Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies is one of the most impressive natural areas in Canada, yet it sees far fewer visitors than Banff National Park, its insanely popular neighbour to the south. The two parks have a lot of similarities, but everything about Jasper is just a bit more manageable than Banff, from the single street of shops to the reasonable parking scenarios to the complete lack of traffic jams. Nonetheless, there is a long list of excellent reasons to visit Jasper National Park and, spoiler alert, we’re going to talk about them all.
Don’t get me wrong, we love Banff, Lake Louise and particularly the hiking around Canmore, but Jasper offers a very different vibe. Not off-the-beaten-path exactly, just more relaxed and a little less hectic, while still absolutely surrounded by gorgeous scenery, terrific hiking trails and easy to reach viewpoints and waterfalls. Which are just a few of the many things to do in Jasper National Park, along with one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, a world-class cable-car journey and some of the most impressive glaciers in the Rockies.
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Altogether, a fantastic destination for nature lovers, families and even adrenalin junkies. And if you’re one of those people that can spend hours following a herd of elk around a campground taking photo after photo in search of the perfect shot, well, boy oh boy, are you in luck.
One small complication, you may have heard about the huge wildfires in 2024 that absolutely ravaged Jasper. Yeah, that is definitely noticeable, even a year later. Roughly 1/3 of the town was lost to fire, plus both main campgrounds and a good chunk of backcountry campsites and hiking trails. But, despite ongoing disputes between the park and the provincial government, they managed to get back up and running for 2025, albeit at slightly reduced capacity and with plenty of temporary structures.
Luckily, though, Jasper National Park covers a very large area, meaning there were still loads of great scenery and amazing highlights to enjoy in 2025 and everything should be quite a bit farther along by 2026, in the townsite especially. So don’t let the damage deter you, Jasper is still an amazing place and they could certainly use your visit!
Jasper National Park: 12 Reasons to Visit
As always, this list won’t be completely exhaustive, limited as it is by our inherent biases toward the stuff we personally like to do. Guaranteed we’ll miss out at least a couple things other people really enjoy as well, such as visiting heritage museums or doing laundry in one of the largest coin laundromats we’ve ever seen. And, trust me, we’ve seen a few laundromats in our time. Hey, I guess I didn’t miss those after all. You’re welcome.
Now for the stuff we particularly recommend:
SkyTram
The Jasper SkyTram offers the best viewpoint in Jasper National Park that doesn’t require any hiking. Of course, that convenience doesn’t come cheap and, realistically, once you get there you’re going to be very tempted to continue on up the hill to Whistlers Summit, where the views are even more impressive.
But you don’t have to. The views from the upper tram station are pretty awesome without taking more than, say, 20 or so steps. If you do have the energy, time and wherewithal, however, we’d highly recommend the short but steep climb to the summit (3.5 km / 280m elevation gain / 1.5 hrs).
From there, you can continue across a small saddle to another viewpoint (15 min) for a different angle and slightly different views, and energetic types can head south to Indian Ridge, which offers all sorts of further hiking options and similarly epic views. All the way to the top of the ridge from the tram station is 8.5 km with 825m elevation gain and will take about 4 hours return. The last bit is steep and scrambly but you can easily just go as far as you feel like before turning around. Rest assured, you continually get new views no matter how far you go.
As for the logistics, be sure to dress warm since it is usually several degrees cooler up there than in town and the wind tends to be, shall we say, bitter. Still, for a more serene experience we would recommend going up early. The first tram starts up at 8 am and we’d recommend buying your tickets in advance.
Maligne Lake
Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, gorgeous Maligne Lake is a must-see while in Jasper National Park. Long and narrow, with impressive islands and surrounded by photogenically snow-covered peaks, Maligne Lake offers tremendous scenery while enjoying any of the wide variety of activities available.
Whether hiking one of the many nearby trails, canoeing or kayaking on the lake itself, sipping a drink overlooking the water, taking a scenic and entertaining Maligne Lake Cruise or just chilling out on one of the beaches, you can easily spend a day or two just focusing on Maligne Lake.
The Maligne Canyon Loop was still closed in 2025 due to fire damage but provides an outstanding scenery to effort ratio (3.5 km / 130m / 1 hr) and is recommended, along with the several different viewpoints you’ll pass on the drive out from town (Fifth Bridge / Sixth Bridge / Maligne Overlook / Medicine Lake).
