Jasper National Park

🏔️ Jasper National Park – A Majestic "Otherworldly" Escape in the Canadian Rockies 📍 Location: Alberta, Canada (Northern Rockies) 📅 Best Time to Visit: • June-Sept: Hiking, wildlife, boat tours • Dec-Mar: Northern lights, skiing, ice walks 🎟️ Entry Fee: $9.80 CAD/day (or free with Parks Canada Discovery Pass) 🌄 Top Must-See Wonders 1️⃣ Columbia Icefield & Skywalk ✅ Largest icefield in the Rockies – Ride a massive Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier (10,000+ years old!). ✅ Glass-floored Skywalk – Suspended 280m over Sunwapta Canyon (thrilling but touristy). 2️⃣ Maligne Lake & Spirit Island ✅ Iconic turquoise waters – Boat tours to Spirit Island (a National Geographic top photo spot). ✅ Kayak rentals – Paddle past glaciers (C$50/hour). 3️⃣ Athabasca Falls ✅ Thundering 23m waterfall – Walk behind misty cascades via steel catwalks. 4️⃣ Dark Sky Preserve ✅ Stargazing & auroras – Minimal light pollution = galaxy views (best Oct-March). 5️⃣ Wildlife Highway (Icefields Parkway) ✅ Grizzlies, elk, bighorn sheep – Dawn/dusk sightings along Hwy 93 (keep 100m distance!). 🚗 How to Get There • From Banff: ~3hr drive via Icefields Parkway (scenic stops at Peyto Lake). • From Edmonton: ~4hr drive (or take VIA Rail’s Canadian train). 🏨 Where to Stay ✔ Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge – Luxury cabins on Lac Beauvert. ✔ HI Jasper Hostel – Budget-friendly + mountain views. ⚠️ Pro Tips • Bear spray – Mandatory for hikes (rentals in town). • Book early – Columbia Icefield tours sell out weeks ahead. • Dress in layers – Glacier winds feel -10°C even in summer. 🏆 Why Jasper? "Banff gets the crowds, but Jasper keeps the wild soul of the Rockies. Where glaciers outnumber people, and every turn feels like a frontier." #JasperNationalPark #ColumbiaIcefield #CanadianRockies #DarkSkyPreserve #WildCanada