The Jasper Tramway Experience - Gondola Ride, Hiking and Scenery
Riding the Tramway and hiking up the summit is an experience essential to any visit to Jasper National Park.
The “Jasper Tramway Experience” is a 3,000 foot ride followed by a steep walk from the tramway drop-off terminal to the summit of the Whistlers Mountain. Along the way, it is clear why the Jasper tourism bureau’s slogan for the park is “Wonderful By Nature”. This is Canada travel at its best. As you ride the gonola and then hike to the top of the summit, the panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies are spectacular.
The Jasper Tramway Experience is made up of a sequence of 4 segments:
- The ride up the Jasper Tramway to the upper terminal - The tramway car has a guide who tells a brief history of the tramway and interesting facts about the park on the way up. You’ll feel like a sardine packed into the tramway car with 10 or 15 strangers. Don’t fret. You’ll be near a window and get a nice view on the way up.
- The hike from the upper terminal to the summit - After the tramway drops you off at the upper terminal, you can hang out for a few and soak in the view from the decks. Then, start your hike up a steep but flat mountainside. There are several long plateaus along the way and it is not a difficult hike. Parks Canada urges visitors to stay on the trail to protect the fragile alpine vegetation.
- Time at the summit - This is time on top of the world. The view up here is much better than from the tramway upper terminal down below. Find a rock, sit down and take in the view of the surrounding Canadian Rockies.
- The way back down - Walking back down, a different set of leg muscles are worked. On the way down on the tramway, the guide tells a different story.
If the way back down occurs earlier in the sequence, you have either turned around or fallen down. Falling down the hill would not be good as in most cases, you’d build up momentum before hitting one of the 200 year old trees or a very large rock.
View Jasper Journal’s Jasper Tramway photo gallery.
April 20th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Hello
Is there any parking for a truck and 5th wheel trailer units, approx. 40ft. in length? (3 units traveling together)
Also if parking is available please give directions from Jasper to site.
Thank you.
Karen
June 1st, 2008 at 3:30 am
I’m trying to find a number and prices for the Gondola in Jasper for a group of 15 in JULY
June 12th, 2008 at 4:38 am
I’m trying to find out if pets are allowed to go up in the gondola with you? If so are there any stipulations?
June 13th, 2008 at 3:17 am
@Laura:
Currently, the group rate is $20 per person. For individuals, the regular adult rate is listed as $25.Child (ages 5-14) are $13.00 and under age 5 are free.
Jasper Tramway has special offers for groups of 15 or more. It gets the group through faster and there’s a meal offer. I’d suggest contacting Jasper Tramway’s Sales & Special Events Coordinator at 780 852 3093 in advance. There’s more info on the Jasper Tramway’s official website: http://www.jaspertramway.com
June 13th, 2008 at 3:40 am
@Dana:
In regards to pets, I would guess the answer is in the negative but I am not positive. You may be able to bring a small “carry-on” dog but I would check with Jasper Tramway in advance. The Jasper Tramway’s phone number is 780 852 3093. The gondola carts up to 30 people at a time and space during peak times is limited.
A pet would also make it difficult to do the almost 1 mile-long hike from the upper terminal where the gondola drops you off up to the top of Whistler’s. There are parts of the hike that are steep and in other areas, there are cliffs. The only protective fencing is at the drop-off terminal.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
[...] 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 [...]
July 5th, 2008 at 4:15 am
I know you can climb Whistler Mountain from the parking lot but I haven’t found out any info about the hike…can anyone help us.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:59 am
I am wondering who I have to contact about getting married at the top of the Jasper tram. My fiancee and myself are thinking about getting married up there and we were looking at costs.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Hi Chad,
I’d recommend a call to the Jasper Tramway Sales & Special Events Coordinator at 780-852-3093. I believe the Treeline Restaurant can accommodate groups and may be a place for the event.
Besides the restaurant at the upper terminal, the only place to have an event would be to do the hike from the terminal and up the rest of Whistler Mountain. For a standing up wedding ceremony with a small group of people, it would be one-of-a-kind. I’m not sure that any part of this area could be rented or if this is allowed. The event coordinator should know.
There’s also a great thread about Jasper weddings on TripAdvisor forums here. Posters mention several other Jasper National Park facilities.
At the very least, if you want some great wedding photos, the top of Whistler Mountain ranks high.