Jasper Travel Guide

The Canadian Rockies are a majestic, mountain landscape, full of peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons and caves. Its Canadian leg runs from the Montana border up to the Liard River in British Columbia. Five national parks are located in the Canadian Rockies, including Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, and Waterton Lakes, as well as numerous other provincial parks. For many, the Canadian Rockies are the iconic symbol of wild spaces, and they are deservedly famous for their beauty. Although the Rockies are not the tallest mountain range in Canada, many people mistake them for it, as their sheer ruggedness can feel over-whelming when you're up close.

To the north of Banff is Jasper National Park, which became a national park in 1930, and it is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Jasper gets about 40% of the tourist volume as Banff, but it is in no way less beautiful. Jasper has more wildlife and more jagged mountains. People come to Jasper to seek isolation from the crowds and to see the magnificent beauty. Some of the highlights of Jasper are Tonquin Valley, the Athabasca Glacier, Marmot Basin ski hill (the only ski hill in Jasper), and Jasper Park Golf Club. The town of Jasper is at the junction of the Icefield Parkway and the Yellowhead Highway, connecting it to Banff and Edmonton. The Jasper Park Lodge, near Maligne Lake, is the most famous hotel in town, but there are a number of others. The Miette Hotsprings, found off the Yellowhead near Hinton, provide a welcome 104 degree natural hot pool to warm its guests. Heli-skiing in Jasper can be done in the Monashee Mountains with Mike Wiegele Heli-Skiing, considered one of the best heli-ski operators in the world, or there are also white-water rafting opportunities.

Where to Go in Jasper