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Jasper National Park

Medicine Lake Landscape, Jasper National Park, Canada

Golden trees and grass lining either side of a trail around Medicine Lake with a swath of bare trees and tall mountains in the background, Jasper National Park

"Approximately 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Jasper townsite in Jasper National Park, Medicine Lake is part of the Maligne Valley watershed. Approximately 7 km (4.3 mi) long, it is famous for its disappearing water. In summer, it looks like a normal alpine lake but in fall and winter the water disappears and it becomes not much more than a mudflat. Think of pulling the plug in the bathtub – the water that pours into the lake from the Maligne River drains out through sinkholes in the bottom, travelling through a cave system and resurfacing 16 km (10 mi) downstream."

Rebecca Latson
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Soaking In The History Of Radium Hot Springs

Relaxation doesn’t come naturally to everyone, so when I grudgingly slipped into the steamy, mineral-rich water at Radium Hot Springs, I couldn’t help but think of that deadly day in 1967 when a semi truck hauling gasoline lost control on the steep mountain highway nearby and crashed, killing the driver and spilling more than 7,000 gallons of fuel into the creek that ran beside the hot pool and under the main stone building.

Spirit Island, The Beating Heart Of Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park

The small landscape known as Spirit Island, surrounded by mountains and forests lining the shores of Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park.

The Stoney-Nakoda First Nation believes everything around them is alive and has a spirit: people, mountains, rocks, water, wildlife, insects. The mountains surrounding Maligne (Muh-LEEN) Lake in Jasper National Park are the embodiments of Stoney-Nakoda ancestors and the small Spirit Island connected to the mainland by an isthmus is the beating heart of the lake as well as the focus of Stoney-Nakoda traditions and ceremonies. You cannot set foot upon this "island" but you can photograph it. As such, Spirit Island is one of the most-photographed places in Canada.

Rebecca Latson
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Photography In The National Parks: Road Trippin’ The Canadian Rockies!

Traveler contributing photographer Rebecca Latson took herself and her cameras on a 2,000-mile September road trip to visit four national parks in the Canadian Rockies. Despite the mixed bag of weather and clash of expectations versus reality on the road, Rebecca captured amazing shots which she uses to illustrate tips and techniques for your own national park road trip.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.