Waterfalls
The main waterfalls near Jasper are a bit different – not tall, thin streams cascading down from a high cliff – more loud, violent and messy, getting very scenic and wild where rivers are forced to squeeze through narrow passages, with fun and fascinating results.
Both Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls are south of the Jasper townsite on the incredibly scenic Icefields Parkway (Highway 93). The ease of access means they tend to be among the busier spots in Jasper but they’re worth it. Also, both have additional sections that involve a bit more walking/hiking where you can quickly leave the crowds behind.
Day Hiking
Jasper National Park hiking options are among the best anywhere in the Rocky Mountains. There is a wide range of trails from easy strolls to moderate half-day hikes to epic all-day challenges. We’ve already mentioned Whistlers Summit, Indian Ridge and Maligne Canyon and here are several more terrific options:
Bald Hills
15 km / 780m / 5 hrs
Arguably the best hike in Jasper National Park, after an hour or so climbing up through the trees, you’ll emerge to fabulous views over Maligne Lake and the surrounding peaks. There are a couple different options involving a shorter but steeper forest trail and a longer but more gradual fire road. Personally, we prefer tackling the steeper parts heading up and the gradual parts going down but you can make your own call.
Opal Hills is a similar trail on the other side of the lake.
Wilcox Pass/Ridge
9.5 km / 485m / 4 hrs
About an hour and a half south of Jasper just past the Columbia Icefields, this is one of the rare Rockies hikes that gets out of the trees quite quickly, meaning you get amazing views nearly the whole time. The set of classic national park red chairs are faded but still in high demand and the pass itself isn’t particularly impressive, but from the ridge you will enjoy stunning views of the mountains and glacier across the highway. This one gets quite windy as well, so pack accordingly.
Parker Ridge (6.5 km / 350m / 2.5 hrs) is nearby and also offers glacier views from a slightly different angle.
Pyramid Lake Loop
6 km / 220m / 2 hrs
Even if you’re not in a hiking mood, lovely Pyramid Lake is well worth a visit (especially popular Pyramid Island). If you ARE feeling jaunty, it is worth hiking up to a nice overlook, easily turned into a loop with a variety of distances and difficulties.
The following trails are all among the best (and most popular) in Jasper but were closed for the 2025 season due to fire damage. Hopefully they will re-open soon.
Edith Cavell Meadows
7.5 km / 550m / 3 hrs
Edith Cavell Meadows – AllTrails
Valley of the Five Lakes
5 km / 165m / 1.5 hrs
Valley of the Five Lakes – AllTrails
Sulphur Skyline
8 km / 650m / 3.5 hrs
Trekking
When you’re in one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in Canada, why limit yourself to day hikes? Well, maybe because you hate sleeping in a tent, definitely hate carrying said tent, don’t want to carry and cook all your own food in the middle of the bush and you have a healthy fear of grizzly bears. Just to name a few.
But… if you are one of those adventurous souls who loves a good backcountry trek, the Jasper Skyline Trek is one of the best in Canada, if not the world. While we have not completed it ourselves, we did make it partially through a few years ago before being turned back due to a lot of rain (we could live with that part) followed by a large dumping of overnight snow (not cool, man). In August! So, yeah, be prepared for any weather, obviously. And pack light. But comprehensively because, you know, the “be prepared for anything” bit. And you’ll surely want bear spray.
45 km / 1,650m / 15-20 hrs
The scenery, though, oh my. Covering 45 km all the way from Maligne Lake to Maligne Canyon, over half the trail is above the treeline with spectacular views. There are several campsites along the way so it can be done over 2-4 days, just make sure you book well in advance. Meaning, the very minute Parks Canada reservations open for the year, usually in January.
Columbia Icefield Skywalk
For many people, the opportunity to literally walk on a glacier is he highlight of their trip to the mountains. Columbia Icefield Skywalk and Ice Explorer trips include crossing the Athabasca Glacier in a massive 4×4 truck along with an exhilarating visit to the glass-bottomed Skywalk hanging high above the phenomenal Sunwapta Valley. These guided tours also provide fascinating historical info along with the rather weird chance to drink some pure glacier water.
Wildlife
Jasper National Park is teeming with wildlife, featuring a healthy population of pretty much every species common to the Canadian Rockies. Fan favourites include the many elk that you’ll see everywhere, especially hanging around the campgrounds, and the Columbia ground squirrels that still treat the area like their own personal recreation room.
