My TripAdvisor Review No.552: McBride Visitor Center, BC, Canada.

Whistle Stop Station.

The McBride Visitor Centre is housed in the heritage station building of the village of McBride which is located 166 km west of Jasper and 210 km southeast of Prince George in the Robson Valley region of British Columbia. The train station was built by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in the year 1913. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1919 after being burnt down by a fire in 1918.

What we thought would be a whistle stop on our VIA Rail journey from Jasper to Prince George turned out to be a much longer halt at the McBride Rail Station. We were probably waiting for a freight train to pass. So we were allowed to get down and stretch our legs at McBride. We found the station building to be quite interesting because the McBride Visitor Centre is also located here. We found quite a good collection of free pamphlets and maps of the interesting places of British Columbia and particularly of the Rocky Mountains.

There is also a gallery of paintings and art works done by the local artists on display and yes, the name of the gallery is ‘Whistle Stop Gallery’. There is also a café and coffee shop called ‘The Beanery’.

We wish we could have browsed a bit more but the locomotive’s engineer sounded the train’s hooter, the conductor blew her whistle, and we had to board our train to head to Prince George.

Show less

Date of experience: July 2019

Ask EkMusafir about McBride Visitor Centre

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.551: Mount Robson, BC, Canada.

Rocky Mountain High.

Mount Robson located in the Mount Robson Provincial Park of British Columbia is the highest peak in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The peak stands at an elevation of 3954 meters or 12972 feet. The Fraser River originates as a trickle from up this mountain eventually flowing down to the Pacific Ocean. It can be easily seen and photographed from the Yellowhead Highway and the VIA Rail train running from Jasper to Prince Rupert. The nearest towns are Jasper in the east and Valemount in the south-west.

We passed Mount Robson twice while doing the VIA Rail trip from Jasper to Prince George and back. The first time we passed it was covered by thick clouds so we did not get to see the peak, but on the return trip we got a clear view of the high mountain and took some pictures too. It was an impressive sight to behold.

Show less

Date of experience: July 2019

Ask EkMusafir about Mt. Robson

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.550: Jasper Train & Tour, Canada.

All Aboard The 'Skeena' to Prince Rupert.

We decided to take the VIA Rail tour to explore and sight-see the western parts of British Columbia. We took ‘The Skeena’ train from Jasper to Prince Rupert, sometimes referred to as the ‘Rupert Rocket’ by the train staff. The journey takes about 20 hours to cover the distance of 1160 kms with an overnight stop at Prince George.

Our Economy Class seats were very comfortable with lots of leg room. Of course one can also choose to travel in the Touring Class, which has free access to the Dome Car and Park Car, by paying a higher fare, and which also includes buffet meals and drinks served on the train. For the economy class, meals, snacks, fruit juice and coffee have to be purchased separately and it is served to you at your seat. Some passengers opted to bring their own packed sandwiches and snacks. While traveling to Prince Rupert we did not have access to the Dome Car, but while returning we did, as there was only one couple in the Touring Class and they very kind and did not mind mingling with us.

The train staff were friendly and ever helpful. We had lady Louise as our guide, ably assisted by gentleman Anthony. They would periodically inform us about the route and stations we were passing, as well as the main attractions and points of interest along the way. Wildlife spotting was high on everyone’s agenda and we did spot some deer and elk along the route. The snow covered mountain peaks and fast flowing rivers, the Fraser and the Skeena, always kept our gaze riveted out the large windows during the day. The train would slow down while passing points of interest like Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.

One of the most controversial aspects of this way of travelling was that the VIA Rail trains were given lower priority than the freight trains, and we would have to stop at a siding quite often to let the freight trains pass, sometimes for as long as an hour. But this gave us an opportunity, with the engineer’s permission, to get off the train and stretch our legs and explore the countryside at ground level. As a result the ‘Skeena’ could never stick to its schedule. We had to check in to our Prince George hotel once at 11 pm, and beyond midnight on the return trip.

We had to arrange our own accommodations in the frontier towns of Prince George and Prince Rupert.

On the whole we quite enjoyed our rail trip from Jasper to Prince Rupert through the mighty Rocky Mountains.

Show less

Date of experience: July 2019

See all 5 reviews by EkMusafir for Jasper

Ask EkMusafir about Jasper Train & Tour

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.549: Tags Jasper, Alberta, Canada.

Convenience Store.

Tags was a nice grocery and convenience store and delicatessen located close to the Jasper Downtown Hostel where we stayed for one night. We could get a variety of ready to eat food items and also a selection of green teas and coffee. Bread, cookies and chocolates were also readily available. Ice-creams, fruit juices and soft drinks were also available, as well as frozen meats.

