Camping in Jasper National Park

Camping is a great way to experience the Jasper wilderness.

By Michele Kadison

Staff Writer

Rockies.com

JASPER, Alberta (Rockies.com) – Jasper National Park’s camping grounds are spacious and clean, and
present the perfect opportunity to immerse oneself in Jasper’s
world-renowned Canadian wilderness.

10 Tips for Camping in Jasper National Park

1. Parks Canada operates all ten campgrounds in Jasper National Park.

2. During peak season, 1,772 camping sites are available in Jasper
National Park with a variety of services.

3. The Canadian busy season lasts from June through September, and peaks in July and August.

4. Jasper National Park has a very limited number of serviced (hook-up)
sites, which are only available at Whistler’s and Wapiti campgrounds. During high tourist season, hook-up sites can fill before 11 am and campers often line up early in the morning. Keep in mind that you may not be able to book a hook-up site for your first night during this busy period. Upon arrival, Jasper campground staff will advise you on how to go about getting a hook-up site for the rest of your stay.

5. Dates of operation vary. Alberta’s summer camping begins in early May, with all campgrounds open by mid to late June. Summer campgrounds close throughout September and October. The winter campground is at Wapiti.

6. You can make reservations at the Pocahontas, Whistlers, Wapiti and
Wabasso campgrounds. All other Jasper campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early.

7. Group camping is available for groups with a minimum of ten people. Group campsites can accommodate tents only.

8. Checkout time is 11 a.m.

9. Campers must purchase a camping permit at the Jasper campground kiosk or self-register.

10. Campfires are permitted at most sites. A fire permit must be purchased at kiosks or self-registration booths.

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Jasper National Park for Kids

By Caroline Shin
Staff Writer
Rockies.com

Rafting is fun for the whole family in Jasper National Park.

JASPER, Alberta (Rockies.com) – Good old fun for the whole family, Jasper National Park offers children many exciting activities in the great Canadian Rocky Mountains. There is plenty to see and do so kids won’t get bored. The Jasper Information Centre provides detailed information on kid-friendly adventures, maps and hiking trail guides.

Recommended Kids’ Activities in Jasper National Park

Hiking: Take the kids on a hike. The Discovery Trail, located on the perimeter of the city of Jasper, and Lake Annette Loop are trails that are short, fun and easy. Just make sure to bring plenty of water.

Snowtubing: Enjoy Jasper’s fresh powder with a thrilling ride downhill on a snow tube.

Guided Tours: A hands-on learning experience for the whole family, local guides will share their knowledge of Jasper’s nature and wildlife.

Museums: Learn about Jasper history at the Yellowhead Museum or see the many wildlife displays at the Wildlife Den in Whistler’s Inn.

Around Town: Take in the shops, ice cream parlors and restaurants in Jasper. The town itself has a beautiful mountain backdrop. Try the latest green transportation: the Jasper Pedi-Cab.

Scenic Appreciation

Columbia Icefield: This is a stunning Jasper must-see. You can go out onto the glacier in an ice buggy. Older kids will enjoy a river float trip, which is a fun way to spend the day.

The whole family can enjoy a pleasant hike through Jasper National Park.

Maligne Canyon: You can walk over six bridges for views of the Canadian limestone gorges and waterfalls.

Maligne Lake: Start at the Maligne Lake Lodge, overlooking the lake, where you can relax on the deck over a nice lunch.

Jasper Tramway: Open in warmer months, Canada’s highest aerial tram is the Jasper Tramway just outside of Jasper. A seven-minute 3,300 foot ride takes you to an altitude of 8,000 feet. A guide shares the history of Jasper as you look out over the spectacular Canadian Rockies scenery of Jasper and the entire Athabasca Valley.

Rafting: Raft the Athabasca River. The water comes from the ice fields so in the spring, it’s cloudy white with icy chunks and late in the summer, it is crystal clear. Try floating up the river in a 20-person raft that even a young child can handle. The Athabasca has only gentle Class II rapids.

Fishing: Rent fishing rods and gear at the boathouse.

Horseback Riding: In warmer months, take a morning or afternoon trail ride that heads out from the Maligne Lake Lodge to the top of the Bald Hills. The rides are from three to four hours long, so this is best for older kids. They will appreciate the wildflower-covered meadows and views of ice-capped mountains that Jasper offers along the way.

