If you love snowshoeing, then Jasper National Park is a terrific place to visit in winter. Enjoy kilometres of untracked trails, sublime mountain views, snowy meadows, quiet lakes, and a pretty good chance of seeing an elk. Winter is long in Jasper - and so is the season for snowshoeing, especially at higher elevation locations. On the days when the snowpack is thin, hike the trails instead, with a pair of icers tucked in your…
Winter in Jasper is divine. Once the snow arrives, the town is transformed into a true Canadian winter wonderland. Not only is it a quiet place to visit in winter compared to the summer, it's an exceptional base for cold weather-adventures. Anyone who is prepared to bundle up and enjoy the fresh air and outdoors, will love to explore the area. There's so much to do from skiing and boarding to skating, ice walks, winter…
For a take-your-breath-away beautiful multi-day hiking trip in the Canadian Rockies, you must put the Tonquin Valley trail in Jasper National Park on your hiking wish list. You've probably seen postcards with the famous Ramparts in touristy shops in Banff or Jasper. They're a mountain range with 10 named summits like Drawbridge, Bastion, Dungeon and Turret Peak - towering over beautiful Amethyst Lakes and the main reason you want to do this hike. But there…
Jasper National Park is an awesome part of Alberta to visit. But it can get busy and at certain times of the year just getting accommodation can be tough - and expensive. Fortunately there are a number of alternatives to Jasper including provincial parks that are within a few hour's drive of Jasper (tops). In my humble opinion they are overlooked. Put them on your radar. They all see a fraction of the traffic that…
If you're driving the Icefields Parkway and you're looking for a short, easy hike try the gorgeous Beauty Creek hike to Stanley Falls. In an hour you will be transported to another world full of canyons and waterfalls. It's family friendly, as long as you keep the kids away from the edge. Round-trip it's about 4 kilometres return and the total elevation gain is just 40 metres. The Beauty Creek hike is an excellent shoulder…
Don't despair if you're visiting Jasper and you only have 24 hours to see some sights. There's plenty you can accomplish in short order if you're prepared to have a full day. Recently I was in town and did exactly as described below. It was a great day and one I'd recommend to everyone. It's amazing when you're motivated and short on time what you can cover in Jasper in 24 hours. Having a game…
Do you want to explore a scenic part of Jasper National Park few people ever see? Canyoning in Jasper, the latest and most amazing adventure in the park to be offered as a commercially guided trip is a fun, mentally challenging and an exceptional way to experience the mountains. Offered by Rocky Mountain Canyoning from early May until late October, depending on weather and conditions, canyoning in Jasper is done in one of three locations - Ogre,…
The Icefields Parkway, also known as Highway 93 North, runs from Lake Louise to Jasper for 232 spectacular kilometres passing through Banff and Jasper National Parks. With 11 campgrounds along the parkway, it's easy to slow down and explore the region. This post includes some affiliate links. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. Here's what you need to…
Not only is Alberta's Icefields Parkway a spectacular stretch of road to drive, it offers quick access to world-class hikes (and backpacking trips) with most trailheads immediately beside the highway. Over its 232 kilometres (the distance between Lake Louise and Jasper) there are roughly 30 hikes or backpacking trips you can do. All are in either Banff or Jasper National Park. Enjoy some of these eight stunning hikes along the Icefields Parkway. Most of them can be done…
There's nothing like big dumps of snow in the mountains to get you motivated to get outside, especially in Alberta on days when you have the magic combo of blue skies with awe-inspiring mountain scenery. Need some suggestions on where to go? Here are eight of the best places to snowshoe in Alberta - personally tested! Medicine Lake – Watchtower Canyon, Jasper National Park Medicine Lake is a very popular snowshoeing destination out of Jasper, especially…