The first recorded visit to the Athabasca Valley was by surveyor David Thompson in 1810. The North West Company built a supply depot on Brule Lake in 1813, a settlement which later became known as Jasper House after North West Company clerk Jasper Haws. With the decline of the fur trade, Jasper House was abandoned in 1884. The Dominion Government established Jasper Forest Park in 1907, setting aside an area of some 13,000 square kilometers. By 1911, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway had reached Fitzhugh (now Jasper) Station. The Jasper-Edmonton road opened in 1928.
Icefields Parkway opened in 1940, connecting Lake Louise and Jasper.
| Municipality | Distance |
|---|---|
| Banff | 287 kilometres |
| Calgary | 414 kilometres |
| Edmonton | 363 kilometres |
| Kamloops | 443 kilometres |
| Lake Louise | 232 kilometres |
Pyramid Lake lies at the foot of Pyramid Mountain, a natural landmark that overlooks the town of Jasper. It has a total area of 1.2 km2 (0.46 sq mi) and discharges in Athabasca River through the 2 km (1.2 mi) long Pyramid Creek. There are several picnic sites on the shores of the lake, as well as boat ramps. Pyramid Lake Resort is located on the southeast point of the lake. Pyramid Island is a short distance from the resort, there is a small parking area which can be accessed by a road or hiking trails, then you cross a small wood foot bridge to the island itself, which has benches, picnic tables and a small open wooden shelter. When I was there there was a wedding taking place on the island. Pyramid Lake is connected to the town of Jasper by Pyramid Lake Road and hiking trails, as well as hiking trails to other tourist sites such as Pyramid Mountain.
