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Stare down a Black Bear in Jasper National Park

Published by Paul Cowles, Editor

Country: Canada

The Experience

When most people visit the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, they choose to visit the southern locations of Banff and Lake Louise. To the North is the less frequented mountain town of Jasper. The road connecting Banff and Jasper, called the Icefields Parkway, is one of the most breathtaking drives in the world. Nestled in amongst mountains and lakes, make sure to take the tram to Whistlers peak to survey the wilderness for miles around. Many big game call Jasper National Park home including mountain sheep, elk, deer, mountain goats, black bears, moose, and wolves, all of which are at hand as you explore in and around Jasper. Due to the protection the park offers, many of the animals are not scared of human contact and are easily approached. Be careful! On my last visit in 2007 I found myself five feet away from a fully grown black bear, a position that is not recommended. Be sure to practice responsible tourism and not approach, follow, or disturb the wildlife.

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When to Go to Jasper Alberta

Winters can be quite cold but the skiing is fantastic on nearby Marmot Basin. For hiking, watching wildlife and lounging in the Miette hot springs, the summer months are best. During the winter months, this mountain region gets plenty of snow, so be careful on the drive in. The best way to get to Jasper from an international destination is to fly into Edmonton, Alberta and then drive the three and a half hours to Jasper.

Odds n' Ends

Between Banff and Jasper you'll find the Columbia Icefields, one of the only glaciers in the world accessible by road. Signs mark where the glacier retreated each year over the past century - a clear indicator of the accelerating pace of global warming. In order to enter the park, you'll need to pay fees of roughly ten dollars per person per day.

Want a Guide?

Rocky Mountain Hike, Bike & Raft
An amazing two-week active adventure in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Raft Class IV rivers, hike to immense glaciers, cycle remote parks and travel high into the Rocky alpine. Watch for caribou, elk, moose, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and bears, and learn about First Nation culture. Even sleep in a Teepee!

Recommended Places to Stay

The Athabasca Hotel
The Atha-B, as it has been affectionately known for decades to locals and travelers alike, occupies the site of one of Jaspers earliest hotels.

More Experiences Nearby

Cruise the Icefield Parkway of Alberta, Canada
Rolling through the Canadian Rocky Mountains of western Alberta, the Icefield Parkway is truly one of the most picturesque and awe-inspiring drives in Canada. Running the length of 230 km from Lake Louise to Jasper, the Icefield Parkway weaves and bends around snowcapped mountains, glacial lakes, scenic lookouts, and through some of the best hiking and camping spots in western Canada. The whole drive can take as little as four hours, but to do so would mean missing out on all that make the Icefield Parkway drive famous. Lake Louise, by far the most famous lake in Canada, is a ...73 miles away.

Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!

Book now
Columbia Icefield Tour from Jasper
This full day excursion follows the famous Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield Centre. View scenic rocky mountain vistas and local wildlife along the way, ...
Starting from $115.04 per person.

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Elsewhere on the Web

Jasper National Park on Wikitravel.org
Jasper National Park [1] is in the Rocky Mountain region of Canada. It has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Jasper National Park.com
Jasper National Park, established in 1907, is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies with 10,878 square kilometres of mountain wilderness.
Gigapan of Jasper
A view from the road through the small town of Jasper.

Media References

Day Hiking in the Heart of Jasper (newspaper)
The day was overcast and Mount Edith Cavell was barely visible in the morning mist. Our plan was to head for Banff via the Icefields Parkway, stopping 64 miles south of Jasper for a hike to Wilcox Pass, named for the explorer Walter Wilcox.

Language Guides

French , Italian , Japanese , Lao , Portugese , Russian , Spanish , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in Canada. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

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