JASPER NATIONAL PARK - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 362

Park Interpretive Program
Parks Canada offers a wide range of interpretive talks and hikes throughout summer.
Each summer evening in the Whistlers Campground Theatre, a different slide show and
movie program is shown. The theater is near the shower block. The Wabasso Campfire
Circle takes place each Saturday night just before dusk; hot tea is supplied while various
speakers talk about wildlife in the park. Wabasso Campground is along Highway 93A ap-
proximately 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of town.
Many different guided hikes are offered (all free) throughout summer; check bulletin
boards at the park information center and campgrounds, or call 780/852-6176.
SHOPPING
Jasper certainly doesn't provide the shopping experience found in Banff, but several in-
teresting shops beckon on rainy days. Our Native Land (601 Patricia St., 780/852-5592)
is a large shop chock-full of arts and crafts produced by artisans from throughout western
Canada. Search out everything from moose-hide moccasins to masks (check out the musk
ox head near the back of the store). It also stocks Inuit soapstone carvings from the Ca-
nadian Arctic. Bearfoot in the Park (606 Connaught Dr., 780/852-2221) features a good
cross-section of Canadiana, including topics and locally made soaps.
Within 200 meters (660 feet) of the information center is Source for Sports (406 Patri-
cia St., 780/852-3654), Totem Ski Shop (408 Connaught Dr., 780/852-3078), and Everest
Outdoor Stores (414 Connaught Dr., 780/852-5902), each with a good stock of camping
gear and other outdoor equipment.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND CAMPING
In and Around Town
In summer, motel and hotel rooms here are expensive. Most of the motels and lodges are
within walking distance of town and have indoor pools and restaurants. Luckily, alternat-
ives to staying in $200-plus hotel rooms do exist. The best of these are the lodges scattered
around the edge of town. Open in summer only, each offers a rustic yet distinct style of ac-
commodation in keeping with the theme of staying in a national park. Additionally, many
private residences have rooms for rent in summer; three hostels are close to town; and
there's always camping in the good ol' outdoors.
Unless otherwise noted, accommodations discussed here are within walking distance
of downtown Jasper. Rates quoted are for a standard room in summer. Outside the busy