Jasper National Park Travel Forum

Hi all,

We are 2 adults and a 12 yr kid planing a round trip by car from Vancouver.
Are 10 day enough? What is the recommended rout, considering main attractions? Nice places stay over night? Are there any local festivals during August that we should attend?

Thank you in advance,
Meir

Hello, my wife and I are from New Orleans. We are considering a car trip from Prince Rupert to Jasper National Park. We would be traveling the last two weeks of September 2009. We are seeking advice on doing this trip. What are the road conditions and availability of gas, etc. at that time? Can you recommend any literature that might be helpful? Can you recommend any one else we might contact for information? We would be traveling back to Seattle after visiting the park.
Thanks for your time,
Warren & Eva Kelley

Please, anyone aware of daytime bus travel from Jasper to Vancouver 17th Sept?
Regards Shirley

We need transport from Jasper to Banff to link up with Airporter going to Calgary. What else is available besides Brewsters which leaves 12.30pm not getting into Calgary till late. We would like to have a wee look around Calgary city before we fly out early next morning.
Thanks,
Shirley

Hi
I am visiting Calgary, Banff and Jasper over the July 4 weekend. First 2 nights in Banff , then 2 nights in jasper and then on the way back last nite stay again in Banff. Can you please let me know which are the MUST SEE places in these 2 areas. IWe plan to see all the famous places/lakes but dont know if will need to hike to get to these places or are they accessible by car. will be coming with a 1 year old and husband and another couple. Can we manage with a stroller or should we get a child carrier instead?Also hows the weather like in July 4th weekendand should we carry clothes for extreme heat- shorts /t shirts etc and a light jacket.Any other tips about visitng that place with a 1 yr old.
Lastly if we have 1 afternoon available for Calgary whats the ebst thing to see in calgary or in the famous stampede.

A quick response will be highly appreciated as I only have few days to plan?
thnaks in advance?

After stepping off an Alaska cruise 7-8am on 13th September we are undecided as to how to do and see the most through Banff, Jasper etc before heading back to Vancouver to fly home to Oz on the 18th. Have read through lots of advice to others but still SO undecided! Considered car hire but wonder how we would cope with being on the oppposite side of the road?? - (we are around the 60 yo range)
Doubt that we will get back to this area (So many places to visit) so the choicest if we can. Would consider all modes of transport!
Many thanks,
Shirley and Gary

I will be tent camping for a week. I am planning to book the weekend nights in Jasper - We are traveling July 25 through August 1. Friday night through Thursday night. I would like to find quiet, relaxing places to camp - showers are nice, but not necessary every night. Not really interested in being in Banff -the town.

I am thinking of starting on the outer campgrounds - Pocahontas - two nights (but I have read that a lot of people recommend Snaring River (but I don't think they take reservations and it will be a Friday and Saturday night, then near Jasper at Wapiti two nights - would like to stay one night, Tuesday, between Jasper and Lake Louise - no reservations accepted along there however - if I arrive early would I be able to get camping? which one is good?

also should I go to Lake Louise or Banff? A lot of people seem to thing Tunnel Mountain is nice. - what about Johnston Canyon?

Thanks - Michelle

I will be visiting JAsper for 1 and a half days in July first week of 2008. Could anyone recommend an interesting day hike that has good views along the way too? I wanted to do parekrs ridge but found out that the hike itself is not very good, just the view at the end is. I would like to do a moderate hike that would take maybe 3-4 hours from start to finish. I know asking to pick one hike from hundreds of 'best' ones is daunting, but I would still appreciate what you guys think.

Hi everybody,

I have a question and I hope someone can help me with it.
Last year my girlfriend and I travelled through the Western side of Canada, including Jasper and Banff National Park. Now we want to visit Jasper again, we think about that place almost everyday.
We're planning to return in late May or June 2009. I'm just wondering what to do. We're flying over from Holland to Vancouver I think. Last time we took the bus to go to Jasper, but I'm thinking of hiring a car and drive to Jasper myself. But, I'm not familiar with big traffic ( I'm from Holland you see d:), and I don't know the route.

My questions are:

Can I rent a car and drive up to Jasper ( and probably Banff too) myself or take the bus?

