Jasper National Park Alberta Canada
The largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper is wild in every sense of the word. Its landscape covers an expansive region of rugged back country trails and mountainous terrain juxtaposed against fragile protected ecosystems as well as the world-renowned Columbia. It’s also chock-full of wildlife, home to some of North America’s healthiest populations of grizzly bears, moose, and elk along with thousands of species of plants and insects.
Park Facts
• Landscape The park comprises rough-and-tumble mountains, valleys, glaciers, forests, alpine meadows, and rivers along the eastern slopes of the Rockies in western Alberta. More than 615 miles of hiking trails offer day and overnight trips. A number of spectacular mountain drives also beckon.
• Preserve Established in 1907, Jasper protects what’s left of the wildlife that was once commonplace in the West. While other areas have seen a dramatic decline in wildlife, strong populations of plants and animals persevere here. The park’s elevation range, geology, geography, and climate serve as a safe habitat for a variety of species.
• World Heritage Site Due in part to the incredible diversity of wildlife found here, Jasper is part of the UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage site, one of 15 World Heritage sites in Canada. It is home to nearly 70 species of mammals whose health and survival depend on the park. That’s why it’s crucial that visitors make as few disturbances as possible.
How to Get There
It is straight west 225 miles on Hwy. 16 from Edmonton and west from Calgary along Trans-Canada 1, then north on Hwy. 93 from Lake Louise, 256 miles in total. Major national and international carriers service both Edmonton and Calgary’s international airports, with multiple flights arriving daily. Renting a car at the airport is the easiest way to make the trip, but rail travel to the park is also available through VIA Rail and the Rocky Mountaineer. Shuttle services are available through tour operators.
When to Go
The park is open year-round, but the weather and scenery are generally spectacular in late summer and early fall. Forest fire season in North America also winds down in the fall, so the air is clearer—especially important for photo enthusiasts.
Wildlife viewing can happen any time of year, but your best bets are early in the morning or late in the evening during the slow seasons, particularly for bears, elk, and sheep. The best time to watch the annual elk rut, when males bugle and compete with each other for females, is August to September along the Athabasca River. There are winter campgrounds as well. Skiing and snowboarding at Marmot Basin typically runs from November to April.
How to Visit
You can hike and bike along several trails in the park. Many of the back country trails were established first by wildlife, then by early travelers including First Nations people, fur traders, explorers, and adventurers. There are nearly 620 miles of trails and 82 back country campsites in the park. Licensed commercial services include three back country lodges, several horse outfitters, and numerous hiking/interpretive guides. The Alpine Club of Canada manages four alpine huts.
Your Jasper Adventures has begun! You have found Jasper National Park famous for its wildlife and scenery. Located in Western Canada, Jasper National Park, the largest National Park in the Canadian Rockies is nestled between Mt. Robson (the tallest peak in Canada) and the Banff National Park. Easily accessed from Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta, or Vancouver, British Columbia, Jasper is situated 225km north of Lake Louise on Highway 93 on the Icefield Parkway, which is considered "the most scenic highway in the world".
The "Most Popular" areas of the Park include: The Columbia Icefield and Icefield Parkway, Athabasca Falls, Maligne Lake, Miette Hot Springs, Mount Edith Cavell, and Pyramid Lake. Experience the Park through a variety of Jasper adventures; sightseeing van/bus tours to all of Jasper's Gems, walking, hiking, railroad, helicopter and plane tours, boat, raft and canoe tours, horseback riding, Ice Explorer and Glacier Icewalks. In Winter the Canyon Icewalk Tours- a unique Rocky Mountain Experience and Marmot Basin Ski Resort are popular, along with dogsledding, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
Originally found from:
No comments:
Post a Comment