This year, the Friends of Jasper have organized new hiking opportunities for travelers and locals alike. If you’d like to hike with other people, have either beginner or intermediate hiking skills, or just want to get out and experience nature in Jasper National Park, read on.

The Friends of Jasper is an organization that serves the role of “independent stewards and advocates by providing opportunities for people to interact and connect to our National Park.”

If you are a beginner hiker, Friends of Jasper have put together something just for you. The non-profit organization has planned new “Discover More Hikes”. These hikes run Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from June through September. Friends of Jasper provides these guidelines:

• “Hikers can meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays outside the Nature Calls building at 9am (June through September). To ensure your spot (group size is limited) pick up a FREE ticket at the Friends’ shop in the Information Centre. Donations appreciated.” (Friends of Jasper)

The Jasper Information Center is the distinctive looking building pictured below, right in the heart of Jasper townsite on Connaught Drive. Inside you’ll also find a gift shop, trail maps and plenty of tourist brochures. This is where to sign up for the hikes.

The “Discover More” hike is good for travelers new to Jasper and for travelers and residents new to hiking or anyone just looking for an easy, fun hike. Even for a more experienced hiker, this is a fun first-day-in-Jasper hike.

The Friends of Jasper will teach the basics of responsible trail use through a guided tour of the Jasper Discovery Trail, an easy trail that follows the perimeter of Jasper townsite. The Discovery Trail is very new, well-planned and was actually created by the Friends of Jasper and several other organizations, largely through volunteer efforts.

The “Discover More” hike provides a more complete learning experience though. A Friends of Jasper guide will provide an overview of trail map reading, discuss packing techniques, and provide tips on clothing. At the same time, you can ask questions about the park. The “Discover More” hike aims to help prepare the beginner for more advanced hikes.

For a link to a map and more information about the Discovery Trail, click here. If you are unable to make it to a Friends of Jasper hike, the Discovery Trail is still worth doing on your own.

After doing the Discover More hike, be sure to consider the Friends of Jasper Hiking Club’s hikes.

The Friends of Jasper Hiking Club is a new club for more experienced hikers. The Hiking Club will be doing an early morning hike every Thursday during July and August 2008. Hikers meet up promptly at 8:30 AM.

The hike is free (donations accepted) but hikers must sign up at the Jasper Information Center at the posting just outside the Friends of Jasper gift shop. Since the group size is limited, be sure to sign up ahead of time.

The hike is said to be moderately difficult and is not guided/interpretive. It’s just good plain hiking fun.

Friends of Jasper hike organizers recommend dressing appropriately and bringing the necessary water and snacks for both hikes.

The Treeline Restaurant provides a good, quick meal and a great view. The Treeline Restaurant is the only place to eat at the upper terminal of the Jasper Tramway. And being the only restaurant on the side of Whistler’s Mountain, or any Jasper National Park mountain for that matter, makes it one-of-a-kind.

The Treeline Restaurant sits 7,500 feet above sea level on the side of Whistler’s Mountain. The Jasper Tramway gondola is the easiest way to get to the restaurant. The only other way up the mountain is to hike, a two or three hour endeavor.

The Treeline Restaurant’s large windows give patrons a great view of Jasper National Park and the surrounding Canadian Rockies. Looking down, you can see even Jasper townsite.

But enough about the view. Restaurants are for dining, right? The Treeline Restaurant is designed for the food needs of travelers. Instead of being a fancy restaurant, Treeline Restaurant is a self-service, cafeteria-style restaurant. The food is regionally themed but nothing fancy.

In the morning, the breakfast buffet serves eggs and bacon and basic breakfast foods. Remember though, the Jasper Tramway doesn’t open till 9AM during peak months and later during the off-season.

During lunch and dinner, sandwiches and burgers are the norm, but foods like caribou and salmon are known to come out during the more formal dinner-time.

