Jasper Activities At A Glance
What to do in Jasper
By Michele Kadison
Staff Writer
Rockies.com
The Jasper Tramway
Jasper Tramway gliding high above the treeline in the Canadian Rockies.
The Jasper Tramway is one of Canada’s longest aerial tramway systems. Featuring two terminals, with the longest measuring 3,280 feet, the tramway is an ideal way to arrive at a magnificent lookout point located at an elevation of 7,472 feet. Two tramcars are able to transport up to 30 passengers each, affording riders the chance to appreciate the stunning vistas that make this region so special. Arriving at the top of Whistler’s Mountain, you can shop in the gift shops and eat in the glass-enclosed dining room of the Treeline Restaurant where you can marvel over the peaks while enjoying a delicious meal.
Museums
The Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives contains a range of information on the history of the region. Whether it’s deerskin coats, telegraph equipment, wool bathing suits, or photographs from way back when, the museum is a testimony to the preservation of Jasper’s natural history from as far back as…yes… 10,000 years ago! With several galleries, the visitor can enjoy artifacts from each period of Jasper’s history.
The Den Wildlife Museum consists of 130 life-size specimens of Jasper’s wildlife. Moose, cougar, elk and grizzly bears make up some of the exhibits. Here you can get close and personal with any one of these intimidating beasts without fear! Canadian taxidermists have worked on the exhibit for over 45 years, categorizing species into four of Alberta’s natural regions: the northern forest, the mountains, the aspen parkland and the prairies. Located in the lower level of the Whistlers Inn, the Den Wildlife Museum is not to be missed.
Lakes and Trails
Lakes and trails abound around Jasper. Only ten minutes from town are the spring-fed kettle lakes consisting of Lake Edith, Lake Annette, and Lac Beauvert. These lakes make a perfect spot for families during the summer months, whether it is to enjoy a lakeside picnic, to walk the many trails or to wade in the cooling waters.
Maligne Lake and Spirit Island are located 30 miles southeast of Jasper. Here you can enjoy a boat tour or take a canoe or kayak out for an afternoon of trout fishing. At the Curly Philips Boathouse you will find equipment to rent for your day on the lake. On the island you will find several cafes and restaurants as well as shops.
Jasper National Park
See the best of the Canadian Rockies in Jasper National Park.
As you enter Jasper National Park you will be met by the majestic Athabasca Falls. A powerful water cascade falling into a limestone and quartz-rich canyon, these falls are magnificent to behold. With viewing platforms along the way, the vista is perfect for taking photographs.
Mount Edith Cavell is another feature that will greet you as you enter Jasper National Park. With its numerous hiking and biking trails, the mountain rises to 11,034 feet, making it an ideal challenge for alpine hikers. Named for a World War I British nurse who assisted allied troops, the mountain is home to Angel Glacier and Cavell Pond, its melt-water lake.
Miette Hot Springs
Anyone who has already been to Jasper will tell you that Miette Hot Springs in the Fiddle Valley offers some of the richest mineral waters in all of the Canadian Rockies. These hot springs have been attracting visitors since the early 1800s when the Hudson Bay and North West Company employees began visiting them for therapeutic reasons. Miette Hot Springs originate from Sulphur Creek where they are pulled deep below the mountain rock and heated by radioactive decay emerging from the earth’s core. The waters come to a boil and are forced upwards, flowing at 129.2 degrees F.
Miette Hot Springs are the hottest hot springs in the Canadian Rockies, cooling to 104 degrees F as they enter the bathing pools to allow visitors to experience the value of their medicinal qualities. Along with the hot springs, cooling pools and a poolside shower are featured as well as a world-class spa offering a range of therapeutic options. With its miraculous views of flora and fauna, Miette Hot Springs is the place to visit between May and mid-October.
