A trip to Alberta wouldn’t be complete without doing a road trip in the Canadian Rockies. The drive from Calgary to Jasper is one of the finest road trips in Canada, a route that passes by Alberta’s most inspiring scenery as it makes its way through the mountains and into the heart of Banff and…
Albertans love to complain about our long winters, but rather than dreading Canada’s coldest season, we think it’s the perfect time to have a romantic weekend away. Covered in a blanket of white, Alberta’s landscapes couldn’t be more romantic. There’s a peacefulness to the surroundings. It feels as though each place, each moment exists just…
Jasper National Park is a great place to visit year round, but it can be especially fun in the winter. Active travellers and outdoor adventurers will find plenty of activities to enjoy during a winter weekend in Jasper. Things to Do in Jasper in Winter- Our Favourite Winter Activities in Jasper National Park We’ve made…
It was a beautiful day in May. Warm, sunny, a clear blue sky above and fresh mountain air to awaken the senses. It was the perfect weather for a casual hike in Jasper! I decided I wanted to see somewhere in Jasper I haven’t been before, so Mike suggested we do the Valley of the…
Whenever I’m in the mood to see cute wildlife, Mike and I make a trip out to Jasper National Park. (Well, not every time because then we’d never be home!) Jasper is, by far, the best place in the Canadian Rocky Mountains to see wildlife. In one weekend alone we saw nine bears, three moose,…
So nice you can just head on over to Jasper whenever you feel like seeing wildlife! After seeing next to nothing in Banff and Lake Louise, I was so excited to finally see tons of wildlife in Jasper. And it’s so beautiful there. But my favorite place around that area was the Beaver Boardwalk in Hinton. So amazing to see them in their natural habitat and unfazed by humans!May 29, 2015 – 1:28 pmReplyCancel
Long, cold, and dreary. Those are all words that we Albertans tend to use when describing our winters. I can agree with the long and, most of the time, cold, but dreary not so much. A winter trip to Jasper will have you rethinking the way you describe Alberta’s longest season. Jasper’s gorgeous scenery, draped…
As a huge animal lover, I am always on the lookout for wildlife when I travel. While I don’t always have the best of luck in some destinations, I never fail to see wildlife in Jasper National Park. This is probably one of the cutest animal moments I have witnessed- a mother Mule deer grooming…
Peering over the edge of a snow covered bridge, I have to catch my breath when I think about how far down the canyon below is. Fifty-one meters- the same height as Niagara Falls. There’s no water rushing through curves of Maligne Canyon today. Its floor is frozen, the limestone walls partially concealed by a…
When people see pictures of Jasper, or hear about the fantastic opportunities for outdoor adventure, they don’t need much convincing to pay a visit. Jasper’s natural beauty sells itself! Once our Canadian winter settles in though, it’s quite tempting to stay home and hibernate on the couch! In case you needed a little convincing, we’re…
Hey, ive been looking for a website/blog that can help me out, yours is so helpful but I have visted Jasper quite a few times already including in the winter, but I am looking for some tips on some stuff to do that wont cost much $$ and is still fun for a beginner hiker/outdoor enthusiast during winter. Maybe something the locals might know about. Its hard to find things to do during the day that wont cost you an arm and a leg! Have any ideas?February 5, 2017 – 2:58 pmReplyCancel
The driving conditions really depend on what weather is passing through. We were just in Jasper at the start of January and there was hardly any snow. We also were there once during a blizzard so had to drive slow in case of icy patches. They snow does get cleared from the roads, so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck. I’d ask your rental company about what kind of tires are on the car. We drive to Jasper with all-seasons and have never had an issue. If you’re experienced with winter driving I wouldn’t worry too much. Just stay alert and slow down if necessary.January 28, 2018 – 10:22 amReplyCancel
