Explore everything Jasper, Alberta has to offer!
So, the office door is locked, the bills are put under a heavy book in your desk drawer, the dog is with the neighbours – you are about to go on vacation to the sensational little town of Jasper and you don’t know just where to start. Below is everything you need to get you ready for the holiday of a lifetime.
History
It always helps to know a little bit about the place you are going. Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies with 10,878 square kilometres of mountain wilderness. It is the wildest of the mountain parks with some of the greatest trails known to man and beast. It is also home to the famous Columbia Icefields and a huge population of grizzly bears and wolves amongst others.
Jasper is the wildest of the mountain parks, and contains a superb backcountry trail system as well as the world famous Columbia Icefields, one of the only Icefields in the world accessible by road. It is internationally-renowned for wildlife viewing, and is home to some of North America’s rarest animals, including healthy populations of grizzly bears, moose, caribou and wolves.
Accommodation
There are some really beautiful hotels around Jasper and there are some even lovelier camp sites under the stars. The Mount Robson Inn is one of the most popular partly because of its diversity. It offers something for everyone whether it be family, business or honeymoon (which could be considered the same thing!) With its breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies, it is centrally located for visitors to spend their days sightseeing, exploring wildlife and enjoying the year round outdoor and sporting activities. If you want to have a scan through some of the options, take a peek at vacation jasper or Call Mount Robson Inn now! 1-888-609-6579 Extension – 3
Activities
Skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer are obviously the big two but the list of things to do around Jasper is practically endless. Here are just a few of the options, also to be found at vacation jasper
Maligne Canyon Icewalk
The stunning Maligne Canyon Icewalk is something that should never be missed if possible. 10 000 years of erosion face you as you gaze up at 165 foot ice-clad limestone walls. With vacation Jasper, certified guides take groups of no more than 12 on this spectacular journey upon the frozen Maligne River. All the right clothes are given to guests to make the trip as enjoyable as possible.
The trip takes 3 Hours and leaves at 9AM, 1PM and 6PM between December 15 and April 1.
Dogsledding
It’s a sign of the territory that even after all these years, dogsledding is still one of the most efficient ways of getting around the snow. Add to this the fact that it is great fun, how could you possibly resist. www.vacationjasper.com day’s adventure starts with a relaxing scenic drive through the Yellowhead pass en route to the ultimate method of backcountry travel. After a quick briefing from the experts, you get the opportunity to drive your own teams of 6-8 dogs past frozen waterfalls, snow-covered trees and through open meadows. You will think you have driven straight through to the land of Narnia. There is as much wildlife, it seems, as there is snow so sightings are practically guaranteed. If taking command, Russell Crowe style, is not your cup of tea, then snuggle up in the blankets provided, soak up the scenery and watch others do the work! A campfire lunch at a rustic log cabin along side a mountain stream is included.
The trip takes almost 6 hours and goes from December 1 to April 1.
Half-Day Train Journey – West
Building the train lines around the Rockies was a real effort and once your journey around the hills starts, you will understand why! With vacation Jasper, as soon as you disembark from the original 2 hour trek, you meet your guide and travel back to Jasper along the historic Yellowhead Highway and Fraser River. It stops at the magnificent Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, and also great for any wildlife sightings!
This trip is available year-round on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and it takes about 5.5 hours.
Maligne Valley Wildlife Tour
The chances are on a visit to Jasper, you are going to see some cool wildlife but if you really want to ensure that you get the best sightings of the best animals, the Maligne Valley Wildlife Tour is the way to go. Visit shimmering Patricia and Pyramid Lakes and take a stroll over a rustic footbridge to Pyramid Lake Island. Then the search begins for osprey, big horn sheep, mountain goat, moose, elk, and deer. There is a scheduled stop at Maligne Canyon where 10,000 years of erosion have created a 165-foot deep gorge. There isn’t one part of this journey that won’t make your jaw drop and if you forget your camera, you will regret it more than you can imagine!
This trip is year-round and takes 3.5 hours.
Packages
If you know which activities you want to do already and want to sort out accommodation, there are packages available that can save serious cash. For example the Maligne Canyon Icewalk for 2 people with one night accommodation is $190. For the right combination, have a look through the special deals at jasper vacation packages.