If you haven’t been lucky enough to set your eyes upon the Canadian Rocky Mountains – make sure you add it to your “things to do before you die” list.
tripatlas.com/new is taking you to Jasper, Alberta – just a 3-4 hour drive from Edmonton or a 4.5-hour drive from Calgary Airport – for a look at ten of the top things to do and see in Jasper National Park, located at the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Discover the Top 10 Sights & Attractions of Jasper, Alberta as a photo slideshow!
1) Columbia Icefields
The Columbia Icefields are one of the most stunning glacial displays in the world. From mid-April to mid-October, the 90-minute Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience takes visitors over the icefields in a 6-wheeled all-terrain vehicle where guests will have the opportunity to get up-close to these ancient glaciers from the ice age.
2) Backpacking the High Way to Heaven
If you’re looking for a true backcountry backpacking experience – Jasper’s Skyline Trail, cleverly nicknamed “High Way to Heaven” is it. The trail takes campers through cobalt-blue lakes and the jagged ridgelines of the Maligne Range via horseback. You won’t have a hard time spotting wildlife like mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, and marmots in the inspiring mountainous landscape.
3) Get aboard the Rocky Mountaineer for an unforgettable train ride through the Canadian Rockies
The Rocky Mountaineer train is one of the best train experiences in the world – and is one of the best ways to see the Rocky Mountains. Four different routes are available taking you through the best of the Rockies like Vancouver, Kamloops, Banff, Jasper, and Whistler in several packages from basic to VIP.
4) Drive along the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper
To travel the Icefield Parkway from Banff to Jasper is to experience one of Canada’s national treasures – 232 km through the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Park for a vast wilderness of stunning pristine mountain lakes, ancient glaciers, and sweeping valleys.
5) Athabasca Falls
Located near the town of Jasper, Athabasca Falls is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies. What makes the Athabasca Falls special is the sheer force of the water funneled through the narrow gap of 3-metres that has smoothed out the rock along its path for centuries.
6) Medicine Lake
The story behind Medicine Lake near the town of Jasper is one that is hundreds of years old – because from season to season, the water levels fluctuate so much that sometimes it even disappears. Native Indian legends tell of spirits who are responsible for the disappearance of the water. In fact, the lake sits upon the largest underground river drainage system in North America, causing the water to come and go every so often.
7) Maligne Canyon
Not only is Jasper gorgeous, but it is also filled with gorges! The Maligne Canyon just 1 km from the town of Jasper is a spectacular display of sheer limestone walls that plunge straight down. During summers, visitors can picnic and take interpretive tours while during the winter, guided Canyon Tours across the floor of the frozen canyon is also an incredible option
8) Miette Hotsprings
For the warmest natural springs in the Canadian Rockies, be sure to visit Miette Hotsprings for a soothing bath in 39-degree Celsius waters. The attraction offers two hot pools, a cool pool, and poolside café with nearby hiking, picnic, and accommodations options.
9) Marmot Basin
or spectacular mountain vistas, be sure to visit Marmot Basin – Jasper’s main ski, snowboard, and alpine resort. Here, you can ride the new Canadian Rockies Express High Speed Quad Chairlift – the longest new high speed quad chair in the region, taking you from the base at 5,570 feet to 7,525 feet.
10) Golfing at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is all about offering the true rocky mountain experience. As all Fairmont hotels, the resort offers luxury accommodations, signature cabins, and outdoor activities for its guests. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s golf course was also recently voted as the #1 Golf Resort Course in Canada and in 2009, the lodge won the award for Environmental Hotel of the Year.
For more on visiting Jasper, go to: www.jasper.travel or www.travelalberta.com.