Brian from Washington writes: I’ve seen the Jasper Tramway advertised. Can you tell me about it?
Brian, if you want to get a bird’s-eye view of Jasper National Park – and make it to one of the most scenic spots in all of the Canadian Rockies without hiking one of the more tiring climbs it requires to get there – then the Jasper Tramway is your ticket.
Now, for me, it’s easy – a mountain man had best have a head for heights, or he’s in the wrong place! So I have to warn you, if you don’t like panoramas opening up beneath your feet, you’d be better served to stay on the ground. But it’s perfectly safe, and the view is unparalleled.
Here's how to climb a mountain and get spectacular scenery without hours of labor and effort. The Jasper Tramway is a seven-minute ride of unparalleled splendor.
The cable car takes you to the top of Mount Robson – Whistler’s Mountain to the locals. The mountain peaks at 2,285 meters (7,496 feet), admittedly tall in its own right, and the thing is so distinctive – it looks like a large white pyramid – that the mountain can be seen in British Columbia.
Aerial trams are common enough in the higher elevations of Europe, but, now that I think about it, I do believe they’re pretty rare here in Canada. That’s rather odd, actually. We’ve certainly got high elevations here!
So, what’s the ride like? Smooth, very smooth. You’ll ascend more than 3,000 feet in just seven minutes on the highest and longest guided aerial tramway in Canada. Along the way, the guide will keep you apprised of everything you can see and everything you’re passing.
At the top, the Upper Station features numerous interpretive plaques and lookout points. For the more adventurous, you can even take trails up to the summit, though please use caution and dress appropriately. Oh, and the very nice Treeline Restaurant is definitely a must-visit.
Yes, the tram does charge for the ride, but it’s a very reasonable price for the experience.
Being a mountain man, naturally I prefer to use my own two feet to go up and down these beautiful mountains. But I have the luxury of living here year-round. And all of that climbing can get very, very tiring.
So even a guy like me can appreciate something like the Jasper Tramway. It’s a wonderful way to get up to one of the great places on this planet of ours. Trust me. You may be cutting out a lot of the legwork of ascending Whistler’s Mountain, but you’re still getting all of the reward of making it to the top.