The approach toward Jasper from the east is very gentle. The valley of the Athabasca Rivers is much wider and softer than those of the Bow or the North Saskatchewan rivers, to the south. The waters have also fallen a lot further before escaping the mountains. Here are the attractions and highlights from the Jasper Park boundary to town (from <I>east to west</I>):
- Miette Hotsprings
These springs have temperatures averaging 54 degrees Celsius (130 degrees Fahrenheit) and are 61 km east of Jasper. They were built in 1919 by striking miners from the now-abandoned Pocohontas Coal Mine (active from 1910 to 1921). The road to the Hotsprings from Highway 16 passes Punchbowl Falls and the limestone slabs of Ashlar Ridge. The hotsprings also has several hiking trails, a campground and a motel.- Mineral Lick
- Just a few kilometres inside the park boundary, this is a large exposed salt lick which attracts many wild animals.
- Jasper Lake
- Set in a wide open valley, this lake is a widening of the Athabasca River, with an elevation almost 1,000 metres. Highway 16 sits on a natural sand dune that separates Jasper Lake from Talbot Lake on the south side.
- Pyramid Mountain
- This 2766 m (9, 076 ft) mountain overlooks Jasper and is named for its unmistakable shape.
- Pyramid Lake
- This lake lies in a bench above the Athabasca River, and was used in World War II for a project feasibility testing of 1000 ton boats made of slow-melting ice, to be used as aircraft carriers in the North Atlantic, and won’t burn when attacked.
