There’s so much more than just skiing in The Canadian Rockies largest national park, home to the only ice fields in the world accessible by road. Here’s 8 winter activities that will get your heart beating and your soul soaring on and off the slopes in Jasper National Park and surrounds.
Maligne Canyon Ice Walk
The Maligne River Canyon walk is a summer must as guests trek the canyon rim and peer down to the river below. Come winter the river and waterfalls freeze over and you can then hike through the canyon on the ice and discover another world with 30 metre plus frozen waterfalls, ice caves, fossils and more.
Skiing at Marmot Basin
Marmot Basin boasts the highest base elevation (1698metres) of any ski resort in Canada. It also boasts 678 hectares of skiable terrain, a 5.6km run, 4 metres of annual snowfall and 7 lifts including 3 high speed quad chairs. Did we mention the views? We should.
Snow shoeing
Grab a snow shoe guide and hit the backcountry beauty that is Jasper National Park across snow plains, through enchanted woodlands and under deep blue skies. No experience is necessary, just a love of the great outdoors.
Cross country skiing
Jasper National Park has over 300 kilometres of cross country trails. That’s a lot of skiing. Trails take skiers past lakes, through valleys, in mountain shadows and more from short loops to longer challenging routes. Explore trails around Maligne Lake, Lorraine Lake, Pyramid Lake, Marmot Meadows and beyond.
Our tip? Take your camera. You may see some local wildlife.
Wildlife Tour
The park is home to elk, deer, goats, coyotes, wolves, moose and bears (who are asleep during winter). You can get up close (not too close) and personal with these critters in their natural wild habitat on dedicated wildlife tours designed to showcase the best winter wilderness in the region.
Skating
You’re in Canada, it would be rude not to go ice skating on a frozen lake, right? Rent some skates and hit the ice on the dedicated skating area of Pyramid Lake or Lac Beauvert and Lake Mildred, both close to the swanky Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for hot cocoa and ginger bread.
Dog sledding
Ok, you can’t dog sled specifically within the national park but you can in the Rocky Mountains, a few minutes drive from Jasper with Cold Fire Creek Dog Sledding. Choose from the 60 Minute Musher, the 3 hour Moonshiners of Whiskey Creek, the 3 hour Moonlight Run and the overnight Our Little Bit of Heaven dog sledding trip.
Fat biking
The latest biking trend, fat tyre biking, has hit Jasper with a purpose built 10.5kilometre trail in the Pyramid Bench area north of town. Mountain bike trails covered in snow are also accessible for anyone looking to rent a bike and head outside on two wheels during winter.
For more information on winter activities in Jasper visit Tourism Jasper.