While reviews by culinary connoisseurs will be less than favorable, the Treeline Restaurant scored points with weary travelers, especially mountain hikers, for being a place to get a good meal fast - as long as a table is free. Gear your expectations to this being a seasonally operated tourist restaurant with a great location.

My best advice is to avoid arriving at the Jasper Tramway hungry at lunch time expecting to get into the Treeline Restaurant quickly. Pack some energy bars. At peak hours, the Jasper Tramway will have a wait, maybe 15 minutes, maybe more. Then, since the seating in the main area of the Treeline Restaurant is limited to 50 at a time, there could be a wait to get into the restaurant. Though there may be a wait at peak lunch hours, I wouldn’t worry about it. And if it is too busy, eat an energy bar and take a hike to the peak of Whistler’s Mountain and then try the restaurant again on the way down.

The restaurant is a hidden Jasper National Park gem that few travelers plan into their itinerary. Amongst the choices for dining in Jasper National Park, it ranks high for its atmosphere.

The Jasper Tramway is still a great time even if the restaurant is skipped. The Jasper Tramway Experience (tramway and hike) is a must-do but the restaurant is likely to make good sense for most travelers who can be flexible about when they eat. If you are already paying for tickets to ride the Jasper Tramway, eating at the restaurant is a good way to get more out of the experience.

Parks Canada has recently started publishing a weekly bear activity report online. This is a nice way to get a sense about where the bears are.

The latest report is for June 04, 2008 to June 10, 2008 reveals that most of the reported sightings for black bears have been on Highway 93 - then again, Highway 93 has a lot more traffic than the side roads. There were only a handful of grizzly sightings.

The report breaks down sightings into 4 categories:

• Single Black Bears
• Black Bear Females with Cubs
• Single Grizzly Bears
• Grizzly Bear Females with Cubs

If pairs of mating bears are together, the report indicated this as well.

View the weekly report.

If you see a bear while in the park, you can help improve the list by reporting your sighting to the Jasper Park Warden’s Office at (780) 852-6155.

For your safety and for the safety of others, Parcs Canada makes the following request: “If you see or find a carcass, stay clear, inform other users in the area and report the location immediately to the Jasper Resource Conservation Office (780) 852-6155.”

Remember, bears can be found anywhere throughout the park at any time and bears move about quickly. The report only represents reported sightings not the actual locations of all bears.

What do you do if you see a bear? Being prepared is your best defense. Hundreds of people hike and bike every day in Jasper National Park and do so without any problems with bears. Learn more about avoiding bear attacks in Jasper National Park.

Congratulations to wildlife and nature photographer John E Marriott who had his photo of Jasper National Park make the cover of the June 2008 edition of EXPLORE, Canada’s outdoor magazine.

The photo depicts Canadian Rockies mountain reflections on Amethyst Lake in the Tonquin Valley, Jasper National Park. The Canadian Rockies are one of his frequent subjects and he has many great landscape and wildlife photos of Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, western Canada and Alaska.

Learn more about the magazine cover photo in a post on John E Marriott’s photography website.

You can also see some of his excellent Jasper National Park black bear pictures here and other pictures around Jasper National Park here. John captured grizzly bear photos in Banff National Park recently too (view here).

Many travelers miss out on the chance to ride on the rivers in Jasper National Park thinking that rafting is an extreme sport. They have thoughts of extreme sport kayakers going over thundering waterfalls. This is a misconception about rafting in Jasper National Park.

In Jasper, rafting is actually slower paced and skill level doesn’t even matter. Rafting trips range from absolute beginner to intermediate, from slower paced guided raft trips to adventurous rides down splashing rapids.

Several outfitters can get would-be rafters on the water, giving travelers a unique perspective of nature. Rafting offers a full sensory experience: see the mountains, river and forest; smell the water and trees; hear the flowing rapids and splashing of oars; and feel the wetness of cold glacier water.

