take a hike

Day 4 - All of the literature out there demands that you see Maligne Lake if you find yourself in Jasper. Maligne Lake is 44km from downtown Jasper and offers hiking trails, boating excursions and a restaurant. The lake is massive, 14 miles in length and 318 feet at the deepest point. We woke up early to beat the crowds and drove to the western end of the lake to begin this hike. Bald Hills is no joke, we walked roughly 11 miles meandering around the exposed "hills" above Maligne Lake. The views once you emerge from nature's version of a Stairmaster are unreal. You definitely want to bring your camel pack on this hike. Also, we were fortunate to hit little snow in early June, but you may need some shoe spikes depending on the time of year. As always, enjoy the pictures.

P.S. If you are in Jasper for an extended trip, the Skyline Trail extends above Maligne Lake and traverses a total of 25 miles. From what I've read, it's a stunning journey with epic views. (I am hoping to cross this off the list next time I'm in Jasper)

Val at a viewpoint on Bald Hills.

Halfway up the stair climb on Bald Hills.

Approaching the first Bald Hill.

View of Maligne Lake from the top of Bald Hills.

Emerging out of the trees.

Boat house at Maligne Lake.

I FINALLY made it to Jasper National Park. A place I have desperately wanted to visit for the last several years...and it did not disappoint. Day 3 of our Canadian trek took us from Johnston Canyon to Snaring River Campground. This 4+ hour drive is one where you constantly pull over and take endless shots of mountain ranges, rivers, glaciers, wild animals...maybe even a rock...who knows. Anyway, for this portion of the trip we stopped at: 1) Bow Lake, 2) Peyto Lake, 3) Athabasca Glacier, 4) Sunwapta Falls and 5) Valley of the Five Lakes before heading to Snaring River Campground. With all of these must-see stops, we didn't even scratch the surface of the hiking possibilities. Which is why I love Jasper, you could spend years there and not hike every trail. For now, enjoy the photos. The only real hike we did on Day 3 was the Valley of the Five Lakes. One that I highly recommend; it's relatively flat, can be accomplished in a few hours and is about 7 miles round trip if you take the extended route.