Amethyst Lodge

Only 20 minutes from Jasper, Marmot Basin offers 3,000 vertical feet of superb skiing and snowboarding. With 86 marked trails, the terrain is nicely varied; from long, gentle, winding novice runs to steep, high alpine bowls and chutes and glade skiing through verdant pine forests. The ski and snowboard runs are split evenly between easy, intermediate and advanced, making this an ideal destination for the whole family and all abilities.

Wondrous mountain scenery, baby-blue lakes, soothing hot springs and a charming town site with a diverse selection of shops and restaurants are just a few of the draw cards to Jasper National Park. Dotted with fascinating sights and attractions throughout, Jasper will leave visitors mesmerized.

Regarded as one of the most stunning lakes in Jasper National Park, Maligne Lake is definitely worth the drive. Located southeast of the Jasper townsite, Maligne Lake boasts sparkling turquoise water and a backdrop of snow-capped mountain peaks. Although photo opportunities abound around the lake, the most photographed location is Spirit Island. During summer, visitors can view this tiny island covered with trees on a 90-minute scenic lake cruise.

Located only a few minutes north of the town site are Patricia Lake and Pyramid Lake. Patricia Lake offers spectacular scenery and an intriguing history. During World War II, the lake was the site of top-secret military experiment Project Habakkuk, which called for the building of an ice ship made out of pykrete (wood pulp and ice). Although the prototype was built, it was never used and eventually sank to the bottom of the lake. The remains of this one-of-a-kind ice ship can be explored by cold-water divers. Farther up the road is Pyramid Lake, a glacial lake bordered by the sky-scraping Pyramid Mountain. Situated only a short drive northeast of the townsite are the kettle lakes: Annette, Edith and Beauvert. Beautiful scenery, hiking trails and sandy beaches make these three lakes popular picnic spots.

One of the most impressive waterfalls in Alberta's Rockies is Athabasca Falls. The Athabasca Falls plunge 23 m (75.5 ft) and are surrounded by rugged rock formations, self-guided trails and interpretive exhibits. Although the bright blue waterfalls at Maligne Canyon Falls are a majestic sight to see in summer, in winter the canyon sparkles with frozen waterfalls and ice caves.

Through May to October, visitors can soak in the soothing 40?C water at Miette Hot Springs. The hot springs are surrounded by mountains and feature a shallow and a deep pool.

© Copyright 2012 Wotif.com Holdings Limited. ABN 41 093 000 456.