For anyone planning to travel through the Rocky Mountains in Alberta I highly recommend a trip to Jasper. The views alone on the drive from Banff to Jasper make the trip worth it.  It takes approximately three and a half hours to get to Jasper from Banff traveling along the Icefields Parkway, but I would schedule at least an extra hour to stop and take in the sights. Getting lost won’t be a problem since you will be staying on the same road for the entire trip; road conditions can be difficult at certain times of year with summer and fall being the best time of year to make the trip.

I made a stop to experience the Glacier Skywalk in Jasper National Park on the way to Jasper. You need to book tickets in advance through Brewster Travel Canada to go onto the Skywalk. I found this to be a bit of a let down and a tourist trap, as you can see the views for free from the side of the road. To be fair when I did this I was a little bit hungover after attending my friends wedding the night before, and it was cold, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

While in Jasper I stayed at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. The hotel is spotlessly clean with comfortable luxury rooms and excellent service. It also has an amazing outdoor heated pool and hot tub with a view of the Lac Beauvert and the mountains. Located just a short drive outside of the town of Jasper it’s in an excellent location to go into town and explore nearby attractions like Pyramid Lake, Spirit Island on Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon.

Maligne Canyon and Pyramid Lake

Unfortunately I had a limited amount of time to spend in Jasper so I could only visit a couple of attractions (I guess I will have to go back one day). I chose to explore the town and go hiking at Maligne Canyon and Pyramid Lake. Both were quite busy with other tourists but still provided a great day of exploring. Maligne Canyon has different options depending on how long you want to hike for. Pyramid Lake flat and good for people of all fitness levels, it would be a great spot to stop for a picnic on a warm day.

The town of Jasper

On my last day I visited the town, Jasper is a little less crowded and “touristy” when compared with Banff, and has lots of great shops and places to eat and grab a beer.

With a stay of only two nights I barely scratched the surface of all that Jasper has to offer. Visiting Jasper’s tourism website is a great place to start when planning your trip and looking for things to see and do. When I go back I will plan to stay for at least three nights.