We bought some dips and cracker biscuits which we had as a light snack in the hostel kitchen. We also bought some packets of Doritos to munch in the train to Prince Rupert.

Show less

Date of visit: July 2019

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

See all 4 reviews by EkMusafir for Jasper

Ask EkMusafir about Tags Jasper

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.548: Barako Cafe & Gifts, Jasper Railway Station, Alberta, Canada.

Brunch At Jasper Station.

Our train ‘The Skeena’ to Prince George was delayed by over an hour so we were waiting in the Jasper Station Lounge and beginning to feel hungry. The complimentary coffee and cookies provided by VIA Rail was not enough to keep the hunger pangs at bay.

We found this nice café and gift shop in the annex of the railway station. I ordered ham and cheese sandwiches and some coffee with latte and cream. It took them a while to prepare and I was wondering why. When I was served I found the sandwiches really hot and tasty, and the coffee was also exceptional. Full marks to them for providing freshly prepared stuff. They have some chairs and tables to sit and eat near the café and out on the platform, but we carried our brunch to the lounge where we had occupied seats next to our luggage.

There are some gift items and memorabilia also which they have on display, like picture post cards, coins, key-chains and bookmarks which we were almost tempted to buy.

Show less

Date of visit: July 2019

• • Value
  • Service
  • Food

See all 3 reviews by EkMusafir for Jasper

Ask EkMusafir about Barako Cafe & Gifts

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.547: Jasper Station, Alberta, Canada.

Heritage Building.

We had to change trains at Jasper on our trip by VIA Rail from Vancouver to Prince Rupert. After boarding ‘The Canadian’ at Vancouver we arrived at Jasper the next morning and alighted at Jasper Station. We had to stay one night at a Jasper hotel and come back the next morning to catch ‘The Skeena’ which travels to Prince Rupert on the north western coast of Canada.

Jasper Station is housed in a beautiful heritage structure which was reconstructed after a fire burned it down almost 95 years ago. It is managed by the Canadian National Railway. Both VIA Rail and The Rocky Mountaineer use the station as transit points for their tourist trains.

There is a large high ceiling-ed waiting hall cum lounge where passengers can relax till their trains arrive. Heavy suitcases can be weighed at the check-in baggage counter next to the VIA Rail enquiry counter. Free tourist literature about the Rocky Mountains and the rest of western Canada can be picked up from the racks. Complimentary tea and coffee with cookies is available, and there are clean restrooms. There is a restaurant, coffee and gift shop in the annex. There is a large parking lot in the building compound. Services of tourist buses and taxis can be availed at the kiosks within the station.

The station is within a short walking distance from downtown Jasper and the shopping boulevard is just across the road. One can easily walk across to a regular restaurant while 'The Canadian' stops at Jasper for its onward journey to Toronto.

Show less

Date of experience: July 2019

Ask EkMusafir about Jasper Station

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.546: Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure, Alberta, Canada.

A Walk On The Glacier.

We were on a bus tour of the Canadian Rockies which stopped at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. We did the Snocoach ride to the Athabasca Glacier in the Ice Explorer bus, operated by the Brewster Bus Company. Due to the limited time at our disposal we did not do the Skywalk.

A shuttle bus took us from the Discovery Centre to the Snocoach Terminal from where we boarded the giant Ice Explorer Bus. The tires of the bus were huge. Our guide and driver was Prince Philip who kept us engrossed with his entertaining stories and jokes. Atop the glacier we alighted on the glacier ice and had a short walk to where the flags of various countries were planted in the snow. We collected some freshly melted glacial water in a bottle to drink later.

We had an out-of-the world experience walking on the glacier, and learnt a few lessons on why the glacier is receding at an alarming rate. The ride itself lasted less than an hour both ways, and we were trudging on the glacier for about 25 minutes. We were thankful to have worn our warm jackets, shoes and scarves and visited the restroom before going as it was very cold up there.

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

See all 3 reviews by EkMusafir for Jasper National Park

Ask EkMusafir about Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.545: Columbia Icefield Discovery Center, Alberta, Canada.

Midway Pit Stop Between Banff And Jasper On Icefields Parkway.

The Discovery Centre is located just opposite the Athabasca Glacier on the Icefields Parkway midway between Banff and Jasper. You can walk to the toe of the glacier from the Centre. There is a restaurant and a cafeteria in the Centre, and Glacier View Inn has rooms where you can stay the night.

