The “Jasper Tramway Experience”, as I call it, is a 3,000 foot ride up the side of Whisters Mountain while in a tramway (similar to a gondola).  The tramway ride is followed by a steep walk from the tramway drop-off terminal to the summit of the Whistlers Mountain via the Summit Trail.

Along the way, it is clear why the slogan for Jasper National Park is “Wonderful By Nature”.

As you ride the gondola and then hike to the top of the summit, the panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies are spectacular.

Jasper Tramway

View from Jasper Tramway upper terminal - see Jasper townsite in the distance

Jasper Tramway – Tramway Ride, Hiking and Scenery

The Jasper Tramway Experience is made up of a sequence of 4 segments:

1. The ride up on the Jasper Tramway

• The ride up on the Jasper Tramway takes you to the upper terminal.  The tramway car has a guide who tells a brief history of the tramway and interesting facts about the park. You may feel like a sardine packed into the tramway car with 10 or 15 strangers. Don’t fret. It is a quick and easy ride. You’ll be surrounded by windows and get a nice view on the way up.  After the tramway drops you off at the upper terminal, you can hang out for a few and soak in the view from the decks.  A gift shop and dining options are inside.

2. Hiking on the Summit Trail

• If the weather is good (i.e., not snowing, raining or very cloudy), take the hike from the upper terminal to the summit on the Whistlers Summit Trail.  Start your hike up a steep but flat mountainside. There are several long plateaus along the way and it is not a difficult hike. Parks Canada urges visitors to stay on the trail to protect the fragile alpine vegetation.  I recommend wearing layers (maybe even a hat and gloves).  It tends to be cold and windy up here, even during summer.

3. Standing on top of the world

• This is not just a hike but an experience.  Stop and take in the views at the summit or anywhere along the way.  This is time on top of the world. The view up here of the surrounding Canadian Rockies is much better than from the tramway upper terminal down below.

4. Go back down

• There’s a sign at the end of the official trail and you can rest here before turning around and trekking back down (the trail unofficially continues on but that’s for advanced hikers). Last time, we packed some goodies from the Bear’s Paw Bakery to eat as our reward for making it to the end of the Summit Trail.  Walking back down is easier.  Head back down the tramway and off to your next Canadian Rockies adventure.

Jasper Tramway Hiking Map – Whistlers Summit Trail Map

Jasper Tramway Whistlers Summit Trail Map (click image to view large)

Jasper Tramway Whistlers Summit Trail Hike

Jasper Tramway Whistlers Summit Trail

An aerial view of Jasper townsite from Whistlers Mountain - the upper tramway terminal is on the left, Jasper townsite on the right

Views from the Whistlers Summit Trail

View from the summit on Whistlers Mountain - Jasper National Park

Jasper Tramway hike with young kids? - Yes, it is doable but a stroller would be challenging on the Summit Trail.

During the summer, be on the look-out for Ptarmigan feeding at the summit. The birds blend in with the background.

Ptarmigan on Whistlers Mountain in Jasper National Park

For more pictures of Jasper Tramway, view Jasper Journal’s Jasper Tramway photo gallery.

[Updated/Revised: 2/10/2013]

Now, I’m the type of traveler that likes to spend more time doing and less time in a hotel.  But there’s something to be said about well-appointed rooms and great outdoor hot pools ready for enjoyment at the end of a day of hiking and sightseeing.  Hidden Ridge Resort could make me change my ways.

Hidden Ridge Resort recognition

I did some digging to find out what everyone is saying about Hidden Ridge Resort.

The hotel gets lots of recognition.

On TripAdvisor, Hidden Ridge Resort is ranked #1 of the 32 hotels in Banff townsite section of Banff (the municipality of Banff within Banff National Park – a small-town within the park).  The hotel is also ranked #2 out of the 39 hotels in Banff National Park.

Hidden Ridge Resort is also ranked #7 of the Top 25 hotels for families in all of Canada on TripAdvisor!

Then, I looked on HotelsCombined, which is what powers the hotel search tool here on JasperJournal.com and offers an easy way to get price comparisons from multiple Banff hotels. The reviews on HotelsCombined are excellent too. At the time of this writing, Hidden Ridge Resort was rated as “Great, 8.7” out of 1228 guest reviews on HotelsCombined. There were 31 guests who noted that the view of the mountains from the hotel was breathtaking.

