Another grey morning as we drive from Edmonton to Jasper National Park. The scenery didn’t vary much as we drove through what is locally called parkland, transitional forest between prairie and coniferous forest, and into the foothills of the Canadian Rockies.
We stopped for lunch at Hinton. AB where we had our first glimpse of the Rockies.
Our goal for today was the Miette Hotsprings, north of Jasper, AB.
Miette Hotsprings
Miette Hot Springs, located in Alberta’s Jasper National Park, feature the hottest hot springs in the Canadian Rockies. The natural hot springs water flows from the mountain at 54°C (129°F), the water is then cooled to a comfortable temperature of 40°C (104°F) as it enters the hot springs pool.
We spent a very relaxed hour soaking in the hot water and a lovely shower afterwards. The hotsprings are 14 km (10 mi.) Off Hwy 16. We passed a black bear eating grass along the roadside.
We have a lovely campsite just outside of Jasper, AB. Sunset tonight is 10:04 pm! The very late sunsets give us long days for activities.
We are not doing the typical tour of the Canadian Rockies. We are skipping Banff and Lake Louise in both directions. We have been to both several times, the latest being just 5 years ago with a grandson including the Columbia Icefields. They are very touristy. We prefer the quietness of Jasper. We have also skied Banff and Lake Louise a few times so don’t feel the need to do them on this trip.
Tomorrow we have a boat tour planned for Malign Lake and a hike of the canyon.
Jasper, AB
Jasper is a specialized municipality and townsite in western Alberta within the Canadian Rockies. The townsite is in the Athabasca River valley and is the commercial centre of Jasper National Park.
Established in 1813, Jasper House was first a fur trade outpost of the North West Company, and later Hudson’s Bay Company, on the York Factory Express trade route to what was then called “New Caledonia” (now British Columbia) and Fort Vancouver on the lower Columbia River. Jasper House was 35 km north of today’s town of Jasper.
Jasper Forest Park was established in 1907. Jasper Forest Park was renamed Jasper National Park in 1930. By 1931, Jasper was accessible by road from Edmonton. In 1940, the scenic Icefields Parkway opened, connecting Jasper to Lake Louise and Banff in Banff National Park.
The sublime beauty of the river valley is breath taking.
Louise and Brian McLeod Travel Blog 
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