Jasper, Alberta
Sparkling glaciers and stunning vistas
Jasper National Park is Canada's largest mountain wilderness park in the Canadian Rockies. It was established in 1907. Spanning over 4200 square miles (10,878 square kilometers) on the eastern slopes of the Rockies in western Alberta, it is a part of the UNESCO Rocky Mountain World Heritage Site, and is one of North America's largest natural areas and wildlife sanctuaries.
Jasper offers year round adventure in the wildest of mountain parks, where sparkling glaciers, turquoise lakes, wild rivers, deep limestone canyons and evergreen forests surrounded by soaring peaks is all a part of the experience. It is renowned for its rugged backcountry and superb wildlife viewing, and is home to grizzly bears, mountain lions, caribou, moose and wolves. Nestled in the midst of this unspoiled wilderness is the charming resort town of Jasper. A small town atmosphere combined with first-class accommodations, restaurants and shopping offers something for every traveler amidst the breathtaking mountain scenery.
Jasper joins Banff National Park via the stunning Icefields Parkway. The Columbia Icefields, one of the only Icefields in the world accessible by road, borders the parkway in the southern end of the park, and is a route not to be missed. Other scenic mountain drives include Pyramid Lake Road and the "Old Banff / Jasper Highway."
Jasper National Park is legendary for its range of adventure tours and outdoor opportunities in and around the park, with over 621 miles (1,000 km) of backcountry backpacking, hiking and cross-country skiing trails, and superb rafting, canoeing and fishing. If exploring on your own seems daunting, you can join a variety of guided tours through the park.
Jasper's northern ranges offer mountain bikers unparalleled surroundings. July and August are usually the warmest months with snow-free access to the trails, though September and October offer cooler weather and fewer mosquitoes. Most mountain bike trails in the Rockies are multi-use trails, and share with hikers and horseback riders. Jasper National Park is home to a huge variety of wildlife. Large populations of elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer and their predators make it one of the last protected ecosystems remaining in the Rocky Mountains. The park is also home to a host of birds for bird watchers, including bald eagles and the endangered harlequin ducks.
Amidst the clear lakes and streams excellent kayaking, white water rafting and fishing await, and the more adventurous can take a helicopter high into the mountains for outstanding heli-hiking and skiing, or scale the peaks by rock or ice climbing. In winter, dogsledding tours are available in the remote mountain wilderness, and snowshoeing, snowmobiling and even snow camping are amazing adventures to be had here.