I like the odds.  But what makes the resort rank so high? And why do I really want to stay here next time I visit Banff?  Here are my findings:

Awesome outdoor hot pools with a view

I have made many visits to the 3 hot springs in the Canadian Rockies (Miette Hot Springs, Banff Upper Hot Springs and Radium Hot Springs). Looking at these pictures, my sense is that the pools at Hidden Ridge Resort offer a similar type of experience. While the hotel pools lack the mineral water of the hot springs, the view is comparable.   To have a view like that while swimming in a heated outdoor pool seems to me to rank right up there with the type of experience had at the Canadian Rockies hot springs and the type of memorable experience I want to have on vacation.

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Rooms with kitchens = save’s families lots of money on food

I love the local restaurants in Banff and have fond memories of places like the Grizzly House. You should stop by a local Banff restaurant.

By I know it is not practical to dine out every night – both because of the financial cost (especially with a family) and because dining out cuts into sightseeing time. Enter the kitchen. At Hidden Ridge Resort, you’ll get a room with a kitchen and all the stuff needed: refrigerator, microwave, stove, dishwasher, cookware, dishes and utensils.

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

With a kitchen like this, you have the option to make your own breakfasts or have simple cereal breakfasts so you can get out sightseeing quicker. You can make you own lunches so you can spend more time sightseeing and less time worrying about where to have lunch.  There are several grocery stores minutes away in downtown Banff.

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

The rooms are huge and condo style!

These rooms aren’t really hotel rooms in the traditional sense.  The rooms are better described as condo apartments.  All have at least one bedroom and one pull-out sofa.  And for bigger families there are even larger condos with up to 4 queen beds and 2 full bathrooms. See the layouts of the rooms here.

In this video, Michael Kwan from MichaelKwan.com did a nice tour of his Hidden Ridge Resort room, which appears to be a “Deluxe One Bedroom + Loft Condo” configuration. In the high season, this type of room is in the $300-400 range but in the winter months, it can be had for under $200. It seems like the perfect configuration for a family or a couple of couples.

Real fireplaces!

Rooms include a real fireplace and cut wood! How awesome is that!?!

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

The layout of the grounds

I like the layout of the grounds shown in this video. The grounds of Hidden Ridge Resort are similar to the grounds of a condo complex.

Pet-friendly Banff Hotel

Hidden Ridge Resort is one of the limited number of Banff Hotels that allows pets. It is fine to bring dogs or cats, though there is an extra $25 a night fee. The hotel seems to go out of its way to make sure the animals have a good time too.

Here, doesn’t Fido look happy?

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Location away from the town of Banff

The hotel is just outside of the downtown area. Being further away from the downtown has its advantages. It is closer to the wildlife and the nature experiences. Yet, Banff is a short walk away.

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Happy family

A happy family is the goal of vacation, isn’t it? I’ve seen lots of photos of happy people at this hotel.  That’s good sign.

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This photo of Hidden Ridge Resort is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Conclusion

My final feeling about Hidden Ridge Resort: If you want trusted quality, superb amenities, big rooms and a hotel that’s great fun for families – and don’t want to pay an outrageous price – this is the Canadian Rockies hotel is worth consideration. Just be sure to book early!  Last minute booking attempts during peak season will often lead to disappointment when trying to go to popular locations.

This time, I show some of the most beautiful photos of winter in Banff National Park I could find.

These photos are from 500px, a website where photography pros and enthusiasts alike showcase their works.

There are many wonderful photos not seen by enough people. I wanted to try to give the photographers more exposure, so I’ve showcased a selection of Banff National Park winter photos. (Click on the photos to view full size on the 500px website.)

And remember, when it comes to hotels in Banff, the winter is the off-season and the prices are much lower than the peak months of July and August.

Elk by Amar Athwal

Winter Morning at Moraine by Jeff Clow

Trails of Minnewanka by Neil Jolly

A Misty Morning In Winter by Hong Zeng

Unforgettable sunrise by Victor Liu

Frozen Road by peter j

Upheval by Vincent Piotrowski

Artist of the light by Victor Liu

Elk by Victoria Stewart

Song Sparrow by Amar Athwal

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel by Bowen Clausen

Untitled by Nicholas Zalud

This selection of videos taken by videographers and casual travelers shows the wonders that await in Banff National Park during winter.

