Our Personal Favorites in Jasper!
There’s loads to do in Jasper!
We know many travelers, who put the Canadian Rockies on their bucket list next to gorgeous places like New Zealand, or the Lofoten in Norway! We get it, pictures of Canada’s wild nature, endless forests, spectacular mountains, and breathtaking seascapes can be found all over Instagram! And guess where most of them have been taken? That's right, in the magical Rocky Mountains of Mapleland! And if you are thinking about visiting Banff (like millions of other tourists each year), a trip to Jasper should be on the list, too!
We spent 3.5 months in the small town of Jasper this winter and fell in love with this region right from the start. Located in the middle of the national park and with fantastic views of the surrounding mountain ranges, Jasper is the perfect starting point for your next winter adventure. No matter if you are an outdoor junkie or if you prefer to snuggle up with a drink in front of a fireplace: Jasper has definitely something for everyone!
1. Take the train to Jasper
We traveled from Prince Rupert to Jasper by train and then from Jasper down to Vancouver. The scenic route was one of the highlights of our time in Canada. It leads through vast woodlands, passing mighty peaks, and turquoise lakes. On VIA Rail's website, you can find information on the different routes, and you can book your ticket online here!
2. Ice Skating
Jasper is surrounded by countless lakes, and that's why it's the perfect base to practice your pirouettes or getting your ass kicked by the local kids on the ice hockey rink. Our Sunday tradition: Skating on Pyramid Lake, or Mildred Lake, which is located directly at the Jasper Park Lodge.
Insider tip: There's a bus that goes directly from Jasper to the lodge and back. The service is intended for guests or staff, but we were told that you can also get on as a tourist if you ask nicely and the bus is not too full! The schedule is changing constantly, so just ask directly at the Fairmont. To enjoy a wonderful winter evening at the lake, bring mulled wine in a thermos and have it after a few rounds on the rink by the campfire (they build one daily on both lakes) at shore. There's nothing better, believe you me! 😍
Not only are both lakes zambonied every day, but they also offer incredible panoramic views to our favorite mountain of the region: the majestic Pyramid Mountain. The view is absolutely spectacular at Pyramid Lake, but there's a small heated hut at Mildred Lake to get into your skates without having to fiddle with your gloves - which is pretty convenient at -20° Celcius / -4° Fahrenheit! Ice skating is free at Pyramid and Mildred Lake, but only on the latter, they light tiki torches at night.
Budget tip:
If you don't have skates, it might be worth buying them in Jasper instead of renting. You can find cheap, used skates in Jasper, for example at Source for Sports, (just ask if they have used skates lying around), or at the Jasper General Store if you go down the stairs to the right of the entrance, and with a bit of luck at the Church's Thrift Store (definitely the cheapest option). Be sure to check the opening hours before you head out!
3. Snowshoeing
Pyramid Lake is not only perfect for ice skating but also for snowshoeing! As you can see in the picture above, the mountain is absolutely gorgeous. And even if crossing a frozen lake on snowshoes might be considered as ordinary conveyance of passengers in Canada 😉, for us folks from warmer regions it's quite an event. The good thing about snowshoeing is, you can actually do it anywhere in the Rockies after a snowy day or two. Whether uphill or downhill, with clear skies or when it is snowing - especially when the hiking trails are no longer accessible, the mighty snowshoe saves the day! Of course, you still have to stay on the trails while snowshoeing, the rules of the park, and lots of useful information can be found here.
4. Experience the perfect Winter
Jasper Nationalpark is wild but accessible. Multi-day hike, ice climbing on frozen waterfalls, or just a walk to enjoy the fresh air: Jasper has it all.
Due to our work as house sitters and dog walkers, we were able to enjoy Jasper so much more. When the snowbirds (Canadians, who are regularly escaping the harsh winter up north) head down south, there are usually quite a few house sits available, so we always had a base to escape the cold if we needed to. But the dogs that usually come with a house sit will force you to get outside as often as possible, which helps not only your health and physique, but you also get to know the many beautiful trails that can be found all around Jasper. Jasper National Park is a paradise for hikers, trekkers, trail runners and mountaineers. In winter, however, many paths can only be explored with snowshoes or cross-country skis. Nevertheless, there is a huge network of accessible hiking trails that can be explored without any equipment. Easy and well-maintained paths can be found at Jasper Park Lodge, around Lake Annett or at Patricia Lake. If you want to start directly from town, you will find countless routes that extend in all directions. A good starting point is behind the“Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Chruch” or at the car park at Cabin Creek Drive. And when it snows, Jasper turns into a winter wonderland. Honestly, we've never had such a perfect winter. Undoubtedly, the weather is the biggest factor here because, during our time in the valley (the locals call it the "Jasper Doughnut"), the average temperatures varied between -7 and -30 degrees Celsius (19° to -22° Fahrenheit), while the sun was shining surprisingly often. The resulting dry air and powder snow are the best ingredients for a wonderful winter landscape. With -45° C (-49° F), we also experienced the coldest day of our life here in Jasper. 🥶 At these extreme temperatures, it's a good idea to stay in one of the nice cafes or stay at home altogether, because frostbite and other cold-related health risks should not be underestimated.