Easy, leisurely paced raft trips for novices are offered by several rafting outfitters (listed below). Maligne Lake Rafting Adventures Ltd, for example, has chosen a few segments of the Athabasca River for raft trips. These trips are considered family-friendly and ideal for beginners. Still, expect to get a little wet. One of the trips, called the Mile 5 Run, is a 2-hour round trip package. The second, the Heritage Run, is 3 hours round trip. Both are rated as Class II rapids.

The International Scale of River Difficulty defines Class II as:

• Class II: Novice. “Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed.”

Jasper Raft Tours is an another outfitter with a raft trip geared to beginners. Their Athabasca River trip is on “specially designed rafts offer a safe, comfortable ride that any first time rafter will enjoy.” Don’t want to leave any family members back at the hotel? Jasper Raft Tours says their Athabasca River rafting trip is “for everyone from toddlers to seniors.”

A guide paddles and steers the boat. Passengers hold on and enjoy being on the water, watching the surrounding Canadian Rockies scenery.

This video by a Jasper traveler shows a guided raft going down the Athabasca River. It should put out any fears of big rocks, rapids and waterfalls.

Want a faster ride?

Maligne Lake Rafting Adventures also offers Class III white water rafting on either the Fraser or Sunwapta River- choosing the river offering the best conditions that day. Be prepared to get really wet on this trip. According to Maligne Lake Rafting Adventures, the Class III trips “do not require any previous experience and are suited for physically active individuals who weigh 90 lbs (41 kgs) or more and are looking for an exhilarating ride.” There will be plenty of paddling and the current is much stronger.

The International Scale of River Difficulty defines Class III as:

• Class III: Intermediate. “Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. Scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims.”

Some of the other outfitters also offer Class III trips.

Logistics

Expect all of the gear to be provided but wear clothes that can get wet. For the novice rides, bringing a disposable water-proof camera is usually allowed. Most of the outfitters provide transportation from their offices in Jasper village.

It is good to reserve ahead even if only the day before. All of the outfitters are located in Jasper townsite and you can stop in their offices to ask questions and make reservations during a walk around town.

List of Jasper National Park Rafting Outfitters

Jasper Raft Tours

Maligne Lake Rafting Adventures Ltd

Raven Adventures Ltd

Jasper’s White Water Rafting Ltd

Spirit Island has been captivating Jasper National Park travelers for years. For anyone with a camera, this will be one of the best scenes your camera will ever have the pleasure of photographing.

To see the famous Spirit Island in person, take a cruise on Maligne Lake - a must do even without a camera. At the end of the cruise, the boat drops passengers off at a dock for a short break. Walk from the dock up a small path up to a vantage point looking out towards Spirit Island.

Here’s more Spirit Island photos from Webshots, a popular photo website.

(By lizawati100)

(By bobp30)

(By pfjc)

Learn more about the Maligne Lake boat ride.

According to Parks Canada, 1,300 elk call Jasper National Park home. Elk, also called Wapiti, were re-introduced into the park after hunting had devastated the population. Today, the elk are doing alright. The population is strong enough that some elk are moving out - being transported to other parts of Alberta province.

Visitors spending a few days in the Jasper National Park are likely to stumble upon elk at some point during the trip. Elk are frequently seen along the Athabasca River parallel to Highway 16. The elk may be grazing on grass in herds in the woods or open fields.

This is a picture (view larger) of an elk I spotted in the woods along Pyramid Lake Road, on the way to Patricia Lake and Pyramid Lake. The drive to these lakes is quick from Jasper townsite. Elk, deer and other animals frequent the area and munch on the grass. Drive carefully because sometimes the elk use the road themselves. And be on the look-out for what other wildlife lurks in the woods.

A mature male elk with its huge antlers is a mighty animal. This Jasper traveler’s video shows a few male elk swimming across the water, probably the Athabasca River. The elk then walk onto the shore and greet the travelers. Seeing this in person would be an experience. Keep a distance though because an elk in mating season can be aggressive.