What could be better than an escape to Banff during the cold months of December, January, February, March and April?

The answer: You’ll get off-season prices for hotels in Banff National Park during the winter months.

It looks so peaceful, doesn’t it?

So relax, grab a cup of tea, and watch these videos. You’ll see the many types of wintertime experiences Banff National Park offers.

I hope you enjoyed this selection of videos.  If so, please share this post!

It was a rare breed of people who could live here and fewer came to visit.

Today, it is easy to fly into Calgary or Edmonton, rent a car, rent a comfortable hotel room and spend your days experiencing the wild of the Canadian Rockies.

Nature is still calling.

To me, travel is a way to get the most out of life.   And we should travel.

This Jack London quote relates to the experience and why so many people visit Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies.

Maligne Lake - Jasper National Park - quote (click to enlarge)

“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist; I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them; I shall USE my time.”  Jack London

The picture is of a place that should be experienced: Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park.

Banff National Park’s famous hotel Chateau Lake Louise is at least an hour or two hike away.

This picture is looking in the direction of a cup of tea at the Plain of the Six Glaciers tea house.  Alas, I was looking back towards the tea house as I headed towards Mirror Lake on the Highline Trail (which runs parallel to the Plain of the Six Glaciers trail for a while).

The Highline Trail is a connector trail that spurs from the Plain of the Six Glaciers and leads to the network of trails around Lake Agnes, Mirror Lake and then to a steep but well-worn trail to Chateau Lake Louise and the Lakeshore Trail around Lake Louise.

Highline Trail in Lake Louise, Banff National Park

Click on the image to view full size (and then right-click to save as desktop wallpaper). Look closely. Notice how the trail continues on, peaking through the trees in the distance.

We ended up hiking over 8 kilometers that day.  If I had to do this hike again, I would have started earlier in the morning in order to have time to go around Lake Agnes.

Here’s a picture from inside one of the snocoach Ice Explorer buses that ride on the Athabasca Glacier.

While the ride is relatively stable, there is a spot with an incline and a little bit of rocking.  That is around when I took this photo.

Columbia Icefield Snowcoach Ride

Here’s what the Ice Explorer looks like from the outside:

Columbia Icefield ride

It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Learn more about the Icefield Parkway glacier ride and find places to stay in Jasper National Park.

We stayed in 5 different hotels during our trip. Marmot Lodge did not disappoint.

Marmot Lodge review:

If the experiences of others are like my own, I’m comfortable recommending Marmot Lodge hotel in this review.

Marmot Lodge has 107 rooms and several room configurations options. Some are basic. Some have kitchenettes. Some first floor. Some second floor (without elevators).

We booked a room with 2 double beds and a kitchenette. This is a step up from a standard room.  I was happy with the room quality. Everything seemed new. Maybe I lucked out and got a room that had just been renovated.

The kitchenette had a small refrigerator, microwave, over, stove, sink, pots, pans, dishes and utensils. There’s a grocery store a few blocks away on Connaught Drive, too.

The free WiFi also worked fine for me and the room had convenient electrical outlets, which I appreciate.

As the pictures show, our room was modern looking and spacious.

We tried the swimming pool and indoor and outdoor jacuzzi’s.  The pool had a deep end and all of the facilities were functional.  No complaints, even though we went at a time when kids were running around like crazy.

I had a second floor and liked it.  But, if climbing stairs to the second floor is a challenge, be sure to ask for a ground floor room ahead of time and hopefully Marmot Lodge will be able to help you.

Location

There are trees throughout and some grassy areas on the grounds to help it blend in with the national park surroundings.

Marmot Lodge’s location is very convenient at the east end of Jasper townsite.  For driving, Marmot Lodge offers easy, central access to all of Jasper National Park.

There is an easy hiking trail called the Discovery Trail that can be accessed across the street from Marmot Lodge and that connects with other trails in the area.

To get to downtown Jasper, it’s a 15-minute sidewalk stroll along Connaught Drive to get to restaurants and shopping.  If that’s too far, driving and parking is an option, so is choosing one of the Jasper National Park hotels in the middle of the townsite area.

