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Roadtrip to Banff: Jasper National Park — Wildlife, Waterfalls & Wedding Anticipation

  • campsidephotos
  • Aug 14
  • 3 min read

Crossing into Canada felt like crossing an invisible threshold into a whole new chapter of our trip — and our lives. As the border guard handed back our passports with a smile, it hit us: we were now just a week and a half away from our wedding. The air seemed crisper, the light a little brighter, and the mountains… well, they just kept getting bigger.

Our route took us through the jaw-dropping peaks of Yoho National Park and into Banff, where the scale of the Rockies somehow managed to defy every photo we’d ever seen. After a few scenic stops and snack breaks, we pushed on to Hinton, Alberta, our base for exploring Jasper National Park.


Jasper National Park

Jasper welcomed us with that perfect mix of rugged wilderness and serene beauty. We spent days exploring its winding roads and jaw-dropping vistas, each one somehow topping the last. Driving the Columbia Icefields Parkway felt like moving through a living postcard — glaciers spilling down mountainsides, turquoise lakes glimmering in the sun, and wildlife around every bend.


One of the most unforgettable stops was Athabasca Falls. The sheer force of the water crashing through the narrow canyon was mesmerizing — a roaring reminder of nature’s power. We stood on the viewing platforms, feeling the mist on our faces and the rumble under our feet, completely awestruck.


We also made time to soak in the Miette Hot Springs, letting the warm mineral water ease our road-weary muscles. Midway through our visit, the calm was interrupted in the best way — a mama bear and her curious cub wandered nearby, sniffing around the public grills like they were shopping for dinner. Guests gathered at a safe distance, cameras ready, watching as the pair explored before disappearing back into the trees. It was one of those perfectly wild, only-in-the-Rockies moments that made the springs feel even more special.

Over the week, we saw more wildlife than we could have imagined — bears lumbering along the roadside, sleek foxes darting through the grass, mountain goats perched on impossible cliffs, and bighorn sheep grazing nonchalantly as cars slowed to watch.


A Night at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

One night, we decided to splurge and stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, meeting up with my parents. It was pure mountain luxury — cozy fireplaces, sweeping lake views, and that unmistakable feeling of not wanting to leave. Sitting on the patio, watching the last light fade over the Rockies, it felt like we’d hit pause on the entire trip, savoring every second.


On our last evening in Hinton, we stepped outside our Airbnb just as the rain eased and were greeted by a double rainbow arching across the sky. It stopped us in our tracks. The moment felt almost cinematic — a quiet, colorful reminder of the day my husband proposed in the Cayman Islands, when a double rainbow appeared there too. Standing under those twin arcs again, so close to our wedding day, felt like the universe’s way of winking at us, reminding us we were exactly where we were meant to be.


Jasper National Park Photos



A landscape photo shows a person standing with their back to the camera, looking out at a large, pyramid-shaped mountain with snow patches. The mountain is reflected in the turquoise water of a lake. Pine trees line the shore and a cloudy sky is visible overhead.
Just one of the many mountains in Jasper National Park
A scenic landscape of a calm lake with three small rowboats pulled up on a wooden dock in the foreground. The lake perfectly reflects the snow-capped mountains and a clear blue sky with a few clouds.
A calm lake in Jasper National Park, where you can go for a boat ride
Tall pine trees surround a roaring waterfall in a rocky canyon under a clear blue sky. Sunlight illuminates the lush greenery.
Athabasca Falls
Cabin with green roof amid trees, mountains, and sunset sky. Picnic tables and green chairs on grass. Calm, scenic setting.
Cozy cabin at the Fairmont in Jasper

Bighorn sheep on roadside near green forest and mountains. Overcast sky, one sheep standing, others grazing or lying down.
Big horn sheep down trying to lick salt off the road.

Miette Hot Springs


Double rainbow arcs over suburban houses with parked trucks. Cloudy sky contrasts with vibrant rainbow colors. Peaceful, scenic neighborhood.
The double rainbow that appeared outside of our AirBnB.

 
 
 

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