Travel & Hospitality Awards | Americas 2021 | www.thawards.com

Jasper
National Park
Less renowned and often overlooked for its more popular
southern neighbour Banff, the Jaspar National Park is
equally as impressive and twice as big. Beautiful valleys,
rugged mountains, glacial lakes, rich forests, grassy meadows,
a dark sky preserve, and untamed rivers await all those who
venture in.
Getting in and getting around by car is by far the easiest and
most efficient way. There is a train service from Vancouver and
Edmonton to Jaspar, as well as a scenic tourist train operating
throughout the year.
As is the case with many other national parks, entry into Jaspar
does require a permit, you can choose from a day pass to an
annual licence. Should you plan on moving between parks
then the pass allows for entry into the surrounding parks in
Alberta and British Columbia.
The most famous attraction with Jaspar is Whistlers Mountain,
famed for the spectacular views at the top and relative ease
of access given that a tram can transport you about half the
way to the top. The walk thereafter is relatively short but steep.
Maligne Lake is another well-known attraction, it’s a
stunning sight that’s best explored via a boat cruise. In
the middle there’s the iconic Spirit Island, a culturally
significant photo opportunity and one of the places
where the water on the lake is actually coloured
emerald as opposed to the blue at the docks.
Jasper is home to an extensive range of
fascinating wildlife species, so we’d advise
going on a nature tour to get the most out of
your trip. Popular sightseeing animals include
Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Mountain Goats,
Grizzly Bears, Bald Eagles, and Grey Wolves.
The town of Jaspar is the National Parks main
commercial and tourist centre. It’s usually the base
for exploring the region and offers a few shops,
restaurants, and hotels. We recommend Travel and
Hospitality Award winner Fitzhugh House for all
your accommodation needs, profiled extensively
on the next page.
20 21