Shopping for a Lake in Jasper

We have rain in the forecast for today, and our legs say they need a day off after our 13-miles of hiking yesterday. So we have deemed this a driving day, and our main goal is shopping for a lake in Jasper. Not to buy--to kayak on. We'd like to go kayaking on the next pretty weather day, so we want to pick our favorite lake on this not-so-pretty day. We started out going south on highway 93A, and pulled off when we saw a sign for Lake Moab. We didn't know it was a 7-kilometer bumpy drive and then a hike to get to the lake. It looked like a perfect spot to run into a bear, but it didn't get our vote for the best kayaking lake.

Just down Highway 93A is a tourist stop that was on our way. Everyone that goes to Jasper must stop at Athabasca Falls.

So we went with all the other tourists to see the Athabasca River plunge its way down the canyon in a roaring waterfall. This is definitely not a good kayaking spot!

Our favorite part of the stop was the dry canyon where the water used to carve its way through the canyon. Now the water has taken a new course, leaving these dry canyon walls that are quieter and less busy.

Back on our lake shopping tour, the next stop is Lake Beauvert. On the way, we found a group of elk very close to the road, lounging and chewing their cud.

Beauvert Lake is lovely with its clear blue-green waters.

But it's busier because it is also home to the Jasper Park Lodge. We  toured through the grand old lodge, and our favorite part was the dog that lives in the lobby. Stanley was meant to be a seeing eye guide dog. But during his final training he was just too friendly to do his job properly. So now Stanley lives in a dog house at the park lodge, being friendly to all the guests who come to visit.

Next is Lake Annette. She's clear and calm today.

In fact we can see all the rocks under the water and her wildflowers that circle the lake.

Extra bonus is all the elk and aspen we found at Lake Annette.

We especially liked this young bull lying in the tall grass not far from the water. If you look closely, you can see the tiny ears of an elk calf hunkered down in the grass behind the bull.

We got a good picture of an elk eating the wildflowers by the lake. But this lake is pretty busy with a hiking trail and all these elk to bring in more visitors.

Next stop is Lake Edith, and she's looking particularly lovely this afternoon. We see a couple loons cruising her waters, so that gives her extra bonus points. We fell in love with the loon last summer in Minnesota, and we'd love to kayak with these birds again.

As we sit on the log bench in front of Lake Edith, we think that she's definitely in the finals for our kayaking choice.

Now we're heading north of town, and up in elevation. We stop in at Patricia Lake, and it's lovely to have a mountain backdrop to another perfectly clear lake. She's obviously one of the finalists as well.

Our final stop is Pyramid Lake, nestled at the bottom of Pyramid Mountain which is shrouded in clouds this rainy day.

We walk the bridge to get on Pyramid Island to see more of the lake. But this area is busier and the water is more brown instead of the crystal clear that we love. We probably won't be kayaking here.

Who knew that shopping for a lake to kayak would be so complicated? Actually, it just gave us a rainy day reason to wander more of God's wonders. It's so nice to have so many beautiful choices!