Jasper Family Photographers: Lake Edith + Lake Annette
As local Jasper family photographers, we know that Lake Edith and Lake Annette are two of the best places for families to hang out in Jasper in the summertime. They have lovely beaches, beautiful turquoise water, and incredible mountain views; what more could you ask for? Our family absolutely loves to ride our mountain bikes out to the lakes in the summer and spend time swimming or paddleboarding at Lake Edith, or jumping off the dock or sunbathing at the beach at Lake Annette, which is why it is no surprise that we also find it to be such a great spot for family photographs in Jasper! As family photographers who live in Jasper, we know that if we go to the places our family loves to spend time in, then our clients and their families will love it too. Family photos in Jasper don’t have to be stuffy and formal; they could also just be a fun day at the beach too.
Getting to Lake Edith and Lake Annette
The nice thing about Lake Edith and Annette is that they are very accessible. With picnic sites, picnic shelters, and a playground - all right next to parking areas - it is possible for the whole family to spend time at the Lake. Even those in wheelchairs can enjoy the beautiful paved trail that circles Lake Annette, (see more wheelchair accessible paved trails in Jasper National Park here) which offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the crystalline lake. It makes a really beautiful evening walk as the sunset paints the mountain peaks and colours the reflections in the lake.
It is only about a 5 minute drive from the townsite of Jasper to get to Lake Edith and Annette. Take the east exit from town and head east on Highway 16 until you reach the traffic lights, then turn right to cross over the Athabasca River. You can get to Lake Edith by staying on the Maligne Lake Road for about a km, or you can head to the main picnic and parking areas by taking the first right after the bridge, onto the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge road. Just follow the signs from there and you’ll be at the beach in minutes!
Jasper Family Photographers
Lake Edith and Lake Annette are really great spots for young families who want a bit of freedom and room for little ones to play. We might get a little wet and dirty, but that’s what being a little one is all about sometimes! We want your family photos in Jasper to reflect a real life family adventure. We want some nice posed photos too (that don’t look too posed), but we also want you all to have fun together because that is what family memories are all about, and that is what will make your photos stand the test of time and always bring a smile to your face. As local Jasper family photographers we love to see the smiles on peoples faces as they experience everything our hometown has to offer, and to show them some of our favourite places to hang out as a Jasper family.
Family friendly activities in Jasper for your vacation
There are so many family friendly activities in Jasper to choose from while you are here. Whether it is nice easy hikes and walks, like the path around Lake Annette or the popular Valley of the Five Lakes, a bike ride or paddleboard around Lake Edith, or renting a canoe at Pyramid Lake or a paddleboat rental at Lac Beauvert - in the summertime people and families love to spend time around the turquoise waters of Jasper lakes. There are also popular experiences, like getting up to a mountaintop the easy way when you ride a tram at Jasper Skytram, taking a boat cruise on Maligne Lake, a guided mountain bike tour or horseback ride. Jasper winter family activities include the famous Maligne Canyon icewalk, dogsledding, sleigh rides, skating at Mildred Lake, cross-country skiing, fat-biking - you name it! Make a list of some of the activities in Jasper that your family might like, and then you can all choose your favourites together and plan the perfect Jasper family activity for your visit.
Family Adventure Sessions
Like I mentioned previously, family photos in Jasper don’t have to be your normal stand-there-and-smile photos. Jasper is a place where people come to experience the Canadian Rockies with their family, and that’s why we also offer family adventure session photo packages! This takes your Jasper family activities and turns them into the photo session itself - a documentary style approach to family photography where we take photos of your family experiencing all that Jasper has to offer. We would love to photography your family trying out paddleboarding, canoeing, follow you out on the Columbia Icefields Snowcoach or to Spirit Island. Family adventure session packages are a fresh take on family photography that perfectly suits Jasper National Park and the adventures and experiences that make Jasper unique. Get in touch if you are looking for a Jasper family photographer or jasper portrait photography packages with a fresh eye and new ideas. We are happy to recommend family activities to suit your tastes, preferences, and ability!
Helpful things to know about Lake Edith and Lake Annette
Both of these lakes are great for swimming, and are two of the warmest in Jasper during the summer months.
The Lake Annette trail is a loop, so you can start at any point along the trail and just keep going until you come back around. There is no need to start at the main trailhead.
You can rent paddleboards from Translucid Adventures at Lake Edith on the southern beach. There is lots of parking between Edith and Annette, just head down to the lakeshore and look for the little trailer with a blue roof.
There are plenty of dog friendly areas, they just need to be kept on leash. Dogs are not permitted on the Lake Annette beach, however.
The numerous campfire pits make this a great picnic location, or a place to hang out for a few hours in the afternoon or evening.
The road is plowed throughout the winter, but the gate closes at dusk. Usually Parks staff will come around and shepherd everyone out before they lock the gate.
If you bring your family out to Lake Edith or Annette we hope you have a great time! Let us know if you think we missed something ;)
