Winter is a time to connect with the great outdoors and find your inner adventurer. With all of the activities, programs and winter facilities Parks Canada has to offer in Jasper National Park there’s no reason to stay inside. Here’s a snapshot of highlights and what’s new for this winter.
What’s new for 2016-2017
The 2016-17 winter guide provides all of our park’s winter adventures at your fingertips. Pick up a guide from the Information Centre. You might just be inspired to take advantage of free entry and try a new location or activity.
The parking lot at Athabasca Falls will be plowed this winter, providing easy access to see the waterfalls.
At Maligne Lake, new trail signs will help adventurers navigate the Moose Loops and Trapper Creek route. Park interpreters are on hand during weekend mornings to answer questions. Hidden Cove, a four-kilometre ski down the lake, remains open for overnight winter exploration.
This winter, the park’s trail crew will flat pack almost 12 km of trail for fat biking and winter walking. Trails will include the Cabin Lake Fire Road, Mina Lakes trail, Two Sloughs Trail and Trail 15 to Pyramid Lake Resort. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge also plans to flat pack a loop from their property to Lake Annette and back using trails 18 and 4.
Jasper’s two winter hubs:
Marmot Meadows Winter Hub: The site features an easy ski loop in the meadow and a challenging forested loop as well as a route through Whistlers Campground. The new four-kilometre Re Run trail from last year will have two groomed bypass options for those wanting to skip the steeper sections. Park interpreters will offer weekend programming and will keep a nice warm fire going. Programs include learning how to snowshoe, wildlife tracking, bannock roasting and the popular wildlife camera safari, where you can use telemetry and GPS to find your research ‘data’. Feel free to bring your dog (on leash) to Marmot Meadows, although dogs are not allowed on Re Run or Whistlers trails.
Whirlpool Winter Hub: With more than 20 km of groomed trails, this staging area gives skiers the option for longer distance classic and skate skiing. The hub is situated at a picturesque location by the river–the perfect spot for gathering by a campfire. Try winter camping here from Dec. 15 on (self-registration). Snowshoeing: Haven’t tried snowshoeing yet? Give it a try–you might be surprised at how much you like it. Medicine Lake can’t be beat for the views, get fresh tracks to Beaver Lake and sink your teeth into something longer like Big Bend from Sunwapta Falls. Still on the fence? Try a pair out for free with a park interpreter at Marmot Meadows on Saturdays and Sundays.
Need Further Info?
It’s still early-season conditions on most of our trails so it’s best to check the trail report before heading out.  Please visit pc.gc.ca/jasper.
The Information Centre is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is your go-to spot for questions, brochures and guides.
Parks Canada Special to the 51°µÍø
