Planning a trip to Jasper National Park
For information on the townsite, contact Jasper Tourism and Commerce (P.O. Box 98, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0; tel. 780/852-3858; www.jaspercanadianrockies.com). They can help with lodging and outfitting options, and their office is at 500 Connaught Dr. The Jasper National Park Information Centre (tel. 780/852-6176) is in the same place, a heritage building in the heart of town. Get all the updates on everything Jasper here.
Getting There
Jasper is a significant transportation hub, with rail, highway, and bus routes all running through the town, connecting it to most major cities in western Canada. Jasper lies 287km (178 miles) northwest of Banff, on the Yellowhead Highway system that links it with Vancouver, Prince George, and Edmonton. Also connecting it to Vancouver and Edmonton are three VIA Rail trains that run weekly. At the train station (tel. 780/852-4102) at the town center, along Connaught Street, you can also catch the Skeena line west to Prince George and Prince Rupert. The station is also where you can find Greyhound buses (tel. 780/852-3926) and Brewster Transportation (tel. 780/852-3332), which offer express service to Banff, as well as a large number of sightseeing excursions. Sundog Tours (tel. 888/786-3641; www.sundogtours.com) has daily shuttles from Edmonton and Banff to Jasper. They also have various sightseeing tours, including a half-day train journey across the border into British Columbia's Mt. Robson Provincial Park.
Getting Around
For a taxi, call tel. 780/852-5558 or 780/852-3600. For a rental car, contact National (607 Connaught Dr.; tel. 780/852-1117).
Orientation -- Jasper townsite's main street, Connaught Drive, runs alongside the Canadian National Railway tracks. It plays home to many of Jasper's hotels, with another handful located at the northern end of Connaught and Geike streets, a half kilometer (1/4 mile) from downtown. A block west of Connaught is Patricia Street, the center of much new development in the city, with new shops and cafes appearing each season. The post office is at the corner of Patricia and Elm streets.