Our tour bus halted at the Discovery Centre for lunch and some sight-seeing. The Centre was quite crowded with tourists milling around the gift shop, where you can buy clothes and memorabilia from both Banff and Jasper. There is a small museum and an information desk where we got some information about the Columbia Icefields and its glaciers. You can buy tickets for the ‘Glacier Experience’ operated by the Brewster Bus Company which operate the giant Snocoach buses to take you up on the Athabasca Glacier.

A shuttle bus took us from the Centre to the Snocoach Terminal from where we boarded the Snocoach. We had an out-of-the world experience walking on the glacier.

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

Ask EkMusafir about Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.544: Columbia Icefield, Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada.

The Glacier Is Just One Toe Of The Giant Icefield Beyond.

Going up the Athabasca Glacier in a Snow-Coach was one of the highlights of our Rocky Mountain trip experience. In reality the glacier was just one protruding toe of the giant Columbia Icefield.

After traveling a few hundred meters up the glacier in the Snow Coach we realized the true enormity of the Columbia Icefield which stretched into the horizon between the two mountains. It is the largest ice field in the Rocky Mountains. It straddles the Continental Divide and spills over into the province of British Columbia. The Icefield feeds five other major glaciers besides the Athabasca Glacier which we were standing on.

This was our first ever experience of walking on a glacier, and we then understood the importance of preserving the icefields on the top of mountains. It is these icefields which hold the snow and ice in winter, to slowly melt and supply us with water to drink and to irrigate the land so that farmers can grow the crops and plants which feed us throughout the year.

Be prepared to face the chilly winds and maybe some snow when going up the glacier. The temperature drops quite drastically even in mid-summer.

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

Ask EkMusafir about Columbia Ice Field

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.543: Athabasca Glacier, Alberta, Canada.

Walking On Cloud Nine!

Going up the Athabasca Glacier in a Snow-Coach was one of the highlights of our Rocky Mountain trip experience. We had pre-booked our SnoCoach tickets at the time of booking our bus tour so we did not have to wait much at the Icefield Discovery Centre.

First an ordinary bus took us up midway to the SnoCoach terminus where we boarded the giant coach with huge tires. It took about 15 minutes to reach the glacier where we were allowed to get down and walk on the crunchy ice of the glacier. Suddenly it was freezing cold in mid-summer, enough to make my cell-phone shut down. We were thankful to have worn warm clothing and proper walking shoes. There were flags of different countries planted in the ice, and a trickle of pure glacier melt water which we collected in a bottle to drink later.

There were signs that the glacier is receding at an alarming rate, which is a clear indication of global warming.

For us the glacier walk was like an other worldly experience, as if we had been walking on Cloud Nine!

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

Ask EkMusafir about Athabasca Glacier

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.542: Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada.

Breath-taking Drive From Banff To Jasper.

We traveled the Icefields Parkway, which is part of Alberta Highway No. 93, north of the Trans-Canada Highway No.1. It links Lake Louise, near Banff, with Jasper in the north, a distance of about 230 km. It is always open in the summer months from May to September. In winter, chains or winter rated radial tires are required by law, and there may be road closures without warning. There is no cell coverage and trucks are not allowed on this road.

The drive from Banff to Jasper along the Parkway is known to be one of the most beautiful and breath-taking drives in the world with snow capped peaks, glaciers, forests and lakes along the route where one can stop to admire the stunning scenery. There is plenty of wildlife like bears, wolves, elk, moose, deer and many other creatures roaming the forests, but you have to be lucky to spot any if you are merely driving along. We drove under many wildlife overpasses, or corridors, which have been specially constructed and are inaccessible to the normal traveler due to it being fenced.

A Canadian national parks permit is required to travel on the Icefields Parkway, but since we did the route in a guided tour bus we left that worry to the tour company. We stopped at many of the popular tourist places along the Parkway; prominent among them being Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Bow Summit, and the Icefields Centre at the Athabasca Glacier.

We finally stopped in Jasper for an evening cup of coffee and some shopping before carrying on further to Valemount where we stayed the night in a motel.

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

See all 4 reviews by EkMusafir for Banff National Park

Ask EkMusafir about Icefields Parkway

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.541: Bow Summit, Banff NP, Alberta, Canada.

Bird's Eye View Of Peyto Lake From Bow Summit.

To reach the Bow Summit we had to hike up further from the Peyto Lake viewing platform which was already overcrowded with tourists. It required some more effort and time to get up there but it was well worth the trouble. The view from the summit was one of the best views in the Rocky Mountains we had so far. We got a bird’s eye view of Peyto Lake, the bluest of the lakes, and the surrounding peaks. The Bow Summit was so peaceful with hardly any crowd.

