Length of stay: 3 days
Visited: September 2023
Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. It contains majestic mountains, glaciers, turquoise lakes, dense forests and an abundance of wildlife. There are a variety of trails and viewpoints to enjoy the scenery and natural beauty of the mountainous landscape.
Day 1: Valley of the Five Lakes
We spent the past two weeks driving along the Alaska Highway and exploring the Yukon. On the drive back to Edmonton, we decided to hit up Jasper. Sure, it involves more driving, but what’s another few hundred kilometres when you’ve already driven well over 5,000km at this point. We spent the night in Dawson Creek, which is about a five and a half hour’s drive from Jasper. After eating a very early breakfast, we left our hotel at 7:30am. The sky was hazy from the nearby wildfires and we hoped the conditions would improve as we made our way further south to the Canadian Rockies.
It was a rather uneventful drive, especially in comparison to the Alaska Highway. And there were an insane amount of trucks on the road. Something we weren’t too pleased with, especially after one flung up a rock that left a huge crack in our windshield the day before while we were driving from Fort Nelson to Dawson Creek. By the time we arrived at the northern entrance of Jasper, it was just after 2pm. The sun was shining and the sky was clear. And we spotted some thinhorn sheep by the side of the road. We were off to a good start.
We passed by a few overlooks and viewpoints. It looked like the landscape was already starting to change colour.
After spending the past few days in the car, we were eager to stretch our legs. We opted for the Valley of the Five Lakes (4.6km loop, rated moderate). The trailhead is located 5km south of the Wapiti Campground where we’d be spending the next couple of nights. So we figured we’d go for a hike and then check into our campsite.
The first part of the trail weaves through the forest. After crossing a wooden boardwalk over a stream, the trail branches off to form a loop, passing by five colourful lakes along the way. We hiked clockwise around the loop, starting with First Lake. There is an option to hike around this entire lake for a longer excursion, but we continued along the main path to check out the other lakes.
The next few lakes are clustered together, each showcasing a different set of blue and green hues. There’s a pair of Parks Canada Red Chairs overlooking Third Lake and Fifth Lake contains a dock. Once we looped back to the boardwalk, it’s a short walk through the forest to the parking lot.
We then headed to the Wapiti Campground to check in. Our site, as with most of the others sites, was located in full sun. And it was still hot outside (22°C). Instead of putting up our tent, we decided to just go for a short excursion to Pyramid Lake while we waited for the sun to become less intense. The lake is located near the town of Jasper. There are a few hiking trails here. We were looking for something short and sweet to admire the views and opted for the Pyramid Island Trail (0.6km loop, rated easy).
We returned to our campsite just before 7pm to finally set up our tent. We made dinner and watched the sun dip below the mountains. After washing our dishes, we got ready to hit the hay. We wanted to squeeze in as much hiking as we could the next day.
Day 2: Edith Cavell Meadows
It dropped below freezing overnight, but we woke up early the next morning to bright blue skies. The sun was just starting to come up over the mountains. After making a hot breakfast, we were eager to get to the Mount Edith Cavell area in an effort to beat the crowds. The trailhead is located just off the Icefields Parkway along Cavell Road, which is only open from mid June to early October, depending on the weather and amount of snow.
Cavell Road is a long, narrow and winding road that ends at a large parking lot that provides access to two trails that connect to form a longer route. We arrived at the parking lot just after 9am and most of the spots were empty (for now). We started with the Path of the Glacier (1.6km round trip, rated easy), which follows a paved path to the north face of Mount Edith Cavell. The trail ends at a viewpoint of the mountain, Cavell Pond and Angel Glacier.
After checking out the views, we turned around and hiked a couple hundred metres back to the junction where there’s a turnoff for the Cavell Meadows Trail (6-7km round trip, rated moderate). The path winds up a few switchbacks and follows a large rock pile, or moraine, providing more magnificent views of Mount Edith Cavell. This portion of the trail was mostly shaded, which would soon disappear with the rising sun.
The trail then weaves through the dense forest. It’s a gradual incline with a few switchbacks. There’s also a scenic viewpoint of Cavell Pond along the way. We heard a few cracks from the glacier, but didn’t see any avalanches or chunks of ice fall.
