If you are looking for spectacular views across Jasper National Park, why not consider taking a trip to the summit of Whistlers Mountain? More on the name of this later and why you should never confuse this with its more infamous counterpart that has a very similar name. Rather than thinking about plotting your route to the summit of this peak and how long it may take you, the Jasper SkyTram offers the perfect alternative to reach the top of the Canadian Rockies.
During our recent 48 hours in Jasper National Park, our first experience was taking the SkyTram to the summit of Whistlers Mountain. Not only is this a great way to reach the summit and admire the breathtaking panoramic scenery across this gorgeous national park, it is also an opportunity to visit the tallest and highest aerial tramway in Canada.
We want to share our experience visiting the Jasper SkyTram and while you are planning your itinerary for an upcoming trip to Jasper, perhaps you will consider adding this attraction to your schedule.
Jasper SkyTram Information
Let’s start with some of the essential information that we all need to know before visiting any attraction like the Jasper SkyTram. Your initial reaction to the admission price may be a little negative but please be assured that this is well worth the cost, especially given that you can spend as much time as you like at the summit of Whistlers Mountain.
Admission Prices
Adults – CAD 44.95 (USD 34)
Youth (6-15) – CAD 22.95 (USD 17)
Children (5 and Under) – FREE
The Jasper SkyTram also offers a family package deal which allows 2 adults and 2 youths to travel for only CAD 112.85 (USD 85)
Opening Times
March 24 to May 18 – 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
May 19 to June 22 – 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
June 23 to September 4 – 8:00AM – 9:00 PM
September 5 to October 29 – 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
***Be sure to check the Jasper SkyTram website for all of the latest details on updated admission prices and opening times. The above information is accurate as of the time of publication of this post.***
Whistler Mountain vs Whistlers Mountain
It’s fair to say that many of you reading this post may have seen the title and thought this was about “Whistler Mountain” in nearby British Columbia. Whistler is a major ski resort just north of Vancouver, BC and shouldn’t be confused with its similar name counterpart that we visited in Alberta.
However, despite the obvious differences between the two, both names have a similar heritage. Named after the whistling sound of the marmots that reside in these mountains, Whistlers Mountain and Whistler Mountain are both incredible natural landmarks that are worth visiting.
We saw a number of marmots (large squirrels) during our visit to Whistlers Mountain but fortunately, we didn’t see any that felt in any danger otherwise we would have heard the iconic “whistle” they are renowned for.
When you head to Jasper National Park, don’t forget the following:
Whistler Mountain = Vancouver, BC
Whistlers Mountain = Jasper, AB
Journey to the Top
After arriving at the Jasper SkyTram 15 minutes prior to our departure time, we admired the scenery from the bottom of Whistlers Mountain.
Of course, we had no idea what to expect once we reached the summit and the reality is, the pictures you can take from the bottom are nothing compared to the panoramas available once you reach the top.
We boarded our gondola along with a couple of other folks from around the world and our two tour guides immediately started telling us the history of the SkyTram along with Whistlers Mountain.
The journey takes around seven minutes and as you climb in altitude, it gives you a greater appreciation of the technology used in creating such an awesome aerial tramway.
Our guide pointed out some of the iconic mountain ranges we could see around Jasper National Park while reminding us that the town of Jasper is a great place to explore while taking time away from the natural beauty of the park.
A flight on the Jasper Skytram will truly heighten your senses.
As we approached the half-way point of the ride, we were warned that there may be a slight “sway” but it was hardly noticeable and certainly didn’t take anything away from the scenery. Perhaps we were all transfixed on the surrounding beauty that we didn’t even notice it!
Approaching the summit of the Jasper SkyTram at an altitude of 2277 meters (7472 ft), I took the opportunity to look back down and it’s only then you realize just how high up you in comparison to where you started.
Summit of Whistlers Mountain
The moment you leave the gondola at the top of the Jasper SkyTram, you realize that your experience at Whistlers Mountain is only just starting. Hiking trails that lead all the way to the summit, offer an opportunity for even more spectacular scenes.
For those of you that are a little less adventurous and prefer to stay in the comfort of the Jasper SkyTram station, there are a couple of interpretive boardwalks that you can enjoy.
Whether you are intrigued by the myriad of wildlife that you may stumble across at the summit or simply want to admire all of the towering peaks that rise above the various mountain ranges that surround you, there is plenty of information to ensure you don’t leave without a plethora of knowledge.
Depending on the time of the year you choose to experience the Jasper SkyTram will likely determine how adventurous you want to get on the hiking trails. We visited in what I would determine the “in-between” season where the majority of the ice/snow was melting but there was still enough to ensure the trails were a little tricky.
The hardest part was actually clambering up from the boardwalk to the start of the trail but once we plotted our way through the deep snow, we had the opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous scenery.
Please remember that the alpine environment and weather can be unpredictable. Always be safe, prepared and dress appropriately.
Summit Restaurant
Ready to enjoy a light refreshment or something to warm you after hiking around the summit of Whistlers Mountain? Let’s take a look at the options available at the Summit Restaurant!
I can’t imagine there are many places throughout Jasper National Park that offer the opportunity to have a fine dining experience while admiring such jaw-dropping views. This is exactly what you can enjoy at the Summit Restaurant.
In terms of cuisine options, well there is a variety to satisfy everyone’s appetites. The local favorite is the elk meatloaf sandwich but if this doesn’t appeal, perhaps a burger, butter chicken or fish tacos will intrigue your taste buds. Breakfast is also available between June and September from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
Summary
Our visit to Whistlers Mountain was our first real introduction to Jasper National Park and what a great way to start our visit to this part of Canada! The Jasper SkyTram is an awesome journey and the reward awaits when you admire the 360-degree breathtaking views surrounding you.
