Riding the Tramway and hiking up the summit is an experience essential to any visit to Jasper National Park.
The “Jasper Tramway Experience”, as I call it, is a 3,000 foot ride up the side of Whisters Mountain while in a tramway (similar to a gondola). The tramway ride is followed by a steep walk from the tramway drop-off terminal to the summit of the Whistlers Mountain via the Summit Trail.
Along the way, it is clear why the slogan for Jasper National Park is “Wonderful By Nature”.
As you ride the gondola and then hike to the top of the summit, the panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies are spectacular.
Jasper Tramway
View from Jasper Tramway upper terminal - see Jasper townsite in the distance
Jasper Tramway – Tramway Ride, Hiking and Scenery
The Jasper Tramway Experience is made up of a sequence of 4 segments:
1. The ride up on the Jasper Tramway
- The ride up on the Jasper Tramway takes you to the upper terminal. The tramway car has a guide who tells a brief history of the tramway and interesting facts about the park. You may feel like a sardine packed into the tramway car with 10 or 15 strangers. Don’t fret. It is a quick and easy ride. You’ll be surrounded by windows and get a nice view on the way up. After the tramway drops you off at the upper terminal, you can hang out for a few and soak in the view from the decks. A gift shop and dining options are inside.
2. Hiking on the Summit Trail
- If the weather is good (i.e., not snowing, raining or very cloudy), take the hike from the upper terminal to the summit on the Whistlers Summit Trail. Start your hike up a steep but flat mountainside. There are several long plateaus along the way and it is not a difficult hike. Parks Canada urges visitors to stay on the trail to protect the fragile alpine vegetation. I recommend wearing layers (maybe even a hat and gloves). It tends to be cold and windy up here, even during summer.
3. Standing on top of the world
- This is not just a hike but an experience. Stop and take in the views at the summit or anywhere along the way. This is time on top of the world. The view up here of the surrounding Canadian Rockies is much better than from the tramway upper terminal down below.
4. Go back down
- There’s a sign at the end of the official trail and you can rest here before turning around and trekking back down (the trail unofficially continues on but that’s for advanced hikers). Last time, we packed some goodies from the Bear’s Paw Bakery to eat as our reward for making it to the end of the Summit Trail. Walking back down is easier. Head back down the tramway and off to your next Canadian Rockies adventure.
Jasper Tramway Hiking Map – Whistlers Summit Trail Map
Jasper Tramway Whistlers Summit Trail Map (click image to view large)
Jasper Tramway Whistlers Summit Trail Hike
Jasper Tramway Whistlers Summit Trail
An aerial view of Jasper townsite from Whistlers Mountain - the upper tramway terminal is on the left, Jasper townsite on the right
Views from the Whistlers Summit Trail
View from the summit on Whistlers Mountain - Jasper National Park
Jasper Tramway hike with young kids? - Yes, it is doable but a stroller would be challenging on the Summit Trail.
During the summer, be on the look-out for Ptarmigan feeding at the summit. The birds blend in with the background.
Ptarmigan on Whistlers Mountain in Jasper National Park
For more pictures of Jasper Tramway, view Jasper Journal’s Jasper Tramway photo gallery.
[Updated/Revised: 2/10/2013]
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Hello
Is there any parking for a truck and 5th wheel trailer units, approx. 40ft. in length? (3 units traveling together)
Also if parking is available please give directions from Jasper to site.
Thank you.
Karen
I’m trying to find a number and prices for the Gondola in Jasper for a group of 15 in JULY
I’m trying to find out if pets are allowed to go up in the gondola with you? If so are there any stipulations?
@Laura:
Currently, the group rate is $20 per person. For individuals, the regular adult rate is listed as $25.Child (ages 5-14) are $13.00 and under age 5 are free.
Jasper Tramway has special offers for groups of 15 or more. It gets the group through faster and there’s a meal offer. I’d suggest contacting Jasper Tramway’s Sales & Special Events Coordinator at 780 852 3093 in advance. There’s more info on the Jasper Tramway’s official website: http://www.jaspertramway.com
@Dana:
In regards to pets, I would guess the answer is in the negative but I am not positive. You may be able to bring a small “carry-on” dog but I would check with Jasper Tramway in advance.Correction (2/10/2013) – thanks @Stephanie for mentioning the dog requirements as well. I’ve been on the tramway several times and I’ve never noticed a dog until I returned in 2012 when there were 2 dogs in my tram on the way up. The tramway provided a black plastic muzzle type thing for the dogs for the ride on the tramway. It was 2 big dogs. I’m not sure hand-held dogs would get a muzzle but the tramway had muzzles of all sizes. The dogs didn’t seem to mind the muzzles. The muzzle was only for the tram ride.The Jasper Tramway’s phone number is 780 852 3093. The gondola carts up to 30 people at a time and space during peak times is limited.
If you do the hike to the summit with a dog, be careful for the sake of your dog, yourself and others. There are parts of the hike that are steep and in other areas, there are cliffs. The only protective fencing is at the drop-off terminal.
I know you can climb Whistler Mountain from the parking lot but I haven’t found out any info about the hike…can anyone help us.
I am wondering who I have to contact about getting married at the top of the Jasper tram. My fiancee and myself are thinking about getting married up there and we were looking at costs.
Hi Chad,
I’d recommend a call to the Jasper Tramway Sales & Special Events Coordinator at 780-852-3093. I believe the Treeline Restaurant can accommodate groups and may be a place for the event.
Besides the restaurant at the upper terminal, the only place to have an event would be to do the hike from the terminal and up the rest of Whistler Mountain. For a standing up wedding ceremony with a small group of people, it would be one-of-a-kind. I’m not sure that any part of this area could be rented or if this is allowed. The event coordinator should know.
There’s also a great thread about Jasper weddings on TripAdvisor forums here. Posters mention several other Jasper National Park facilities.
At the very least, if you want some great wedding photos, the top of Whistler Mountain ranks high.
can you book the toop cafe after hours for private events?
When is the Tramway closing in 2009
Is it open until the end of September ?
What is the roundtrip distance from the upper tramway station to the summit of Whisterler’s Peak? I found contradictory information on several websites. Thanks in advance!
Helmut Kuhne
Can you take strollers on the dondola
I’m pretty sure taking strollers is fine. I could have sworn I saw one last time I was on it.
I am afraid of heights. But as I look at it, it’s very interesting. Is this very safe?
I called the tramway and they do allow dogs, there is no extra charge. All that is required is that you alert the staff when buying your tickets that you have dogs and how many. As well as your dogs have to be muzzled ( which they supply).
Wow, really nice photos. It reminds me the North of Canada when I travalled there few years ago.
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Awesome post feeling nice to see the great views.
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Nices fotos
What a fun adventure! I would love to go there in my upcoming trip to Canada.
What do I need to do to get married on top of Whistler Mountain?
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