After 1.5km we reached a junction which had a map of the trail system and an arrow to indicate that the easier route was to the right and the steeper route to the left. We opted for the easier route which is longer, but the hike up the ridge is more gradual. The trail climbs above the tree line and through the open meadows.
We reached another junction where there’s a short detour to the second scenic viewpoint of Angel Glacier and Cavell Pond. There was a group of hikers in front of us who let us know that there was a grizzly bear near the trail, but it was heading over the ridge. We followed closely behind the group to the second viewpoint.
We backtracked to the junction and continued hiking through the open meadows along the upper loop. There’s another detour to reach the third scenic viewpoint. But the path was pretty narrow, steep and covered with loose rocks. I probably could have made it up, but was more concerned about getting down. I didn’t want to risk falling since at the time I was six months pregnant. And so we decided to skip the last scenic viewpoint and head back to the junction to complete the rest of the loop.
This portion of the path is steeper, but more direct. Once we looped back to the forest, it was a short stretch to get back to the rocky moraine.
Overall it took us three hours to mostly complete the trail. We had successfully avoided the worst of the crowds, except on the return journey back to the trailhead. The parking lot was completely full and there were even cars parked along the side of the road.
We headed back to our campsite to eat a late lunch and take a break. We headed out later in the afternoon to Maligne Valley. Along the way we stopped at an overlook of Medicine Lake. It is famous for its disappearing water. During the summer, the shallow lake fills up with all the melt water from the mountains, however, during the fall and winter, it’s often dry. The water actually drains out through sinkholes in the bottom and travels through an underground cave system and resurfaces downstream.
We drove to the end of the paved road where Maligne Lake is located. There are a few different options for trails here. We were looking for something easy and settled on hiking part of the Skyline Trail to Lorraine Lake and Mona Lake (4.8km round trip, rated easy). We parked near the boat launch and found the trailhead. The path weaves through the shaded forest and is relatively flat. After a couple of kilometers there’s a signpost for a short detour to Loraine Lake.
Shortly after being back on the main path, there’s another detour to Mona Lake. The trail was a bit muddy close to the shoreline, but was worth exploring to check out the views of the lake.
The Skyline Trail continues onward for another 40km or so. We turned around and hiked back to the parking lot. By the time we returned to our campsite it was later in the evening and sun was starting to set below the mountains. We made dinner and quickly retreated to our tent to crawl into our warm sleeping bags.
Day 3: Maligne Canyon
The temperature dropped to around freezing overnight. After eating breakfast, we were eager to hit the trails to warm up. We needed to leave our campsite by 11am. Due to all the condensation on our tent, we wanted to let it dry off a bit before packing it up. So we opted to hike the Maligne Canyon Trail (4.4km round trip to the Fourth bridge, rated moderate) which is located close to our campground and the town of Jasper. Along the drive we spotted a few elk by the side of the road.
There are a few different access points to the trail. We started at the main parking lot by the first and second bridges. When we rolled into the parking lot it was mostly empty, so we snagged a spot in the shade. The trail follows the edge of the canyon and crosses up to six bridges. There are also several connecting trails so it’s a bit of a choose your own adventure depending on how much time you want to spend hiking.
We started from the second bridge, the highest point in the canyon, and made our way over to the fifth bridge. Along the way there’s a series of waterfalls and cascades. The views just kept getting better and better.
Once we reached the fifth bridge, we turned around and took one of the connector paths, which doubles as a horse path, back to the parking lot for a change of scenery. We then walked to the first bridge, which is located near the restaurant.
We returned to our campsite to pack up our tent. It was still a bit damp so we moved it over to a sunny patch. While we were waiting, we figured we might as well eat an early lunch and start organizing our suitcases. On the drive out of the park, we stopped in Jasper the town to go for one last hike along the Lake Annette Loop (2.4km loop, rated easy). We followed the paved path along the shoreline, admiring the views of the turquoise coloured lake and mountains in the background.
And with that, it was time to head to Edmonton. We planned to spend our last night in a hotel before flying back home early the next morning.
L
Stunning photos Linda. I’ve long wanted to visit Jasper and your post has definitely confirmed this.
Thanks for your kind words. We’ve been to Jasper a few times and those views of the mountains never get old. There’s also so many trails we have yet to explore. Hopefully you’re able to visit someday and enjoy the scenery in person.
