JASPER, ALBERTA – Canada – Come enjoy Jasper National Park and take a scenic helicopter tour!

High Country Helicopter Tours offers a variety of options on sightseeing flights from the (18 minute) “Rocky Mountain Odyssey” to our most popular: (1/2 hour) “Peaks & Passes”. Our (1 hour) flight: The “Maligne Lake Adventure” and then our longest and most spectacular flight is the (1 1/2 hour) “Explore Mt. Robson”. Our helicopters seat 4 guests in the Bell Jet Ranger or 5 guests in the Eurocopter A-Star. Discounts do apply to 3 or more guests per group flight.

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Scenic Outdoors or Luxurious Hotel: Choose the Place for a Perfect Jasper Wedding

Wedding Photo by Bonner Photography

Jasper, Canada, is surrounded by Jasper National Park, a truly a magical place. With it’s tall, majestic peaks, abundant waterfalls, brilliant blue-green lakes, wildflower fields and abundant wildlife, it’s like a fairytale.

And doesn’t everyone want a fairytale wedding?” Of course they do. And Jasper is the perfect place for the perfect wedding.

It’s hard to get much more romantic than Jasper. Snow-capped mountains surround the little town on all sides, trees sway lightly in the refreshing breeze and there are stunning lakes everywhere — perfect for memorable wedding photos.

When it comes to a hotel — either for guests, the reception, or both –  there are unbeatable options, such as the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge — literally fit for a king — and the Pyramid Lake Coast Hotel.

Where to hold the wedding?

Beauvert Plateau

This is the place to check out for large weddings. The Beauvert Plateau is a large, gently sloping location that boasts an perfect view of Mount Edith Cavell and accommodates up to 350 guests.

It’s on the edge of the water, with five separate sun decks for the more intimate Canadian Rockies weddings. Each can hold 25 people and offer views that will live in the memory for a long time. Whether you are coming from the hustle and bustle of Edmonton for a getaway wedding or coming all the way from Europe, Jasper is an ideal place to get married.

Lac Beauvert

The emerald green waters of Lac Beauvert offer three of the most stunning outdoor locations on offer not just in Jasper, but in all the Canadian Rockies. All three overlook the lake and also Whistler’s Mountain. Time-wise, it is available from May through to early October (depending on weather).

Whistler’s Plateau

Located in between the Fairmont’s Whistler’s Cabins and Lac Beauvert, this is nothing short of gorgeous. This is perfect for the bigger weddings as it can fit up to 200 guests.

Of course there are many other beautiful locations to hold your Jasper National Park wedding in and around Jasper, as well as throughout the surrounding Canadian Rockies. There are also every sort of accommodation you and your guests may require, everything from quiet and secluded rustic cabins to boutique hotels to luxury resorts — the aforementioned Jasper Park Lodge once played host to a king of England; we weren’t boasting when we said it was fit for a king!

Cruises, Hikes, Bikes and Tours: Your Wedding Guests Will Find Plenty of Activities in Jasper National Park

Cruise to Spirit Island in Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park.

When you’re a wedding guest, sometimes the wedding isn’t much fun – especially when you have to travel somewhere to attend. But there is no excuse if you have your wedding here —that’s another great thing about a wedding in Jasper: there is no end of things to do for your guests.

In fact, by planning ahead, you can make sure your guests get the most out of their Canadian Rockies trip, and make your wedding more fun at the same time.

Ciara Daykin, wedding planner and owner of Firefly Occasions, suggests the bride and groom plan group activities for guests. “Your guests will all feel like they are friends by the time the wedding actually happens.”

She notes that guests will want to get out and experience Lake Louise anyway, and by planning group activities, the bride and groom can create a bonding experience for their guests without incurring extra cost. “You don’t have to pay for everything, you just have to have it organized,” she says.

One Trip for the Adrenalin Junkies, One for Those that Just Want to Relax

Daykin recommends setting up two separate trips that will appeal to a broad range of guests, say whitewater rafting and guided sight seeing. Afterward, she says it’s good to have reservations made at a local restaurant, where your guests can get together and talk about their day over a great meal. “There are phenomenal restaurants in and around Lake Louise,” she notes. “These places know how to cater to a large group.”

Below, you’ll find a list of information to help you and your guests plan their stay in Jasper, Canada, Jasper National Park, and the Canadian Rockies.

Accommodations in and around Jasper

Everyone in your wedding party should be able to find the right accommodations in and around Jasper, Alberta, and throughout the national park. If people want to experience the unspoiled wilderness that surrounds Jasper and experience alpine living, there is nothing better than a quiet, cozy mountain log cabin. For that check out Old Entrance Bed and Breakfast.

Need to impress your spouse’s parents? Put ‘em up in Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, a fabulous luxury resort hotel right on the shores of the Athabasca River — just across from downtown Jasper! Here you can find a complete list of Jasper-area accommodations. Or you can go here to check rates, availability and make reservations.

