Jasper is a mountain town about 360 kilometres west of Edmonton. It sits in the Athabasca River valley, surrounded by the towering peaks of the South Jasper Range of the Rocky Mountains. It is the commercial centre for Jasper National Park, which at 4,200 square miles is the largest National Park in the Canadian Rockies.
Jasper at a Glance
- Population 4,559
- Median Family Income $107,710
- Unemployment Rate 5.8%
- Residential Vacancy Rate 0.0%
- Life Stress 23.3%
- Sense of Belonging 69%
Source: Government of Alberta
The park welcomes more than two million visitors each year. They come for the fresh air, the mountain trails and the stunning vistas. They come for canoeing and rafting. They come for the cross-country and downhill skiing, and for the Jasper SkyTram, which climbs to the summit of nearby Whistlers Mountain.
They also come for the dining. Spurred to great heights by the inspiring vistas, Jasper features quality cuisine whether visitors are looking for a friendly pub, an elegant dinner or a hearty mountain breakfast. You can have a wood-fired pizza after a day on the slopes or a five-course fine dining experience before taking a walk under the night sky. Either way, in Jasper you will find an elevated food experience.
And, a short 100 kilometre drive south along the Icefields Parkway, visitors can experience the stunning Columbia Icefields Skywalk, a glass-bottomed bridge that extends out from a cliff, giving visitors an intimate view of the surrounding peaks and the valley floor almost 300 metres below.
The Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre features two dining options perched at the glacier’s edge. At Altitude, spectacular views wrap the restaurant and provide the perfect backdrop to the Canadian inspired and locally-sourced menu. Chalet celebrates the heritage of the original red-roofed Columbia Icefield Chalet, and the stories of the explorers that have enjoyed this destination over the years.