Oh, I dream of every getting the chance to see such beauty with my own two eyes. Love the way you portray it aswell.
Thanks for your lovely comment. Jasper is such a wonderful spot to enjoy the mountainous landscape and spot some wildlife. We lucked out with the weather and had nothing but clear skies and sunshine, which made us appreciate the scenery even more.
I love Jasper. The highway from Banff to Jasper has so many viewpoints with breathtaking scenery. We spent whole day to explore before we got to Jasper. Canada has amazing natural beauty!
For sure. We visited the Canadian Rockies last summer, but couldn’t resist returning to Jasper for a few days since we were flying out of Edmonton. We didn’t have enough time to drive along the Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Banff, but we have done that drive before. I totally agree about the breathtaking scenery.
So beautiful, you had some great weather! I’d love to visit Jasper one day and see all those stunning lakes. I love the wildlife pictures too.
Oh I know. We really lucked out with the weather during our entire road trip, but especially in Jasper. Due to all the forest fires, the skies here have been hazy for most of the summer from all the smoke. I’m glad it cleared when we visited as there’s just something about those blue skies that make the mountains look even more majestic. Plus we didn’t have to worry as much about the air quality while hiking.
Fantastic photos, Linda. We love Jasper and regularly travelled through it on our way back and forth to NWT, but didn’t usually have much time to enjoy it. We’re rectifying that this upcoming spring – really looking forward to a leisurely time there. Thanks for your informative, interesting post. Cheers.
Thanks! We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to squeeze in a visit to Jasper on our way back towards Edmonton, even if it was short. And after being in the car for the past couple of days, it was nice to hit the trails and stretch our legs. I was a bit worried about the air quality, but thankfully we had nothing but clear skies. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Linda
What a wonderful post and superb photographs! Brings back so many memories of this amazing place.
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. We’ve been to Jasper a few times and the scenery never gets old. There’s also so many trails to explore. I’m glad we managed to sneak in a quick visit on our drive back to Edmonton.
What a great experience. Your photos are spectacular! I did some hiking here with the family many years ago.
Thanks for your lovely comment. I was a bit worried about the air quality given all the recent wildfires in the area, but I’m glad we had clear skies (and beautiful weather) when we visited. The scenery in Jasper is stunning, which makes for some fantastic hiking.
Such beautiful photos, Linda! While I love the park and wildlife and that gorgeous blue sky, what caught my eye was the Maligne Canyon. What an incredible natural landmark and a spectacular waterfall. I am glad to see that you had fantastic weather to explore the great outdoors as it makes such a big difference. Thanks for sharing and I hope you are taking it easy at this point and are all prepared for this year’s main event. Cheers, Aiva xx
You are too kind, Aiva. We’ve been to Jasper a few times and have always hiked the Maligne Canyon Trail when we’ve visited. The scenery never gets old. It always helps to have nice weather when spending time outdoors. It did get a bit cold overnight, which was good motivation to go for a hike first thing in the morning to warm-up. My hiking days are now over for the time being, but I do try to waddle around the block every so often to get some fresh air. Baby should be here in less than two weeks! Hope you and your family are doing well and are getting excited for the holidays too! Take care. Linda
You had stunning weather, just as we did a couple of weeks later. All those hikes are so familiar as Jasper is our home park. We have yet to do the Skyline and may not get the chance, so thanks for sharing that one Linda. Have a great Thursday. Allan
Oh I know. I was a bit worried about the air quality and haziness from all the recent forest fires, but the timing worked out well. Glad to hear you had similar weather and conditions. We got a nice preview of the Skyline Trail by hiking the first few kilometres of the trail. We’ve never tried backcountry camping in Jasper before, but maybe next time (because there will definitely be a next time) we’ll tackle the entire Skyline Trail. Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Linda
What a beautiful place 😍
We’ve been to Jasper a few times over the years and there’s a good reason we keep returning. The mountainous landscape is breathtaking. It was nice to squeeze in a short visit on our drive back towards Edmonton.
Wow! Beautiful photos and wonderful post!!
Thanks for your lovely comment. It always helps to have blue skies when spending time outdoors and to appreciate the views. We’ve been to Jasper before, but it was nice to visit later in the fall when the landscape was changing colour.
