Explore the caverns with the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk
Located in Jasper National Park, the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk is one of the most unique ways to spend a winter retreat in Jasper. Combining some of the best of Jasper’s winter experiences, the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk showcases incredible geological features and some of the park’s most elusive wildlife species. Best of all, you can fit the canyon tour into a ski or snowboard trip, along with some other exciting activities in the outdoors. Whether you’re looking for something different than the slopes or you want to experience the best that Jasper’s winter has to offer, check out the top things to do in winter for an unforgettable seasonal vacation.
About the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk
One of the most famous features of Jasper, the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk is a fantastic tour for those who aren’t interested in skiing or snowboarding. In a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you’ll tour a deep canyon in Jasper National Park to see incredible ice formations. Find out what you can expect from a trip to the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk.
About the Maligne Canyon
The Maligne Canyon is a slot canyon in Jasper National Park’s Rocky Mountains. In the canyon, you’ll find ice caves, ice formations, frozen waterfalls, underground stream outlets, plant life, and birdlife. The canyon is the deepest in the park, and winter brings the opportunity to travel in the usually inaccessible areas via the frozen floor.
See the wonder of Medicine Lake
Located within the Maligne Valley watershed, Medicine Lake is a geologic anomaly within the Maligne River that fills and rapidly disappears as a losing stream. Wildlife flocks to the lake all year, including rainbow trout, brook trout, black bears, grizzly bears, caribou, wolves, moose, and mountain sheep, an experience that’s sure to delight the kids. During your tour, you’ll see the incredible disappearing lake and learn about its geological wonders.
Preparing for the canyon tour
The Maligne Canyon Ice Walk is a popular tour option for something new and exciting to experience in winter in Jasper. The tour covers 3.5 kilometres and travels downhill along steep, rocky, or icy areas, but warm boots with ice cleats are provided. It can get cold in the canyon, so dress in warm clothing with underlayers, hats, gloves, and warm socks. Most Jasper accommodation offers shuttle service to the canyon. Tours are accompanied by experienced guides to ensure safety precautions and teach you all about the geological significance of the canyon.
Other exciting winter activities in Jasper for friends or family vacations
Along with the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk, Jasper is home to some of the most exciting and unique winter activities in the world. From seeing Canada’s elusive wildlife to taking an adventure in the cosmos, here are the top winter activities in Jasper.
Hit the slopes at Marmot Basin
Marmot Basin has some of the highest elevations in all of Canada’s ski areas, an abundance of natural snowfall during the season, high-tech snowmaking, and 91 runs suited to different skill levels on 4 mountain faces. The advanced runs feature challenges like trees, bumps, and alpine bowls. For freestyle snowboarding and skiing, the resort has 2 terrain parks with a variety of boxes, rails, and jumps.
Take a wildlife tour with the kids
Winter in Jasper brings out the most beautiful of the country’s wildlife to roam the frozen valleys, lakes, and rivers. Jasper is home to elk, moose, deer, bears, wolves, coyotes, and sheep, all of which are more active and visible in winter months. You can see the wildlife on hiking excursions on your own, or you can book a wildlife tour to travel to the best spots for spotting the local herds and packs. You’ll find numerous tour operators offering unique and thrilling wildlife tours in Jasper’s wilderness.
See the dark skies with family
As cities get brighter, dark-sky tours are becoming more popular all over the world. Jasper is known for stunning dark skies, especially in winter. You could see the galaxy and stars or possibly catch a glimpse of the rare aurora. You’ll have plenty of options for dark-sky tours in Jasper in winter, from relaxing in the warmth of the Jasper Planetarium at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge to taking an outdoor hike to the renowned Dark Sky Preserve. With a planetarium tour, you’ll be guided through the cosmos by an astronomer.