The elk looks very similar to the woodland caribou with the most noticeable difference being color and antler shapes. More pictures of Jasper elk can be found here. The woodland caribou, in contrast, is a declining species as deforestation and other factors impact its more specialized food source, the lichen. Learn more about woodland caribou in Jasper National Park.

Most visitors to Jasper National Park arrive via either Edmonton International Airport (YEG) or Calgary International Airport (YYC). This is a brief guide to the airports and how these 2 Alberta, Canada airports fit into Jasper National Park vacation itineraries.

Both Edmonton Airport and Calgary Airport are large, full-service international airports served by several airlines and car rental agencies. Their locations make them good choices for various types of Jasper National Park vacation itineraries.

Edmonton International Airport

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) serves 50 non-stop domestic, U.S. and international destinations. I found it to be an easy airport to navigate. Just get off the plane and follow the clear signs to baggage pick-up.

Most of the major airlines and several regionals fly into Edmonton International Airport on a regular basis. Some fly in several times a day while others only a few times a week. These are the airlines:

• Air Canada/Jazz *
• Air North *
• Air Transat *
• Alaska Airlines *
• Canadian North *
• Central Mountain Air *
• Delta Airlines *
• First Air
• Horizon Air *
• Integra Air
• Martinair *
• Mexicana Airlines
• My Travel
• Northwest Airlines *
• Northwestern Air Lease
• SkyService *
• Sunwing Airlines *
• U.S. Airways *
• United Airlines *
• WestJet *

The rental car agencies in Edmonton Airport are Avis*, Hertz*, Budget*, Thrifty*, and National*.

Driving from Edmonton Airport to Jasper National Park

The drive from Edmonton to Jasper is an easy 3 hours and 27 minutes to 4 hours with a few places to stop for a stretch or meal along the way - like Edson and Hinton. Highway 16 is straight and flat from Edmonton all the way to Hinton. There’s little traffic outside of Edmonton. After Hinton, the Canadian Rockies start creeping up and the scenery changes to snow-capped mountains.

If your flight arrives late in the evening, it may be better to spend the night in Edmonton to get a good night’s rest. Then, do the Edmonton to Jasper drive in the morning. If time permits in Edmonton, the West Edmonton Mall is an adventure in itself.

Another option is to split the Edmonton to Jasper drive in two. The first night, drive halfway to Jasper, staying the night in the small town of Edson, Alberta. Edson has plenty of hotels and dining options. Then, wake up early and you’ll only be 1 1/2 to 2 hours from the Jasper National Park east entrance and Miette Hot Springs.

Calgary International Airport

For Banff National Park to Jasper National Park vacations, Calgary International Airport (YYC) makes a great starting point. Calgary, Alberta is best known for the Calgary Stampede, the famous Canadian stampede/festival that runs for 10 days every July. Calgary stays fun the rest of the year with museums, dining, the Calgary Tower, Calgary Zoo, Calgary Olympic Park, and many other activities.

Calgary Airport is about 1 1/2 hours to Banff village. Lake Louise is a short drive from that. Spend some time in Banff National Park and then go to Jasper National Park, adjacent to Banff on the north. Then head back to Calgary or head east to Edmonton.

Airlines flying into Calgary International Airport:

• Air Canada/Jazz *
• Air North *
• Air Transat *
• Alaska Airlines *
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Canadian North *
• Central Mountain Air *
• Condor
• Continental Airlines
• Delta Connection *
• Excel Airways
• Fly Globe Span
• Frontier Airlines
• Horizon Air *
• Martinair *
• Monarch
• Northwest Airlines *
• Pacific Coastal
• Skyservice *
• Sunwing Airlines *
• Thomas Cook
• U.S. Airways *
• United Airlines *
• WestJet *
• Zoom

Cargary Airport Rental Car Agencies

The following are the on-site rental car agencies at Calgary International Airport:

• Alamo, Avis*, Budget*, Dollar Rent-A-Car, Enterprise, Hertz*, National* and Thrifty*

I’ve had good luck with HotWire.com for car rentals and have scored prices below Orbitz, Travelocity and the likes. HotWire seems to lack a way to request open-jaw/multi-city car rentals though. CheapTickets.com is a place to find good multi-city car rental options.

