Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
Hiking is undoubtedly one of the major pleasures of Jasper National Park, and few other destinations can compete in this regard.
However, for those who have exhausted all the trails in Jasper or are looking to avoid the touristy areas, there are several trails worth considering not too far away from the park.
Mount Robson is the most popular of all these trails, but because of the 2021 flooding, it is currently accessible just up to Kinney Lake.
Farther west into British Columbia, you can explore a strange, sandy landscape at Jackman Flats Provincial Park, just north of Valemount.
Outside the north gates of Jasper National Park, Folding Mountain offers a challenging hike that begins steep and levels off after a while.
Because of the scree section, the final ascent is nerve-wracking and requires serious scrambling, but the two false summits offer great views.
Afterward, you can stop by Folding Mountain Brewing for a celebratory drink.
The Beaver Boardwalk in Hinton allows visitors to explore local wetlands while keeping their feet dry, and they are likely to spot a variety of birds and maybe even a beaver.
If you have a mountain bike, you may want to consider the Happy Creek Trail system just south of the Beaver Boardwalk.
Just north of Grande Cache, Sulphur Gates provides views of the river valley and towering rock walls, and if you go down the equestrian trail, you can also visit Eaton Falls.
The Mount Stern hike offers the chance to get a great view of Grande Cache and the surrounding mountains.
It鈥檚 a steep climb at first, with some narrow and muddy sections, before opening up into a beautiful mountain meadow with the trail leading to a mountain ridge.
Make sure to check out the mailbox on the summit, where you can sign the register.
An isolated destination is Sundance Provincial Park, which requires travelling up Emerson Creek Road, a logging road near Hinton, and going northwest.
There, you can find sandstone hoodoos by going up the Wild Sculpture Trail.
If you want to travel as far as Edson, Wilmore Park has extensive trails and lovely views of the McLeod River.
I haven鈥檛 been there since the wildfires earlier this summer, but some areas have since reopened and are accessible to the public.
I鈥檓 sure I鈥檝e missed a few trails, but this is just a taste of what the region outside of Jasper has to offer.
See if you can visit one of these places before the snow comes.
