If you’re heading to Jasper, it’s likely you’ve decided to see the magnificent, rugged, natural wonders of the area. Your first stop should be the Jasper National Park Information Centre, located at 500 Connaught Drive in the downtown core. The Parks Canada and Jasper Tourism & Commerce staff will help you with information about weather conditions in the park, recent bear sightings, trail conditions and closures, avalanche warnings in the winter and spring and other hazards that you should know about Jasper before you begin your trip on the Icefield Parkway.
Athabasca Falls
The Athabasca River has been carving a gorge through the Rocky Mountains for many thousands of years. The 23-metre Athabasca Falls are located 32 kilometres (19 miles) south of the Jasper townsite, offering visitors a breathtaking view of jagged cliffs and brilliant flashes of spray. They may not be the tallest falls you will ever see, but this may be the most exciting picnic you will ever enjoy! Please remain on the safe side of the trail at all times; the rocks are slippery—you could easily be washed over the falls. You wouldn’t want that much excitement on your holiday!
Sunwapta Falls
Another breathtaking series of waterfalls is just 55 km (33 miles) from the Jasper townsite. “Sunwapta” means “turbulent river” in the language of the Stoney Nation, and a more apt description could not be found for this unpredictable watercourse plummeting over the cliffs into a deep canyon. These stepping waterfalls are located where the Chaba Valley joins the Athabasca Valley, with a deep gorge below the footbridge. You will have to watch out for slippery rocks here as well! In the winter, the falls freeze over and draw photographers.
Mount Edith Cavell
Named for the selfless English nurse of the First World War, this 3,368-metre mountain is one of the most beautiful mountains to be found anywhere in Western Canada. Only 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of the Jasper townsite, your visit wouldn’t be complete without seeing the park’s most famous mountain. The Cavell Road is narrow, and it twists and turns with switchbacks. Also note that trailers and long vehicles are not allowed on this road. Midday is busiest at this popular site so try to plan your schedule around this. Voluntary closures will be in effect on the meadow trail when conditions are wet.
Miette Hot Springs
At 53.9 degrees Celsius, the hottest natural springs in the Canadian Rockies are located just 60 kilometres (36 miles) east of the Jasper townsite. The Miette Hot Springs features hotpools, a cool pool, a café, hiking trails, a picnic area and accommodations. Swimsuits, towels and lockers can be rented so the Miette Hot Springs offers everything necessary for a relaxing, civilized escape in the wilderness.
Maligne Canyon
Eleven kilometres (6.6 miles) southeast of the town of Jasper, along Maligne Lake Road, the Maligne River carves a 50-metre (165-foot) gorge through the solid limestone of the Canadian Rockies. The Maligne Canyon may be viewed from the first four bridges of six that cross the Maligne River. The lower two bridges cross the river and do not include interpretive information. You can even visit the frozen canyon during the winter, when a guide will take you through its mysterious icy twists and turns. At the entrance to Maligne Canyon, there is an excellent restaurant, cafeteria, gift shop and art gallery you will not want to miss during the late spring and summer months.
Medicine Lake
Long ago, the local Native American people believed that spirits inhabited Medicine Lake, just 32 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of the Jasper townsite along Maligne Lake Road. This is because the water level fluctuates wildly, sometimes disappearing altogether during the fall and winter, due to a combination of an underground drainage system and the spring run-off. The United Nations created the Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site in part because of this lake, which is one of the largest “sinking” lakes in the Western Hemisphere.
Maligne Lake
Just 20 kilometres further along from Medicine Lake (or a total of 30 miles from downtown Jasper) is the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Maligne Lake, in the gorgeous Maligne Valley, offers a variety of recreational activities, including guided fishing and boat cruises across its vast 22-kilometre (14-mile) length. Summer visitors will want to hike trails in the area, while winter visitors will enjoy fabulous cross-country skiing. The restaurant and shops are open during the summer season.
The Whistler
The view from the top of The Whistler’s Mountain has inspired visitors for generations. The Jasper Tramway takes visitors up to an elevation of 2,285 metres (7,496 feet) for the most spectacular views of the area. Just eight kilometres (4.8 miles) south of the Jasper townsite, the tram is open from the early spring through the late fall and offers the opportunity to learn about the alpine environment and area hiking trails through an interpretive exhibit. There is also an excellent restaurant and gift shop located at the Tramway.
Area Lakes
Lakes Edith and Annette are small and pleasant recreational lakes very close to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and six kilometres (3.6 miles) from the Jasper townsite. Visitors will enjoy the sandy beaches, the excellent picnic areas, the refreshing swimming at both lakes and the excellent bicycle trail around Lake Edith. Two other popular recreational lakes are only 8 kilometres (4.8 miles) from the town of Jasper. Patricia and Pyramid Lakes offer fishing, canoeing, windsurfing, sailing, hiking, cycling, picnicking, horseback riding and many other activities. Winter is magical at Pyramid Lake for cross-country skiers and ice skaters alike.
Check with the staff at the Jasper National Park Information Centre, or any one of the numerous activity-based companies in the area for up-to-the-minute information on any of these beautiful and exciting destinations.
