Jasper in Winter- The Top Reasons to head out to Jasper in the snow

Jasper in January is an awesome month full of activities, promotions and excitement. But after Jasper in January event there’s still lots to do in the National Park all winter long.  Most people think of Jasper for hiking and camping in the summer months, but I think it’s even more beautiful in the winter.

Here’s all the of the top 10 things we love to do when it’s winter in Jasper

1.Head up to Pyramid Lake and enjoy all the events at Pyramid Lake Resort. The activities on the lake are available to everyone- not just those staying at the resort. They have horse drawn sleigh rides across the frozen lake which seems like something out of a movie. There’s also skating around a cleared loop, or playing hockey on a frozen rink in the middle. There’s vintage  wooden “curling” on the lake and a big bonfire to warm up at while you’re enjoying it all.  If the activities aren’t for you, it’s easy to just sit on a bench and take the amazing scenery in.

 

 

2. A family ski day at Marmot Basin. Jasper’s downhill ski mountain is incredibly family friendly. There are many runs perfect for beginners and the mountain is easy to navigate. Our little girls are just learning to ski and we’ve really enjoyed taking advantage of the ski school. They also have a great nursery program that includes shorter ski lessons and fantastic childcare for the littlest skiers. My girls have both enjoyed the nursery and we felt completely safe leaving them for couple hours while we adventured on the mountain. The staff are quick to call if there’s any issues and are extremely patient teaching the youngest on the tiny hill. Having the option of a few hours of childcare gives everyone in the family a great day. We were able to pick them up whenever we liked to bring them on the chair lifts for some family time and we also got to spend some time as a couple. Perfection.

 

3. To me, Maligne Canyon is a natural attraction not to be missed. We always love hiking it during the summer, and we  finally were able to venture down into the bottom of the canyon this winter. There are a few tour companies that offer tours into the canyon, but anyone can hike down to walk on the frozen falls. The Saturday we ventured down the canyon was quite busy withe groups and Ice Climbers.  You’ll need cleats on your shoes since you are literally walking on ice and it would best be explored with older children.  The sign does say “proceed with a guide”- so do at your own risk.  However, if you are up for an adventure, it isn’t hard to park at the tea house and hike down till the opening in the fence. It took about 30 minutes but keep in mind that even the hike on the marked path down was quite icy. However, it was worth it. Beautiful cascades of ice along with looking up through the tall curved edges of the canyon was spectacular.  There was some some extra hand holding required with our girls and luckily we didn’t have any slipping incidents. If you want to ensure your safety, call a guide and can rent your gear, but don’t miss out on seeing how beautiful Maligne Canyon is in the winter.

 

 

4.Ice Climbing. My extended family are avid rock climbers and my girls love the opportunity to climb with their uncles. However, ice climbing would totally take it up a notch. While Ice climbing is generally for the 10 years and up crowd, but if you have older adventures in your family, definitely give it a shot. We were mesmerized watching the climbers in the canyon. Totally something we are adding to the bucket list. When my girls are old enough, we will call Rockaboo– we met some of their guides while in the canyon and their company seemed awesome. 

 

 

5.Walking through the town of Jasper. We love the little shops, ice cream stores and coffee shops along the small streets of the Jasper Townsite. My girls can hardly stand to wait till the end of the trip when we let them choose a small treat.  There’s locally owned gems like the the several different candy stores, Bear’s Paw Bakery and Jasper Brewing Co. We loved Jasper Brewing Co for their innovated kids menu which offers vegan and gluten free (and super tasty!) options. Cashew butter dip with veggies and naan bread for an entree? It’s like they know my picky child.

 

 

6. Jasper hotels in the winter offer fabulous deals and packages. This year we stayed at Maligne Lodge which we loved (check out their website for current packages). The price was really decent and our family suite came with lift tickets and breakfast.  Maligne Lodge has the bragging rights of being the hotel closest to the ski hill, but my favourite part was our large room, complete with a kitchen and separate bedroom. The pool was large and all the rooms in the 150’s and 250’s opened onto the pool. This is perfect for kids like mine who want to jump in the pool before bed and in-between activities.  Keep in mind the many Jasper accommodations are “rustic” when comparing to city hotels. But I feel like it’s part of Jasper’s charm to be (mostly) removed from the common chain hotels (and most chain restaurants). Our package with Malinge Lodge also included breakfast which was fabulous. In fact, I’d recommend Wicked Cup Cafe even when not staying at the hotel. Portions were outrageously large and everything was delicious. We couldn’t believe our complimentary hotel breakfast was a full “order what you want off the menu” type thing. Awesome. We’ve also stayed at Toquin Lodge which we’ve enjoyed, and several other hotels have always been acceptable. Everything in the townsite is walking distance to everything else, which is nice for when you want to go out in the evenings.

 

 

7. While my girls don’t have the stamina for long hikes, hiking and snowshoeing in the national park are two things I’m really looking forward to in the future. Snowshoe rentals can be found in many shops downtown along with guides to get the most out of your experience. Hiking around the marked trails on one of the many lakes- like Lake Annette- is a perfect smaller hike for families. We also like just playing on the trails- This year we walked the short path to Pyramid Lake Island and they spent 30 minutes just looking at sticks. Being outside together as a family is awesome, and that includes just having free play in nature.

 

 

8.We love seeing animals from a safe distance. This weekend we saw a large male Moose and several Big horn Sheep from our car. Seeing wildlife delight my children every single time. It’s almost a given you’ll see various animals while in the national park

9.If it ends up being too chilly to be outside while away for a weekend, there are spas, a movie theatre and  an awesome recreation centre at the townsite, complete with a waterslide.  We’ve spent rainy days at the rec centre when camping in Jasper during the summer, and I think it would be a great place to take advantage of on a very cold day in the winter as well.

10. Drive around and find the red chairs through the National Parks Red Chair Program. Each chair is positioned at outlooks with amazing views. It’s worth the effort to find each chair. You can use a map from the National Parks Website or use GPS.  And it’s fun to share your pictures on social media with the hashtag #sharethechair. The National Park also has interpretive programs from January till the end of March at Whistlers’ Campground just outside the townsite. Check out their website for more info or pop by the Vistor’s Information Centre downtown.

How do you enjoy Jasper in the wintertime? Is there an awesome place or experience I’m forgetting? Please Share!