When I signed us up to go on a snowshoeing excursion in Jasper, both Mike and I didn’t know what to expect. In all honesty, we were kind of skeptical whether we would like snowshoeing at all. “It seems kind of silly to strap on big shoes just to walk around in the snow,” we’d…
Jasper National Park is a great place to visit all year round, but is especially enjoyable in October when the sky takes centre stage for Dark Sky Month. What is the Jasper Dark Sky Festival? In 2011, Jasper was officially designated as a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. To celebrate…
Hi, I’ll be heading to Jasper during that period and I’m interested in attending the Dark Sky Festival. However, it’s not clear which event to sign up for as I’m mainly interested to do photography. Would you be able to advise me so I know which event I’d need to book? I’ve emailed them but no reply yet.August 1, 2016 – 3:11 amReplyCancel
Hi Jeannie. This year there is a nighttime photo workshop at Athabasca Glacier. There’s also a 2-day photography workshop at the Jasper Park Lodge. I haven’t done any of these myself so I can’t really comment on them, but maybe that’s what you’re looking for? If you go to the Beyond the Stars Event (free) at Lake Annette, there will be dark sky photographers on hand that can give you some tips. That’s where I took all the photos in this post. Hope this helps!August 20, 2016 – 7:29 pmReplyCancel
Ahh…Jasper. Every time I visit I don’t want to return to my city life. Sparkling blue lakes reflecting postcard-perfect Rocky Mountain views, leave me feeling calm and serene every time. Just visit Pyramid and Patricia Lakes and you’ll know what I mean! Visiting Pyramid and Patricia Lakes- Jasper National Park As part of the Canadian…
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the cape on the corner - gorgeous! this is definitely on my list. thanks for the detailed route!
bMay 29, 2018 – 1:19 pm
Janice & George, Sand In My Suitcase - We used to live in Calgary — and we’ve done this road trip; spectacular! Maligne Canyon is gorgeous to hike. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.May 31, 2018 – 2:11 pm
Kristie - Can you comment on doing this trip the end of October/beginning of November? I wasn’t sure if the weather would still be good for driving. I live in the very humid South in the US, so not accustomed to snow or cooler weather, lol!October 3, 2018 – 4:28 am
Rhonda Krause - That really depends on the year. Sometimes we have snow that sticks around by October, but sometimes not. In general, weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, especially on the Icefields Parkway. I would make sure I come prepared with blankets, food etc. just in case. I think if road conditions get really bad they close the highway but I’ve never seen that in October/early November.November 18, 2018 – 5:54 pm
Diane - Great information! Thank youJuly 1, 2019 – 11:07 am
Kelley - Hello! You’re article has inspired me to take this trip and try out your itinerary. I am curious if you have any thoughts on doing it by Campervan. We did the Ring Rd in Iceland by camper last year and really enjoyed it but I don’t see it as widely recommended for Banff and Jasper. Thoughts?August 8, 2019 – 7:21 pm
Rhonda Krause - You can definitely do Banff and Jasper with a camper van. My family did this all the time when I was a kid. Nowadays though you’d have to have your trip planned well in advance (if visiting in July or August) because campsites book up months ahead of time.August 11, 2019 – 2:56 pm
Aman - Hey guys. First of all, thank you for creating this blog. It has helped me tremendously in planning and organizing our first trip to Canada. I had saved this blog in my bookmarks last year and just last month, I and my wife did a ditto road trip to the Canadian Rockies. The only difference was, we did a 7-day trip but we loved it. We did Calgary – Canmore – Banff – Lake Louise – Icefield Parkways – Jasper and flew back to San Francisco from Calgary. Thank you again for the great work on this blog and for inspiring me to visit Canada. August 29, 2019 – 10:56 am
Rhonda Krause - Hi Aman! This is just the type of note I love to receive. Glad I could inspire your trip to Canada and help you plan your adventure. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip!September 18, 2019 – 1:12 pm
Jo - Thanks for the great article! Doing a round-trip visit to Calgary shortly, and this really helped quickly structure a timetable for day hikes and lodging. Cheers!September 7, 2019 – 4:20 pm