It only takes a drive 10min into Jasper National park to be awe-struck. We entered on HWY16 coming from Edmonton.
The roads offer increasingly grandiose views - from rugged peaks to emerald lakes to silty-green-gray snaking river valleys... it cannot be beat by New Zealand or the EU... its rivals are few and far between.
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| Elk crossing a 90KM/H Highway |
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| Emerald lakes |
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| Lightplay |
As cliche as it may sound, photos simply cannot do justice to Jasper's overwhelming beauty - if we could bottle it, we'd be millionaires!
Parks Canada has done an excellent job of 'keeping it real' in Jasper. Their iconic brown and yellow signage is reminiscent of the 1920's and leaves you feeling simultaneously exposed and comforted.
Be prepared for frequent stops to soak up mother nature's magnificence or ogle all the wildlife. we suggest you read-up on wildlife concerns pertaining the season of your visit - we arrived in Elk rutting season, so we had to keep a safe distance from guys like this guy...
Wapiti Campground
We camped in the Wapiti campground. Only one of their 10 campground loops are electrified - loop FF - which is where we stayed.
The climate is Alpine and therefore highly variable. In late August, daytime highs were a tenuous 20deg C. Overnights hovered around 0deg C - we were glad for our trailer's heater ;)
Our days tended to start later due to the colder weather - we didn't leave the campground until around 11am daily.
Firewood is 'unlimited' - you pay for the right to burn it by the day. The bathrooms were truly spotless and the central shower facility was impeccably maintained albeit stingy with water ;)
The campground is directly on the Wapiti trail and so Jasper town is bike/jog-able - a real bonus. It also backs on the Miette river which offers some incredible views! Overall, we LOVED this campground! Way to go Parks Canada!
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| Miette river |
Mt. Edith Cavell
When in Jasper one must hike! We're a pretty hearty crew... having recently hiked the Sleeping Giant in Thunder Bay...we knew the kids could handle this iconic hike.
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| The drive |
The parking lot is huge and rightly so - this one's a gem! It boasts a glacier called the Angel Glacier and a glacial lake that's an otherworldly green filled with cleaved-off icebergs!!
The trail is well marked including distances between lookouts for those in need of assurance in bear country or those with health issues. Our sporty crew rates this as an easy hike.
The trail offers stunning views throughout.
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| Happy hikers! |
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| Breathtaking views |
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| Panorama from the scree top |
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| Chilly up top! |
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| Glaciers and Icebergs - oh my! |
Mountain Biking in Jasper
Jasper's network of trails is stupendous. All are well marked and available on the TrailForks app. Access is at the north end of town (the not touristy part).
I spent a day putting my mountain bike to good use...
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| Cottonwood trail |
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| sweet single track |
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| Miette river from the Wapiti trail |
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The trails are used equally by hikers, bikers, horseriders and bears ;) the lakes and views are so eye-popping that you have to stop pedaling every few minutes - or at least that's what I told myself while I paused to give my burning quads a rest (mountains are more fun to descend then to ascend)!
Jasper Town
If you've got a whole in your pocket, then Jasper is the perfect place to spend, spend, spend. It's got the feel of a ski town with all that entails.... but.... it is way less overrun than Banff town and includes a decent grocery store and a great playground for kids. Campers will appreciate the laundromat... Cheryl certainly did!
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| Laundromat |
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| Play structure |
Maligne Canyon
Another must-see and so well-trodden path is the one to Maligne Canyon. This gem is a deep slot canyon over which several very strategically placed bridges have been built to afford visitors amazing views into the canyon and the river that runs through it.
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| Slot canyon |
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| Slot canyon - up to 20m deep! |
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| Cheryl |
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| The river |
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| A stunning set of rapids |
Miette Hot Springs
We visited the Miette hot springs to chill-out after tackling Jasper's outdoor playground.
The drive in is a driving enthusiast's dream.
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| The drive |
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| Friendly goats |
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| The springs |
It offers amazing views of the surrounding peaks and 4 pools at different temperatures to soak in. The hottest typically hovers around 102deg F. The facility is clean and well maintained. The pools are clean and clear. The only thing this experience lacks is a little authenticity... the vibe is that of a public pool... but... it's cheap and gorgeous, so overall, it's great value and highly enjoyable.
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| The pools |
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