Our favorite place after a long hike was our private hot tub at our last house sit in Jasper - right on the mountainside, with a view of the valley and the breathtaking starry sky above. Ya, we know, very few will have the chance to have their own private whirlpool during their stay. If you feel like relaxing in warm water at an ambient temperature of -20° C (-4° F), you should definitely stop by the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Here you can use the spa area, even if you are not a guest of the hotel (day ticket costs approx. 35 CAD). The view from the heated outdoor pool of Lake Beauvert and the mountain range beyond is unbeatable.
5. Have a Drink!
We love trying local cafes, or having a beer or a glass of wine in a bar when we are on the go. That's just how we roll. 🤷♀️ Fortunately, Jasper offers a decent selection of restaurants, cafés, and bars. There should be something for almost every taste. In Coco’s Cafe, they have a surprisingly large selection of delicious vegan bites and even more important, very good barista coffee. If you like it traditional, the Bear Paw Bakery is the place to be. So why don't you skip the interchangeable visit to Tim Hortons and enjoy some local flair in one of the cozy cafes in the city?
You can find this spectacular drink at the Athabasca Hotel Bar.
Jasper also has a nice restaurant scene, at least compared to other Canadian small towns. Most restaurants and bars in Jasper offer happy hour (usually between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.) and our go-to for a house wine at the bar is the Raven Bistro - by the way, the roasted Brussel's sprouts (they do it vegan if you ask) go very well with a good local beer). At Earl’s Kitchen + Bar you can get decent cocktails and a simple but very tasty vegan burger for an unbeatable price during happy hour. If you'd rather have a drink in a comfortable wing chair in front of the fireplace, you should definitely have a look at the Emerald Lounge at Jasper Park Lodge. Not necessarily the first choice for a budgeteer, but the panoramic view is unbeatable. And best of all: the lounge is dog-friendly!
6. Discover preloved treasures
When we arrived in Jasper, everybody recommended the United Church Thrift Store. “You can find real treasures there sometimes!” we were told. And yes, this second-hand shop is really something. For example, the opening hours: Monday 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Wednesday 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., and Thursday between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Every employee is volunteering, so they try to accommodate the hours to the volunteers daily work schedule. They receive so many donations that they barely can handle it. That's why everyone is welcome. So if you're in Jasper at one of these days, be sure to stop by at the church's basement. It's crammed with clothes, dishes, shoes, toys, sporting goods, books and so on. Oh, I almost forgot: and with lots of people! Especially on Monday and Wednesday, the small church cellar almost bursts with treasure hunters. We noticed that Thursday afternoon is the best choice to check it out. Everything you can find here is preloved and 100% of the profits go to charity. That's why we recommend feeding the donation box at the entrance if you can spare a few extra bucks - and you will probably have some left when heading to the exit. The prices are unbeatable. Anna bought 2 sweaters, 2 pants and a thermos for a total of $5! And when we travel to warmer realms, we will donate the things we don't need anymore to the nearest Second Hand Shop. You just gotta love preloved clothing!
Insider tip for backpackers: Are you spending a long time in Jasper and want to know what the locals are chit-chatting? Then you should definitely register with the Facebook group “Jasper AB, Buy, Sell and Trade!” Here, locals offer used goods, advertise accommodation, or warn each other when a bear has been spotted in town again. You can also post an ISO (= in search of ..) if you are looking for winter boots, a hockey stick or a job for the season.
⛷ Attention skiers: Jasper is internationally known for its impressive ski slopes! We don't do downhill skiing and haven't been standing on a snowboard for years. That's why we didn't include any information about the ski area in this article. You can find all the information on Jasper's official tourism website.