy cabin, or go more rustic with a glamping tent or yurt. The mountain vistas and snow-covered forests of the surrounding Spray Valley Provincial Park will take your breath away. This is the perfect place to enjoy winter in the Rockies.
Combine a stay at this beautiful lodge with a visit to Banff and a sightseeing flight over the mountains on this 7-day Rockies excursion.
Québec & Ontario Winter Retreats
Further east, winter in Québec and Ontario is long and cold. Residents and visitors don’t let that deter them. They love to embrace all things snow and ice. You’ll find an abundance of cozy chalets, delicious warming cuisine, and lots of outdoor activities.
4. Le Baluchon Éco-Villégiature, Quebec
It doesn’t get more cozy than a winter stay at Le Baluchon Eco-Resort, located about an hour and 45 minutes east of Montréal.
Surrounded by hundreds of acres of wilderness, Le Baluchon has accommodation and dining options scattered throughout its sprawling property. Onsite you’ll find a Nordic spa, river skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides through the snow, an indoor pool, and 35 kilometres of groomed trails.
Ideal for travellers looking to pair winter activities with spa-focused relaxation.
Relax and unwind at Le Baluchon on a tailor-made trip. Ask our experts today!
5. Hôtel de Glace, Quebec
Is there anything more spectacular than sleeping in a hotel made of snow and ice? Québec’s famous Ice Hotel is a wonder of craftsmanship and a truly one-of-a-kind stay. It is the only ice hotel in all of North America and is located about 40 minutes north of Québec City.
During the day, you can wander around the hotel, explore the unique carvings in each room, and enjoy a drink at the ice bar. Or head outside to the largest outdoor winter parks for ice skating, snow rafting, ice sliding or sledding.
At night, cozy up in warm sleeping bags and enjoy the wonder of sleeping inside an ice structure. Don’t worry, each stay at the ice hotel comes with access to hot tubs, a sauna, and a hotel room inside the adjacent Valcartier hotel. There you can take a hot shower, leave your suitcase, and sleep if you get too cold.
Combine a visit to the Hôtel de Glace with a stay in Montréal and Québec City on this 7-day winter getaway that includes rail between the two cities. No winter driving required!
6. Algonquin Log Cabin, Ontario
There’s something magical about cozying up by a roaring fire in a cabin in the middle of the forest. The Algonquin Log Cabin is a remote lakeside cottage located near the world-famous Algonquin Provincial Park. Guests to this off-grid wilderness retreat receive a full-service experience. It’s an opportunity to fully disconnect from the stress of everyday life.
Breathe in the fresh forest air, enjoy access to outdoor winter activities, and relax in the cozy interior spaces.
Stay in the Algonquin Log Cabin, with all meals, a dog-sledding experience and guided cross-country skiing included, on this romantic 3-day escape in Ontario.
Northern Canada Winter Retreats
You haven’t experienced a truly magical winter until you’ve stared up at the Aurora Borealis in Canada’s north. While the temperatures might be cold, the trade off is stunning scenery. Paired with warm hospitality you get an unforgettable experience.
7. Blachford Lake Lodge
Located in the rugged wilderness of the Northwest Territories, Blachford Lake Lodge is a fly-in-only, remote retreat. It consistently wows visitors with its casual luxury and epic scenery. Far away from city lights, roads and populations, the lodge is the perfect spot for quiet days and Northern Lights at night.
Soak in the hot tub under a clear northern sky, enjoy a skate on the frozen lake, or take a snowy walk to observe wildlife. The experience at Blachford Lake includes chef-prepared meals and cozy accommodations so all you have to do is relax and enjoy.
This experience is best suited to travellers comfortable with colder temperatures and remote winter conditions.
This 4-day winter package includes a chartered flight from Yellowknife to the lodge, all meals, and accommodations and daily immersive experiences.
8. Black Spruce Cabins
The Black Spruce features four self-contained cabins. Each cabin comes with a forest view, located just a few minutes from downtown Whitehorse in the Yukon.
Rustic and eco-friendly, these cabins are modelled after the famous Juvet Landscape Hotel in Norway. They are built using sustainably sourced wood, with access to a cedar sauna. For a unique accommodation option this is your spot!
Each compact cabin has a kitchen, bathroom and queen-sized bed. Even so, although you are just outside the city centre, you feel like a world away.
Try out these eco-cabins for yourself on this Yukon 4-day getaway that includes a car rental and access to the newly re-opened hot springs near Whitehorse.
**This post was originally published on October 19, 2022. It has been updated to ensure accurate and current information**
