By Leslee Jaquette
I have twice visited Jasper, Alberta. The first time was in November. Snow covered the village and the local ski resorts were operating on thin cover. But it was magnificent and I was hooked on Canada in the winter.
A number of years later, I returned to Jasper in the summer via the Rocky Mountaineer railway. I played golf at the Jasper Park Lodge course and climbed Mount Athabasca. Summer was stunning and not without a hint of autumn due to the early snowfall.
So what’s the charm of this rugged yet cozy all-season destination?
Jasper’s history
According to www.jasper.travel, more than 100 years ago Jasper Forest Park first came to be and was named after the popular fur trading post operator, Jasper Hawes. By 1911, the Park saw the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway line reach Mile 112. What was then called the town of Fitzhugh – flourished around the new railway station, and by 1913 the name was changed to Jasper to complement the Park. A community was born and stone and timber were turned in to the historical treasures we still see today.
The heart of the town is a wonderful park that provides respite for weary travelers en route to more adventures. It is also the sight of the Jasper National Park Information Centre, the train station, post office, old fire hall, Jackman House, Robson House and CIBC buildings. Visit the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum & Archives (http://www.jaspermuseum.org) at 400 Pyramid Lake Road.
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park covering 11,228 km (6,976 miles), is listed as one of only 15 UNESCO extraordinary sites in Canada. It’s shimmering glaciers, abundant wildlife, crystal clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, deep canyons and evergreen forest, all surrounded by towering, rugged mountain peaks are some of the reasons you will find it on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List – deemed by the World Heritage Committee to number among the most significant sights on earth.
So Much to Do, so Little Time
Beyond JNP, in summer the area is a mecca for those who like to hike, paddleboard, kayak, back country camp, golf, watersports, fishing, white water rafting, cycling as well as helicopter and motorcycle tours. All this while surrounded by the magnificent Rockies!
For lodging you’ve got everything from rustic camping to inns and the luxurious, but rustic-looking Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Taverns, bistros and even fine-dining are outrageously sumptuous there, too.
How to Get to Jasper, Alberta?
By Vehicle
Driving to Jasper National Park is scenic and beautiful. Highway #16 (also called the Yellowhead Highway) runs through the park and is the main east-west route to and from Jasper. The Icefields Parkway, widely considered one of the most scenic stretches of highway in the world, runs north-south connecting Jasper with the Trans-Canada Highway #1 near Lake Louise and Banff.
By Air
Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver all have international airports that are serviced by major national and international carriers.
By Rail
Jasper National Park can be accessed by both Via Rail and Rocky Mountaineer.
By Bus
Sundog Tours offers service from Jasper to the Calgary International Airport via Banff, along the spectacular Icefields Parkway. Additionally, their Edmonton-Jasper connector links Jasper with the Edmonton International Airport. Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver also have regular Greyhound bus service to Jasper.
