Jasper National Park is the most important nationwide park in the Canadian Rockies, spanning an unimaginable 11,000 sq. kilometres (4,200 sq miles). It boasts a number of the most awe-inspiring hikes for each ability stage. With its shimmering glacial lakes, large glaciers, and considerable wildlife, Jasper is a hiker’s paradise.
But you don’t should enterprise deep into the backcountry to expertise it. Many of the perfect trails and strolling routes are simply minutes from the city of Jasper, making it good for memorable day hikes. After many journeys to this a part of Alberta, we’ve discovered that whereas Banff will get a variety of the eye, Jasper gives a wilder, extra rugged magnificence that we maintain coming again to.
This information is designed that can assist you discover the right path to your journey. We’ve damaged down our favorite hikes by issue and included all the sensible particulars you have to hit the path with confidence.
Map of the Best Jasper Hikes
Best Jasper Hikes at a Glance (Top 5 Picks)
If you’re brief on time, this fast information will level you to the can’t-miss trails in the park.
Planning Your Jasper Hiking Trip
Before you lace up your boots, listed below are a number of important ideas for planning your journey.
Jasper National Park Pass Info
To enter Jasper National Park, you will need to have a legitimate Park Pass. You can purchase it on the park gates upon entry or on-line in advance.
Daily Pass (2025 charges): $10.50 CAD per grownup or $21.00 per automobile/group.
Discovery Pass (Annual): $72.25 CAD per grownup or $145.25 for a household/group. This offers you limitless entry to all of Canada’s nationwide parks for 12 months. If you propose to go to for various days or see different parks like Banff, that is the perfect worth.
You can buy your cross on-line from the Parks Canada web site. Please confirm all costs on the official website, as they’ll change.
Getting to the Trailheads
Jasper is finest explored by automobile. The park is situated roughly 4 hours (365 km / 226 miles) from Edmonton and about 3.5 – 4 hours (288 km / 179 miles) from Banff through the extremely scenic Icefields Parkway.
Check automobile rental charges right here.
Bear Safety & What to Pack
Jasper is house to each grizzly and black bears. It is crucial to be bear-conscious on all trails.
Carry Bear Spray: Know find out how to use it and maintain it accessible in your hip, not in your pack.
Make Noise: Talk, sing, or name out periodically to keep away from stunning a bear.
Pack in Layers: Mountain climate modifications rapidly. Bring a water-proof jacket, a heat mid-layer, and a hat, even on a sunny day.
Bring Water and Snacks: There aren’t any retailers on the trailheads. Pack greater than you assume you’ll want.
Where to Stay in Jasper
We stayed on the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, which makes for an awesome luxurious base. For different choices, you may try trip leases and lodges in the city of Jasper. There are additionally quite a few entrance-nation and backcountry campsites managed by Parks Canada, which must be booked properly in advance.
Easy & Accessible Jasper Hikes
These trails are good for households, informal walkers, or for a day once you need most scenic reward with minimal effort. They showcase a few of Jasper’s most iconic options with out requiring a strenuous, all-day dedication.
1. Maligne Canyon
Length: 3.4 km (2.1 miles) loop
Elevation Gain: 118 m (387 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Trailhead: Maligne Canyon Trailhead
Maligne Canyon is among the most spectacular hikes in Jasper National Park. Located simply 10 minutes from city, the path is definitely accessible. The properly-maintained path crosses a number of bridges, providing unimaginable views down into the deep, slender gorge carved by the Maligne River. You’ll see waterfalls and distinctive rock formations as you wind your means alongside the canyon rim.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: The canyon is beautiful in summer season, however it’s a totally totally different world in winter. If you’re visiting then, a guided ice stroll with cleats via the frozen canyon flooring is among the most unusual and memorable experiences you may have in the Rockies.
2. Valley of the Five Lakes
Length: 4.7 km (2.9 miles) loop
Elevation Gain: 162 m (531 ft)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Approx. Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Trailhead: Valley of the Five Lakes Trailhead on the Icefields Parkway.
This hike is an area favorite for good cause. The path takes you thru a lush forest earlier than arriving at a collection of 5 pristine lakes, every glowing with its personal distinct shade of jade and blue. The path has some mild rolling hills however is a rewarding hike for the entire household.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: The color of the lakes is really unbelievable on a sunny day. The Third Lake is probably the most vibrant and the perfect for pictures. It’s additionally the preferred spot for a really chilly swim in the event you’re feeling courageous!
3. Athabasca Falls
Length: 1.0 km (0.6 miles)
Elevation Gain: 26 m (85 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 30 – 45 minutes
Trailhead: Athabasca Falls Parking Lot on the Icefields Parkway.
