Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mountain Biking
Cycling in the park continues to grow in popularity: The ride between Banff and Jasper,
along the Icefields Parkway, attracts riders from around the world. In addition to the paved
roads, many designated unpaved bicycle trails radiate from the town. One of the most pop-
ular is the Athabasca River Trail, which begins at Old Fort Point and follows the river
to a point below Maligne Canyon. Cyclists are particularly prone to sudden bear encoun-
ters; make noise when passing through heavily wooded areas. The brochure
Mountain Bik-
ing Trail Guide
lists designated trails and is available from the information center and
all local sport shops. Rental outlets include
Source for Sports
(406 Patricia St., 780/
852-3654),
Freewheel Cycle
(618 Patricia St., 780/852-3898),
Vicious Cycle
(630 Con-
naught Dr., 780/852-1111), and the
Activity Centre
at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
(780/852-5708). Expect to pay $10-15 per hour or $28-50 for any 24-hour period, which
includes a helmet and lock.
Horseback Riding
On the benchlands immediately behind the town of Jasper is
Jasper Riding Stables
(Pyr-
amid Lake Rd., 780/852-7433, early May-early Oct.). The stables offer one-, two-, and
three-hour guided rides for $38, $65, and $92, respectively. The one-hour trip follows a
ridge high above town, providing excellent views of the Athabasca River Valley.
Skyline
Trail Rides
(The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, 780/852-4215, mid-May-mid-Oct.) offers
a 1.25-hour guided ride around Lake Annette ($40 per person) and a two-hour ride along
the Valleyview Trail ($65 per person).
Overnight pack trips consist of 4-6 hours of riding per day, with a few nights spent at a
remote mountain lodge where you can hike, boat, fish, or ride. Rates start at $200 per per-
son per day for meals, accommodation, and a horse, of course. For details, contact
Skyline
Trail Rides
(780/852-4215 or 888/852-7787,
www.skylinetrail.com
)
or
Tonquin Valley
Adventures
(780/852-1188,
www.tonquinadventures.com
)
.
White-Water Rafting
Within the park, the
Athabasca
and
Sunwapta Rivers
are run by a half dozen outfitters,
while across the border in British Columbia, the
Fraser River
is another option for a
guided rafting trip. On the Athabasca River, the Mile 5 Run is an easy two-hour float
that appeals to all ages. Farther upstream, some operators offer a trip that begins from be-
low Athabasca Falls, on a stretch of the river that passes through a narrow canyon; this
run takes three hours. The boulder-strewn rapids of the Sunwapta and Fraser Rivers offer
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