Jasper
National Park is open year round with the busiest time
of year in the months of July and August. Some
highlights in the park are:
-
Athabasca Glacier – the
most accessible glacier in North America
-
Columbia Icefield – the
hydrographic apex of North America where water flows
to three different oceans from one spot
-
Miette Hotsprings – Two
40°C hot pools, cold plunge pool and showers, open
May to mid-October
-
Maligne Lake – the
largest glacial fed lake in the Canadian Rockies (22
kilometres long and 97 meters deep)
There
are 10 campgrounds with 1772 sites, including a winter
campground. As well, Hosteling International has 5
hostels (mostly rustic cabins) in Jasper National park.
Town of Jasper
The small town of Jasper is home to the Jasper
Information Centre National Historic Site which was
built in 1913. The cobblestone building and its gardens
are the heart of the town.
There
are many hotels and lodges, from budget to luxury, in
the town of Jasper. As well, Jasper has many coffee
shops, restaurants, bars, gift stores, clothing
boutiques and sports/outdoor outfitters.
Recreation
Jasper National Park has 1200 kilometers (660 miles) of
trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. Its
rivers and lakes are excellent for rafting and canoeing.
Wildlife
The best wildlife viewing times in Jasper are from March
to June and September to November. The park is home to
large numbers of grizzly and black bears, caribou, elk,
moose, deer, wolves, mountain lions, coyotes and bighorn
sheep. Smaller animals include hoary marmots, squirrels,
and many birds.
Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier
The Icefields Parkway, which stretches 230 kilometers
(130 miles) from Lake Louise to the town of Jasper, is a
fascinating route of incredible scenery. At the midway
point visitors can see the Columbia Icefield and the
Athabasca Glacier.
The
Columbia Icefield is a mass of thick ice caught in a
plateau between the area’s highest peaks. The short
summer season can’t melt the amount of snow which falls
on the plateau in winter so the snow turns into more
ice.
There
are few places where people are able to see a glacier up
close which makes the Athabasca Glacier very popular.
This glacier is a tongue of ice which flows from the
Columbia Icefield onto three giant bedrock steps. It has
been shrinking because of our warming climate and is
leaving behind a barren rocky landscape.
Where It’s At
Jasper National Park is north of Banff in the Alberta
Rockies. Jasper town site is approximately 470
kilometers/292 miles from Three Valley Gap, and the
Columbia Icefield is approximately 370 kilometers/229
miles from Three Valley Gap. |