Summer 2018 Visitor Guide
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SUMMER 2018 Visitor Guide Également offert en français Lake Edith Jasper National Park Dark Sky Preserve On March 26, 2011, the Royal environments, Jasper National Park’s Astronomical Society of Canada commitment to protecting darkness (RASC) officially designated Jasper is becoming increasingly more National Park as a Dark Sky Preserve. important for our personal health This means that our park has made and the life cycles of our nocturnal a special commitment to protect and animals. preserve the night sky and to reduce or eliminate light pollution in all forms. Join us from October 12 to 21, 2018 With an estimated 85% of Canadians for the annual Jasper Dark Sky not able to see more than a few stars Festival and experience the night sky due to light pollution in their urban in a way you never have before. Contents Welcome 3 Jasper Wildlife 4 Jasper’s Top 5 Regions 6 Jasper National Park Map 7 Around Town 8 Area Map 9 Town Attractions 10 Townsite Map 11 Maligne Valley 12 Jasper East and Miette Hot Springs 14 Icefields Parkway and Area 16 Icefields Parkway Driving Guide 18 Edith Cavell 20 Infrastructure Update 21 Campgrounds 22 Interpretative Activities 23 Spotlight on Science and Species at Risk 24 Fort St. James National Historic Site 26 Lake Annette Park Regulations 27 2 Welcome to Jasper National Park We respectfully acknowledge that Jasper National Park is located in Treaty 6 and 8 as well as the traditional territories of the Beaver, Cree, Ojibway, Shuswap, Stoney and Metis Nations. We mention this to honour and thank these territories for their contribution to building our park, province and nation. Spanning over 11,000 square kilometres, Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Known for its vast wilderness, majestic peaks, abundant wildlife and outstanding natural beauty, visitors from all over Canada and around the world travel here to experience this very special place. Joining Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks and three adjacent provincial parks, Jasper is part of the magnificent Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Indigenous Peoples and early fur traders to railway workers laying ties for two transcontinental routes, millions of people have explored these valleys and mountain passes. Experience Jasper National Park’s history first-hand, discover one or all of our five spectacular regions and participate in Parks Canada led programs and events. If you have any questions during your stay, our friendly Parks Canada staff are here to help! We hope your visit to Jasper National Park is rejuvenating and full of adventure. Directory PARKS CANADA TOURISM JASPER GENERAL JASPER INFORMATION CENTRE 780-852-6236 • jasper.travel Jasper weather: 780-852-3185 500 Connaught Drive FRIENDS OF JASPER NATIONAL PARK parkscanada.ca/weather 780-852-6176 • parkscanada.ca/jasper Maps and guide books: Road conditions: 511 SOCIAL MEDIA 780-852-4341 • friendsofjasper.com alberta511.ca • drivebc.ca JasperNP PARKS CANADA RESERVATIONS EMERGENCY 1-877-737-3783 Dial 911 JASPER TRAIL CONDITIONS REPORT parkscanada.ca/reservation parkscanada.ca/jaspertrails Cell phones are not always reliable. 780-852-3100 (satellite) 3 Protecting Wildlife Human Food and Garbage Kills Wildlife. NEVER LEAVE FOOD UNATTENDED. Wildlife that eat human food or garbage become aggressive with people. This puts both people and wildlife at risk of being hurt or killed. Wildlife quickly find any food, scented items or This places you and others in danger. If your food or garbage that is left unattended. garbage is not properly stored, these wild animals Once a taste for human food and garbage has developed will enter your picnic area or campsite in search for they become aggressive in their search for more. these items. KEEP PETS ON A LEASH • Pets must be kept on a leash at all times. • Pets attract wildlife and may be attacked if they are left unattended. • Do not leave pet food out. If you walk away, store food dishes – empty or full. Always store food dishes at night. Wildlife Identification NO SMALL SHOULDER HEAD HUMP Characteristics Built like a large German TALL EARS Shepherd, with longer legs. Colour can vary from white to black. Where to find Mainly valley bottoms. Photo: J. McCormick J. Photo: Photo: M.Bradley Photo: BLACK BEAR 12 cm SHORT CLAWS 12 cm Wolf DISTINCTIVE LARGE SHOULDER HEAD HUMP Characteristics SHORT Medium-sized dog; thick, ROUNDED EARS bushy tail, greyish-brown in colour. Where to find LONG CLAWS Valley bottoms. Well-adapted Photo: M.Bradley Photo: to humans. Photo: R. Gruys R. Photo: 17 cm GRIZZLY BEAR GRIZZLY 7 cm Coyote 4 Give Wildlife Space. DO NOT APPROACH OR ENTICE WILDLIFE. Following, crowding or startling wildlife can lead to aggressive encounters, which can put you and others in danger. When viewing wildlife: 100 m/330 ft • Stay at least 100 metres away from bears, coyotes, wolves and cougars. 