Wow Linda, the views are incredibly beautiful everywhere you went! Fantastic. I love how you narrate these posts, I feel like I am there with you guys! ❤️
You are too kind. It was tough to put my camera down as the views of the mountains were mesmerizing. I’m glad we had such clear skies to more fully appreciate the scenery and hiking trails.
You are welcome! ❤️❤️
Nice country.
There’s always something so special about being in the mountains.
Absolutely amazing captures. Love them!
Thanks for your kind words. I’m convinced it’s hard to take a bad picture when the scenery is that stunning. The views of the mountains never get old.
What picturesque photos! Looks like it was worth the detour. We’re going to be visiting for the first time in January and will be hoping to see some of these landmarks you’ve visited :). Glad you didn’t cross paths with the grizzly.
Thanks! Even though it added more mileage to our road trip, it was definitely worth the extra bit of driving to squeeze in a short visit to Jasper before returning to Edmonton. That’s exciting that you’ll be visiting Jasper next month. I’ve never been in the winter before, but I bet the mountains will look breathtaking with all that snow. Looking forward to hearing about your trip. While some of the trails at higher elevation will be closed, at least you don’t have to worry about encountering any bears! I’m so glad there was that group of people ahead of us that warned us about the grizzly bear and how they were heading in the same direction as us. Safety in numbers!
Oh wow, this is absolutely stunning. I adore your photos with the thinhorn sheep by the side of the lakes. And then those views – they are just perfect!
Thanks for your kind words. It’s always nice to spot some wildlife along the drive. It was a great start to our time in Jasper. And after all that driving, it felt amazing to stretch our legs again and enjoy the mountainous landscape.
Oh if I knew you were going to Cavell I would have recommended the Ramparts, one of my favouriteviews in Jasper. By the way, I’m 99% sure those are Rocky Mountain Sheep. I think the Dall are much more north.
I love that Maligne Lake trail. We haven’t done the Edith Clavelle one but Pyramid Lake is a favourite area. Your photos are amazing.
Thanks! We’ve been to Jasper a few times and have always hiked the Maligne Canyon Trail. The views of all those waterfalls and cascades never get old. This was our first time visiting when the road to Edith Cavell was open, so naturally we had to check out the trails. I’m glad we went first thing in the morning as we passed an insane number of people on the way back to the parking lot. And agreed, Pyramid Lake is always a fan favourite.
I’m pretty sure we’ll be returning to Jasper in the next few years. There’s something about the Canadian Rockies that just keeps calling us back. I’ll have to add the Ramparts to our list for next time. And that’s good to know that those are Rocky Mountain Sheep. I really should get a book on wildlife identification.
I love Jasper and your pictures do it justice. September is the latest in the year I would visit as it gets very cold after that. Looking ta your pictures, I felt like i was back there again. Thanks!
Thanks for your kind words. It was nice to visit in mid-September when the colours were just starting to change and the days were still warm, but it did get pretty chilly overnight. I imagine it would be tough to camp in a tent here later in the season!
Another great hiking adventure for you!
For sure. After all that driving along the Alaska Highway, I’m glad we managed to make a detour to Jasper to stretch our legs and enjoy the mountainous landscape. We couldn’t have asked for better weather to spend time outdoors.
The landscape looks incredible, and I am really impressed at how blue and clear the lakes are there!
The colour of the lakes and rivers in Jasper is stunning, even more so when the sun is shining. I’m glad we had nice weather to enjoy the trails and various viewpoints. It was a wonderful way to end our road trip out west.
How gorgeous these trails are! And looks like you had nice weather! I have spend some time in Banff, but never made it to Jasper NP. One day! 🙂
It always helps to have nice weather when spending time outdoors. We were a bit concerned about the air quality given all the recent wildfires out west, but I’m so glad we had clear skies when we visited. You’ll definitely have to come back to the Canadian Rockies to check out Jasper. The drive alone between Banff and Jasper along the Icefields Parkway is worth returning for.
Duly noted! 🙂
Looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.
The scenery in Jasper is stunning. I’m glad we had such clear skies to enjoy the views of the mountains. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
Those photos just look so stunning, Linda. I am in awe of those sharp snow-capped mountain peaks, the stunning views and those mesmerizing clear waters.
