Jasper National Park receives more than two million visitors a year. The good news for winter-lovers is that only 20 per cent of visitors come between November and April.
Until recently, the majority of winter visitors came for downhill skiing. Other winter pursuits such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, skating and winter walking, however, are rapidly becoming more popular.
The great news for winter-lovers? Since Jasper holds ample room for all types of winter lovers to get out and enjoy, Parks Canada has and will continue to improve and promote this winter wonderland.
You may have noticed these improvements over the past four years:
- A new cross-country skiing area at Decoigne opened last year, adding 15 km of new classic and skate-skiing trails, along with a warming hut and fire pit;
- New on-trail cross-country ski signage has been installed (no excuses for getting lost now!);
- Winter maintenance and grooming standards are now well established;
- Several snowshoe routes have been established and signs installed to guide exploration on the Pyramid Bench;
- Several routes for winter walking have been flat-packed,
- New winter trail signage was installed at Athabasca Falls, Maligne Canyon and Old Fort Point;
- A new winter information panel was installed at the Parker Ridge backcountry skiing area;
- There’s now a new and improved Winter Trails Guide;
- Recreationalists now enjoy better reporting on conditions, a better winter trail report format and Parks Canada cooperation with the Jasper Trail Alliance to get information out on winter trail conditions.
Over the next two years, here’s what winter-lovers can look forward to:
- Enhanced cross-country skiing at Wabasso and Meeting of the Waters;
- Better trailhead kiosks at cross-country ski trails;
- Additional snowshoe routes (by signing existing summer trails for snowshoe use);
- Information on the Hilda Creek/Nigel Pass area being a safe backcountry ski destination;
- Improved online, trail guide, trailhead and social media information for all winter recreation;
- Even more dark sky programming!
To protect Jasper’s struggling woodland caribou populations, as of Nov. 1 winter access for recreationalists will be delayed until Feb. 24 in the A La Peche and Brazeau caribou ranges, and until Feb. 15 in the Tonquin caribou range. When the time comes, check the latest trail conditions online at www.pc.gc.ca/jasper.
Parks Canada
Special to the Fitzhugh