Activities, Outdoor Recreation and Things to Do in Jasper

If your guests complain that they’re bored on their trip here, please check their pulse. There is no shortage of hikes, drives, sights, tours and other activities in and around Jasper and Jasper National Park to keep them busy, entertained, and out of your hair during their stay in the Canadian Rockies. Skiing, hiking, whitewater rafting, canoing and kayaking, GPS tours — there’s no end to the recreation opportunities here in Jasper, Canada.

What About the Less Adventurous? How about a Maligne Lake Cruise

But what will guests do if they aren’t into hiking, mountain biking and playing hard outdoors? Not to worry, there is plenty of things to do here, even if you don’t ski or hike. There are horse-drawn sleigh rides in winter, plenty of tours to take in winter or summer by car or bus that will still let your guess take in the natural beauty of Jasper and Jasper National Park.

Of course no trip to Jasper would be complete without a cruise. Yes, we said cruise — a cruise to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park. This beautiful little island is one of the most photographed spots in all of the Canadian Rockies, and perhaps even all of Western Canada.

The 90 minute interpretive tours depart every hour on the hour throughout the summer season and are staffed by recognized Canadian Heritage Tourism Guides and Canadian Ministry of Transport-licensed Pilots.

Best of Both Worlds: Come to Jasper for Your Wedding and Stay in the Canadian Rockies for the Honeymoon

Pamper Yourself with a Honeymoon in Canada's Jasper, Alberta,

What’s one of the best things about having your wedding here in Jasper, Canada, and Jasper National Park or elsewhere in the Canadian Rockies? Your honeymoon – it can begin pretty much after you finish saying “I do.” Maybe even before that, say, as soon as you get here.

Alberta’s Canadian Rockies, with places like Jasper National Park, Banff National Park,  and towns like Canmore, Lake Louise, Banff and ouf course, Jasper, can provide newlyweds with a beautiful, inspiring, and fun way to begin their lives together. And not to worry if roughing it in the great oudoors isn’t what you have in mind for your honeymoon.

There are a lot of the traditional things available for couples who want to pamper themselves on their honeymoon, says Amira Harris, wedding planner and owner of Posh Productions. “Hot springs, spas, mud baths, hot stone massages, there are all sorts of spas that can really take care of you,” she says.

In fact, the Jasper Park Lodge opened a new luxury Fairmont Spa in 2010. The 10,000 square foot spa boasts 10 treatment rooms, two couples massage rooms with jacuzzis, therapeutic mineral baths, rain showers and deluxe glacial inspired steam rooms.

Once you feel good and relaxed, there is plenty to keep you busy. “For anyone who’s never been to the Rockies, you wouldn’t have to try hard to find something to do,” Harris says. “You could keep yourself busy for quite a few days out here.”

Of course, if you do like outdoor recreation, Banff and Jasper National Parks offer amazing activities, such as horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, backpacking, whitewater rafting and skiing. There are also great guided tours, including helicopter tours (heli-tours), motorcycle tours, hiking and driving tours. You can even go on a glacier or ice field tour.

All those activities are bound to whet your appetite, and the restaurants of the Canadian Rockies are ready to deliver everything from a great pizza and beer to the finest wine and seafood. And of course, the accommodations here are unsurpassed; there is everything from rustic, private cabins to boutique hotels to five-star luxury resorts and spas.

In the Canadian Rockies, it is truly possible to have a beautiful wedding and first-class honeymoon, while saving time on traveling to some far-away destination on the other side of the globe – which saves you a bit of money, too!

Mt. Athabasca from a distance. Photo by John E. Marriott.

The Athabasca Glacier is one of the most popular sightseeing areas of the Columbia Icefields in the Canadian Rockies and at Jasper National Park. It’s the most visited glacier in North America, and a definite must for those looking for big, bold and beautiful natural scenery.

Easy to spot and jaw-droping in size, Athabasca’s impressive length of 6 kilometers is measured between 90 to 300 meters thick. What’s surprising to most is that the glacier actually moves several centimeters per day over the three bedrock steps and down towards the valley.

Both standard buses and snow coaches tote travelers up for a closer look, and the Icefield Interpretive Center is a lodge and ticket sales area for the glacier. However remember to follow designated path signs, as deep crevasses are hidden in the glacier.

Visitors shouldn’t miss a stop at Athabasca Glacier because it won’t be around forever. It’s estimated this glacier recedes at 20 to 30 meters per year, and has lost over half of its volume in the past 125 years due to a warmer climate.

Click here to find out more about Columbia Icefields lodging!

Jasper’s LIVE web cam is here!

The beautiful look at Mount Athabasca at Jasper National Park. Photo by John E. Marriott.

Jasper as a national park has many special features and extras that make it stand out as the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Its geography, physical features and wildlife create a breathtaking and thrilling place for visitors.