Before you buy airline tickets

Plan to have a great time. But be prepared in the slight chance tickets need to be canceled.

First, be cognizant of flight cancellation rules. Ticket rules vary greatly - with low price tickets having the least flexibility. If you end up needing to change dates, sometimes the terms and conditions impose a minor penalty. Other times, a ticket’s terms and conditions can say “no cancellation, no changes, no refunds.”

Next, have peace of mind. An easy way to have peace of mind is to purchase some form of flight insurance. While exact rules vary, most flight insurance policies provide reimbursement in the event of sickness or certain types of emergencies. Some airlines and flight search websites offer it. Others don’t. There are also independent travel insurance providers who provide extended/custom coverage at a price. I’ve paid around $20 per ticket for insurance in the past.

Enjoy your Jasper National Park and Alberta, Canada travel adventure.

With Jasper National Park having a finite number of hotel accommodations within the park, finding a place to stay during the peak summer months can be challenging if not booked far in advance. During peak times, finding last-minute accommodations in Jasper can be nearly impossible.

There IS another way.

Hinton, Alberta is 47 miles (75 km) east of Jasper townsite and is home to several hotels providing a reasonable alternative to staying in Jasper. While 47 miles may seem far, keep in mind that the border of Jasper National Park is closer and only 10 or 20 minutes away.

Jasper’s top attractions like Miette Hot Springs, the Jasper Tramway, Maligne Lake and the best day hikes are all an easy commute from Hinton. For most Jasper attactions, staying in Hinton instead of Jasper village would only add an hour or so to the day’s driving. In fact, Miette Hot Springs is nearer to Hinton than it is to Jasper village. Soaking in Miette Hot Springs is a way to recharge after a day of Jasper activities and is easier to do for those staying in Hinton.

The downside to staying in Hinton is the long distance from Hinton to the Columbia Icefield at the southern end of Jasper National Park. The Columbia Icefield, one of Jasper’s top attractions, is a good 2 hours from Jasper townsite. It can be longer depending at the number of stops made at the many jaw-dropping scenic viewpoints along the way. Expect a long day of driving to the icefield and back to Hinton, but that is part of the adventure and the Canadian Rockies scenery makes it enjoyable. One way to avoid the long return ride from Columbia Icefield to Hinton is to combine a trip to Jasper National Park with a trip to Banff National Park, a common itinerary for those able to do a longer vacation.

Map of Hinton, Alberta Hotels

A	Super 8 Motel, 284 Smith Street, Hinton, AB T7V 2A1, Canada, (780) 817-2228
B	Days Inn Hinton, 358 Smith Street, Hinton, AB T7V 2A1, Canada, (780) 817-1960
C	Lakeview Inn and Suites, 500 Smith Street, Hinton, AB T7V 2A1, Canada, (780) 865-2575
D	Crestwood Hotel, 678 Carmichael Lane, Hinton, AB T7V 1S9, Canada, (780) 865-4001
E	Timberland Hotel, 1-114 Park Street, Hinton, AB T7V 2B1, Canada, (780) 865-2231
F	Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Hinton, 470 Smith Street, Hinton, AB T7V 2A1, Canada, (780) 865-2048
G	Best Canadian Motor Inns, 386 Smith Street, Hinton, AB T7V 2A1, Canada, (780) 865-5099
I	McCracken Country Inn, 146 Brookhart St, Hinton, AB T7V 1Y8, Canada, (780) 865-5662

To find out availability, do a search on Orbitz, Travelocity, Kayak or similar.