If you’re lucky, you may also spot gigantic moose, sneaky foxes, intimidating grizzlies and wily coyotes. And on most high hikes you’ll see chubby and hilarious marmots, also known as “mountain beavers”. Ok, not exactly “known as”, more described once by some rando on the internet. But I like it, and I intend to continue using it.
Lots of birds, too, obviously.
White Water Rafting
Looking for a shot of adrenalin to go with your leisurely sightseeing, craft beer testing and $7 ice cream cones? Look no further than white water rafting on the Athabasca River, where you can enjoy Grade 3 rapids in freezing glacier-water river while enjoying breathtaking scenery on all sides.
Miette Hot Springs
Or, if you’re looking for the complete opposite of freezing your extremities while hurtling through the mountains on a wild river, you can simply spend some time soaking in Miette Hot Springs instead, hottest of all the springs in the Canadian Rockies. Apparently, the water is actually TOO hot when it first emerges from the mountain (yes, too hot even for you, Uncle Rod who assures everyone he has his own hot tub and likes it hot, like, SUPER-hot). But they use pools to tone the temperature down from a rather dangerous 54C to a more manageable, but still steamy, 40C.
It is a bit of a drive from the town of Jasper (1 hr), but, like everywhere around Jasper, the views are awesome.
Camping
Camping in the mountains is a truly unique, memorable experience. From the epic scenery to the wandering wildlife to the frigid nights, mountain camping is a fantastic experience. Within limits, of course, as we usually find 4-5 nights to be plenty, but feel free to explore your own threshold for outdoor living and sleeping on the ground.
Whistlers Campground is one of the biggest in Canada although, prior to the 2024 fire, you wouldn’t necessarily notice because the sites were all hidden from each other in thick forest. Now, however, other than 40-50 hardy survivors, all the trees are gone and things are quite wide open, visible and typically windier than in the past.
On the bright side, there are clear views of the mountains in every direction now and they’ve replaced all the old bathrooms with shiny new, exceptionally modern units. The main road sign survived the fire – barely – and has been left in its somewhat rough condition as, I don’t know, maybe a reminder of the trauma. Not sure, but I thought it made for a rather evocative photo.
Whistlers also has oTentik cabins for rent if you don’t have your own tent or RV, although those will need to be reserved as early as possible as they tend to go quickly.
Just across the highway, Wapiti Campground also lost everything and only re-opened at reduced capacity for 2025, while Wabasso remained closed. I would expect everything will be fully open for 2026, though.
Another good option can be found near Miette Hot Springs and the Whirlpool Campground is set up specifically for large groups. Meanwhile, there are a variety of very basic, self-registration campgrounds if you’re looking for something a bit quieter, including Snaring, Kerkeslin, Honeymoon Lake, Jonas Creek, Icefield and Wilcox.
For more details, check out:
Parks Canada – Jasper Campgrounds
And go here to make reservations:
A Quieter National Park Experience
After listing all these big highlights I’d almost forgotten that the whole theme of this list was Reasons to Visit Jasper. Well, a big one right now is getting to experience one of Canada’s best national parks with far fewer other tourists around. Don’t get me wrong, Jasper wasn’t empty in 2025 by any stretch, but with lots of buildings gone, some trails closed and some of the scenery compromised, it is certainly quieter than it was in the past.
Support the Local Economy
The added benefit being that you are also doing your part to support the local Jasper economy. More or less the entire town relies on tourist income to survive, never more so than in the wake of the 2024 disaster. So you can feel good knowing that your tourist dollars are contributing the park’s gradual recovery.
Just keep in mind the rebuilding process is slow (and complicated, apparently) so just relax and go with the flow when not every trail is open or you’re waiting in line at one of the 2 remaining gas stations (2 others were lost in the fire).
Jasper: Hotels
If you’re not into camping, there are plenty of fantastic – and more civilized – options available. These are a few of the best:
Roche Bonhomme Rustic Suite is a family-friendly apartment with a full kitchen, laundry and wifi, close to all the main attractions.
