Summer Activities
Hiking
From easy to experienced, we are surrounded by hundreds of trails for your hiking or walking pleasure. There are trails that leave directly from the lodge as well as many more within driving distance that range from 2 km to 20 km. Check with front desk regarding the distance and degree of difficulty before you set out. We will provide you with all the information you need to make your day a perfect one. The trails provide outstanding scenery with stunning views of the Rockies, Kinky & Wildhorse Lake, Brule Range, Athabasca River and Folding Mountain. Hopefully you will get to see some of the local Wildlife in its natural Habitat.
Below are samples of some of the trails you can enjoy.
Beaver Dam Trail and Brule Sand Dunes: Leave right from our doorstep and take a stroll through beautiful wildflowers and amazing mountain views down to the home of some Canadian beavers. There is a perfect little spot to lay down a blanket and have a picnic. Venture a little farther (over the dam) and you arrive and the Brule Lake Sand Dunes. A natural wonder that most dont get to see (Approx 2.5Hrs there and back)
Sulphur Skyline: After a beautiful mountain drive of roughly 20 minutes you arrive at the Miette Hot springs. From here you have access to the Sulphur Skyline. It offers amazing hiking trails for hikers of any level. You can go for a short hike or take the whole day to explore. These trails will take you right into the heart of The Jasper National Park. The bonus will be the dip in the Miette hot springs on your way down from the mountain…Not to be missed!!!
Roche Perdrix and Roche Miette: for the more adventurous hikers/climbers or scramblers there are two peaks directly in front of the Overlander to challenge and amaze you. Experienced Hikers Only-please inquire about precautions. Roche Miette Info Roche Miette Info
If you are thinking about taking a trip for a couple days into the mountains we will provide you with storage for your excess luggage so you bring only the absolute necessities on your hike. If you need lunch to take with you we offer bagged lunches from our restaurant.
White Water Rafting
Rocky Mountain River Guides www.jasperrafting.com
Jasper Raft Tours www.jasperrafttours.com
Maligne Rafting Adventures
Jasper’s White Water Rafting
Raven Adventures
Motorcycle Touring
Jasper Motorcycle Tours www.jaspermotorcycletours.com
Quading, ATVing and Dirtbiking
Mountain biking
Single track mountain biking at its finest! Both Hinton and Jasper have an extensive trail system of beautiful and thrilling trails. What better way to see the park than on a bike? These trails are some of the best in North America and at this point see relatively low traffic. Levels vary from easy to difficult.
For rentals visit www.viciouscyclecanada.com and to see what Hinton has to offer go to www.bikehinton.com
Golfing
Hinton Golf club: Hinton has an 18-hole Golf course. This spectacular course lies in the heavily forested foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Its fairways meander over rolling hills and through tall spruce trees. Both scenic and challenging, course yardage ranges from 5433 yards (red) to 6729 yards (blue). The most scenic views on the course can be enjoyed from the 3rd green looking back, and the 11th tee contemplating your drive down the fairway. It is located roughly 15 minutes by car east of the Overlander on Hwy 16.
Jasper Park Lodge:
Swimming. Soaking and Diving
Miette Hot Springs:
Jasper Lake:
William A. Switzer Provincial Park: Two unsupervised beaches located at Jarvis Day Use Area and Kelley’s Bathtub are popular with swimmers and sunbathers. A large playground is available at Jarvis Day Use Area. Picnic sites are located at both areas.
Jasper Diving Adventures:
http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/switzer/flashindex.asp
Bird watching
Our lodge is actually located in a bird sanctuary and there are a variety of different birds to find. Over 277 species are found here, with several bird watching spots including the Beaver boardwalk in Hinton. The provincial bird of Alberta is the Great Horned Owl.
For more info on bird watching in the Hinton area please email: wjclub@telus.net
Horseback riding:
Horseback riding is available from the Entrance ranch which is roughly 20 minutes by car from the Overlander towards Switzer Park. Get off the beaten path and see another side of Alberta that many tourists miss.
www.entranceranch.com
www.trailrides.ca
Wildlife Viewing
Being right next to the park has its advantages including an abundance of wildlife. Bears, Deer, Elk, Coyotes, Moose and Mountain Sheep are just a few of the animals you might encounter.
www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks
www.jasperwildlife.com
Boating and Paddling
Wildhorse/Kinky Lake: The Wildhorse Lake is an excellent spot for canoeing. Wildhorse and Kinky lakes are calm and peaceful.
William A. Switzer Provincial Park offers a unique canoeing adventure. You may see bird, wild life and fish while you paddle through the lakes and wetlands: crossing beaver dams is a part of the experience. A formal self guided canoe route will guide you from start to end.
Ask us about canoe rentals.
www.albertaparks.ca
tpr.alberta.ca/parks/switzer/
Fishing
Fly fishing, Spin cast… whatever you choose… a bad day fishing is still better than a day at work! A wide variety of lakes, rivers and streams with a variety of fish such as: Pike, Walleye, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Bull Trout, Artic Grayling, Burbot, Rocky Mountain Whitefish exist in our area.