View Larger Map

Pricing

I thought what I paid was “reasonable” for a Jasper hotel in the peak season of July.  See how much Marmot Lodge costs.

Now, “reasonable” is relative.  I’ve seen the reviews where people say that Jasper hotel prices “for what you get” tend to be higher than other locations and I find it hard to argue against that.  But having stayed at several Jasper hotels, my opinion is that Marmot Lodge is priced competitively for Jasper hotels for what you get.  Jasper’s accommodation capacity is limited compared to an Orlando, Florida type of destination.

Tip: If you want a cheap hotel, be sure to consider a Hinton hotel just outside the east entrance to Jasper National Park.  It is less scenic and may be less convenient, but the prices are economical. It is not that far from most of the Jasper National Park attractions and hikes.

Conclusion

Understand that my experience and expectations will be different than yours.  I read a lot of reviews before choosing to book Marmot Lodge as the Jasper National Park hotel for my vacation. Most reviews I’ve seen have been positive but there are a few complainers and a few that had validly less-than-desirable experiences (i.e., a broke something not fixed instantly). To me, it was worth the risk and it worked out in my favor. We enjoyed our stay.

My regrets are being unable to stay at Marmot Lodge longer and also not having time to try the hotel’s restaurant, Embers Steakhouse.

Other than that, check out Marmot Lodge and try to book as far ahead of time as possible to get the best selection.

I thought this was a good, clean, spacious hotel for the money.  I would stay here again and would recommend it to friends.

We used this hotel as a jumping point for this year’s Canadian Rockies national parks and Glacier National Park, Montana, USA adventure that took us through 5 awesome national parks in less than 2 weeks.

I choose to stay here because the Four Points by Sheraton Calgary Airport reviews I saw were very good.  Secondly, after a previous bad experience at a super-budget hotel last time we were in Calgary, I was willing (due to wife’s insistence) to pay a little more for a nicer hotel, but not for an outrageously priced one.

Four Points Sheraton Calgary Airport view

The Good

We chose a basic room that had 2 comfortable beds.  I liked that there were 2 thick pillows and 2 thin pillows on each bed.  Our room was clean, modern and had a nice table and plenty of storage.  The desk had convenient power outlets for charging electronics. The A/C worked fine. There was a lounge chair by the window. The TV, fridge and microwave all looked nice (but I lacked time to use them).

Here’s a picture of our Four Points by Sheraton Calgary Airport room as we unpacked…pardon the mess!

Our bathroom was very clean, white and modern but the size seemed average.

The pool area and fitness room had everything:  large pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and plenty of modern fitness equipment.

Dining

The Four Points by Sheraton Calgary Airport has a restaurant called Ric’s Lounge and Grill. We ate there twice. Breakfast and dinner.

The breakfast menu had enough choices and also included a buffet option. We both had omelets for breakfast. They were kind of a build you own style from options on the menu. Good food and fast service. No complaints.

We also had an enjoyable dinner on the night before heading home via Calgary Airport. Knowing that Ric’s was a good place to eat made it easy to decide to return for dinner. So, instead of driving around Calgary looking for a restaurant, we could just eat here without leaving the building.  Again, good food and fast, friendly service.

Cajun halibut dinner at Ric's at the Four Point Sheraton Hotel

Salad with chicken added for dinner at Ric's at the Four Point Sheraton Hotel

Ric’s also has a large bar area. I could envision having dinner at the bar and then having a few cocktails. But alas I didn’t have time to try that experience. Maybe next time.

Conclusion

My impression was that this was a worthwhile place to stay based on the room, the facilities and the restaurant.  I have no regrets staying here and would return.

Learn more about Four Points by Sheraton Calgary Airport.

I haven’t spent a whole lot of time in Calgary just yet, using it and Calgary Airport more as a starting point to get to Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies.

But each time I’ve been through Calgary, the weather has been wild. Last time, there was an amazing double rainbow.

This time the clouds where at play.  And this first picture shows  one of the huge clouds.  I made it black and white because it shows more detail.

Calgary clouds

This second picture is a snapshot from within the rental car while driving.  It is raining but the sun is shining bright in the distance.

Calgary weather