We were lucky to have travelled by bus as the parking lot for buses and handicapped cars are the closest to the Peyto Lake viewing platform, and so the walk to the summit is doable.

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

See all 3 reviews by EkMusafir for Banff National Park

Ask EkMusafir about Bow Summit

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.540: Peyto Lake, Banff NP, Alberta, Canada.

True Blue.

Peyto Lake was the next lake on our itinerary after Bow Lake. It is named after Bill Peyto, a pioneering trapper and trail guide from the Banff area. Access to Peyto Lake was just off the Icefields Parkway and travelling by bus we were fortunate to get to a parking lot closer to the lake. It was a short uphill walk to get to the viewing platform.

The water was so blue, it was a sight to behold. Peyto Lake is one of the most beautiful and one of the bluest glacier fed lakes in the Canadian Rockies. The distinctive blue color is due to rock flour particles which flows down into the lake with the glacial melt and scatters reflected sunlight in an unique way.

There is a viewing platform which was overflowing with tourists, so we trudged up a little higher towards the Bow Summit to get a better and uncluttered panoramic view of the scenery.

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

See all 4 reviews by EkMusafir for Lake Louise

Ask EkMusafir about Peyto Lake

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.539: Bow Lake, Banff NP, Alberta, Canada.

Beautiful Lake Along Icefields Parkway.

After visiting Bow Falls we departed from Banff and traveled along the Icefields Parkway towards Jasper. Our next stop was at Bow Lake which happened to be along the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park. It is the lake closest to the headwaters of the Bow River which runs down past Banff town to Calgary and beyond.

Bow Lake is a small but beautiful lake surrounded by the high peaks of the Waputik Range of mountains. Water in the lake is the meltwater from the Bow Glacier and is turquoise in colour with a bluish tinge. We walked down from the parking area to the historical Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, a quaint wooden building with a red sloping roof, to the lakeside. The water was very calm and serene and reflected the images of the mountain peaks.

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

See all 3 reviews by EkMusafir for Banff National Park

Ask EkMusafir about Bow Lake

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.538: Bow Falls, Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Bow Falls Is Worth A Wow!

Bow Falls presented a spectacular sight with the Bow River gushing down from the higher reaches of Banff town. The water was cascading down with a roaring sound. We walked along the trail next to the parking lot and then climbed some steps to get a view of the cascading water from a vantage point.

The Falls are located between the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and the Banff Springs Golf Course, and less than a kilometre from the Banff Avenue Bridge across the Bow River. There is a small parking lot next to the viewpoint.

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

See all 3 reviews by EkMusafir for Banff

Ask EkMusafir about Bow Falls

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.537: Banff Avenue, Banff, Alberta, Canada.

Pot Of Gold At The End Of The Road.

We stayed one night at the ‘Banff Voyager Inn’ which is located at the north end of Banff Avenue, in the picturesque town of Banff, Alberta. It is the main street of the town along which most of the hotels, restaurants, shops, museums and art galleries can be found. We walked about 2 km to the end of the Avenue to the bridge across the Bow River. There is the beautiful and serene Central Park and The Bow River Trail at the south end of Banff Avenue.

We were blessed with a beautiful rainbow while we were walking, and captured it on our cameras so that we could track our pot of gold at the end.

On the way back we visited the IGA Superstore and picked up some groceries to take back to our room. It was truly an enjoyable walk with the views of the snow-capped peaks all around us.

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

See all 3 reviews by EkMusafir for Banff

Ask EkMusafir about Banff Avenue

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

My TripAdvisor Review No.536: Moraine Lake, Banff NP, Alberta, Canada.

Get The Best Views On The Rocks.

After visiting Lake Louise our bus took us to Moraine Lake about 14 km distant. The colour of the water here was slightly more blue than the waters of Lake Louise which was more a shade of emerald. These unique colours are due to the reflection and refraction of light from the rock flour sediment particles suspended in the water.

We could not help but compare the two lakes. Both the lakes were equally crowded with tourists, but the scenery around Moraine Lake was very different because it was surrounded by a pile of rocks which afforded some unique hiking trails up the rocky pathways to the top within a short distance around the lake. After climbing up the 'Rockpile Trail' we got stunning views of the lake from the top. The lake is surrounded by mountains and is known as 'The Valley Of The Ten Peaks'.

Moraine Lake is so called because of the pile of rocks (moraine) brought down by the glacier which offered a unique vantage point for grand views. It is definitely one of the prettiest lakes in Banff National Park, not to be missed just because of its slightly smaller size.

Show less

Date of experience: August 2019

See all 3 reviews by EkMusafir for Lake Louise

Ask EkMusafir about Moraine Lake

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC