Ahhh, winter in the Canadian Rockies. With snow-covered mountain peaks and wood-burning fires, Jasper National Park has a certain je ne sais quoi this time of year. Make the most of it with these five things you must do in Jasper this winter.
Five Things You Must Do in Jasper This Winter
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Jasper National Park is a winter playground, from skiing to exploring frozen canyons.
- Ice walk in Maligne Canyon, the deepest in the Canadian Rockies.
- Learn how to climb a frozen waterfall.
- Ski or snowboard at the highest base elevation in Canada.
Step into an ice-walking adventure
What’s ice walking? It’s using special footwear to walk on a frozen surface. And Jasper National Park offers the most stunningly beautiful form of ice walking you may ever see. Maligne Canyon Icewalks takes you down the frozen Maligne River at the bottom of the beautiful smoothed-walled namesake canyon — the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park — where you will walk by a series of frozen waterfalls, ice caves and ice formations. It’s unforgettable.
Face your fear and start climbing
Feeling adventurous? Try climbing a frozen waterfall. Rockaboo Mountain Adventures’ introduction to ice climbing course will have you going from newbie to conquering a frozen waterfall within a couple of hours. It may sound intimidating, but you’ll have crampons on your feet, an axe in your hand and a secure rope system to prevent falls.
A winter wildlife safari
Many of the Jasper locals have four legs, fur and a big set of antlers. It might be more common in some areas to see elk, a moose or even a mountain goat than a real-life human. Wildlife tours run year-round, so you’ve got plenty of opportunities to spot animals in the park.
Get ready to shred it
You can't come to the heart of the Canadian Rockies and not hit the slopes. Jasper's Marmot Basin is a powder haven, and it has the highest base elevation of any ski area in Canada. There's something for everyone, with close to 100 runs, almost equally divided between novice, intermediate, advanced and expert level.
Time to indulge
After a long day outdoors, it's time to refuel. Satisfy your appetite and quench your thirst at Jasper Brewing Company, where you can find a wide range of craft beers, snacks and elevated pub food. The warm buttered soft pretzel comes highly recommended.
