Pine Bungalows Review – Jasper National Park

There’s nothing quite like the experience of staying in a cabin in the woods in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. With an enviable river-front location in a lush forest, you can have this experience at the Pine Bungalows in Jasper National Park.

We spent two nights at the Pine Bungalows as a family of four (our kids are 10 and 12), and the combination of simple comforts, a forested setting, and easy, kid-friendly moments made it an easy recommendation.

The Pine Bungalows felt close enough to everything we wanted to do around Jasper, yet blissfully quiet once we turned into the trees. If you’re looking for that classic cabin-in-the-mountains experience, with a few thoughtful modern touches, this is a great fit.

In the following Pine Bungalows review, I’ll detail everything you need to know about the property along with our personal experiences.

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Description of the Pine Bungalows

Pine Bungalows is a collection of standalone cabins and a small lodge tucked into the woods along the Athabasca River. The vibe is “unplug and reconnect,” and they lean into it in a refreshing way: the cabins don’t have TVs, phones, or Wi-Fi, which keeps evenings focused on card games, campfires, and spotting deer wandering through the trees.

We really appreciated all the little details that supported the slower rhythm: private fire pits at the cabins, picnic tables right outside your door, and a handy on-site canteen for last-minute groceries and heat-and-eat meals when no one wants to head back into town.

The Pine Bungalows property feels like a little village under the pines, with walking paths to the river and a communal fire area that quickly turns strangers into marshmallow-roasting friends.

I’ll be honest… at first, Celine and I grumbled about the lack of Wi-Fi, but it didn’t take long to adjust – it really does fit with the charm of the place. Looking back, it was nice not being on our phones so much, allowing us to properly get into the spirit of our stay in this wonderful forested location.

Pine Bungalows location

One of the biggest perks of staying at the Pine Bungalows is the location: it’s tucked into the forest, right beside the Athabasca River, about 2 km / 1.2 miles from the Jasper townsite. That distance is perfect; you’re a quick drive to restaurants, trails, and the grocery store, but you’re far enough from the train tracks to keep your nights quiet.

Pine Bungalows Amenities

Outside our cabin we had our own fire pit and picnic table, and a complimentary bag of firewood to get us started. They even provided some matches and a little fire starting stick, which was very thoughtful.

When we wanted more snacks, the on-site canteen saved us a trip into town. They offer a small selection of groceries, pre-made meals you can heat up in your cabin, pastries and coffee, plus fun extras like s’mores kits.

We bought some bamboo roasting sticks at the on-site store and joined the scene at the communal fire pit one evening; the fire was already crackling, and our kids were happily burning their marshmallows within minutes. If you like the sound of evenings under the stars and mornings by the river, the cabins at Pine Bungalows make it easy.

Room types

We stayed in an East Cabin, which worked perfectly for our family: one bedroom with a queen bed, plus another queen bed in the main living area. The layout gave us a proper door to close at bedtime, and the kids had enough space to spread out their books and card games by the fireplace before bed.

Pine Bungalows has a good range of accommodations beyond the East Cabins: classic one and two-bedroom cabins (some with kitchens), larger new chalets for groups, and a small lodge with hotel-style rooms if you prefer that format.

If you prefer to DIY, the canteen carries groceries and pre-made meals to heat back in your cabin.

Activities to do around the hotel

Staying here makes it easy to split your time between “doing” and “being.” On property, you can wander down to the Athabasca River, watch for wildlife at dawn and dusk, and linger by your own campfire or the communal fire after dark.

Pine Bungalows with kids

As a family, Pine Bungalows hit the sweet spot. The East Cabin’s second queen bed in the living area made bedtime easy, and having a door on the bedroom gave everyone a little privacy and much needed breathing room.

Our kids were thrilled by the free welcome ice cream, and loved the opportunity to roast marshmallows in the communal fire pit. (To be honest, they also loved watching me try, and fail, to start a fire in our own private fire pit first… ha-ha!)

Our only real downside as parents who work on the road was the lack of Wi-Fi in the cabins. That unplugged policy is by design here, and many families will enjoy the digital break, but just be sure to download some shows on Netflix, and all of your hiking trail maps at home before arriving at the Pine Bungalows.

Pine Bungalows Review – Final Thoughts

If you want a Jasper cabin experience that feels genuinely connected to the rugged mountain landscape, Pine Bungalows delivers. The river-front, forest location is perfect, being close to town, but far enough away too.

The cabins are warm, practical, and thoughtfully set up, and the on-site canteen and bistro make the logistics of dinner and snacks effortless. It’s not a traditional luxury hotel, and that’s the point.

Pine Bungalows is about slow evenings by the fire and time together in the wilderness of the Canadian Rockies. For our family, it was exactly the Jasper mood we were after. If that sounds like your kind of stay, you’ll be very happy here.