Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the entirety of the Canadian Rockies, which has understandably made the location one of the preeminent tourist destinations in the entirety of the North American country. There are plenty of awesome things to do while visiting Jasper National Parker, and we’ll be taking a look at some of the absolute best things to do in the park during this video. From checking out the stunning Sunwapta Falls to venturing out onto Maligne Lake, join ViewCation as we take a look at the best things to do in Jasper National Park, Canada.
Check Out the Stunning Sunwapta Falls
There are plenty of beautiful waterfalls to check out within the boundaries of Jasper National Park, and two of the most stunning of all go by the name of Sunwapta Falls. These two waterfalls are located along the Icefields Parkway, which is a double-lane highway that parallels the Continental Divide. Driving the Icefields Parkway is one of the most popular things to do while visiting Jasper National Park, and we’ll be taking a look at the highway itself later on in this video. However, whether you plan on driving the entire double-lane highway or not, you’ll certainly want to checkout the stunning pair of waterfalls that go by the name of Sunwapta Falls.
The two waterfalls comprising the stunning Sunwapta Falls go by the respective names of the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. The Upper Falls are much easier to see from the road, and you’ll find plenty of people stopping during their drive along the Icefields Parkway to take pictures of it. If you’re looking to journey towards the Lower Falls, you’ll be able to get up close to this second and equally stunning waterfall by taking a short hike. Both of the falls comprising the stunning Sunwapta Falls are worth checking out, and the absolute best time to do so is during the spring months. Later spring, in particular, is said to be the absolute ideal time to visit these two stunning waterfalls, and the melting snow and ice from the winter months created clouds of swirling mist.
See More Stunning Waterfalls at Athabasca Falls
While the two waterfalls comprising the stunning Sunwapta Falls are inarguably the most beautiful waterfalls that can be found within the confines of Jasper National Park, they only hold this status by a close margin. There are plenty of other waterfalls to check out within the confines of the beautiful national park, and all of these waterfalls offer a unique experience to visitors. Besides the stunning Sunwapta Falls, the second-most popular waterfall location within the boundaries of Jasper National Park has to be those founds within the area known as Athabasca Falls. As the name of the waterfalls suggests, these waterfalls form off of the Athabasca River. In particular, they form of the river’s upper end. Though the waterfalls comprising Athabasca Falls aren’t quite as high as those comprising the aforementioned Sunwapta Falls, they are just as powerful and majestic.
There’s a short trail that will take you to the beautiful Athabasca Falls, and there’s even a bridge going right over the waterfalls themselves. The boulders around the area are typically covered in lichen, and the color of this lichen changes depending on the season. During the summer months, the lichen takes on a golden color, while it appears a reddish orange color during the months of the fall.
Drive the Icefields Parkway
If you’re looking to get a taste of all the various scenery that Jasper National Park has to offer it’s tourists, one of the best ways to do so is by driving along the aforementioned Icefields Parkway. The Icefields Parkway spans nearly 150 miles, and it runs from the alpine town of Jasper itself all the way to Lake Louise. The views offered to tourists while driving along the Icefields Parkway go much father than just the aforementioned Sunwapta Falls. The majestic views offered along the drive will be able to get visitors acquainted with the Canadian Rockies in an unprecedented way.
Take a Ride Along the Jasper Skytram
Besides taking a drive along the Icefields Parkway, another way to get a sample of some of the most incredible views that visiting Jasper National Park has to offer is by riding along the Jasper Skytram. The Jasper Skytram has developed a reputation of being both the longest and the highest of it’s kind in the entirety of Canada. The Jasper Skytram takes you up Whistlers Mountain, and it offers it’s riders some incredible views. Seeing the staggering views of the Canadian Rockies from the vantage of the Jasper Skytram is a decidedly different experience than seeing them from your car while driving along the Icefields Parkway.
