Jasper: A Four-Season Mountain Getaway

With towering peaks keeping watch and natural beauty at every corner, the park community of Jasper has become known as one of Canada's premiere vacation destinations. Located right in the heart Jasper National Park, the Jasper Townsite is a base for visitors wanting to explore the largest of the Canadian Rockies' parks. The town itself, with its friendly atmosphere and year-round attractions, offers a mountain getaway ideal for all seasons. From museums and the Jasper Tramway to bluish-green glacial lakes, this Mecca for outdoor recreation is more than just a small mountain town.

HISTORY

	Jasper Information Centre 1

The first recorded visit to the Athabasca Valley was in 1810 by a surveyor and fur trader named David Thompson. Soon after setting up a shelter near the present-day Jasper Townsite, this area became the primary trade route through the Canadian Rockies for the next 50 year. The 1870s mainly saw railroad surveyors hoping to set up a railway through the upper Athabasca Valley, stirring the federal government's curiosity in the region. This interest led to the area officially being signed as Jasper Forest Park on Sept. 14, 1907. Soon after, around 1909, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway began construction of the railroad. However, competition against the Canadian Northern Railway became fierce when they too began putting down tracks in 1913.

With the railways in place, government officials began arriving, and the first superintendent set up a headquarters house near a newly built train station. At this time, officials also decided to change the name of this crudely built town from Fitzhugh to Jasper. The first businessmen, mostly outfitters and guides, also began setting up around this area in 1913, causing the town to not only attract government personnel but tourists as well. This created the need to build a new and impressive administration building (which doubled as the superintendent's house), stores, churches, a hospital, a post office and roads. The administration building is now a national historic site that serves as Jasper's Information Centre.

In 1930, the forest park was officially established as Jasper National Park, shifting the town's management from the park to governance by a municipality. After the Second World War and ensuing road improvements, visitors began flocking to this destination, with numbers increasing each year. Today, visitors to this World Heritage Site, which celebrates its centennial in 2007, amount to about three million each year.

GEOGRAPHY

	Tramway with the Townsite Below 2

A mountain community, the Jasper Townsite is located at the core of Jasper National Park, the largest park in the Canadian Rockies. Surrounded by tall, snow-filled peaks and wild forests, Jasper is an area spoiled with stunning vistas and natural beauty. As well as being immediately encircled by numerous pristine glacial lakes, the town is bordered by the Athabasca River in the east and the Miette River in the south. The park itself roughly encompasses 10,800 sq km (4,170 sq mi) of natural Rocky Mountain land with the Icefields Parkway shared with Banff National Park on the south.

CLIMATE

Because Jasper is located in a valley protected by soaring mountains, the town typically enjoys mild winters and cool summers. January is generally the coldest month with a minimum average temperature of -17.8ºC (64ºF) and a mean snowfall of about 38.1 cm (15 in). Mild chinook winds are common in the winter and often provide a warm and welcome change to chilly weather. While the summer season is short, summer days are usually long with temperatures reaching an average maximum of 22.5ºC (72.5ºF). Summer rainfall is moderate and usually averages 45.8 mm (1.8 in).

TRANSPORTATION

Jasper does not have its own airport but there are several options nearby. The Edmonton International Airport is located about 360 km (224 mi) east of the town while the Calgary International Airport is found 480 km (298 mi) southeast. The Jasper Hinton Airport, a small airport that serves tour operators and offers charter flights, is located about 64 km (40 mi) east of the Jasper Townsite. Visitors may choose from several coach services that depart to Jasper from a few major destinations including Edmonton and Calgary.

Those making the three and a half hour drive from Edmonton will need to take Highway 16, while the four and a half hour drive from Calgary is completed via Highway 1. Because Jasper is located on the main CN railway line, train service to the town is also available. Stopping in downtown Jasper, trains depart from Edmonton several times a week and require no transfers. There is no public transportation in this small, one-traffic light town but a number of taxi services will help visitors get around the area, including top tourist attractions surrounding the townsite.