While not a protracted hike, Athabasca Falls is among the strongest and picturesque waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies. The simple, paved pathways result in varied viewpoints overlooking the falls as they roar via a slender gorge. It’s a busy path, however properly well worth the cease for the unimaginable views of the falls and the Athabasca River.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: The energy of the water right here is the principle occasion. While the higher viewpoints are nice, make sure to take the steps all the way down to the decrease platform. You can really feel the mist and listen to the roar of the canyon, which actually places the drive of the river into perspective.
4. Toe of the Athabasca Glacier
Length: 1.4 km (0.8 miles)
Elevation Gain: 60 m (196 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 45 minutes – 1 hour
Trailhead: Toe of the Athabasca Glacier Trailhead on the Columbia Icefield.
This is an excellent, household-pleasant hike that gives a free different to the guided excursions on the glacier. The path leads you over the rocky moraine left behind by the retreating glacier. Along the route, indicators mark the glacier’s location in totally different years, offering a sobering take a look at how a lot it has shrunk.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: It is extraordinarily necessary to remain behind the ropes and on the marked path. The terrain close to the glacier might be unstable and there are unobservable crevasses which are very harmful. This hike is about witnessing the glacier’s scale from a protected distance.
5. Jasper Discovery Trail
Length: 8.5 km (5.2 miles) loop
Elevation Gain: 264 m (866 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 2 – 3 hours
Trailhead: Multiple entry factors from parking tons in the city of Jasper.
If you need to discover near city, the Jasper Discovery Trail is a superb selection. This simple path takes you on a stroll across the city’s perimeter, providing beautiful views of the encircling mountains and the Athabasca and Miette rivers. It’s simple to navigate; simply comply with the bear indicators.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: This is the right factor to do in your arrival day. It helps you get your bearings, stretch your legs after a protracted drive, and you may scout out some dinner spots in city alongside the best way.
6. Wapiti Trail
Length: 4.8 km (3 miles) out & again
Elevation Gain: 113 m (370 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
Trailhead: Wapiti Campground
The Wapiti Trail is a stunning, mild stroll that follows the trail between the Icefields Parkway and the Athabasca River. Starting from the Wapiti Campground, it heads northbound in the direction of the city of Jasper. It’s a comparatively flat and quiet path, good for a morning stroll or for households trying to benefit from the riverside surroundings with out a main climb.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: While it’s an awesome brief hike by itself, you may as well use this path to stroll all the best way from the campground into city for dinner, which is an effective way to earn your meal and benefit from the night gentle on the mountains.
7. Wabasso Lake Trail
Length: 7.7 km (4.7 miles) out & again
Elevation Gain: 276 m (905 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 2 – 2.5 hours
Trailhead: Wabasso Lake Trailhead
The Wabasso Lake Trail is a well-liked however peaceable hike that takes you thru a dense forest to a secluded, marshy lake. The path has some rolling terrain however isn’t overly strenuous, making it one other nice possibility for households. The actual reward is reaching the quiet shores of Wabasso Lake and having fun with the solitude and mountain reflections earlier than heading again.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: This path is thought for being muddy in sections, particularly after it rains, so waterproof mountain climbing footwear are a good suggestion. It’s additionally an awesome spot for birdwatching in the event you take your time by the lake.
Moderate Hikes in Jasper (5km – 10km)
Ready for extra of a problem? These average trails contain extra elevation achieve however reward you with spectacular, excessive-nation views that it’s a must to work for.
8. Edith Cavell Meadows
Length: 8.4 km (5.2 miles) loop
Elevation Gain: 582 m (1909 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Approx. Time: 3 – 4 hours
Trailhead: End of Cavell Road
The Edith Cavell Meadows hike is an exquisite and rewarding path in Jasper National Park. It begins on a paved path alongside the Glacier Trail, resulting in a surprising viewpoint of Angel Glacier and Cavell Pond. The path then climbs steadily via a rocky moraine and subalpine forest earlier than opening up into an exquisite meadow that’s crammed with wildflowers in July and August. You are handled to unimaginable glacier views for the complete journey.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: The drive to the trailhead is an journey in itself, with tight switchbacks. The actual star right here is Angel Glacier. You get nice views from the decrease lookout, however push on to the higher meadows. The sight of the glacier framed by wildflowers is totally well worth the climb.
9. Sulphur Skyline Trail
Length: 7.9 km (4.8 miles) out & again
Elevation Gain: 653 m (2142 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Approx. Time: 3.5 – 5 hours
Trailhead: Miette Hot Springs car parking zone
The Sulphur Skyline Trail is one in all Jasper’s signature hikes, identified for its unrelenting uphill climb that pays off with a number of the finest panoramic views in the park. The path begins at a gentle incline and simply retains going. Once you break via the treeline, the trail continues to a ridge providing a panoramic 360-diploma scene of the encircling peaks and the Fiddle Valley beneath.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: Don’t neglect your swimsuit! The final reward for this powerful hike is a protracted soak in the Miette Hot Springs, situated proper on the trailhead. Trust us, your drained muscle tissue will thanks. It’s the right finish to a difficult day on the path.
