For explorers and wanderers who appreciate the power of the mighty universe, the largest National Park in the Canadian Rockies awaits. Designated a Dark Sky Preserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jasper National Park boasts over 4,000 square miles of untamed wilderness and limited light pollution.
World-class Marmot Basin is a popular year-round destination for outdoor adventures–from skiing, to hiking, to wildlife viewing. Proximity to all the best activities makes small town, unpretentious Jasper an ideal base for exploring the area’s glaciers, turquoise lakes, powerful waterfalls and abundant wildlife. Towering Canadian Rockies–with dramatic peaks, ranges and mountainscapes–feel like stepping into a postcard.
Photograph Furry Friends
Jasper received the UNESCO designation in part due to the abundant fauna that calls the park home. Every turn is a photo opportunity.
SunDog Tour Co. offers thrilling expeditions to witness elk, moose, big horn sheep, wolves, lynx and mountain goats. This year-round wildlife tour, in a heated mini-coach with oversized windows, features a local guide for expert knowledge of the area’s wildlife and terrain.
While most bears currently hibernate, in 10 years, Jasper may be the bear capital of the world, because grass, wildflowers and buffalo berries (a favorite treat) will be accessible year-round.
Find the Falls
Follow the path to the falls on the Icefields Parkway, considered one of the most scenic drives in the world–from Jasper, through the Columbia Icefields to Athabasca Falls, just a half hour south of town. Weather permitting, gear up to explore Athabasca Glacier and its ice caves with an experienced guide from Rockaboo Mountain Adventures.
Athabasca Falls’ pounding waters, known more for volume and force than height, originate from a glacier that cut through the rocks beneath Mount Kerkeslin. The Athabasca River plunges 79 feet over a hard quartzite layer into a narrow gorge, creating thunderous displays of sound and spray before winding to the Arctic Ocean. Forty minutes south of Jasper, glacier-fed Sunwaptu Falls boasts a 59-foot upper falls easily accessible from the viewpoint parking lot, while a 1.3-mile hike winds through a pine forest to the lower falls.
Find Zen at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Fairmont’s chic mountain retreat features a luxurious spa to warm the bones and soothe the soul. Anyone can book a spa day for access to the hotel’s steam room, sauna and heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi, with views of the picture-perfect Lac Beauvert and Canadian Rocky Mountains. Cozy up by the historic lobby’s grand stone fireplace. Sip a Ceaser, Canada’s favorite clamato cocktail, or stay for an Italian dinner at Orso Trattoria to indulge in Lamb Pappardelle, Short Rib Agnolotti or a juicy steak. In winter, skate on the nearby lake or blast off through the solar system with astronomy experts at the interactive 50-seat domed planetarium.
Feast in Jasper
Experience four local restaurants’ bites and alcoholic beverages, with Jasper Food Tours. Try elk meatloaf with candied bacon, paired with stellar suds like Blueberry Vanilla Ale, at Jasper Brewing Co.; elk tacos at Su Casa Mexican Lounge; braised Alberta beef rib with poutine and red wine at De’d Dog Bar (where those lost are honored); and maple pecan cheesecake, paired with maple whiskey, at Fiddle River Restaurant’s scenic location.
Stop for breakfast at Otto’s Cache for artisanal coffees, healthy smoothies, scrumptious sandwiches and brunch bites like Turkish eggs or crispy potato hash. Indulge in freshly baked pastries, savory scones and pies, Basque cheesecake and soft fresh cookie medleys like brown butter chocolate.
Celebrate Canadian whisky culture and step into Maligne Range for a flight or cocktail at Jasper’s first distillery, opened last summer, that uses local grains and glacier-fed water.
Discover the Second Largest Dark Sky Preserve
Connect to the universe with a 2-hour outdoor stargazing experience. Jasper Star Trails provides space talks and private tours that make the night sky come alive with advanced digital and optical telescope equipment showing the Milky Way, comets, double stars, nebulas, planets, galaxies, whizzing satellites and more. Powerful binoculars allow you to see the craters on the moon as it inches above the mountains. In summer, as days grow longer and the sun sets after 10 p.m., specialized solar gazing equipment is used to view the surface of the sun.
The annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival is filled with celestial moments like a sunset helicopter cruise, dark sky treasure hunt or animals of the night hike. Special events include a Drone Light Show and speakers like astronaut Robert Thirsk. If you’re lucky, you might witness the Aurora Borealis.
Fly High on the SkyTram
Get a whole new viewpoint, high above the national park, on Jasper SkyTram’s 7-minute flight up 7,424-foot Whistler Mountain. From the peak, hike, snowshoe, shop, explore the barrier boardwalk or stargaze. On select days, a three-course dinner at the Summit Restaurant includes telescope viewings and astronomy experts.
Old Fort Point Hike careens above town, with scenic views in every direction, a prominent peak with shimmery lakes below, a turquoise river, vast forest land, snowcapped mountains and stunning vistas. The 2.5-mile hike can also be booked with Jasper Food Tours, including a picnic lunch and information on local history, geology, forestry and wildlife.
Feel Moved at Pyramid Lake Lodge
The 62-room chalet-style Alpine resort atop Pyramid Lake offers idyllic views of the surrounding snowcapped Canadian Rockies year-round. Admire the crystal-clear lake over breakfast at Aalto before getting into nature with snowshoes, ice skating, cross-country skiing or fat biking, all steps from a private cabin. Hike around the lake or nearby trails to spot wildlife. In summer, rent an electric boat, kayak, canoe, paddle boat or mountain bike. Enjoy your balcony, absorb the scenery and become one with nature’s magnificence at Pyramid Lake.
Old Fort Point Hike careens above town, with scenic views, a prominent peak with shimmery lakes below, a turquoise river, vast forest land, snowcapped mountains and stunning vistas.
Jasper National Park boasts over 4,000 square miles of untamed wilderness and limited light pollution.