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

	Lac Beauvert 3

Jasper Tramway
Completed in the summer of 1964, the Jasper Tramway is one of Canada's longest aerial trams. It features two terminals, the longest of which has a cable length of 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and takes visitors to the main lookout located at an elevation of 2,277 m (7,472 ft). Two tramcars, travelling at about 10 km/sec (6 mi/sec), transport up to 30 passengers each and allow riders to enjoy the mountain scenery around and below. Once at the top of Whistlers Mountain, visitors will encounter scenic panoramas of sparkling glacial lakes, deep valleys, neighbouring mountains and the Jasper Townsite below. Guests will also find gift shops and the Treeline Restaurant, which allows patrons to sit in a glass-enclosed dining room that offers spectacular 260° views of the mountain peaks outdoors.

Museums
From historic photographs to wool bathing suits and deerskin coats, the Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives is filled with items and artifacts from Jasper National Park and area's early years. Operated by the Jasper-Yellowhead Historical Society, the museum is dedicated to highlighting, collecting and preserving the region's rich human and natural history from as far back as 10,000 years ago. There are several galleries for visitors to peruse through including the Historical Gallery featuring trade, railway and early tourism artifacts, the ever-changing Showcase Gallery and the Alcove Gallery displaying items such as old typewriters, telegraph equipment and early telephones.

Offering a safe way to get up close to Alberta's wildlife, the Den Wildlife Museum features realistic wildlife exhibits including 130 life-size specimens such as grizzly bears, moose, cougars and elk. Collected and put together by Canadian taxidermists over the span of 45 years, the museum is separated into four of Alberta's natural districts: the prairies, the northern forest, the aspen parkland and the mountain region. The museum is located in the lower level of the historic Whistlers Inn.

	Maligne Lake and the Curly Philips Boat House 4

Natural Attractions
Known for its impressive mountains and blue-green lakes, the Jasper Townsite is located within easy access of many of the park's natural attractions. Just 10 minutes from the town are the kettle lakes, which consist of Lake Annette, Lake Edith and Lac Beauvert. These spring fed lakes are a popular recreation spot for summer tourists due to amenities such as picnic areas and interpretive trails. Sandy beaches can also be found at Lakes Edith and Annette, making them an ideal summer wading spot. Lac Beauvert, emerald-coloured and the largest of the three, also has the historic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge at its shores.

One of Jasper National Park's most visited attractions is Maligne Lake and Spirit Island, located 48 km (30 mi) southeast of the town. From canoeing and kayaking to trout fishing and scenic cruise-like boat tours, Maligne Lake provides visitors with countless opportunities for outdoor water recreation. This scenic glacial lake is also home to the historic Curly Philips Boathouse, one of the park's first outdoor outfitters. Still in operation to this day, patrons may find a wide range of rental equipment and services. A few shopping and dining options are also located nearby.

One of the first stops that visitors make upon entering Jasper National Park at the south entrance is at Athabasca Falls and Mount Edith Cavell. With viewpoints located just off Highway 93, these accessible sights showcase the majestic beauty often attributed to this national park. Although only 23 m (75 ft) high, Athabasca Falls is an extremely powerful cascade that is forced into a narrow quartzite and limestone rich canyon. Several viewing platforms are located along the falls and the Athabasca River system, allowing for clear views and excellent photo opportunities.

The Mount Edith Cavell area, popular for its sub-alpine lined hiking and biking trails, offers impressive views of this towering mountain. Characterized by its jagged peaks, the mountain stands 3,363 m (11,034 ft) high, making an ideal location for alpine climbing. Named after a First World War British nurse who helped allied troops, the mountain is also the location of Angel Glacier and its meltwater lake, Cavell Pond.

	Bathing at Miette Hot Springs 5

Miette Hot Springs
Synonymous with an excursion to Jasper is a trip to the mineral rich waters of Miette Hot Springs. First introduced to Hudson's Bay and North West Company workers by First Nations people in the early 1800s, the hot springs have been attracting bathers ever since. Springing from Sulphur Creek, some of the waters first take a trip through cracks in the mountain rock, being pulled deeper below. Heated by radioactive decay from the earth's core, the waters are eventually boiled until they are forced back up, flowing from the mountain at 54°C (129.2°F), making them the hottest springs found in the Canadian Rockies. As the waters enter the hot springs' bathing pools, they are cooled to 40°C (104°F), allowing visitors to soak in one of two hot pools.

Two cool pools and a poolside shower are also available. In addition to this, a spa offering a range of health services for guests was opened in 2002. Located in the Fiddle Valley amidst mountain scenery, guests are also given the opportunity to view wildlife such as black bears and bighorn sheep. The springs are open to visitors from May to mid-October.