What better way to end our journey through the Canadian Rockies than with the beautiful and famous Jasper National Park? After a month of discovering breathtaking landscapes and encountering rich and wild wildlife in the various national parks of the Canadian Rockies—first in Waterton Lakes National Park, then in Kootenay National Park, Banff National Park, and finally Yoho National Park—we take one last look before heading north towards new adventures.
Monday, June 27, 2022
The stunning Icefields Parkway led us through breathtaking landscapes all the way to Jasper National Park. While it’s less popular than its neighbor Banff National Park, Jasper is still a must-see in Western Canada. We wake up under a radiant sun that pleasantly warms the tent. What a joy to get up without freezing our butts off! We could quickly get used to it 😀
We leave the campground around 9 a.m., after a shower and a quick stop at the hairdresser (his name is Rémi 😉). Heading to Maligne Lake, a must-see in Jasper National Park! The road leading there is long and scenic. Along the way, we’re lucky to have some beautiful encounters: a few elk casually crossing the road without a care in the world, and bald eagles: two big chicks and their mom perched high up in a nest. We dreamed of seeing this majestic bird, the symbol of the United States, so we’re thrilled!
🥾 Bald Hills Trail – 7.8 km (4.3 miles), 350 m elevation gain
This trail is supposed to take us up a hill overlooking the lake. However, snow and mud quickly get the better of us. After admiring the view from the first lookout, we decide to turn back and have a picnic by the lake instead. Some days, you just don’t feel like battling the elements! Better to take it easy and rest.
We then go for a walk at Maligne Canyon, which offers a incredible spectacle. The gorge, once an underground river, reaches depths of up to 58 meters! From the footbridges, we watch the river roaring loudly far below. Absolutely magnificent!
On the way back, the park continues to surprise us. We spot a huge elk! Without hesitation, we turn around and stop a few meters away, careful not to disturb it. It’s a large male with magnificent antlers. A beautiful specimen that we enjoy observing and photographing for a few minutes before leaving it to go about its business. Yet another magical encounter, one of those moments only Canada seems to know the secret to.
After a quick stop in Jasper for some shopping, we head back to request a spot at the same campground as the night before. Any chance we could have the same site as yesterday? 😄 We have a lovely evening, working, cooking, doing the dishes, taking a hot shower, and enjoying our evening coffee/herbal tea with a piece of chocolate. In short, our little routine. All while enjoying the company of the elk, who are not shy and come to graze between the campsites and in front of the restrooms.
Tuesday, June 28
Three days of good weather seems to be the most we can hope for in the Rockies 🤪 Today, by noon, it’s over! The rain is expected to return. So we get up at 6 a.m. to make the most of these few, relatively nice hours.
Cautiously and on the lookout for any wildlife, we hit the road toward Pyramid Lake. As always, the scenery is splendid, with mountains reflecting in the calm water. We have breakfast by the lake, on a beach dotted with numerous signs warning: “Bewarre, grizzlies in the area.” We’re not exactly at ease as we cook our very aromatic sausages, and the bear spray is prominently placed on the table. Okay, we’ll admit it: we would really love to spot a grizzly 😁
After a quick stop at the campsite for a bit of freshening up and to do the dishes (our spot is ours until 11 a.m, so we might as well make the most of it), we head to Edith Cavell. The winding road up the mountain is magnificent and very steep. The engine is heating up! Just as we park, it starts to rain! Bad luck. Anyway, the trail, reputed to be beautiful, is closed because there is still too much snow… Too bad, we settle for the viewpoint.
Under a light rain, we decide to leave Jasper National Park after only two days. The park’s “no camping” policy is quite discouraging for travelers like us. Nights at official campgrounds get expensive fast! Like other travelers we met on the road, we prefer to shorten our visit rather than linger and strain our budget. Besides, it’s raining, so we might as well keep moving! Next stop? It’s time for us to officially say goodbye to the Canadian Rockies and head north! 😎
Chills guaranteed in front of this sign, pointing for the very first time toward our wildest dream: Alaska! But despite what the sign might suggest, Alaska is still a long way off! To get there, we will travel one of the most iconic roads in the world: the legendary Alaska Highway, which promises plenty of surprises… and encounters!
