Head to the Rockies: 10 Reasons to Love Stunning Jasper, Alberta

So many reasons to stop on the way to Jasper to bask in the scenery.
So many reasons to stop on the way to Jasper to bask in the scenery.

Sometimes you just need to go to the mountains. The Rockies specifically. You need to heed their call, fill your psyche with John Muir quotes, gulp clean air and enjoy weekend full of sweaty, outdoor, family fun. Jasper is this place.

“The mountains are calling and I must go.”

~ John Muir ~

A town of 4,000, Jasper is in the middle of Jasper National Park and hugged by the Rockies and bordered by train tracks. It’s the slightly more granola, woodsy version of Banff. A popular escape for Edmontoninans (like us!) and folks from Grande Prairie and Prince George, Jasper is a year-round outdoor adventure destination. While the shoulder seasons are a less busy, Jasper buzzes in the summer with tour buses, hikers and campers and swells on winter weekends with waves of downhill, cross country and snowshoeing crowds.

Recently, our little family escaped to Jasper for some cozy cabin time, a downhill adrenalin rush or two and a morning cross country ski workout that would’ve made any of my Cross Fit/P90x buddies proud. BUT besides all the magical, mountain-y stuff Jasper offers,  the mountain town also boasts a fantastic restaurant scene, cute, indie shops and a walk score of a million (okay, or 100).

I’ve been lucky enough escape to the Rockies and Jasper twice this year and write about it a couple of times (like here and here). This time I’m sharing more photographic evidence of Jasper’s awesomeness rather than my words. Herewith, my 10 reasons why Jasper is the stuff of John Muir quotes and Oprah-esque opportunities to connect with both yourself and your loved ones.

The Bear Hill Lodge is one of three year-round cabin operations in Jasper.
The Bear Hill Lodge is one of three year-round cabin operations in Jasper.
Cabins meant for cuddling at the Bear Hill Lodge.
Cabins meant for cuddling at the Bear Hill Lodge.

Jasper is FULL of cute as heck cabin accommodations. We stayed at the perfectly cuddly Bear Hill Lodge. Our one room cabin was simple but had all the goods: a kitchenette complete with essentials (like a corkscrew, coffee supplies, a mini-fridge and a kettle) and a nicely forested hill behind the property that sort of makes you feel like you’re in a Rockies wilderness area (though you’re a six minute walk from downtown).

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”

John Muir

Hone up your herring bone on the Marmot Meadows trial near Whistler's loop.
Hone up your herring bone on the Marmot Meadows trial near Whistler’s loop.
There is no shame in walking down steep, icy cross country ski trails.
There is no shame in walking down steep, icy cross country ski trails.
Sun Dog tours takes ice lovers to Maligne Canyon where you too can emerge from an Ice Cave with a giant grin.
Sun Dog tours takes ice lovers to Maligne Canyon where you too can emerge from an Ice Cave with a giant grin.

Play amongst the frozen waterfalls of Maligne Canyon, snowshoe on the shores of Medicine Lake, cross country ski (or walk sometimes, as in my case) on one of Jasper’s many cross country ski trails. Old man winter, you’re way more fun than I thought.

Marmot Basin view - Photo Credit: Marmot Basin
Marmot Basin view – Photo Credit: Marmot Basin
Marmot Basin has plenty of green runs for little tikes.
Marmot Basin has plenty of green runs for little tykes.

Did you know Marmot Basin has Canada’s highest downhill mountain base? Besides being wicked high with loads of terrain, Marmot Basin is what I call a happy mountain. The line ups are fast and not too long, everyone who works there is mega friendly and there is a nursery which meant we could have an adult only, afternoon ski/board sesh while our son napped. Bliss!

Maligne Lake Road - Credit Canadian Tourism Commission
Maligne Lake Road – Credit Canadian Tourism Commission
Raise your hands for the Rockies!
Air so clear you just raise your hands and yell, like my mom last February.

Clean air. Loads of it. Especially outside.

“Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you.”

John Muir

Jasper Brewing Company - Credit Ayngelina
Jasper Brewing Company – Credit Ayngelina
RSZJasperFood
Rockies dining at it’s best: delightful eats from Jasper Brewing, the Wicked Cup and the Athabasca Hotel.
RSZWickedCup
The Wicked Cup serves up organic coffee and zesty flatbreads.

Jasperians (Jasperites?) are lucky folks. Their restaurant selection rivals any big city. From fine dining to enlightened pub fare to Japanese, you could travel to Jasper 10 times a year and eat different places every time. My faves (because, highchairs): Walter’s Dining Room at the Sawridge Inn, Jasper Brewing Company Brew Pub & Eatery, the Wicked Cup, the Emerald Lounge at the Jasper Park Lodge and the Athabasca Hotel.

RszCrayonsJasperBrewing

Jasper is pretty kid friendly. Many of the eateries have high chairs (see above) there’s tonnes of space for them to run around, the Jasper Municipal Library is cute as heck.  There are local nannny/babysitting services in town (including at Marmot’s Little Rascals Nursery) in case the parentals want some adult time.