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Jasper Recommendations

By Stephen Nelson
Staff Editor

Rockies.com

JASPER, Alberta (Rockies.com) – Jasper National Park offers some of the world’s most beautiful scenery.

The Tangle Falls are a beautiful place to picnic in Jasper National Park.

Summer activities in Jasper run from the beginning of May till the middle of October, depending on the weather in the Canadian Rockies, El Nino and global warming.

How to get there

Jasper half-day train rides run year-round, three times a week. Railway journeys to the British Colombia interior is with VIA Rail Skeena.

Return journey to Jasper with a guided tour is by van through Jasper Adventure Centre.

Brewster runs daily buses (in summer) to Jasper from Calgary, Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise.

Greyhound has regular bus service to Jasper from both Vancouver and Edmonton.

Sundog Tours runs daily shuttle service to Jasper from Edmonton and Edmonton airport.

Getting Around Town

Mr. Taxi

Photo supplies, Rocky Mountain guide and history books

Jasper Camera & Gift
412 Connaught Dr.

Where to Eat

Papa George’s (Casual Fine Dining)
404 Connaught Dr.

Palisades Restaurant(Greek/Italian Casual Fine Dining)
401 Patricia St.

Lou Lou’s (Breakfast, Pizza)
407 Patricia St.

Soft Rock Cafe (Breakfast, Pizza, Lunch)
632 Connaught Dr.

Smitty’s Family Restaurant
109 Miette Ave.

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Wildlife in Jasper National Park

Mountain goats are one of the many players on this wild stage.

By Nicholas J Parkinson

Staff Writer

Rockies.com

JASPER, Alberta (Rockies.com) – Everyday in the Canadian Rockies tourists from all over the world discover big game wildlife they have never seen before. In Jasper National Park alone, it is possible to see big horn sheep, caribou, elk and the elusive grizzly bear all in the same day. The best way to do this is by hiking through the least frequented places in the park. And if that scares you, buckle your seat belt and take a guided wildlife tour.

Osprey and eagles fly overhead, moose, elk and deer consort on the banks of high alpine lakes and big horn sheep pop up in places normally thought of as unreachable. Seeing these creatures in their natural habitat gives visitors a rare chance to spy on Mother Nature.

To gain a better vantage point, Jasper-based tour operator Sundog Tours offers its classic Wildlife Discovery Tour, leading groups of camera-laden nature lovers into the wilds of Jasper National Park.

The tour lasts between 3 and 3.5 hours and departs twice daily in the summer season. Along the route, an interpretive guide and wildlife expert takes visitors to Maligne Valley, one of park’s more famed spots for big game. Atop the 165 foot gorge, the group then sets off on a short walk to marvel at the Maligne River, pounding the canyon walls.

The nature-spying continues as the group silently walks towards Medicine Lake, and finally Maligne Lake.

Government funded-Parks Canada advises all tourists to maintain a distance of 100 meters from elk, and many more meters from bears. It is against the law to feed any of the wild animals in the park, and campers especially  must be careful with food and food remnants to keep scavengers from attacking their campsite.

There's always a possibility of seeing the majestic grizzly bear.

“Since Jasper’s designation as a national park in 1907, two people have been killed by grizzly bears and countless numbers have been bluff-charged or attacked. This usually occurs when hikers or mountain bikers surprise a bear, especially around a corner or near flowing water. Hikers and mountain bikers should familiarize themselves with the Keep the Wild in Wildlife brochure before starting their trip and should always make noise while on the trail,” Parks Canada advises. Learn more by visiting their website, www.parkscanada.ca.

Whitewatering rafting in Jasper National Park

Running rivers is fun for the whole family.

By Nicholas J Parkinson

Staff Writer

Rockies.com

JASPER, Alberta (Rockies.com) – When trekking and sightseeing in Jasper National Park have reached their end, reach for a paddle. When your feet have accumulated enough blisters for the next year, strap on a lifejacket and jump into a rubber raft. There are few better ways to enjoy nature’s beauty in the Canadian Rockies than whitewater rafting.

The Athabasca River traverses the national park like an artery. After signing up with Maligne Rafting Adventures, river enthusiasts can be part of this historical waterway, jumping in just outside of the town of Jasper. The Athabasca is marketed as a family river, with class 2 rapids and plenty of calm water for the kids.

“It’s a fun activity for the family. You can only do so much hiking, and people want a different kind of thrill. Rafting is a good way to do that and at the same time it’s an adrenaline sport,” says Darren Grab, Malign River Adventure river guide and manager.

