Last updated on March 8th, 2023 at 04:03 am
One of my favorite things to do in the cold and snowy season is to have a winter getaway to Jasper. There is a never ending list of things to do around the town and in winter you often won’t share a lot of these activities with many other people! It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind in peace and quiet!
What To Do In Jasper In Winter
The town of Jasper is a great little town to explore, with lots of small shops and restaurants and bars to keep you entertained. There are also well maintained trails which will take you around town and out to some close attractions. My favorite places to grab a beer or a bite after a day of adventuring are The Jasper Brewing Company and The Jasper Pizza Company
Ice Skating At Pyramid Lake
A short drive from town is Pyramid Lake, a great spot for ice skating on a winter getaway to Jasper with a stunning skating rink backdrop. The skating rink at Pyramid Lake is maintained and offers benches for a more comfortable shoe changing experience! Due to the warm weather in Jasper while we were visiting, the Pyramid Lake skating rink was slushy, at best. My amateur, learning skating skills were not up to the challenge and within 2 minutes of stepping foot on the ice, I was off again. On a cold sunny day though, this would be an absolutely spectacular spot to go for a skate.
Maligne Canyon Icewalk
Possibly the number one most popular activity to do during a winter getaway to Jasper, is the Maligne Canyon ice walk. To complete the ice walk as safely as possible, there are a number of companies which offer fantastic guided tours. For those who wish to go it alone, you’ll need some kind of ice cleats for your feet and helmets are recommended to protect you from anything falling from above into the canyon. This is an incredible experience and the huge canyon walls towering above you while you are on the ice are humbling to say the least. Gates allow easy and clear access in and out from the canyon bed on to the trail above.
Cross Country Ski Trails
There are a number of maintained cross country ski trails in and around Jasper to enjoy. The Whirlpool area is a great starting point. We tried the Moat Lake trail, it is mostly flat to the red chairs at the river lookout and makes an excellent beginner trail. It is double trackset with a skate lane through the middle and for those short on time the red chairs make an awesome point to turn around before the trail turns into a moderate trail and continues on to the lake. From Whirlpool you can also ski all the way to Athabasca Falls and back on easy to moderate trails.
Maligne Lake
Maligne Lake is packed with people in summer, heading out there in winter is a truly unique experience and a must do on a winter getaway to Jasper. There are winter hiking opportunities, or sit and enjoy the still surroundings by the lake. There is also a backcountry campground along the lake which is accessible in winter via cross country skis or snowshoes, for those who fancy a more wild experience!
Where to stay
There are lots of accommodation options in Jasper to suit all budgets for a winter getaway to Jasper, from youth hostels to the Fairmont Jasper. We decided to stay outside of town in the Pocahontas Cabins, this allowed our group to have a little more freedom and space than a typical hotel in town. The Pocahontas Cabins have a number of different room styles, although not all are available during the winter. They have motel style rooms in the main building and then one and two bedroom cabins in the grounds. We booked into the two bedroom Miette Cabin as we were a group of four.
The Miette Cabin sleeps four adults in two bedrooms, they are on the upstairs level with a bathroom. One bedroom has access to the upper balcony, the bedrooms come with king sized beds and cozy duvets. On the ground floor is a large lounge area with TV and gas fireplace, an eating area, a fully equipped kitchen and a toilet. There is another deck area on the ground floor as well. We found we had plenty of space for four adults.
Unfortunately we stayed at the Pocahontas Cabins during the COVID-19 pandemic and health orders meant a lot of the facilities were closed, including the hot tub and restaurant. The staff were pleasant though and the views from our cabin deck were beautiful. A perfect, peaceful spot to stay and relax whilst also being totally self sufficient.
At the Pocahontas Cabins there is a central grassy area with gazebos and wood pellet BBQs for guests to use, we got some steaks in town and tried them out and they were fantastic! An awesome option for when the weather isn’t brutally cold!
Opposite the Cabins is the Pocahontas Mine Trail, we took a stroll across the road to check out some of the ruins and then watched the sunset from the lookout point. This trail also eventually takes you to the Punchbowl Falls, however there was a tree down when we were there and therefore the view of the falls was mostly obscured.
The Pocahontas Cabins exceeded my expectations and were the perfect option for our winter getaway to Jasper.
Getting To Jasper
From my home in Banff the fastest way to get to Jasper is via the Icefields Parkway. On a bluebird winters day, this can be the most scenic and incredible drive ever….on a bad weather day however, it can result in a stressful drive.
On days when it snows heavily you can expect the Icefields Parkway to be fully or partially closed until road conditions improve or the highway is deemed free of avalanche danger. This can result in a rather extended drive to get to Jasper, via Edmonton.
No winter getaway to Jasper is complete without venturing onto the Icefields Parkway though, closest to Jasper you’ll find the stunning Athabasca Falls, a spot to hop out of your vehicle and explore the beautiful waterfalls. Expect the trails to be slippery though with a combination of water spray and heavy foot traffic compacting the path.
The Peyto Lake Lookout is another treasure on the Icefields Parkway and recently reopened to the public, with new access trails and lookout platforms.
Even from the road you are treated to frozen waterfalls such as Tangle Falls, without even leaving your car. Then there are the stunning glaciers which can be spotted along the drive.
If you are driving the Icefields Parkway in winter, make sure to fill up with gas before heading out and have extra clothes and an emergency pack on hand, just in case! There is no cell reception on the highway, so rescue can take some time.
If you have time, a quick side trip, turning off at Saskatchewan Crossing, will lead you to Abraham Lake, home of the awesome ice bubbles. Created by gases trapped in freezing water, it is quite the spectacle. Be ice safe though and since this is a reservoir, the water levels under the ice can change. I’d suggest only accessing the ice around Preachers Point, the shallowest area of the lake.
