Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park, covering 10,878 square kilometers, is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies and a vital component of the UNESCO-designated Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. Established in 1907, Jasper provides a more rugged and remote wilderness experience compared to its southern counterparts. The park's centerpiece is the Columbia Icefield, the most significant body of ice in the Rocky Mountains, which serves as a hydrological apex; its meltwaters eventually reach the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans. The landscape is defined by towering peaks, such as the 3,363-meter Mount Edith Cavell, and deep limestone gorges like Maligne Canyon, known for its intricate underground river system. Jasper is a sanctuary for diverse wildlife, including grizzly bears, elk, moose, and one of the last remaining populations of woodland caribou in the southern Rockies. In 2011, the park was designated a Dark Sky Preserve, making it one of the largest areas in the world where light pollution is strictly controlled to allow for unparalleled stargazing and aurora borealis viewing. The park features dramatic landmarks like the Athabasca Falls, where the river's powerful flow has carved unique potholes into the hard quartzite rock. Jasper's management focuses on preserving vast, contiguous ecosystems, ensuring that the natural processes of the mountains, from glacial retreat to forest succession, can continue with minimal human interference, providing a true sanctuary for North American biodiversity.

History & landmarks

Canadian Rockies

Mountain range in western Canada

Lake Louise

Glacial lake in Banff

Banff National Park

National park in the Rockies

Calgary

Major city in Alberta

Edmonton

Capital of Alberta

Whistler

Whistler is a world-class resort town in British Columbia, nestled in the spectacular Coast Mountains.

Yellowknife

Yellowknife is the capital of Canada's Northwest Territories, located on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake.

Vancouver

Major city in British Columbia

Nature

Fraser River

The longest river within British Columbia.

Great Bear Lake

The largest lake entirely within Canada.

More places

Mount Edith Cavell

A prominent mountain in Jasper National Park.

Mount Robson

Highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.

Okanagan Valley Orchards

Known for orchards and wineries in British Columbia.

Banff Grizzly Bears

The Rockies are home to these impressive predators.

West Edmonton Mall

One of the world's largest shopping and entertainment complexes.

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Traditional hunting site of the indigenous peoples.

Wood Buffalo Bisons

Sanctuary for the largest free-roaming herd of wood bison.

Vancouver Film Industry

Often referred to as 'Hollywood North'.