10. Pyramid Lake Loop
Length: 5.6 km (3.4 miles) loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 203 m (666 ft)
Trailhead: Multiple entry factors close to Pyramid Lake.
The Pyramid Lake Loop is a superb selection for a day hike with lovely views, situated just some minutes from the city of Jasper. The path climbs via the forest to viewpoints overlooking the enduring Pyramid Mountain and Pyramid Lake. There are many alternative intersecting routes in the realm, however most lead again to the principle path. It’s additionally a canine-pleasant path, so long as your canine companion is on a leash.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: For the perfect pictures of Pyramid Mountain mirrored in the water, be sure you take the brief stroll over the bridge to Pyramid Island both earlier than or after your hike. It’s probably the most photographed spots in Jasper for a cause.
Difficult Hikes in Jasper (10km+)
For skilled hikers on the lookout for a critical problem, these trails provide a number of the most expansive and rewarding views in the complete park. Be ready with sturdy mountain climbing boots, loads of water, and bear spray.
11. Bald Hills
Length: 15 km (9.3 miles) out & again
Elevation Gain: 780 m (2559 ft)
Difficulty: Difficult
Approx. Time: 5 – 7 hours
Trailhead: Maligne Lake parking space (furthest lot).
For views excessive above the treeline, nowhere is best than the summit of the Bald Hills. The path follows a large fireplace highway for many of the climb, with a steep shortcut possibility accessible for individuals who need it. As you achieve elevation, the bushes skinny out and the views of Maligne Lake and the encircling mountain ranges turn out to be more and more spectacular. The last push to the summit ridge opens as much as a surprising 360-diploma panorama.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: The last push to the true summit past the principle viewpoint is a little bit of a scramble, however it’s the place you’ll depart 90% of the opposite hikers behind. The 360-diploma panorama from the very high is among the finest in the Canadian Rockies.
12. Opal Hills Loop
Length: 8.0 km (5 miles) loop
Elevation Gain: 517 m (1696 ft)
Difficulty: Difficult
Approx. Time: 3 – 5 hours
Trailhead: Maligne Lake parking space (close to the boat home).
Don’t let the shorter distance idiot you; the Opal Hills Loop is a steep and strenuous exercise that takes you straight up. The path climbs relentlessly via the forest earlier than opening into an exquisite alpine meadow that’s usually crammed with wildflowers. This hike is a superb selection in the event you’re on the lookout for a difficult climb with rewarding views and fewer crowds than the close by Bald Hills path.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: This is a steep one, so mountain climbing poles are your finest pal, particularly for the descent. The actual reward is the alpine meadow on the high, which is a superb place to identify marmots and pikas in the summer season.
13. Whistlers Mountain Summit
Length: 12.7 km (7.9 miles) out & again
Elevation Gain: 968 m (3175 ft)
Difficulty: Difficult
Approx. Time: 5 – 7 hours
Trailhead: Upper station of the Jasper Skytram.
While the Jasper Skytram whisks you many of the means up the mountain, the hike to the true summit is a difficult journey at excessive elevation. From the higher tram station, the path continues to climb throughout a rocky, uncovered ridge. The path might be slippery with snow even in summer season. The reward is an unparalleled view over the city of Jasper, the Athabasca Valley, and numerous mountain ranges stretching to the horizon.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: Don’t be fooled by the tram experience; it is a correct mountain hike. Be ready for wind and chilly temperatures on the high, even in August. The view from the summit makes you are feeling such as you’re on high of the world.
FAQ: Jasper National Park Hikes
One of the perfect all-round hikes is the Valley of the Five Lakes for its beautiful colors and accessibility. For a tougher day with epic rewards, the Sulphur Skyline Trail is a signature Jasper expertise, particularly with a soak in the recent springs afterward. The “best” one actually is dependent upon your health stage and what you need to see!
Beyond the mountain climbing trails, you shouldn’t miss a drive on the Icefields Parkway, a ship tour on Maligne Lake to see Spirit Island, and the prospect to see wildlife like elk, bears, and moose (from a protected distance, in fact). The Jasper Skytram additionally gives unimaginable views with out the lengthy hike up.
There are over 1,000 km (600+ miles) of mountain climbing trails in Jasper National Park, starting from brief, simple walks to multi-day backcountry treks. This information covers 13 of our absolute favourites that supply the perfect experiences.
So, Which Trail Will You Hike First?
And these are our favorite hikes in Jasper National Park! There are dozens extra to discover, however these 13 trails provide an unimaginable style of what makes this nook of the Canadian Rockies so particular. Whether you’re taking a simple stroll to a waterfall or tackling a difficult summit, the views are assured to be price it.
Let us know in the feedback which hike you’re including to your checklist!