The town of Hinton is a mini-destination itself and has shopping and restaurants. Learn about Hinton recreational activities, including the Brule Sand Dunes and Yellowhead Raceway, on the Town of Hinton official website.

Looking for other options? Read about Jasper Private Home Rentals as yet another Jasper National Park vacation hotel alternative.

Bears, like the one pictured, may look cute, but bears can have a bad side.

To keep from seeing the potential bad side, visitors to Jasper National Park should be aware of the bear.

A Parks Canada brochure entitled “Bears and People” (I picked one up at the Jasper Information Center but it’s available online too) provides tips on how to avoid bear attacks. This information is important for travelers who want an enjoyable hiking experience in Jasper National Park.

Most experienced hikers say bears are nothing to worry about. They know what to do, how to keep a safe distance (Parks Canada recommends at least 100 meters) and how to avoid bear attacks. Still, for novice hikers, preparation can be life-saving and boost confidence to get out and enjoy what the park has to offer.

Why do bears attack?

Though bear attacks are infrequent, they occur when the bear is put in a compromised position. Typically this happens when the bear is surprised by a human or dog, protecting their young or food, the bear has become habituated to humans or when they are following food odors coming from human sources (campsites, food in backpack, trash containers, etc). Parks Canada points out that bear behavior patterns are complex and bear reactions can vary. Keeping at a distance is best.

To prevent attacks

Nobody wants a bad bear encounter while vacationing in Jasper National Park. To keep bears away while hiking, make a little noise. A little noise will send most distant bears running full throttle in the opposite direction. If you are near a river or berry patch, make some extra noise. Noise can come from wearing a bear bell, shouting out, clapping hands, or other noises so that nearby bears can hear you. Noises will signal them to move away.

While hiking in Jasper, be aware of recent trail use by bears. If you see fresh bear droppings, tracks, signs of digging, freshly moved logs and rocks, then be aware and try to leave the area right away.

If you have a dog, it is best not to bring it hiking as it can trigger defensive attacks from bears. If you do bring a dog, keep it on a leash.

It is recommended to hike as a group and when hiking, try to stay together. Stay on the official paths too mentioned on the trail maps you can get from the Jasper Information Center in the town of Jasper in the center of Jasper National Park. The Jasper Information Center also provides great information about current trail conditions and can provide advice.

How to handle a bear encounter

The Parks Canada brochure suggests carrying bear spray when hiking or biking on park trails.

If a bear encounter occurs, your first thought should be to stay calm. Parks Canada recommends staying calm and speaking to the bear while backing away slowly. Slowly get your bear spray ready but never run. Staying calm reassures the bear. Even if the bear acts defensively, Parks Canada says “It’s difficult but important to remain calm if a bear reacts to you this way. A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack.”

When speaking to the bear, speak calmly and firmly to let the bear know you are human and not some other animal. The brochure also suggests staying in a group so as to be less vulnerable and hold onto your backpack as it can serve as protection.

What to do if a bear attacks

If a bear does come at you, be aware of the reason. Knowing the reason will help you respond properly.

There are two types of bear attacks, defensive attacks and predatory attacks. Defensive attacks are more common and occur when the bear sees you as a threat. The best response in this situation is to try to use bear spray and play dead.

To play dead properly, lay on your stomach with feet and elbows out and hands on your neck. It is harder for the bear to flip you over from this pose. This also protects your front-side and back of neck. Don’t move and hope the bear moves on after 2 minutes. If the attack lasts longer than 2 minutes, it may have turned into a predatory attack.

Predatory attacks are ‘very rare’ and occur when the bear is hunting you. If the bear suddenly appeared, fight back. In this situation, you are prey. By making loud noises or throwing branches or rocks, the bear will know you’re not easy prey and should move on. Climbing a tree is another way out, but bears can climb too.

Enjoy yourself hiking in Jasper

Hiking in Jasper National Park should be an experience of a lifetime. Remember Parks Canada’s advice about bears and have a great time hiking.