Shooting Locations in Jasper

I am heading to Jasper Nation Park in a couple of weeks and am looking for some suggestions for places to go and shoot. I usually visit Jasper 1-2 times a year and have shot a lot there. I thought I would share some of my favorite places to shoot and others could share places that they like to go? I would love to hear from some Jasper Natives for places they go.

Mt Edith Cavell - A short drive brings you into the alpine, good views of the Angel glacier and there are some alpine meadows with wild flowers to shoot.

Athabasca Falls - A busy spot south of Jasper. There is lots of opportunity to shoot waterfalls, potholes and the Athabasca River.

Sunwapta Falls – Another busy spot south of Jasper. Beautiful Falls.

Patricia and Pyramid Lake - Close to Jasper (10 minute drive) with lots of hiking trails. Plenty of opportunity to shoot mountain reflections in the lakes.

Yellowhead Highway from Jasper heading north to Park Boundary – Lots of opportunity to shoot wildlife. Look for the stopped cars there could be elk, sheep, bear or goats. Keep an eye open on the east side of the highway for sheep and goats clinging to the side of the mountain.

Maligne Lake – A nice drive leads to an even nicer lake. Lake is that Glacier Silt Green.

I’ll share more as I think of them, please post where you have gone or places you would suggest.

I'm not a native of Jasper, but love to visit there. I like Maligne Canyon, and Medicine Lake on the way to Maligne Lake. I enjoy shooting on the grounds of Jasper Lodge and the several lakes around it (forget the names). Top of Whistler Mountain is good, and Horseshoe Lake is the most incredible blue. You didn't mention Mount Robson, and then the wildlife is usually good. I always get lots of sheep, goats, elk and the occasional bear. There are lots of good hikes around Jasper. The "downtown" also has good photo ops.

+1 to everything sparker1 said.

There is also the ever popular Athabasca Falls, although it is usually quite busy with hundreds of people gawking at the massive falls. Could also pay a visit to the Jasper Tramway.

If you don't mind taking the 4 hour drive south to Banff, there's the beautiful Moraine Lake and the just as beautiful Lake Louise (you could even stay in the Lake Louise resort).

Just got back from that area, although only did a day and a half in Jasper/Icefields Parkway.

Athabasca Falls is nice but busy. Plan this for end of day and sunset. Make sure you go down the trails along the river, its s short walk. There is an area of rocks with dozens (100+?) rock stacks that someone made over the years.

Peyto Lake has some great views.

Many great scenic overlooks/viewpoints.

Dont hold your breath for wild life.... In 500 kms of driving the Icefields, my girlfriend and I saw a sum total of one big horn sheep and a bunch of chipmunks. There was more wildlife on Bow Valley Parkway near Banff.

Anyone into hiking would do very well to buy the book "Dont Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies". Covers Banff, Glacier, Jasper, and one or two more in that area. 550 pages, great details and descriptions, and the authors are very blunt and honest. Has become one of my favorite hiking books.

http://www.hikingcampi​ng.com/hike-rockies.php

If these "rock stacks" are the same ones I think you're talking about, they're called inukshuks. Inukshuk is Inuktitut (Inuit) for "likeness of a person", and they are used as markers for anything from a burial marker to a food cache.

They've been at Athabasca Falls for decades; people go out on to the rocks and and make them for fun.

Here is an example of an Inokshuk (or two) below Athabasca Falls:

Elk in the Whistlers campground:

Peyto Lake in Banff National Park:

I am a local to the region (from Hinton, ignore my location I am on "assignment" LOL) . Hinton has some amazing areas to explore with none of the tourists. These are some local spots for us, a lot of Jasper residents go here to escape the crowds of their town LOL!

East gate (Hinton side)
- Wildhorse and Kinky Lakes. Some great views and decent fishing for stocked trout. Going east towards Edmonton, it's 5 minutes from the park gate, big signs, turn left on a gravel road and go about 10 minutes down a rough road. Popular with locals.

- Athabasaca river/Brule Lake near Brule. Amazing sunset place. Hard to find, but on HWY 40 head north towards Grande Cache. Cross the Athabasca over the big bridge then take the next left (Brule signpost, maybe 100 meters)..... Head down the PAVED road and you'll cross a bridge and see the railway tracks and a great view. You can park right beside the bridge on a little dirt road on the west side (it's car friendly if its not muddy) A few bush trails near the creek let you go down to the river. Worth the detour, great place to have beers... Highly recommend it, I am there consistently.

- Cougar Rock. It's just a rock on top of a small hill. Find the Hinton/Jasper Airport (very close to Wildhorse Lake turn) and turn down that. Look on your right side and look up. Easy few minutes to get up, good views of the mountains.

- Switzer Park. Lots of lakes and nice areas to be hanging around. Very popular in summer with us locals. Nordic centre on the south end of the park has a fire watch tower with a great view of the surrounding valley and mountains. You may have to walk up the road depending your car. On HWY 40 north towards Grande Cache.

- Rock Lake. About 50 km north on HWY 40. Takes exactly one hour from Hinton. Follow the signs... The road can be a little rough at time. Nice views and always very quiet minus long weekends.

- Drive down HWY 40 south towards the the coal mines. Excellent views, loads of some of the largest sheep in the world. Really nice area as well.

In Hinton:
- Beaver Boardwalk/Maxwell Lake. It's on the upper Hill on Collinge Road. But if you are headed east towards Edmonton, turn left at Husky Station (Big Canadian Flag) and go up the big hill till the top and turn right on to Collinge road. Look on your left side, can't miss it. Loads of trails around the lake area to walk around. It's won a few national awards. Lots of beavers, muskrats and such. Worth the detour to Hinton.

- Number one view in Hinton: Hinton Dump. HWY 40 south, 3 km down the road, turn left. Easy to find, big signs. Best view in the region if you climb up to the general local trash pile! I am not kidding.

- Not Photography related but eat at L&W in Hinton. Amazingly good greasy pizzas. On HWY 16 left hand side going east near Scotia Bank

West side of gate:

- Mountain Robson and Moose Lake. 1 hour east from Jasper, just inside BC. I'm pretty sure you've driven that way before though LOL

I could give loads more ideas, but most are harder to find.