Rooms at Whistlers Inn feature cable TV, AC and private bathrooms. There are two restaurants and a pub, along with several gift shops. It is located near Jasper Park Golf Course and directly across from the Jasper train station.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is THE iconic place to stay in Jasper. Located on Beauvert Lake, it is known for its world-class golf course, not to mention eight dining options and extensive spa facilities. The hotel is located just across the tracks from town and some of the rooms feature lake views.
Patricia Lake Bungalows is on a nice, quiet little lake just outside of the Jasper townsite and they offer loads of activities, including a private dock, playground, outdoor hot tub, biking, boating and hiking. Some of the rooms even have full kitchens.
Jasper Hostels
Canadian national parks are not exactly known for being budget-friendly, so if you’re looking for a more affordable option you can check out Jasper Downtown Hostel or HI Beauty Creek Wilderness Hostel, located right on Sunwapta River.
HI Jasper went down in the fires and it is still unclear if or when it will be rebuilt. HI Mount Edith Cavell still exists but remained closed for 2025 because of nearby fire damage.
Jasper: Where to Eat
There are many good restaurants and pubs in Jasper to ensure you never have to go hungry. Some of the best include:
The Raven Bistro (and it’s partner restaurant, The Peacock, which is a bit fancier)
Mad Grizzly
Jasper Brewing Company
Harvest Food & Drink
Maligne Range
Cassios Italian Restaurant
Fiddle River (seafood)
Andaaz (Indian)
Families or the budget-conscious also have fast food options, such as Tim Horton’s, or Pizza Hut, KFC and A&W, which are all in the same building.
Jasper Weather
At just over 1,000 metres above sea level, Jasper tends to be a bit cooler than most places on the Prairies or the coast. Many of the hikes end up over 2,000 metres where it will be even colder and, being in the mountains, the weather changes quickly and often without warning, so pack for all conditions.
Getting to Jasper
All visitors to Jasper National Park must purchase a Parks Canada Pass, although they aren’t required for those just passing through.
Jasper is a bit farther from main centres than Banff is, which is part of the reason it has stayed a little bit under the radar.
Driving Times
Banff – 3.5 hrs
Edmonton – 4 hrs
Calgary – 4.5 hrs
Kamloops – 5 hrs
Jasper is also a busy train hub and popular stop for people travelling by rail across the country.
Jasper Highlights Map
Click the star to save this map to your Google Maps – then find it under Saved/Maps (mobile) or Your Places/Maps (desktop)
Trip Planning Resources
Here is a list of the most important resources we use when planning our travels, all in one convenient spot. Full disclosure, when you use any of these links to reserve or sign up for something, we receive a small commission which is greatly appreciated. However, your price does not change and we have only included products and websites that we can honestly recommend.
- DuckDuckGo is now far and away the best search engine for travel planning. While Google still provides quick answers to a specific questions, the rest of the results are completely overrun by ads and big company sites with only vaguely related info. DuckDuckGo, on the other hand, still offers useful lists of firsthand articles and posts about potential destinations, perfect for planning your next trip.
- We book the majority of our hotels on Booking.com. With frequent stay discounts, thousands of reviews and free cancellation, it is very rare for us to have a bad hotel experience these days.
- Wise is by far the best international multicurrency bank account we’ve found. We can now send and receive money in half a dozen different currencies, convert to dozens more with no exchange premium and pay or withdraw local currencies. Highly recommended.
- When travelling we always get SIM cards with data for our phones. Local SIM cards are sometimes a bit cheaper but if you have a relatively new smartphone (iPhone XR or newer, Samsung S20 or newer) you can just buy an eSIM online, get a QR code by email and you’re good to go. After extensive research we have found that Nomad eSIMs usually have the best coverage and prices.
- If you’re interested in local guided tours, including everything from city tours to cooking lessons to adventure activities, check out the huge range of options at Get Your Guide.
Summary
Jasper National Park is terrific. Beautiful, varied and mostly uncrowded, it is a fantastic alternative to the madness of Banff or Glacier National Park in Montana. As avid hikers, we love Jasper for its wide variety of trails, from easy strolls to challenging and gorgeous day hikes to epic multi-day treks. As avid eaters, we also loved the fish and chips and daily ice cream.
Thanks to the smaller crowds, wildlife spotting tends to be more successful as well, yet another of the many great reasons to visit Jasper. I mean, even if those elk setting up camp right behind your tent eventually become more hindrance than highlight, there’s no substitute for some up-close-and-personal mountain beaver action, am I right?
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