30 m/100 ft • Stay at least 30 metres away from elk, bighorn sheep, moose and deer. If you see wildlife on the road always slow down. If you do stop (not recommended for the safety of wildlife): • Pull over where it is safe to do so. • Quickly observe, take a photo and move on. • Use your hazard lights to alert others. • Move on if a traffic jam develops. • Stay in your vehicle. It is unsafe for people and wildlife. S Y U Characteristics R G . Characteristics R : O Brown body, darker neck T O H White rump and light brown P and large tan rump patch. Female fur and horns. Males: thick Backwards slanting antlers. curled horns. Females: short narrow horns. Where to find Valley bottoms and open Where to find areas. Commonly seen around Near steep rocky terrain. Photo: M. Bradley M. Photo: Photo: M. Bradley M. Photo: townsites. 11.5 cm 9 cm 9 Elk Bighorn Sheep Characteristics Long legs, shoulder hump, Characteristics built like a horse with a large Narrow black horns, beard, head, shovel-like antlers. long white hair. Where to find Where to find Wet and marshy areas. Near steep rocky terrain. 13 cm Moose Mountain Goat 8 cm 5 Jasper National Park Legend Information centre Camping Hinton Hostel 40 Edson Snake Indian River Viewpoint Grande Cache Edmonton Grande Prairie Picnic area Scenic route to Alaska 40 Red Chairs 16 Moosehorn Creek Washrooms Snake Indian River Trailhead Tramway ALBERTA BRITISH COLUMBIA Roche Ronde Highway Secondary road Athabasca River 1 Fiddle River JASPER SynclinePocahontas Ridge Roadway Roche Miette NATIONAL Unsurfaced road Mount Robson PARK MOUNT Mount Greenock TOP 5 ROBSON Talbot Sulphur Skyline PROVINCIAL Jasper Lake Lake Utopia Mountain 0 5 10 20 REGIONS PARK Esplanade Mountain Kilometres Snaring River 16 Cinquefoil Mountain Miles Rocky River Prince George 0 5 10 Fort St. James Morro Peak Prince Rupert Overlander Falls Hawk Mountain Snaring 16 2 Mount Colin Rearguard 16 N Falls Mount Bridgland 5 Victoria Cross Range Pyramid Mountain Roche Bonhomme Valemount, Kamloops Miette River Vancouver Pyramid Lake Maligne Canyon Colin Range Maligne River The best way to explore this incredible Jasper Yellowhead Lake 16 Old Fort Point landscape is to take a day and explore Signal Mountain Wapiti Mount Tekarra 3 4 Medicine Whistlers Lake each of its top 5 regions. Queen Elizabeth Range Marmot 93 Athabasca River Curator Mountain 1. AROUND TOWN 4. JASPER EAST AND MIETTE HOT SPRINGS 5 You don’t have to go far beyond the Jasper townsite Soak in the hottest hot springs in the Canadian Wabasso Opal Peak Whirlpool Tonquin to enjoy park wilderness. Drive, bike or hike up to Rockies and take a short walk to the source of the Valley Mount Clitheroe Maligne Mount Hardisty Lake Pyramid Lake and explore the many trails. Visit the springs. Mount Maccarib The Ramparts Edith Cavell 93A Bald Hills Athabasca Maligne River Maligne Valley of the Five Lakes and see the unique beauty of Astoria River Mount Edith Cavell Falls Lake each individual lake. 5. ICEFIELDS PARKWAY AND AREA Mount Kerkeslin 6 Winding 232 kilometres through the heart of Jasper Kerkeslin Mount Charlton Whirlpool River Mount Unwin 2. MALIGNE VALLEY and Banff national parks, the Icefields Parkway has Queen Elizabeth Range Honeymoon One of the most stunning areas in Jasper National been called one of the most scenic drives in the 7 Lake Mount Mary Vaux Mount Fryatt Mount Brazeau Park is Maligne Lake. Take a scenic drive through this world. Glaciers, waterfalls, picnic spots and hikes are Endless Chain Ridge Sunwapta beautiful valley. Visit Maligne Canyon, look for wildlife found along this magnificent parkway! Falls along the shores of Medicine Lake, take a lakeside stroll, gear up for a challenging hike or go for a paddle on ALBERTA BRITISH COLUMBIA Athabasca River Sunwapta River Poboktan Mountain Maligne Lake. Jonas 8 JASPER NATIONAL PARK 3. EDITH CAVELL AND 93A HAMBER 93 RED CHAIRS PROVINCIAL Athabasca River PARK This summer the Mount Edith Cavell parking lot and Sunwapta Peak Discover all six sets of red chairs in the a portion of Highway 93A will be under construction Chabba River following regions: to receive much-needed improvements. For public Tangle Ridge • Around Town Mount Alberta safety, the Mount Edith Cavell Road will not reopen until Tangle • Maligne Valley Falls August. Please visit page 20 for more information. Stutfield Wilcox Peak Glacier • Icefields Parkway and Area Stutfield Peak 9 10 Icefield 11 Wilcox Scope out these picture perfect locations Columbia Centre Icefield Icefield Tent Lake Louise at: parkscanada.ca/jasperredchair Athabasca Snow Dome Banff Glacier Hilda Mount Andromeda Mount Calgary #sharethechair Athabasca Creek Saskatchewan Glacier BANFF 6 NATIONAL PARK Legend Information centre Camping Hinton Hostel 40 Edson Snake Indian River Viewpoint Grande Cache Edmonton Grande Prairie Picnic area Scenic route to Alaska 40 Red Chairs 16 Moosehorn Creek Washrooms Snake Indian River Trailhead Tramway ALBERTA BRITISH COLUMBIA Roche Ronde Highway Secondary road Athabasca River 1 Fiddle River JASPER SynclinePocahontas Ridge Roadway Roche Miette NATIONAL Unsurfaced road Mount Robson PARK MOUNT Mount Greenock Sulphur ROBSON Talbot Skyline PROVINCIAL Jasper Lake Lake Utopia Mountain 0 5 10 20 PARK Esplanade Mountain Kilometres Snaring River 16 Cinquefoil Mountain Miles Rocky River Prince George 0 5 10 Fort St.