The views from the Jasper Skytram itself are incredible, but you’ll also get to step out of the Jasper Skytram once it gets to the top of Whistlers Mountain and experience some equally staggering views on foot. At the top of the mountain is the Jasper Skytram’s Upper Station. There’s also a boardwalk that you can walk around to experience views of the surrounding area from every angle. Sadly, the Jasper Skytram isn’t able to function all year round, which means that those visiting Jasper National Park during the winter months are going to be out of luck. The Jasper Skytram runs from March to October, with new cars coming every 10 minutes. During the summer months, the Jasper Skytram can get crowded, so you may need to make reservations.
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Take a Trip Out to Moose Lake
There are plentiful wildlife-viewing opportunities available to tourists while visiting Jasper National Park, and some of the absolute best can be found around the area of Moose Lake. As one might surmise from the lake’s name, the most notable creature that tourists will get a chance to see while visiting the lake are moose. There’s an astounding amount of moose that can be around the area of Moose Lake, and take a short hike around the lake will give you a great opportunity to see them! Taking the hike all the way around Moose Lake should only take the average tourist around 30 minutes, as the loop trail is only a little over a mile long. There’s a very good chance you’ll be able to see some moose out in the forest, and you may even see some swimming in the lake.
Take the Hike Out to Cavell Meadows
Cavell Meadows is a beautiful area that can be found within Jasper National Park, and the hike to it is considered by many to be one of the best within the entire region! There are a few things that make this hike so popular, including the facts that it’s accessible, easy, and offers some incredible views. The hike to and fro from Cavell Meadows is only about a mile, and you’ll be treated with views of two stunning glaciers once you get to the end. These two glaciers are Angel Glacier and Edith Cavell Glacier. Besides the staggering views of these two beautiful glaciers, tourists that take the hike might also see some lovable marmots.
Take a Hike Around Pyramid Lake
Besides Moose Lake, another lake found within Jasper National Park that’s incredibly popular to hike around is Pyramid Lake. Pyramid Lake is a little bit smaller than Moose Lake, and it’s also shaped like a kidney. The lake stands right at the base of Pyramid Mountain, and the entire scene offers one of the best picture-taking opportunities around.
Hiking around Pyramid Lake is short, easy, and worthwhile. The hike is only a little over a mile long, and the scenery is absolutely incredible. If you aren’t interested in walking all the way around the lake, you can take a bridge out to an island in the middle of the lake for a unique experience.
Take the Hike Along Maligne Canyon
While the hikes around the aforementioned Moose and Pyramid lakes are certainly something, those looking for a bit more involving a hike may want to venture over to Maligne Canyon. Maligne Canyon is said to be the deepest canyon that can be found within the entirety of Jasper National Park, and walking along it will grant tourists some incredible views. The gorge goes 160 feet into the earth. The main hiking trail will take the average tourist around three years to tackle, and the experience is well worth it. The experience becomes completely different during the winter months, when the numerous waterfalls falling into the gorge become frozen.
Venture Out onto Maligne Lake
While you’re around the area of Maligne Canyon, you should certainly check out Maligne Lake. The lake is the largest naturally occurring lake in not only the entirety of the Canadian Rockies, but the entirety of the Rocky Mountains themselves. The lake is 13 miles long, and it’s absolutely beautiful. The mineral content of the waters feeding into the lake provides it with a relatively unique shade of blue. Maligne Lake sparkles like no other lake that tourists will have seen, and the sight can be pretty breathtaking.
When the sunlight shines of the mineral-rich water of Maligne Lake, it creates an otherworldly sparkle that tourists will need to see to believe. The waters sparkle the most during the summer months, as a result of the nearby melting glaciers. One of the best ways to experience Maligne Lake is to venture out on it’s waters via canoe. Canoes can be rented in the area during the summer months.
If you’re looking to experience that best of what the Canadian Rockies has to offer, then you should certainly check out Jasper National Park! Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that there’s a lake in Jasper National Park where you might be able to see some moose going for a swim, and that the national park is also home to numerous waterfalls? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more globetrotting ViewCation videos are on their way!