Is June a better time to go then May? In terms of seeing wildlife like bears?

Can someone recommend me when to book the hotels for that period in 2009?

Any help is much appreciated, thanks for helping out!

Kind regards, Ralph and Lenny

We are scheduled to arrive in Calgary on July 3rd afternooon and fly back on July 8th evening from Calgary and will drive to the Rockies and thats all that is planned so far. Can you advise me on the itenary for the 5 days I have...which places should I visit and in what order ...shd I go to Banff first and then Jasper and the must see places, activites..etc etc and which scenic routes do you recommend ...also which cities/towns shd I look for acco in . Its going to be a busy time of the year esp with the Calgary stampede...is that event worth spending time on ..which events are recommended.Also we have a 1 yr old ...so please sugegst activites etc
I am looking at this forum to help me plan my trip and all responses would be highly appreciated

Going to the Canadian Rockies for my honeymoon in late July and deciding on the Itinarary. We have 6 nights, are staying at some Fairmont Properties, and will take the Rocky Mountaineer train in from Vancouver. Will rent a car in the mountains. Some Questions:
1. Is the train ride worthwhile?
2. Stay 2 nights in Jasper or 4 nights in Jasper?
3. Is it worth staying in Lake Louise?
4. How long travel time between Jasper - LLouise and Banff?
Thanks alot!!

Hello All
Thanks for much for your inputs. At leats 1 thing I have decided is that we will fly from Sea-Calgary rather than drive to jasper/banff as we would like to use the 5 days to actually see the gorgreous places you all have mentioned!! And yes I am very aware that 1 trip or just 5 days dont do justice to these parks and I have all intentions to go back again.
I am still undecided about May memorial ( 23-27 May) or July independence day ( July 3-7). the calgary stampede also happens in July so I am guessing those make the parks also crowd up a lot and places to stay are expensive. So is the crowd a major deterring and delaying factor to get to places or is it ok...how different will be the experience in May end ...just marginally different or dramatically different....does May last week mean its still going to be too cold to wlak comfortable around with a 11 month baby or is it not that bad...

I would love to hear more ...thanks in advance for taking the time to reply

Hello All
I am planning a trip to Jasper and Banff from Seattle with my husband and my 11 month old baby. I have a few questions and would request inputs as I need to figure out my plan in the next day or so
- Should we go in end of May 2008 or July first week. I know July is overall mroe recommended because of warm weather but is Memorial week in may end a definite no no. what kind of weather variation can I expect and will it prevent us from enjoying our trip/seeing places. Is July a compeltley different experience from May and worth delaying the trip
- we only have 5.5 days max including travel time. Believe that vancouver to Banff drive is abt 10 hrs one way and driving so much in such a short vacation may not be the best idea. So we were thinking of flying to Calgary ( so we could get max time in the rockies) and use that as the starting point to go to Lake Louise, jasper and Banff and fly back from calgary to seattle. is that recommended Do we miss out on any picturesque places
- recommended cities/hotels to stay ( nothing too cheap not too fancy )
- advise activites with a 11 mth old and must see places

Would love to hear back from you avid travellers with any inputs

I will be in Jasper National Park for three nights (May 29-31st). Can anyone recommend any good campgrounds for tent camping? We don't care too much about amenities (even primitive campsites are fine), and we are looking for something scenic that will be a good base for us to explore Jasper. Is it crazy to not make reservations for this time of year?

Sounds like I'll need a wide angle and zoom lens. If so my digital won't make the grade. I LOVE seeing my pic immediately. What do you recommend?

In July spending 3 nights in Banff with 5 leftover. Should I spend more nights in Lake Louise or Jasper?

Looking for somewhat mild but exciting white water rafting. Suggestions?

My wife and I are planning our vacation for this May and I'm interested to head off to Calgary then drive to Banff. I've read here that Jasper is equally beautiful (and I'm sure it is) but I'd like to know if it's worth the extra time and cost of going there? If it will just be more of the same sceneries (lakes, glaciers, mountains, wildlife, etc.) that can be found in Banff then I might just skip it. Thanks for your opinions!