Take the train through the Rockies. Via Rail - Credit Kathmandu
Via Rail – Credit Kathmandu
Photo Credit: Parks Canada/Ryan Bray
Photo Credit: Parks Canada/Ryan Bray

Jasper is pretty easy to get to: it’s four hours from Edmonton, Grande Prairie and Prince George and about five hours from Calgary by car. The Icefields Parkway is likely the world’s most Instagram-friendly highway and truly the road trip crown jewel of the Rockies. If you want a minimal to no fuss trip, take Via Rail from either east (Edmoton) or west (Vancouver or Prince George). Nab a cabin if you can… psssst pro-tip, seat sales generally happen on Tuesday night.

Jasper's downtown has a great selection of sports gear and fashion forward necessities.
Jasper’s downtown has a great selection of sports gear and fashion forward necessities.

Whether you want some locally crafted goods, a new parka or a pair of slippers (true story), Jasper’s downtown is chock a block with independent shops and ephemera. Read about my picks here.

RSZJasperBuffalo

Explore the town of Jasper on foot.
Explore the town of Jasper on foot.

Take the heel to express. If Jasper was rated on it’s walkability, it would rank very close to 100. It’s pretty easy to walk from one end of town to the opposite end in under an hour. This makes for all kinds of uncomplicated fun: take photos of resident Elk, have more than one beer at dinner, check out local architecture, the train yards for cross-Canada graffiti photo ops.

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

John Muir

The antiques of the Athabasca reflect days gone by: Alberta Honey and Canadian beauty bean tins.
The antiques of the Athabasca reflect days gone by: Alberta Honey and Canadian beauty bean tins.
Made by Jaalen & Gwaii Edenshaw, two brothers from Haida Gwaii, the Two Brothers pole replaced the Raven pole which was repatriated back to the Haida Nation in 2011.
Made by Jaalen & Gwaii Edenshaw, two brothers from Haida Gwaii, the Two Brothers pole replaced the Raven pole which was repatriated back to the Haida Nation in 2011.
A Rockies original. Originally a clothing store, then a bank, the Athabasca Hotel was built in 1915.
Originally a clothing store, then a bank, the Athabasca Hotel was built in 1915.

Steeped in history – once a railway town turned National Park, Jasper is an amateur historian’s dream. From the antique-filled Athabasca Hotel to the interesting back story to the beautiful Haida Two Brothers totem that rises like a talisman in the town centre, Jasper’s history is the stuff of books, fireside tales and national pride.

“How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!”

John Muir

I feel like I’ve just scratched Jasper’s surface. There is so much to do – next up, more cross country skiing, more snowshoeing, more star gazing and more Rockies family adventures.

Where is your favourite mountain escape? Tell me about yours in the comments below. 

** Our travels were supported by Tourism Jasper and Travel Alberta. As always, all opinions are my own.**

 


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12 responses to “Head to the Rockies: 10 Reasons to Love Stunning Jasper, Alberta”

  1. Valen-This Way To Paradise Avatar

    I’m not a snow person, but that ice cave looks pretty fantastic. I love the look of the Athabasca Hotel, too!

    1. mpost Avatar
      mpost

      The Athabasca was very cool – a bit like stepping into a time machine with all the taxidermy and antiques. And their breakfast was pretty good too.

  2. Jaillan Yehia Avatar

    Jasper holds rally special memories for me as it was the first place I visited in Canada after arriving in Vancouver and I fell in love with it!

    1. mpost Avatar
      mpost

      From Vancouver to Jasper – those are both pretty spectacular first stops. 🙂

  3. Cheryl Hirst Avatar
    Cheryl Hirst

    Awesome job Miranda! But makes me more than a little homesick!

    1. mpost Avatar
      mpost

      Thanks Cheryl! I think of you every time I go there, it’s just the cutest little town.

  4. Nathalie Avatar

    So many reasons to head to Jasper, I can’t believe we still haven’t been!

    1. mpost Avatar
      mpost

      You should Nathalie! It’s great – even if you’re not too into the snow scene, there’s lots of other fun stuff to do (in the food, spa, yoga realm).

  5. Marlys Avatar

    It looks like sooo much fun over there! Although I’m definitely not a snow person, I could easily imagine getting some feel of the snow again. It’s practically a stranger where we are – in the South of France!

    1. mpost Avatar
      mpost

      Ha! I’ve never been to the South of France but from what I hear it’s the opposite of Jasper.

  6. Emiel Avatar

    I am answering the call of the mountains! Early next year we will be traveling to the south of Spain most probably. Here in the Netherlands mountains are extremely far away…our highest point is only 300meters above sea level 🙂
    Jasper sounds great. We are also not really snow people, but just to get out there and escape hectic daily life: awesome! Love that ice cave too!

    1. mpost Avatar
      mpost

      The ice cave was super cool – I was a bit freaked out to go inside and then squeeze myself through that crack to get out. Hence the silly expression on my face. 🙂

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