Jasper, AB

There are so many amazing things to see in Jasper National Park, so you’re going to want to stay for a while. The town of Jasper is centrally located and allows for exploration of all the great spots that are nearby. Much quieter than its more famous southern neighbor – Banff National Park – we found Jasper to be the perfect place to begin exploring the Canadian Rockies. Pyramid Mountain is located just north of the town and lends its name to the nearby island and lake. There are many famous views, especially from Pyramid Island, which has the looming mountain in the background.

We only had 2 nights in Jasper, and we got pretty unlucky with the weather. We didn’t really see the mountains for the first two days. Our trip to Maligne Lake & Canyon was completely covered in clouds, and our views from Pyramid Lake were mostly obscured from the low hanging clouds and fog. That doesn’t mean we didn’t experience some incredible sites; we enjoyed hiking in the winter wonderlands and got to see an abundance of Wildlife just outside of town, including elk and big horned sheep.

Jasper is located in the Athabasca River Valley and is surrounded by towering mountains and glacial lakes. It was the perfect place to see the best of Jasper National Park, enjoying the many natural attractions of the surrounding area. Located where the Yellowhead Highway (16) and Icefields Parkway (93) meet, it is 362 km west of Edmonton and 290 km north of Banff. From here you easily do day trips to see many of the best locations, using the town as your base. 

The town of Jasper, AB today is home to around 5000 year-round residents and is the commercial heart of Jasper National Park. The town was an important place along the railroad that was completed in 1911, but it actually began as a fur trading post in 1813 when it was known as Jasper House. Today it is the gateway for many visitors exploring Jasper National Park. 

Pyramid Lake

Annette Lake

Athabasca River / Highway 16