Grab’s company offers two river trips each day in the summer. For families, the Athabasca River has plenty of class 2 rapids, but for the more adventurous, the Fraser River in neighboring British Columbia will get the adrenaline pumping.

A five hour roundtrip excursion, the Fraser’s summer water levels are perfect for whitewater river rafting, according to Grab. The number of tourists visiting the Canadian Rockies has dropped sharply however. The lull in tourism is in part due to the economic downturn, with most visitors choosing instead to stay home, he reasons.

See the rugged beauty of Jasper National Park

This hasn’t deterred Grab and his team of guides though. Every day in summer, Maligne River Adventure is guiding river tours, between 1 and 2 hours long. For kayakers, Grab offers a tour, but the tour must be reserved in advance.

“Each day throughout the season we raft either the Fraser or Sunwapta River. Whichever river offers the best ride on any particular day. So book either river and we’ll pick the best river for your trip,” the company says on its website.

For even more river fun, Maligne River Adventure guides two and three day excursions, spending maximum time on the Fraser and Athabasca Rivers.

“The Fraser River is world famous not just amongst rafters but kayakers too. We have a lot of good whitewater at our disposal that definitely compares to rivers in other countries,” Grab explains.

Prices run between $65 and $100 for day trips with Maligne River Adventures. Day trips do not require any previous experience and are suited for physically active individuals who weigh 90 lbs (41 kgs) or more. Transportation to and from the river is provided, as well as lifejackets, wetsuits, paddle jackets, booties and paddles.

“There are no two rivers alike, so it’s always nice to be there,” Grab philosophizes.

You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you. -Heraclitus

Take a three day trip through Jasper National Park

Trekking is the only way to find pure solitude in the Rockies.

By Nicholas J Parkinson

Staff Writer

Rockies.com

JASPER, Alberta (Rockies.com) – The Canadian Rockies have become very popular amongst travelers over the past 20 years. Much of this popularity is due to Jasper and Banff National Parks. In fact, just getting a campsite along some of the more popular trails takes careful research and dedication.

Because of this, when hiking in the Rockies, it is highly recommended to take a guided tour into the backcountry, where certified guides will keep you aware of grizzly bears, provide historical insight and get you the best campsites in the park.

“Sometimes the backpacking element is just a small part of the entire vacation, and people don’t want to bring all the camping equipment on a three-week trip,” says Trevor Lescard, guide for Overlander Trekking & Tours on another benefit of booking a tour.

Between May and September, adventurous souls can wander into the rarely seen regions of Jasper National Park for three nights with Overlander.

“For some people it’s their first trip, we teach them how to pack properly, set-up equipment and pacing. We don’t rush to campgrounds, rather we take time and give interpretive value and historical elements,” he explains.

The most popular trek for this summer is the Skyline trail, a three-day trip, that takes hikers 44 kilometers into Jasper National Park. More than half of the trail is above the tree line, leading hikers through alpine meadows. Wildlife can be expected on the trail, meaning caribou, big horn sheep and the ominous grizzly bear.

There's always a possibility of seeing the majestic grizzly bear.

“We don’t usually see grizzlies, but there is a strong possibility,” Lescard adds.

To prepare non-grizzly people for the experience, guides give visitors a crash course in how to safely share the Rockies with these amazing animals.

“On backpacking trips, we try as much as possible to not see bears,” he assures.

Overlander runs three day backpacking trips every week of the summer, departing Thursdays and returning Sundays.

The first day, the trail follows the wide ridges of the Maligne Range, taking hikers from the lake up a gentle grade through a spruce and fir forest towards Little Shovel Pass. The first campsite lies in the alpine meadow Snowbowl.

The second day is easily the most scenic as the trail heads over the notch at the 2,510 meters. From the pass, hikers enjoy the majestic views over the Athabasca Valley. Following the Maligne Ridge, the trails descends to the spectacular campground just below Tekarra Mountain.

See the rugged beauty of Jasper National Park

The hike out is roughly 14 kilometers but is mainly downhill. Wildlife becomes more abundant and the trail finishes at the trailhead near Maligne Canyon.

For intrepid hikers who want to go it alone, campsites must first be reserved in the national parks through Parks Canada.

Experience more of Jasper National Park, from a horse

All sorts of wonders await the intrepid cowboy.