Where did "Jape"r get its name? did it come form the first nations? if so what dose the name mean?

Hi there

I'm travelling by myself to Jasper in December from 6-9th. Is there anything anyone would recommend doing/seeing while i'm there? Also, would anyone know which bars to hit up?

Thanks :)

Hello,

My 2 friends and I are in need of long term housing in Jasper, AB. We have called numerous apartments and searched through tons of classifieds but everything is full.

At this point in time, we don't really care how big the place is, whether its a basement, a house or and apartment...anything will go. Please contact me via email at zach.redeker@gmail.com or by phone at 780.464.0464

I'm looking for a LINK to a great slideshow or minivideos of jasper!? I want to show a friend.

Does anyone know of any great links or mini videos?

Hi There!

I'm going to Jasper NP with my girlfriend for a week on April 12. I'm wondering if there's a chance to see bears that time of year. I don't know when they come out of hibernation. And what other wildlife can be seen? Just curious!
Thanks for your time!

Greetz,
Ralph

At the Athabasca Glacier, do you recommend taking the SnoCoach or doing the IceWalk? What about the hike up to Wilcox Pass? I don't know if we could manage to do both the IceWalk and Wilcox Pass hike both on the same day.

For those of you who have done them, what are your recommendations?

We are arriving in Calgary on Feb 9th around 12.00 midday and have four days with a small front wheel drive hire car. I would like to drive to Lake Louise for the first night then drive onto Jasper via the mountain route. Spend two nights in Jasper and then back for another night in Lake Louise. Are we being very naive thinking we can do this in a two wheel drive car? Is the road basically kept cleared of snow most of the time? Would we need to put chains on? We are Aussies and quite inexperienced in winter conditions.

How did Whistlers Mountain get its name?

We are intending to travel to Canada in November/December time, starting with 3nights in Vancouver, join the Canadian train to Jasper, but wanted to know if anyone knows whether there is a coach service from Jasper to Banff, and then Banff to Calgary Airport and how much it would cost.

Alternatively we were thinking about hiring a 7 seater car from Jasper to Banff and then Banff to Calgary Airport but unsure about driving conditions and whether this would be recommended. Could someone please advise.

We are planning to travel from Jasper to Vancouver. We plan to fly into Calgery or Edmonton and drive to Lake Louise and Jasper. From there we want to take either Rocky Mountineer or Via Rail to Vancouver and spend a couple of days in Vancouver. We are thinking this would give us the best of all (Train, ROckies, Vancover and the Jasper National Park/Lake Lousie). I am not able to get any car rentals one way as we will either fly into Calgery/Edmonton and Fly out of Vancouver (or the other way Fly in Vancouver and Out of Calgery/Edmonton). Even if I get a car rental it is working out way too expensive for oneway rental.

We have a total of 6 days excluding the day we fly in. ANy suggestions? What is the best way to see all this. We are a family with 2 kids.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Hi:

Was wondering if I could get any reco. for Miette Guest House in Jasper National Park. Information on any good or bad experience here is appreciated

Thanks

I'm due to stay at the JPL for 3 nights from Dec 27th-29th of this year.

Out of interest - what are the prices at the restaurants/snack bars etc like? I don't have a clue what to expect & I'm trying to work out how much money I'm likely to need.

Many thanks

Sam

Hi,my husband and I are coming to the rockies end aug begining September. We will be in Jasper for 3 nights and banff for five. We have previously trekked on glaciers in Southern Argentina using crampons and would like to continue this fantiastic experience. WHilst we are not trained to guide oursleves we'd like to vetnure onto the glaciers more than the snocoach type. From looking on the net I can find very few companies that do this.Can anyone point me in the direction of some tour/guide companies

many thanks

My wife and I will be visiting Banff and Jasper the first week of October. We only have 3 full days and nights to be there. We know that for the most part it is not enough time. We hope that we might get some ideas. We will be doing most of our site seeing by car. We would like to see as much as we possibly can. Any ideas that can be given would be fantastic. This trip in reality will be about 5 weeks, but we are doing alot of other things meantime. Currently we are doing some volunteer work near South America, and we are looking forward to this trip. Thank you, before hand, for your help and ideas