Family Adventure Holidays to Jasper National Park

Thinking of somewhere new to try one of the many excellent active family adventure holidays? How about Canada? And more specifically, one of the most fantastic outdoor locations in the western part of Canada - Jasper National Park.

Located in Alberta, west of the city of Edmondton, the astonishingly beautiful Jasper National Park is part of the Canadian Rockies. The park was named after trading post officer Jasper Hawes, and was established in September 1907 as Jasper Park Forest. It wasn’t until 1930 that it was granted national park status.

There is so much to see and do in Jasper National Park that it is a logical place to base family adventure holidays. Here's what you can expect.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and extended in 1990, Jasper National Park joined Banff, Kootenay and Yoho national parks in an inscription for its "scenic splendour" – these sites truly exemplify the awesome physical beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Craggy peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, caves and canyons are just a few of the features that make this park so unforgettable for family adventure holidays.

Rafting

Jasper National Park’s Columbia Ice Fields is the headway of three major river systems, so where else would you go on family adventure holidays to go white water rafting? With the Athabasca River rated as a two (one is easiest, six is hardest), and the Sunwapta River being a three, the area is perfect for those who are just getting to grips with the sport or even trying it for the first time. On an eight-seater raft, experienced river guides will teach you the ins and outs whitewater rafting down rapids, and you're guaranteed to have an absolute ball! A trip down the rapids can last from two to five hours and is perfect for getting rid of any extra energy children may have accumulated!

Fishing

Even if you have never picked up a rod and reel and hauled in a big (or small) fish in your life, there is no time like family adventure holidays in Jasper National Park to make a start. You'll be close to one of the greatest sources of water in North America (which means a huge diversity of fish species), and a fishing expedition to the ice fields of Jasper National Park is a must, regardless of the time of year. You will need a permit to fish here (available from the Tourist Info Centre), but if you go on an organized trip with a guide that will all be sorted for you. There is a range of tours you can join operating in and around the park, and these experts will take you to all the best spots - depending on the time of year – and teach you the tips and tricks of getting the big ones! And if you think fishing doesn’t come under the banner of adventure, you've never been fishing in Canada!

Richard Edwards is the Managing Director of Summit and Blue, a specialist adventure and activity holiday company offering independently crafted family adventure holidays to exciting destinations around the world, including France, Italy, Portugal, the USA and Canada. With unique itineraries and exciting activities like biking, hiking, white water rafting and canoeing, we create holidays for families looking for an experience a little more off the beaten track.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.