Jasper has that rich charm you just can’t resist if the opportunity presents itself……

Once again, in late August, we found ourselves in the Whistlers Campground of Jasper National Park. The weather wasn’t fantastic but it also wasn’t terrible, which was a blessing that quickly went from bad to worse as the weekend went on.

As usual, while not as nice out as our previous visit, the drive in is nothing short of scenic. If you’re arriving through the park from Highway 16 (From Hinton/Edson/Edmonton), the inevitable 45 minute or so drive from park entrance to town can be enchanting. There’s a lovely shallow lake to stop at on the way in, too, that is a great photo op.

The sister lakes beckoned to us next. After having such a magical experience at Lake Annette during our last visit, we also decided to visit Lake Edith.

Edith was very nice, however, there was no sandy beach area leading to the pristine blue-green waters. Instead, we opted to go back to Annette, where the sun often peeked through the clouds for bursts of sunshine….

The one thing I’m obsessed with about Jasper is that every trip is a wildlife experience like no other. You can’t go very far without seeing an animal on the side of the road, on a hike, or in the campground, and in the campground’s case, elk were particularly abundant this year. We watched as two elk strolled through the campground as if they owned the place!

During the second day of our trip, we embarked, once again, on the Sulphur Skyline hike. It’s really something else – the tradeoff of not-too-difficult incline with the most breathtaking views in Jasper makes for a recipe for incredible hike. We had quite a fun photoshoot at the top, too (with not only my friends, but my X-ring)………

We even bumped into the mountain goats, who we saw at the parking lot last time, chilling near the very top of the mountain! And again, we were treated to a beautiful ride back into the town of Jasper…..

The beauty never ends. I will for sure be visiting Jasper the next time I get the chance, or maybe even in the winter time when it’s time to ski. Who knows what beauty there is to discover under a blanket of snow and ice?