| Mention the Canadian Rockies, and most
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| | make for spectacular waterworks. Further
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| people instantly think of Banff. As the
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| | along, it is worth taking the time to
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| main tourist destination in the Rockies,
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| | visit Moab Lake. A pleasant walk ends
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| Banff is very much a commercial town
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| | with the magnificently sited lake,
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| geared to tourism. But for those who
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| | mountains hovering in the
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| like their Rockies a little quieter, 250
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| | background.Skiers visiting in winter will
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| kilometres north is paradise - the town
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| | certainly want to make the trip to Marmot
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| of Jasper.July and August are the peak
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| | Basin, a popular ski resort south of
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| times to visit Jasper, but if you don't
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| | Jasper on 93A. In summer, however, it
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| mind colder weather and like your lakes
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| | looks much the same as any other deserted
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| frozen, you can avoid some of the
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| | ski field, except for the breathtaking
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| tourists by visiting in the few months
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| | scenery.One of the final stops before the
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| either side. The weather can be
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| | road rejoins the main highway is the
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| haphazard, so allow a little flexibility
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| | Athabasca Falls. A raging torrent in
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| in your plans.Six kilometres south of
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| | spring, the fierce waters tumble and
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| Jasper is Whistler Mountain. If you
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| | crash over hundreds of smoothed boulders.
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| visit early or late in the day, you will
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| | The adventurous can explore further up
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| most likely hear the melodic sounds made
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| | the river, but wear shoes with a good
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| by the whistling marmots living on the
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| | grip.When the time comes to leave Jasper,
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| lower slopes of the mountain. Early
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| | there are two major routes. Those who
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| birds can also get cheaper tickets on the
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| | arrived by train can continue their
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| Whistler Mountain gondola. The terminus
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| | journey either east to Edmonton and on
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| is at 2,500m, with spectacular views
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| | across the Canadian plains, or west to
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| south to the Columbia Icefields, and west
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| | Vancouver. This route takes you on one
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| to Mount Robson.For those who prefer to
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| | of the most spectacular train journeys in
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| look up at mountains, there are plenty of
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| | the world, with incredible scenery in
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| beautiful lakes close to town, all
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| | every direction.For those travelling by
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| surrounded by snow topped peaks.
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| | car, allow plenty of time to explore the
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| Patricia and Pyramid Lakes, 8km
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| | 230km Icefields Parkway which connects
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| north-west of town, are small and quiet.
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| | Jasper to Banff, with a slight detour to
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| They have beaches just begging for
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| | Lake Louise. The road follows a valley
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| picnickers to sit on them and admire the
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| | through the Eastern Mountain Ranges, and
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| view after a tranquil lunch. Herds of
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| | offers spectacular scenery and plenty of
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| elk and deer roam the area, and if you're
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| | wildlife. By the end of the day you'll
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| very lucky, you may spot a coyote or a
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| | probably have a stiff neck from craning
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| black bear.Maligne Lake is south of
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| | upwards to see the view.The Sunwapta
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| Jasper, and is the largest of the glacier
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| | Falls are set in chunky terraces of rock,
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| fed lakes. A boathouse from the 1920s
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| | and it's worth taking a short stroll to
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| completes the storybook setting. There
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| | the viewing platform. Peyto Lake is a
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| are a couple of excellent hikes in the
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| | beautiful glacial lake, but should only
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| area, taking full advantage of the
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| | be visited when the snow clears,
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| beautiful scenery.
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| | otherwise the gentle uphill stroll can
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| Nearby is Maligne Canyon, a narrow cleft
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| | become a mammoth battle through waist
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| through the rocks filled with roaring
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| | high snow drifts.Another beautiful stop
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| water during the spring thaw. It's also
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| | is the Tangle Falls. Intrepid visitors
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| home to a very active herd of big horn
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| | can do some exploring here, rewarded by a
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| sheep, who can jump out of nowhere to
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| | close up look at the rushing waters. The
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| startle tourists.For those visitors who
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| | best known stop, however, is Athabasca
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| like more leisurely pursuits, it is
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| | Glacier. This glacier has been steadily
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| possible to swim in Lakes Annette and
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| | retreating for years, and there are date
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| Edith near town. Situated at around
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| | markers so you can see the gradual
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| 1000m, they are popular during the summer
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| | regression. It is possible to take a
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| months, although it's still not advisable
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| | truck ride on the ice, or you can simply
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| to take a lengthy swim in the icy
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| | walk from the car park. Be warned - the
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| waters.After a few hard days of
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| | weather can change very rapidly during
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| sightseeing, go for a leisurely drive
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| | your visit, so be prepared.
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| about 40km towards Edmonton. At the
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| | The Weeping Wall is particularly
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| sleepy little town of Pocahontas (she
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| | interesting after or during rain, with
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| certainly got around!) take the turnoff
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| | thousands of tiny waterfalls pouring down
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| to Miette Hot Springs. The renovated
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| | its rough faces. And for those nature
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| spas contain two pools, and are a welcome
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| | lovers with a penchant for moose, try
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| respite for tired bodies. On the way
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| | visiting Waterfowl Lake at either end of
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| there you may be lucky enough to see
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| | the day. It's home to a number of these
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| mountain goats beside the road, although
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| | huge creatures.The Icefields Parkway
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| they're more likely to be perched on a
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| | continues on to Lake Louise, the
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| cliff high above you.Another excellent
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| | magnificent setting for scenes in the
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| drive is route 93A, which was the
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| | movie "The Bodyguard". Finally the road
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| original road heading out of Jasper
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| | reaches Banff, leaving the peace and
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| towards Banff. Now preserved as a scenic
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| | quiet of the wilder Jasper behind for
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| route, the road offers a number of
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| | good.Exploring the Canadian Rockies is a
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| interesting stops. Keep your eyes open,
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| | must for lovers of rugged, mountain
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| particularly during the quieter times
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| | scenery. For those who want to
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| early and late in the day, because wild
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| | experience the Rockies and its wildlife
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| life abounds here. Mother bears with
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| | as closely as possible to how it would
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| their cubs have been seen chomping on
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| | have been centuries ago, Jasper is the
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| berries right beside the road!The aptly
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| | perfect base. The Rockies are waiting
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| named "Meeting of the Waters" marks the
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| | for you.Travelling in Canada is a much
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| place where two rivers join together.
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| | loved past time for the author. Check
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| During the spring thaw this meeting can
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| | out or for more information.
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