The Road To Jasper

The Road To Jasper

The Road to Jasper can be as short as 3 hours and as long as you want to make it! There are numerous places to stop along the way so you must prioritize the places you don't want to miss. We chose to make more stops early on our drive since we knew we probably wouldn't have any other time to make these stops. The stops that were closer to where we were staying we saved. Since we were staying in Jasper, we chose to drive back to these locations over the course of our time in Jasper and on our way back home.

One thing that helped us decide what was worth a stop and what wasn't, was the app  called Gypsy Guide. This app cost us $5.00 and was honestly worth $25.00! It truly was like having a tour guide in our backseat. This app uses GPS so it works even in places with no service like Canada! This app not only tells you the history behind the National Parks, it tells you what to expect and whether or not it is a "must see" or just a nice spot if you have time. This was honestly a life savor and I highly recommend downloading this app!

Tips Before Setting Off On The Road To Jasper

1. Leave early and plan for a long drive if you want to make stops! 
2. Start with a full tank of gas. There is only 1 gas station about half way at Saskatchewan River Crossing.
3. Very scenic drive but also busy with a lot of people. While you are not stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, you are also not all alone! So be patient!
4. When you see numerous cars pulled over, chances are there is a reason why! If you pull over with them you might see some wildlife, like a bear! We were fortunate enough to see a mama black bear and her cub eating berries on the side of the road. Be smart about wildlife. While they appear to be cute and cuddly they are very dangerous. Don't get too close! We were close enough for a good picture but far enough away where we felt safe watching for 15 minutes. This was one of my highlights of the entire trip! I had never seen a bear in the wild before and I was ecstatic to have finally seen one!
   
5. The drive doesn't feel very long or draining because of all the sights to see and places to stop and hike.
6. Don't start this drive without a proper map! 
7. Pack food and snacks. There are no places to eat along the way. 
8. There is little to no cell service so be smart. Don't lock your keys in your car or you will be hiking a ways to find cell service to call for help! (We witnessed this happen to a family and it was tragic!)
9. Enjoy this drive! Don't be in a rush. Take it all in and do a few hikes along the way. You won't regret it!

Peyto Lake 

Our first stop on the way to Jasper, was Peyto Lake also commonly known as "Wolf Lake." This lake is often called Wolf Lake because the lake itself resembles the face of a wolf. This stop at Peyto Lake can be a quick 15 minute one or a 3 hour hike! We chose to make it a 3 hour hike! If all you are looking to get is a quick snap of Peyto Lake, this won't take you long. The view of Peyto Lake is a quick 15 minute hike out to a viewing platform. The platform is small and can get crowded quickly so I highly recommend going early! We went around 8 am and there were very few people there. However on our way out, around 11 am, there was a huge tour bus filled with people. If you don't want to be sharing the platform with about 50 other people, I suggest going before 10 am. 

If you are interested in seeing Bow Lake and doing some more hiking, after viewing Peyto Lake from the platform, keep going to the left and follow signs to the Bow Summit Lookout. This hike is a longer one and feels like it just keeps going. However, there are beautiful diverse sights along the way! It goes from green covered meadows, to snow covered plains, to a steep rocky mountain. You get a pretty view of Bow Lake, but the real treat are all the views along the way. We even got to see a few little furry creatures! While this hike is not a must do as we definitely did better hikes on our trip, I would still recommend it to anyone who has time. We enjoyed this hike and for us it was worth the 3 hour stop! 

Keep going past this sign for the Bow Summit hike!

From meadows...

And wildflowers...

To snow...

...and finally rocks and mountains!

The views are incredible!

Bow Lake!

 

Great hike with some great views, 4 out of 5 stars!

Mistaya Canyon

We had carved out an estimated 7 hours for our drive to Jasper. We had planned out a few stops, but left our itinerary pretty open, so we decided on the fly what we felt like doing. Mistaya Canyon was not on our list and we were honestly pretty skeptic whether or not it was going to be worth a stop. But our Gypsy App said it was a must see, so we pulled over to check it out. We were sure glad we did because Mistaya Canyon is a definite must see! One of the main benefits is it is a short and easy hike, about 5 minutes, right off the road to see the canyon. With this short proximity to the road and easy accessibility, it can be a popular stop, however the crowds honestly were not a problem for us. It is busy but this stop can be enjoyed from numerous viewpoints, making the crowds less of a nuisance. Since this is such an easy hike, no special footwear or gear is needed. You can almost immediately hear the roaring of the water and minutes later when you reach the bridge, you can see the wild river up close! The bridge is a great viewpoint for some pretty pictures, but you can get even closer and explore the canyon up close from the giant boulders surrounding it. The incredible force of the water and the effects erosion can have, is truly amazing to witness as you look at Mistaya Canyon. We loved sitting on the boulders just watching the wild water rush in the canyon and splash against the rocks! The deep canyon and rock formations were quite a sight and worth the stop! The entire stop shouldn't take more than an hour max! 4 out of 5 stars!

Mistaya Canyon from the bridge

Amazing rock formations

Powerful force of the river

View from the boulders 

Parker Ridge Trail

Parker Ridge Trail was on my radar as a must see when I first started planning this trip. It was number 2 on TripAdvisor and had high ratings. Our Gypsy App also said it was a must stop if time allowed for it. So, when we arrived at Parker Ridge Trail, there was no question, we stopped! 

Parker Ridge Trail is not a quick hike. It can take anywhere from 3-4 hours depending on how fast you hike, which trails you take, and how long you spend enjoying the views. It took us about 3 hours. This is a steep and moderately strenuous hike, however there are switchbacks, making the hike easier. We saw people from all age groups and hiking levels do this so is a doable hike for most people. It is important to note that even if it is warm when you start your hike, pack a jacket. It gets very windy and chilly at the top and you will want a windbreaker. We were so glad we remembered ours! Once you get to the top, you will find that there is a lot to explore! There are 2 main trails, one to the left and one to the right. I highly suggest doing both the trails, as the views are so different from another. They are worth the extra time and effort and once you are at the top, the hiking isn't steep or strenuous!

We chose to go to the right first, but you can really do it in any order. The trail to the right goes up a little higher and you get 360 degree views of the peaks of Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Saskatchewan, and a few others. We also enjoyed looking at the uniqueness of the rocks. They appeared to have been underwater at some point and were very interesting to look at! We got some beautiful pictures and then headed back to take the trail to the left. The trail to the left leads you to a spectacular view of the Saskatchewan Glacier. It is a perfect view and it is truly amazing to see how large it is! You also get a view of the lake beneath the glacier. The whole thing is really amazing to see and not to be missed! If you only have time to do 1 of the 2 hikes I highly suggest going to the left to see the Saskatchewan Glacier! You won't regret it! 5 out of 5 stars!

The start of the trail that leads to the right. 

Views of the mountain peaks on the trail to the right

It is very windy and cold at the tops! Jackets are a must!

The interesting looking rocks!

Headed out on the trail to the left!

Saskatchewan Glacier

View of the lake just down from Saskatchewan Glacier!

Parker Ridge Trail was a one of a kind experience and we highly recommend it!

A Day Well Spent...

After Parker Ridge Trail, we were pretty spent and ready for a good night of sleep! We finished our drive, made it to our hotel, and relaxed for the rest of the night! There were many things we did not see on The Road to Jasper, however we made a list of the ones we thought we wanted to stop at and hit them the next day or on the way home! There is so much to see, you won't be disappointed no matter what you decide to do!

The Road to Jasper is a definite 5 out of 5 stars for us!