This Canadian Mountain Town Sits Inside a National Park-With Glaciers, a Dark Sky Preserve, and One of the Country's Most Photographed Lakes

"In the late afternoon sun, the turquoise surface of Maligne Lake shimmers like an alpine mirage. The surrounding limestone peaks of the Canadian Rockies scrape the sky, tempered in their reach by glaciers capping their lofty ambitions. It's a sight that moved American-Canadian explorer Mary Schäffer Warren to reportedly declare: "If Lake Louise is a pearl, Maligne is the entire pearl necklace.""

""People still feel the small-town charm of Jasper. They appreciate the pace of the town and its laid-back atmosphere," says Paul Hardy, vice president of the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce and owner of SunDog Transportation and Tour Co.. "Even during the busiest time of summer, you can be out of town in 10 minutes and feel like you've got the park to yourself.""

Maligne Lake's turquoise waters and glacier-capped limestone peaks showcase Jasper National Park's dramatic alpine scenery. Jasper is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Dark Sky Preserve covering about 4,200 square miles along the Continental Divide in Alberta, adjacent to Banff National Park. The park blends expansive, remote wilderness with a small town of under 5,000 residents, many family-owned businesses, and a strong local community. Visitors can canoe on Beauvert Lake, picnic at Old Fort Point, and quickly access solitude from town. Lodging options include Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge on the shore of Beauvert Lake.

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