By Nicholas J Parkinson

Staff Writer

Rockies.com

JASPER, Alberta (Rockies.com) – Before roads connected Banff and Jasper National Parks, before gas guzzling coaches roamed the frontal boundaries of the majestic Canadian Rockies, adventurers were forced to mount horses to see the hidden beauty of this region. The tradition continues today: if you want to see the backcountry, horseback is the most complete mode of transportation.

The majority of the trails in Jasper National Park were created by pioneers and cowboys on horseback.  In fact, backcountry hiking owes much of its orientation to horses that have “paved” the paths and trails crisscrossing the park. Now, the quickest way to get lost in Jasper National Park – a multi-day horseback trip - is more of a luxury than a struggle.

Brule-based Horseback Adventures LTD runs multi-day trips in and around Jasper National Park. Owner and operator Tom Vinson took over the company from his father who had been outfitting since the 1950s.

“Jasper National Park is one of the premier backcountry areas that everybody has heard about and wants to visit to say they have been to the Canadian Rockies,” Vinson says. While his tours take adventurers into Jasper National Park, they also visit Rock Lake Solomon Creek Wildland Provincial Park along the park’s north boundary as well as Moose Horn Lake.

Riders must be prepared for all types of weather.

Tom personally guides every trip along with a staff of guides, wranglers and a cook. This year, Vinson says the longer eight day trips are becoming more popular. Many tourists are taking more time off to really develop a relationship with the Canadian Rockies backcountry. The season runs from mid-June to the end of September.

For those unwilling to rough it in a tent for more than a week, Vinson and Co. have a series of cabins known as the west range cabins. Riders can choose to stay in cabins or in tents, or a combination of both, he explains.

“People choose this type of trip for the wildlife, pretty scenery, the experience, and of course the solitude,” Vinson reasons. A horseback trip into the park does not necessarily require riding experience, he says, in fact 80% of his clients have little or no experience on a horse.

Riders should be prepared for an adventure. Each day, adventurers spend five to six hours on horseback and travel up to 18 miles. Over an eight day period, this is an optimal way to enjoy Jasper National Park and its surroundings.

A Dying Breed

Men on horseback helped tame this wild place.

Vinson has seen a sharp drop in horseback outfitters over the past ten years. He believes that park officials have begun to favor mass tourism, i.e. coaches and buses running along Jasper’s front country.

“This year we have seen a change in management and they’re a little easier to deal with so we’ve decided to try and do some more business there. It is unfortunate, when you realize that the horses and outfitters are the very type of product and the reason why the park is there now. The trails, for example, all began with tourism and horses. It’s been a sad slippery fall for the horse,” he says.

Vinson reminds travelers of an earlier time, beckoning images of his father, Tom Vinson Sr., who came to Jasper in 1939 and began working for local operator Brewsters. At the Jasper Lodge, Tom Sr. met his future wife, Yvette, who came to the Canadian Rockies to work. Tom Jr. is thus very much a product of tourism in and around Jasper, and he doesn’t intend to let the horseback legacy die, at least not while mounted in his saddle.

Experience a spirited boat cruise in Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is the jewel of the Canadian Rockies.

By Nicholas J Parkinson

Staff Writer

Rockies.com

JASPER, Alberta (Rockies.com) – There is an island of pride floating on Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park. Here, there’s a cruise ship pleased with being named Canada’s best boat cruise by Reader’s Digest and celebrating 100 years of tourism.

Thanks to this notoriety, tourists flock to Jasper National Park to take the 90 minute cruise to Spirit Island. The island is considered very photogenic, especially after winning fame in the 50s. A local photographer won a Kodak photo contest in New York City, thereby putting Maligne Lake and Spirit Lake on the map.

This diminutive Canadian Rockies icon, floating amid turquoise, glacial waters is accessed via glass enclosed and heated boats with local operator, Maligne Tours.

The tour is fully narrated with a crew explaining history, glaciology and geology of the area. Visitors can step off onto Spirit Isand. “People come to Jasper, usually stay for a day or two. We’re an hour out of Jasper, so it’s a half day commitment to come up here and take the cruise,” Diane Scott, Maligne Tours manager says.

Maligne Lake sits a good 2000 feet higher than the town of Jasper, so tourists should be prepared for brisk changes in the weather and temperature. There is camping around the lake’s shores, and campers can rent canoes and kayaks from Maligne Tours, Scott adds.

Lakes abound in the Canadian Rockies.

