Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canada Rocky Mountain area. As part of the World Heritage site, its environment is well preserved with protected eco systems. What you get to see is its most natural view, with beautiful, spectacular and rugged mountainous scene.
There are so many places of interest to visit within the Jasper National Park that you probably need at least a month to visit each of them, or am I grossly under estimating?
Well most visitors will not have the luxury to stay for a month or more. Mostly will stay for couple of weeks or so. With the limited times, which place should you visit?
To name a few, Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake, the Columbia Icefield and the Medicine Lake are not to be missed.
The Maligne Canyon which is formed some eight thousands years ago. You will get to see how water from the Maligne Lake cuts through the limestone bed, forming layers of crack lines gap. The hiking trail has 6 bridges, each provides you a unique angle to look at the waterfall. The third bridge is the best photo-taking spot.
The Maligne Lake is the largest and deepest lake in the Canadian Rockies. Strolling the lake on the Maligne Lake Cruise is an experience that you should not miss. The cruise will bring you to the famous Spirit Island which is an icon of the Canadian Rockies that has been featured in many post card, travel magazine and publication.
The Columbia Icefield is another great attraction. It is one of the only icefield in the world that is accessible by road. Experience the 90-minute ride on the Ice Explorer and have a walk on the glacier. On average the glacier is loosing at a rate of about 30 meters per year. Every year in summer, the glacier is loosing about 80 meters and during winter, it only manage to replenish 50 meters. That is a typical example of global warming effect.
How can you miss the Medicine Lake? This lake is special because during the autumn, the lake water disappears and in summer, the water re-appears. In recent years, scientists have discovered that at the bottom of the lake, there are cracks that probably lead to a huge underground cave system. This forms a natural flushing system. During late spring or early summer where the snow from mountains melted and flow to the lake, because the water is filling faster than it drains off from the cracks, water start to fill up the lake. Then in late summer, where most of the snow has melted, water flowing to the lake is lesser and water is draining faster and by end summer, most water would disappear.
Another great place to visit is the Jasper Park Lodge. It is as famous as the Banff Spring Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise, as one of the key landmark in the Canadian Rockies. The difference is Jasper Park Lodge is basically cedar log cabins, that is in a rugged and yet a grand heritage resort. There are 3 hiking trail, the Lake Beauvert Loop (3.5 KM), Lake Annette Look (2.5 KM) and Lake Edith Loop (4.5 KM). Walking along the trail, enjoying the beauty of the Canadian Rockies is a great experience. You may get to see some wild life like Elk, Deer or Goat.
