Jasper SkyTram — Attraction in Municipality of Jasper

I did not buy my tickets online as I figured I would either go up on a clear day or skip this.

Well got lucky and had a fairly nice day. We got there a little before opening and we're able to get tickets going up at about 11am...it was September so they opened at 10.

Process is fairly straight forward. Ticket has a large number printed on it and you just wait for them to call it before you head to the staging area.

While you wait there is a very small gift shop and a coffee shop with limited seating. Keep in mind that there really isn't much sheltered seating area anywhere on the bottom.

This tram is considerably larger than the Banff Gondola and you will be squeezed into it with maybe 20 people including a Jasper worker who will give a short talk on the way up which lasts about 7 minutes.

Once you get to the top there are a few observation areas but you really get better views as you leave their property and head up on the trail to the summit.

So that trail to the summit. I've read useless comments that the trail from the tram to summit is "easy" even from sites like alltrail.

It might be and the vast majority can make it to the summit if you are in fairly good condition and allow for a good chunk of time. Be AWARE- it is at a short but fairly steep trail at elevation. The elevation gain is about 200m from the tramway and the trail is only about 1.4 km long if memory serves.

It's on the exposed top of a mountain so you will want layers, water/wind proof jacket, shoes with good grip, sunscreen and trekking poles if you've got bad knees like me.

I went almost to the point where the trail evens out towards the top of the trail but gave up as I was not confident of coming back down (I had only brought one of my poles due to the "easy" comments). It had been raining the previous day and that morning so it was slippery enough that I didn't want to experience a fall and possibly ruin the rest of my trip. For those of you who need poles for steeper sections of trail or for footing to aid a weak knees bring them both, if I had I would have been comfortable going on.

There are also switchback alternate routes between sections of the trail, these add some distance but are much easier. Take them when you can.

Finally we had lunch in the dinning area. The food was decent and not too outrageous in price. Plus the view is...

I really don't like heights and I was very nervous about going up the tram, in fact, I had to squash down a panic attack just looking at it going up from the ground. Yet, it was my wedding anniversary and my wife really want to go up it so I said I'd do it for her. So, after a burst of intense praying and deep breathing, LOL, we bought our tickets and were on the tram in ten minutes. We had a really nice young man with a British accent as our operator and guide and he made us all feel quite safe. The tram moved very gently and didn't sway. Nor did it ever feel like it was falling like that horrible sinking feeling you get on a roller-coaster (which I abhor).

It turned out that taking the tram was actually fun and not scary at all! It takes only about eight minutes to go up to the top. We benefited from our tram not being very full so it was quite comfortable.

Once up to the top I walked to what they call the false peak of the mountain. I'm pretty out of shape so it took me about 35 mins with lots of breathing breaks. The climb was well worth it though as the view at the top was the most majestic vista I've ever seen. Plus, I got to see a hoary marmot pop out if its cave.

I would highly recommend taking the tram and climbing the mountain. From a person who is afraid of heights and confined spaces I can say it was fun and not scary. Hopefully you can get lucky and get a tram that...

We visited the Sky Tram last week and lucky for us it wasn't that busy. We booked our tickets on line and it ran pretty smooth. We arrived early and they had what looked like coffee area which was not open. Very small gift shop with limited inventory. There were 2 trams only, one going up and one coming down. You had your time slot and they packed you in about 25 in a tram I think it was. We had done the Banff Gondola ride last year which was so much nicer. You had your own Gondola car to ride up in and many Gondola cars going up and down the mountain.

The views going up on the Sky Tram were amazing! It was a beautiful view for sure. When we got to the top I have to say it was great but not much up there as compared to Banff. I would say 80% of the people on our tram went hiking up the mountain. So once you took in the views that was it unless you wanted to hike. They had a very small restaurant that we went in and after looking at the menu and the length of time it took just to get a beverage we decided to not eat there. Just as crowded going back down, can't imagine how busy it would be in another month. Was it worth it to go absolutely! The views are amazing.

We just felt the Banff Gondola experience was so much better. They had a great restaurant that we ate in up the top of the mountain and they had board walks all around. Much preferred Banff it was a better...