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Snowcapped peaks, vast ice fields, beautiful glacial lakes, soothing hot springs, thundering
rivers, and the most extensive backcountry trail system of any Canadian national park
make Jasper a stunning counterpart to its sister park, Banff. Lying on the Albertan side
of the Canadian Rockies, Jasper protects the entire upper watershed of the Athabasca
River, extending to the Columbia Icefield (and Banff National Park) in the south. To the
east are the foothills, to the west the Continental Divide (which marks the Alberta-Brit-
ish Columbia border) and Mount Robson Provincial Park. Encompassing 10,900 square
kilometers (4,208 square miles), Jasper is a haven for wildlife; much of its wilderness is
traveled only by wolves and grizzlies.
The park's most spectacular natural landmarks can be admired from two major roads.
The Yellowhead Highway runs east-west from Edmonton through the park to Mount Rob-
son Provincial Park. The Icefields Parkway, regarded as one of the world's great mountain
drives, runs north-south, connecting Jasper to Banff. At the junction of these two highways
is the park's main service center—the town of Jasper. With half the population of Banff,
its setting—at the confluence of the Athabasca and Miette Rivers, surrounded by rugged,
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