“People get a glimpse into Jasper National Park’s backcountry, which most people can’t get to because they are not physically able,” Scott says. The lake just celebrated 100 years of tourism since Mary Schafer first laid eyes on the alpine beauty, credited as the first person, other than indigenous people, to see the natural wonder.

Boat cruises started back in the 1920s and Maligne Tours has been running people to Spirit Island since 1977.

The cruise season runs from mid-May to the first week of October. Adults pay $55 and children half-price. Visitors are invited to enjoy the restaurant and heritage boat house located on the lake.

Via Rail's Skeena train travels past Mount Robson.

By James Snow

Staff Writer

Rockies.com

JASPER, Alberta (Rockies.com) – Visitors to the Canadian Rockies often ask about half-day train trips in the area. In fact, you can take that fantasy trip to Mount Robson and beyond on VIA Rail’s Skeena tour train.

The Skeena has some of the best scenery on any railway journey anywhere on the continent. Normally, this involves a two-day journey from Jasper to Prince Rupert, B.C.

But if you arrange a half-day train journey with a local tour company, you can see the other side of the mountain and still get back to Jasper in time for dinner.

Magical History Tour

You board the train at the Jasper Heritage Railway station – a building from the early days of Canadian National Railways.

At the first opportunity, head to the back of the train to sit in the vintage observation car. If you head to the upper level to view the scenery through the domed roof, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of spectacular scenery – snow-white mountain peaks towering thousands of metres over the mighty glacier-fed blue rivers.

There’s always a buzz of excitement running through the car when you spot some wildlife: Rocky Mountain big horn sheep clinging to the cliffs precariously close to the tracks; a mama bear and her two cubs scurrying across a meadow.

Later, you’ll pass a sapphire-blue lake fed by the mighty Fraser River. This marshy, shallow lake is a favourite feeding ground for the largest member of the deer family – and a great place to spot these lumbering giants. That’s why the place is called Moose Lake.

Truly Canadian

The half-day train trip passes through spectacular scenery.

The dome cars on the Skeena are vintage cars from the Golden Age of rail travel in Canada. These stainless steel beauties, with streamlined design and art deco appointments, are the first-class legacy of The Canadian – the transcontinental passenger service that in its day was regarded as one of the greatest railway experiences in the world.

You’ll get off the train at a railway siding nestled in the Robson Valley between the Cariboo and Rocky Mountain ranges. You’ll have just enough time to take a photograph of the time-travelling train before it disappears into the panoramic scenery.

At the siding, you’ll be met by your guide from the tour company. Veteran guides all have two things in common – an almost encyclopedic knowledge of this region, and a practically missionary zeal and enthusiasm to share with the world the wonders of the Rockies.

Yellow Ribbon of Highway

As you drive back to Jasper on the Yellowhead Highway, following the spectacular Fraser River, you’ll learn about the layers of history that have literally paved the way for your journey.

The mountain pass (Yellowhead Pass) you’re travelling through was named for an Iroquois-Metis trapper who worked for the Hudson Bay Company in the 1820s. Because he had yellow streaks through his mostly dark hair, he earned the nickname Tête Jaune – French for “Yellowhead.”

Nine decades later, when the competing railways were rushing to build their transcontinental tracks to the coast, they came through this pass. And when the Yellowhead Highway was built through here, much of it followed the railway beds no longer used by the railways. Your way has been paved by the fur trade and the railway.

Peak Experience

Mount Robson is the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies - and regarded as the emperor of mountains.

After about an hour driving eastward on the highway towards Jasper, you’ll catch your first glimpse of the Great Mountain rising before you.

Mount Robson is so high that weather systems moving eastward from the Pacific Coast have trouble making it over the top. That’s why the mountain is usually veiled in clouds and is fully visible for only about 12 days each year.

But even though Mount Robson (3954 m) is the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, it is not the tallest mountain in Canada – that honor belongs to Mount Logan (5956 m), in the Yukon. Nor is Robson the highest mountain in the Rockies – that would be Mount McKinley (6187 m), in Alaska.

But with its striking form and a vertical rise of nearly 3,000 m above the valley floor, Mount Robson has to be the most spectacular and the most imposing.

Certainly there are other regal peaks in this Rocky Mountain range. You’ll likely see the jagged spearhead of Mount Fitzwilliam and Mount Terry Fox – named for one of Canada’s great modern heroes.

But in this Valley of the Kings, Robson is an emperor – regarded by artists as the most splendid, most perfect of Canada’s many majestic mountains.

And when you see it, you’ll know why.