You got nice weather during the day but it must’ve been freezing cold at night. How did the baby respond to that?
5,000 km is insane to think about, and here I was thinking our drive to New Brunswick was intense. 😆
I do really hope to get out to Jasper and Banff one day. So much to see and explore. Maybe next summer! 🙏
The landscape in Jasper is beautiful. It was definitely worth the detour, even if it meant a few hours of extra driving. Overall we racked up just over 7,000km over 18 days!
We really lucked out with the weather during our entire road trip. We mostly had blue skies and sunshine and hardly any rain. The days were warm, but it was starting to cool down overnight though, especially in Jasper. It was nice for sleeping, but it was tough to get going the next morning. I’m pretty sure baby stayed nice and warm and if anything provided a bit of extra warmth for me too! My body on the other hand was so over sleeping in a tent!
Hopefully you’ll make it to the Canadian Rockies with T someday. Hiking in the mountains will be a good way to tire him out … although it also means he’d be getting stronger with all that exercise! I’m not a fan of how busy it’s become though. You definitely need to have your accommodations booked well in advance, even if you’re just camping.
It looked like you did luck out with weather. Makes such a difference for the long drives.
I really hope to do the Canadian West one day. It likely won’t be in 2024 but hopefully 2025! 🙏
For sure. The weather always makes a huge difference when driving, spending time outdoors or just in general. Sounds like you already have 2024 planned out, but the nice thing about waiting a bit to visit the Canadian Rockies is that T will be older and will hopefully appreciate it a lot more. With his endless supply of energy, I’m sure he’ll have no problems hiking in the mountains!
Only two more days until Christmas!
Jasper Park is so beautiful, it’s like walking through a postcard, thanks to the work of the Rangers.
I’ve convinced it’s impossible to take a bad picture in Jasper given how stunning the scenery is. All the various viewpoints are definitely picture postcard worthy. Parks Canada certainly does a good job of keeping the trails maintained. I’m not a fan of how crowded it’s become though.
Be still my mountain loving heart- your pictures are beautiful. 🙂 I was surprised that it is the largest park, I assumed that would be Banff. I would love to visit this park!
Thanks for your kind words. The mountains in the Canadian Rockies sure are mesmerizing. Jasper isn’t quite as popular as Banff, but it is much bigger. We’ve been a few times over the years and there’s still so many trails we have yet to explore. We’ll definitely be back someday.
So much beauty!! Mountains, canyons, trails, water, wildlife, and gorgeous blue skies!! ❤️
For sure. And Jasper seems to have it all. There’s something about the mountains that keeps calling me back. I’m glad we had such lovely weather to enjoy the views and hiking trails.
Incredible photos.
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. It was tough to put my camera down when the scenery is that stunning.
Wow, this places looks pristine. Having done my first international trip to the US last month, I’m hoping to visit Jasper park sometime too! And as always, amazing pictures 🤩
If you enjoy spending time in nature, then I’d highly recommend a trip to the Canadian Rockies to visit Jasper and Banff. The views of the mountains are breathtaking. Plus it’s a great way to see some wildlife. Thanks for your lovely comment and for stopping by.
Amazing! Looks like everything went well. No noisy neighbours, dry skies, wildlife, and most of all beautiful vistas. A grand finale for your trip. HOw are you doing?
Oh I know! Talk about perfect timing with the weather. We were monitoring the air quality quite closely as Edmonton was quite hazy when we landed, but thankfully the smoke cleared and we had nothing but blue skies and sunshine. Even though the campground was fully booked, at least it was quiet.
I’ve been slowly adjusting to life as a parent now (and am happy to not be pregnant anymore). Margaret was born on December 9th and is doing well. I’ve been acclimatizing her to the outdoors already and we’ve been going for a daily stroll around the block every day since leaving the hospital. It’s been nice having a mild start to the winter so far.
Hope you’re all ready for the holidays! Only two more days to go!
Congratulations!!! She’ll be hiking with you in no time :). This is a very special Christmas for you three and I hope it will be amazing!
Thanks!! We’re looking forward to the spring when the weather is nicer and she’s a bit older to start hitting up some trails. For now we’re just getting our strollercizes in close to home. Have a wonderful weekend. Hopefully you won’t get too much snow from this winter storm tonight!