Whether you are an avid hiker or prefer to take a relaxing stroll to enjoy the amazing scenery, Whistlers Mountain is undoubtedly one of the best places throughout Jasper National Park to explore.
Disclaimer – We would like to thank Tourism Jasper for providing us with tickets to experience the Jasper SkyTram in exchange for consideration of a blog post review. These are solely our personal opinions/experiences and we were not financially compensated for this post.
Wow, the views are absolutely incredible! I would love to visit this part of Canada 🙂
Highly recommend it!! It’s an incredible part of the world and this experience is just one of so many amazing ones that you will have in Jasper NP!
Skytrain ride is just awesome. And you have captured the ice fields so well. Absolutely breathtaking. I visited Jasper in May 17. Maybe we crosse paths…who knows.
Regards,
Rekha
I have not been on the sky tram for a number of years but I have been up there probably a half dozen times in my life. I have a couple of tips that may be appropriate. Since this is 2019 I see prices are up, about $52 Cdn. plus GST, so say approximately $55 Cdn. per adult with youth rates about half this amount. I see they had a significant incident last year when the power went out because of a storm. Apparently about 160 people had to spend the night up there and flown off by helicopter the next day. I didn’t look into this incident too closely but everyone got off safely. No one can predict what the weather might do but people should remember the safety record of this attraction is excellent. I also saw a complaint from someone last year who was stranded at the top because of strong winds preventing the tram from running for 4 hours. There was a long lineup to get down the mountain and apparently some people were stranded because the tram shuts down in the evening at a time conducive to the safe operation of the tram. Again, I didn’t research the final outcome of this situation so I don’t know how or when it was resolved. I saw some apparent local guide put up a post saying they could do the 3 hour hike back down the mountain. Not really helpful at all.
Age and physical condition come into play. And going down a mountain hiking trail, even an easy one, in the dark can be a potentially hazardous experience for a person with little or no hiking background. Cell phone flashlights aren’t all that good for such an endeavour. I reiterate that these experiences
are very rare occurrences and the vast majority of people who ride the sky tram have no such problems.
I went up once and ran into a little snow near the top of Whistlers. This was in June. My recommendation is to do Jasper in early to mid-August. Pick a day during the week to go up Whistlers, if at all possible in your schedule. Also important to remember is to try to go early in the morning, at least by 10:00 A.M. at the latest, if at all possible.
Try to follow the above criteria as much as possible. August is the best time to go up Whistlers with the intention of going to the top. If you’re in moderately good physical condition you should be able to reach the top in 20 – 30 minutes. If you’re older like me you may take something more like 45 minutes to get to the top. Coming down is easier, obviously. Some years back I was at Whistlers with my father. He was in his late 70’s at the time and in reasonable health for his age. He made it to the top of the mountain in about 45 minutes so you can see that the climb is not overly strenuous. It is well worth the exercise as you get a whole bunch of extra views you don’t get from the chalet at the top of the sky tram. This is the reason to try to go when it’s not raining because the trail can be slippery and a little bit hazardous. You can still do it but you do need to exercise some greater degree of caution. And of course, if it’s raining your views will be correspondingly disappointing.
Going in late July or early to mid-August will almost guarantee that there will be no snow on top of Whistlers. There may be a few wildflowers still blooming and you will likely see marmots and chipmunks. And the 360° panorama of views is truly awesome, the colours are spectacular. Anyone who has climbed to the top will know what I mean.
Going early in the day will help you avoid the busiest times, maybe the cars will be less crowded, and this allows you plenty of time to see and do what you want on the mountain while allowing you to get back down the mountain long before the rush to get down starts. Also, if the weather is a little unsettled, thunderstorms can brew up quite quickly in the mountains. If you have been up the mountain from 10:00 A.M. or better still, 8:30 to 9:00 A.M., you will be heading down the mountain by around 1 – 2 P.M. Storms don’t usually get going until mid to late afternoon so you’ll be safely away before any likely storm rolls in.
Check the weather forecast for the date you’re planning to go up the mountain. If it’s calling for rain and overcast don’t go. If it’s unsettled or calling for thunderstorms don’t go. If it’s going to be overly windy don’t go. Also, if you don’t like being packed together with a bunch of people in a small space or you’re claustrophobic or you have a strong fear of heights, don’t go. It sounds like I’m telling everyone not to go but I just want to warn people of possible pitfalls. All this being said, you can get up there and have a spectacular experience. But you must be able to deal with uneasiness around a bunch of people you don’t know, being in small spaces, or being quite high above the ground in a cable car. My daughter doesn’t like heights but she has no problem going on the sky tram. It is safe. As I said, I’ve been up there half a dozen times myself and I am not the most comfortable person when dealing with heights myself. Going up a chairlift is a far scarier thing to do.
I realize this is a long post but I wanted to put out some detailed information to give people an idea of what the sky tram experience is like and about. I will likely go up the sky tram again sometime in the next two years, it’s been a long time and I really want to experience the exhilaration again. If you are not a major league mountain hiker and you don’t climb mountains you will be just like me. The ride is relatively short, 7 – 10 minutes, and really very smooth except for the slight bump going past the tower. I really saw no problem being bunched in the car. It’s just like taking a busy elevator in a high-rise.
For people who don’t climb mountains this is an easy way to get the experience of how it feels to be on a mountain top. And even though it is somewhat expensive I consider it well worth the price. I’m sure it is a once in a lifetime experience for many people. I know it was for me.