Geography

Located in the province of Alberta and just north of Banff National Park, Jasper’s closest Canadian city is Edmonton. The park spreads almost 11,000 square kilometers and bringing in almost 2 million visitors on a good-weather year.

Physical Features

There’s a natural wonder around every corner in Jasper. The famous Columbia Icefields offering spectacular settings like Athabasca Glacier and the Cavell Glacier in Mount Edith Cavell. Still reflections of the surroundings are inspiring views created from Pyramid Lake, Maligne Lake, Lake Edith and others. Fierce waterfalls like Sunwapta, plus thrilling, raftable rivers flowing through limestone caves and canyons are just some of the unique and special settings visitors stumble upon.

Jasper’s amazing assortment of landscape won it a spot on the preservation list as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. This classification not only ensures Jasper’s significance as a physical location, it also draws worldwide attention to its natural beauty and importance.

Wildlife

Jasper’s abundance of wildlife is well known throughout the country and holds an impressive list of creatures. Travelers will be in awe by simply driving and spotting elk, moose and many types of deer. Look a bit closer at the rocks and the in cognito fur colors of mountain goat or bighorn sheep will begin to pop out.

Around the rivers are estuaries full of trout, beaver, and an array of birds. Even the fierce predators and kings of the mountains like black and grizzly bear, gray wolf and mountain lion are spotted from afar. Its what makes Jasper an ideal place for some serious wildlife watching, however taking necessary cautions are heavily encouraged and educated from locals.

Click here and check out our Jasper web cam!

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Jasper National Park has a wide range of weather and climate because of the Canadian Rockies‘ varying altitude and unique geographical location. Here’s a brief description on what to expect.

Although a natural enhancer to the beauty and scenery, visitors should be prepared for sudden temperature drops and occasional afternoon showers. Mountainous terrain means prevailing winds, shade from mountains, and glacier wind.

Altitude has a general rule to follow: the higher the elevation the colder the temperature. A typical guess is a 1.7 degree Celsius drop for every 300 meters of gained elevation. The air becomes thinner and the vegetation changes form until tree line is reached.

Summer days are long but the season overall is short, with July being the warmest month and temperatures hovering around 22.5 degrees Celsius. However mountain tops bring in quick thunderstorms and things cool down real fast. A good idea is to always have a long sleeve nearby.

Spring arrives in the valley towns by April and enjoyable temperatures last all the way to October’s fall. Winter has it fair shares of stormy weather, but snow clouds often leave to reveal crisp mountain air and a fluffy blanket of snow.

Click here for Jasper’s live web cam!

Mountain bike around Mount Edith Cavell

The Canadian Rockies is known to have some of the best mountain biking in North American, and Jasper National Park keeps this reputation alive by offering hundreds of miles and kilometers of mountain biking trails ranging from easy to difficult for bikers of all levels.

From May to October biking enthusiasts can chose from an endless array of designated trails winding around and through the beautiful wilderness of Jasper National Park. Though it’s advised to avoid biking during extreme conditions, the variety of challenging terrain is always a pleasant surprise for athletes wishing to spend adventure time in Jasper.

Those who are looking for an adrenaline pumping trail in Jasper but need equipment can find rentals at Freewheel Cycle Jasper. The rental shop is also stocked with trail guides specifying in detail which trails are open to mountain biking.

Beginners and new intermediates should check out the Athabasca River Trail, a 23-kilometer course cruising behind Jasper’s golf course and along the peacefull Athabasca River.

Intermediates will like Mina-Riley Lake Loop (9km), while the more advanced mountain bikers should give Saturday Night Lake Loop (27km) a go.

Click here to check out the Japer live webcam!

Climate is one of the most important factors when considering when to take your vacation in the Canadian Rockies, and what to bring. Below you’ll find the average high and low temperatures for Jasper, Alberta. Keep in mind that the weather varies quite a bit, despite what the averages say, and, per Murphy’s Law, it tends toward colder and and wetter than you had expected. The best advice is to be prepared.

Maligne Lake in the winter at Jasper National Park.

No summer experience at Jasper National Park is complete without a day on the water. From canoes to rowboats and motorboats, spending time gliding around the Canadian Rockies and Jasper’s pristine lakes only enhances the peacefulness outdoor lovers crave when vacationing at Jasper.

Maligne Lake is the center of boating activity and is a calm, enjoyable body of water to spend mornings and afternoons cruising on. Tour boats also travel around the lake, though both motor boats and paddle boats are welcome.

Boaters of all crafts should plan at least a night’s stay along the Maligne Lake. Visitors can stay up to four nights total along the lake while enjoying the daytime lake activities like boating around, fishing with friends or searching for local wildlife.

Rowboats and canoes are allowed on most lakes and ponds, though boaters with gas-powered boats have restrictions and should look into the according rules. Overall, boaters should remember that Jasper National Park lakes and rivers are sources for cold water, and to use extreme caution when swimming.

Click here to see our Jasper live webcam!