This past summer I was lucky enough to be able to take three separate trips to Jasper National Park. The park is full of many different activities, hikes, and amazing sight-seeing opportunities. With it only being about a four hour drive from Edmonton, its the perfect place to take a break from the hustle of the city and spend a day outdoors. Here’s my list of five places that are a must see on any day trip.
- Sunwapta Falls
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Sunwapta Falls is located about 50km down highway 93 outside of Jasper. Two falls are visible along the sun-dappled trail, with areas close enough to the falls you can feel the spray of the water. Surrounded by by forest and not near as busy as the Athabasca falls, Sunwapta is stunning, and perfect for a quiet start to what will surly be a long, fun filled day in the Canadian Rockies’ biggest national park.
- Horseshoe Lake
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Whether you prefer cliff jumping from staggering heights, swimming in one of Jaspers deepest lakes, or hiking around the lake to take beautiful pictures, Horseshoe lake is the perfect place. Set just off highway 93, its easy to miss if your not looking for it, but more than worth stopping at. But be warned, if cliff jumping is your thing watch where you jump, as more than a few people have broken their back here to.
- Maligne Canyon
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Located just before the town of Jasper down Malignelake road, Maligne Canyon is perhaps best seen on a cloudy, foggy day. The blue green colours of the water contrasting with a grey sky make for gorgeous photography opportunities. The steep hike to the bottom and back up is made worth it by the gorgeous views that the fifty metres deep canyon offer.
- The Town
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No day in Jasper is complete without a stop in town. Whether your looking to end the day with a delicious meal at one of the many different restaurants, picking out a souvenir at one of the shops, or just stopping to grab a scoop of ice cream or a bite of delicious fudge, the town is a must stop. Jasper also has many events throughout the year, so be sure to see if there are any going on while you’re there!
- Dark Sky Preserve
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Jasper is home to the worlds second largest Dark Sky Preserve. While this isn’t an exact location and instead encompasses the whole park, it is worth mentioning. Jasper takes extra measures to reduce its light pollution, offering one of the best places to view the captivating night sky. The town even has an annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival every October!