Getting the tail of it now, but it doesn’t look too bad. Stay cozy!
It doesn’t look so bad here either, but it’s currently raining so I imagine shovelling will be quite the workout!
Nice 👌
Thanks for leaving a comment and stopping by. Jasper is one of my favourite places in Canada and there’s a good reason we keep coming back.
Beautiful scenery yet again – love those shots of the lakes reflectIng the sky/clouds. And yes, wise not to risk a fall when six months “in”! I could almost feel the crisp clear air as I read your words.
There’s something so majestic about the mountains in the Canadian Rockies. We were here last summer and couldn’t resist returning on our drive back to Edmonton, even if it meant adding another few hundred kilometres to our drive. This area has been rather smoky from all the recent wildfires, but we managed to visit during a good weather window and enjoyed clear skies and sunshine. Perfect conditions for hiking and spending time in nature.
Stunning photos! Love them!
Thanks for your kind words. I’m convinced it’s impossible to take a bad picture when the landscape is that breathtaking. It was tough to put the camera down though.
What a gem! My filipino pp friends who live in canada have shared so many good stories about jasper !
Jasper, and the Canadian Rockies in general, is one of my favourite places in Canada. We were here last summer, but there’s just something about the mountains that keeps pulling me back. Even though we’ve been a few times, there’s still so many trails we have yet to explore.
Those scenes from Jasper National Park are what often come to mind when I think of the natural landscape of Canada. No matter how many images I’ve seen of it, I never get tired of the beauty. It’s funny how 22 °C is hot for you. In my part of the world, a lot of people would be donning their winter clothes if the temperature drops to that level! It’s amazing that you were still hiking even you were already six months pregnant.
Oh I know. The views of those mountains never get old. I couldn’t help but laugh at your comment about how people on your side of the world would be wearing winter clothes when it’s 22C outside!! The nice thing about the mountains is that gets quite chilly overnight (around freezing), so we’d plan to tackle our toughest hike first thing in the morning when it was still cooler. I found staying active in pregnancy to be super beneficial and helped a lot with the recovery afterwards.
So stunning photos and inspiring explanations of Jasper National Park 🏞 thank you for sharing
most beautiful places the earth wonders 🌹👍🏻✍️🙏 graceful wishes dear friend 👏💗🌹
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. The mountains in the Canadian Rockies are stunning. I’m glad we had clear skies to more fully appreciate the views.
I love the Canadian Rockies. I have been fortunate enough to hike in the Colorado Rockies. I will need to make that journey north. A great picture.
Thanks for your lovely comment. The mountains in the Canadian Rockies are quite majestic. It’s a great area to take a scenic drive, plus there are a few national parks, including Jasper and Banff, to stretch your legs and go for a hike. We have yet to visit the Rockies south of the border, but Colorado is high up there on our travel bucket list. Someday.
Oh wow, Jasper National Park is absolutely spectacular! One stunning view after another.
Oh I know. Regardless of the season, the scenery in Jasper is stunning. It was nice to visit in the fall though to see all those golden yellows.
Fantastic photos!
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. It was tough to put my camera down as the landscape looked so picture perfect.
Jasper is stunning! The colours are gorgeous in your photos. Great shots of the wildlife you encountered along the way, I’m glad you didn’t see that grizzly bear. I was horrified to read about the incident with the flying rock, trucks are an absolute menace. Sadly I had to take an extended break from the blogosphere to catch up with life in all its various forms. I do hope you are both well and I guess your due date is just around the corner.
We’ve been to Jasper before, but only in the summer. It was nice to visit in the fall to see how different the landscape looks. I’m glad we didn’t see the grizzly bear either and that there was a large group of hikers in front of us that we could follow behind.
I’ve taken a bit of a break as well and am now playing catch-up. Our little one, Margaret, was born on December 9 and has taken up a lot of our time and attention. I wouldn’t have it any either way though. Enjoy the rest of your holidays. Hope all is well with you.
Congratulations! What great news, Sladja and I wish you both and Margaret a happy New Year’s Eve and a fantastic 2024 ahead.
