Jasper National Park has long been a four-season park with a wide variety of activities for visitor of all ages and abilities.
Dec. 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and this is the perfect time to raise awareness that the park offers many exciting outdoor opportunities for visitors and residents with disabilities.
For visitors with mobility issues, Jasper鈥檚 Easy Trail System offers 20 km of multi-use trails easily accessed right from your hotel doorstep or tent flap. These multi-use trails provide opportunities to explore and access areas close to the town of Jasper and offer challenges for people of all abilities, from the very flat Wapiti and Woodpecker trails to more challenging trails.
Many of the park鈥檚 day-use picnic areas and pull-offs offer accessible dry toilets and change rooms. Some campgrounds have paved sites with adapted picnic tables and fireboxes and wheelchair-accessible showers.
Park facilities such as the Visitor Information Centre, the Icefields Centre, and Miette Hot Springs have wheelchair ramps. Miette Hot Springs offers accessible washrooms and change rooms as well as a pool ramp with a railing descending into the water.
While Jasper is famous for its stunning views, the park also offers visually impaired visitors other memorable sensory experiences that should not be missed: the wind at the many pull-offs along the Icefields Parkway and in mountain valleys, the rush of water under the ice of rivers and falls, the feeling of the spray at Athabasca Falls and Tangle Falls on warmer winter days and, of course, the sound of birds and other wildlife along trails.
Visually impaired visitors looking to venture beyond paved paths or who want to experience the more remote areas of Canada鈥檚 largest national mountain park may want to use the many local private guides available in town who assist visitors in experiencing the more than 1,000 km of trails in the park, as well as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and climbing adventures and, in summer months, fishing. There are also guided ice-walks in the Maligne Canyon.
Looking for a less physical outdoor activity? This winter, try a horse-drawn sleigh ride or a dogsledding ride!
Ensuring an enjoyable experience
At Parks Canada, visitor safety is our first priority. When planning your winter adventure in Jasper, take a minute to visit the website www.adventuresmart.ca for helpful tips for enjoying the outdoors safely in winter.
In the winter months, hiking trails in Jasper National Park can become icy and slippery due to the many feet travelling over them and from the frequent thawing and refreezing caused by temperature fluctuations. Consider bringing a pair of anti-slip cleats for your footwear.
When hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, always be aware of your surroundings and look for fresh signs of the presence of animals, such as tracks and scat.
If you are using trails with a service dog, remember that certain species of wildlife can present a danger when dogs are present. Wild animals see dogs as either prey or predator鈥攖his is why dogs must be kept on a leash while in a national park. Remember that some trails are closed to dogs in order to protect species at risk.
Travelling trails in a group will help keep you and your service dog safe and reduce the likelihood of a close encounter with wildlife. The best way to avoid wildlife is to make noise and let them know you are present. It is a good idea to ensure a member of your group always carries bear spray and knows how to use it.
Planning your adventure
There are many ways to get more information and start planning your personal adventure at one of Jasper National Park鈥檚 accessible sites and facilities. The park website is a great place to start鈥擯arks Canada鈥檚 websites respect internationally accepted guidelines for web accessibility for individuals with visual impairments and other disabilities.
Visit the 鈥淎ccessible Parks Facilities鈥� page to plan your trip and for a listing of Jasper National Park services and facilities available to visitors with mobility, hearing and visual disabilities.
The staff at the Visitor Information Centre can also help visitors choose trails and activities that fit with their abilities.
For more information check out www.parkscanada.gc.ca/jasper or contact the Visitor Information Centre at 780-852-6176.