Wildhorse/Kinky Lake: The Wildhorse Lake is an excellent spot for fishing… in our own backyard. Wildhorse Lake is surrounded by many small lakes and a few trails. To reach the other lakes just follow the trails. The fishing is abundant in the summer as well as the winter.
Ask our front desk about fishing licenses.
Brule Lake Sand Dunes:
Just a 30-minute walk from the Overlander Mountain Lodge we have a sand-dune ecosystem: Air, earth, water and living organisms have waged a battle on the shores of Brule Lake for over 8000 years. Here the only sand dunes have been formed and constantly reformed by wind since the end of the last ice age. In the 1900′s the Grand Trunk Pacific railway ran across these desert-like dunes helping to connect the Rockies to Edmonton. Although drifting sand over the tracks caused this section of the railway to be shut down, remains of some of the tracks are still visible today. So take a walk to the dunes and spend a whole day relaxing and taking in the scenery. Please be careful of motorized vehicles since quading is one of the favorite activities to do on the sand dunes. Unfortunately condo bylaws prevent us from having any motor vehicles on the property from guests.
www.jaspernationalpark.com/…/jasper-national-park-jasper-lake-sand-dunes.html
Helicopter Tours:
If you’re looking to explore either the breathtaking Mount Robson or the magnificent Columbia Icefields in the comfort of a helicopter, we have the tours for you. Arrangements can be made to be picked up right here at The Overlander Mountain. They offer several different tours:
Mt. Robson Tour: At 3,954 meters, Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, towers over the western entrance to the Mount Robson Provincial Park. Mt. Robson is one of the most impressive and beautiful sights in the Canadian Rockies. In a range of impressive mountains, Mt. Robson is truly a giant.
Amethyst Lake: For a true high mountain experience, it’s hard to beat the stunning blue waters that give Amethyst Lake its name. The lake is backed by a jagged range of peaks called The Ramparts. The Ramparts rise 3000′ out of the waters of Amethyst Lake in Tonquin Valley Jasper National Park.
Columbia Icefields Tour: The Columbia Icefield is the largest of the chain of icefields along the Great Divide separating Alberta and British Columbia. Columbia Icefields is home to the some of the tallest peaks in Alberta.
Maligne Lake: The longest and the deepest lake in the Rockies, Maligne Lake is known internationally for its deep azure colour and snow-capped mountains. Maligne Lake is the second largest glacier-fed lake in the world, stretching 22km(14 mi.). It has been said, “Anyone who visits Maligne Lake in Jasper is bound to feel next to heaven.”
Or just give us a call and we will make arrangements for you.
Heli Hiking:
Travel to the remote locations in less time than you can imagine. Reach the high alpines of the mountain tops without the sweat. Helicopter hiking is becoming the norm, as the service is widening in the Rockies. Did you ever want to stand on the alpine meadows and was never able to? Well in Jasper, there are a couple of adventure specialists that can arrange your dreams to come true. Inquire with these outfits below.
www.hcheli.com
www.jasperadventurecentre.com
Rock Climbing:
Jasper National Park and the surrounding of the Overlander Mountain Lodge offer first class climbing in each discipline of the pursuit. There’s climbs for the beginners as well as the more serious climbers.
Cougar Bluffs: The Cougar Bluffs is just a few minutes from the lodge and is perfect for the beginner.
Hidden Valley: More advanced climbers will enjoy the Hidden Valley rock climbing paradise. This is a very popular spot what can be used for hiking as well but only advanced climbers should attempt the climbing sections.
Juno Wall: The Juno Wall is a large west facing limestone wall located just a couple kilometers from our Lodge. The climbing at the Juno wall is on well worn, fairly steep, good quality, limestone. The routes are generally rather steep, with small overlaps, usually constituting the crux. While the rock is good quality, it is limestone, and subject to breaking at any time – please wear a helmet at all times. Due to the exposure and location of the wall, it is one of the first places open to climb at the beginning of the season (it rarely receives snow), and has one of the longest seasons of any of the crags in the Jasper area.
Morro Slabs: This popular climbing spot will be shared with other groups but is excellent for a beginner. Just before you cross the Athabasca River towards Jasper from the Overlander Lodge there will be a small paved parking lot, the climbing area is only couple minutes away.
Let our own climbing expert tell you the best climbs for your experience level. Rock climbing and mountaineering are, by their very nature, potentially hazardous activities. The information presented here is intended as an adjust to, not a replacement for, sound judgment and experience. Climbing equipment and more information is available at www.gravitygearjasper.com.
Caving:
Cadomin Cave: The Cadomin Cave is one of the few caves in Alberta. Cadomin is a wild cave and is not commercially developed. It has large passages that continue to attract people intent to explore the depths, learning about caves, and enjoying the experience of total darkness. Cadomin Caves are wild caves and precautions should be taken before entering.
For more information on activities, rentals, or booking an activity in our area please call or email us, we will be more than happy to answer any of your questions!
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