Thanks! I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I don’t remember the last time we stayed up until midnight for New Year’s, but I have a feeling we’ll be awake for this one (and for unrelated reasons). Wishing you all the best in 2024 as well.
I used to think the American Rockies were pretty impressive. Then I saw the Canadian Rockies…
We’ve only ever experienced the Rockies from the Canadian side. Agreed, they are pretty impressive regardless of the season. I think this means we need to travel south of the border to see how the other side compares!
Its so beautiful!! Great captures, loved the first shot the most!
Thanks for your kind words. It’s always great to see some wildlife along the drive, even more so when there are mountains and a beautiful river in the background.
Jasper National Park, the gem of the Canadian Rockies, enchants with its majestic mountains, turquoise lakes, and diverse wildlife. Exploring trails like Valley of the Five Lakes and Edith Cavell Meadows unveils unparalleled natural beauty. A journey through Maligne Valley and Canyon adds to the awe-inspiring experience. This wilderness paradise, though involving long drives, rewards with unforgettable landscapes and a spiritual connection to nature.
Oh I know. The scenery in Jasper is simply stunning. I’m glad we had such pleasant weather as the sunshine really makes the rivers and lakes appear even more colourful and vibrant. The hike through Edith Cavell Meadows was one of my favourites. It was worth getting up early in an effort to beat the crowds.
Not just one lake, but five … and later quite a few others as well (one as beautiful as the other). Beautiful reflections on the water and amazing hiking trails. And always nice to see animals on the trail – the elk is cute. Stunning photos. Hope you’re still doing well (and now almost time for the little one to arrive). Take care and good luck.
The Valley of the Five Lakes is one of my favourite trails in Jasper. We’ve hiked this every time we visited and the views never get old. I’m glad we had such pleasant weather as the sunshine really brings out the colour of the lakes. Agreed, it’s always an added bonus to spot some wildlife, especially when we’re in the car.
It’s hard to believe that our little one is about a month old already (hence my delayed response and trying to play catch-up on all the posts I’ve missed). We’re getting into a reasonable “routine”, but I do miss being able to sleep for longer than 1 to 3 hour stretches. Hope you enjoyed the holidays!
Haha, I think the little sleep must surely be one of the biggest adjustments when a baby enters your life! But I’m glad to hear that you guys are doing well otherwise. Our holiday has just come to an end – we arrived back in East London yesterday … it felt so short, but it’s been 3 wonderful weeks!
Glad to hear you had a wonderful vacation. It always goes by way too quickly. We’re hoping to take our first family vacation later in the spring. Nothing major, just a weekend getaway close to home to test things out.
I love Jasper so much so this post brought back some fun memories for me. I’ve wanted to do the Edith Cavell trails but unfortunately wasn’t able to last time I visited. After seeing your photos, I definitely want to hike them next time!
We visited Jasper last summer at the beginning of the summer and the Edith Cavell Road was still closed. I’m glad we were able to return later in the season as the Mount Edith Cavell area is beautiful. It’s definitely worth adding to your list for when you return.
What a heavenly and gorgeous trip!
For sure. Even though we visited Jasper last summer, we couldn’t pass at the opportunity to return on the drive back to Edmonton from the Yukon. I’m so glad the air quality improved and we enjoyed clear skies and warm weather. Hope all is well with you these days and that you enjoyed the holidays.
Wonderful post and nice shots of the places 😊😊
The beauty of nature can fascinate anyone You eexplore this beauty so well
Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. The scenery in the Canadian Rockies is breathtaking. I’m glad we were able to squeeze in a visit to Jasper before returning to Edmonton.
Beautiful part of Canada..
Oh I know. There’s always something special about being in the mountains. No wonder we keep getting drawn back to the Canadian Rockies. We actually spent some time here last year as well.
Your photos make Jasper more enticing to visit
Thanks for your lovely comment. The mountainous landscape in Jasper is gorgeous. Hope you’re able to visit someday to see the scenery for yourself.
Such beautiful Rocky Mountain scenery! I just spent a short couple of hours in Jasper when taking the train through. Wish we had time to explore more. The cloud reflections in the lakes and the dramatic waterfall photos are great.
We’ve been to Jasper a few times, but it always seems to call us back. I had the same thoughts about wishing we had more time. There are still so many trails we have yet to explore.