I’ll always remember the primary time we noticed a grizzly bear in the wild. We had been driving slowly down Maligne Lake Road in Jasper, home windows down, with the scent of pine hanging in the cool mountain air. And then, there he was, an enormous male grizzly, foraging for berries simply metres from the street. We lower the engine and watched in absolute silence, utterly in awe of his measurement and energy.
That’s the magic of Jasper National Park, one of the vital stunning of Canada’s nationwide parks. It’s a spot the place moments like that really feel potential round each nook. It’s wilder, larger, and extra rugged than its southern sister, Banff. After numerous street journeys via the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Jasper stays considered one of our absolute favorite locations on Earth.
Most guides gives you a easy listing of standard spots. We need to share the experiences which have stored us coming again for years. This is our assortment of tales, insider suggestions, and might’t-miss adventures, designed to assist you get past the roadside pull-offs and into the true coronary heart of the Rockies.
Top 5 Can’t-Miss Jasper Experiences
If you’re brief on time, listed here are the 5 experiences in Jasper that we consider are completely important for any first-time customer.
Maligne Canyon Icewalk: The single most original winter journey in the Rockies.
Jasper SkyTram: For essentially the most spectacular panoramic views of the encompassing ranges.
Wildlife Spotting: For that iconic second with a Canadian Rockies native.
Maligne Lake Cruise to Spirit Island: For considered one of Canada’s most well-known and breathtaking views.
Athabasca Glacier Walk: A real bucket-list expertise to stroll on an historical glacier.
Best Things to Do in Jasper for Wildlife Lovers
One of the principle causes we return to Jasper repeatedly is the unimaginable alternative to see wildlife. It is, certainly, top-of-the-line locations in the Canadian Rockies for animal sightings. Remember that these are wild animals; all the time maintain a protected and respectful distance, by no means feed them, and concentrate on your environment. It’s not unusual to spot wildlife like elk, deer, and even mountain goats.
Go on a Wildlife Safari (or a Self-Drive Tour)
While you possibly can ebook an official wildlife tour, our favorite manner to search for animals is to do our personal self-drive safari. There’s a quiet thrill in heading out at daybreak with a espresso in hand, driving slowly with the home windows down, and scanning the timber for motion.
The finest occasions are all the time early in the morning or in the hours simply earlier than nightfall when the animals are most lively. For the very best odds, we advocate a gradual drive down Maligne Lake Road or the Icefields Parkway simply south of city.
Look for Bighorn Sheep on the Miette Hot Springs Road
If you need an virtually assured sighting of Bighorn Sheep, take a drive out towards the Miette Hot Springs. Along the aspect of the street, you’ll usually see them licking the mineral deposits proper off the rocky cliffs. It’s an interesting sight. Just ensure to pull your automobile over safely and utterly off the street, as they will trigger a little bit of a site visitors jam!
Best Outdoor Adventures in Jasper
Jasper is a large outside playground, and the listing of potential adventures is limitless. But some experiences are so spectacular they need to be on the prime of everybody’s listing. These are our private favourites that we expect are actually unforgettable.
Hike Maligne Canyon (Summer) or Do the Icewalk (Winter)
Maligne Canyon is a must-see, however the expertise is totally totally different relying on the season. In summer season, it’s an exciting hike throughout a sequence of bridges, with the highly effective turquoise river roaring deep beneath you.
In winter, nevertheless, it transforms. We did the ice stroll on our final winter journey, and it was one of the vital unimaginable issues we’ve ever executed in the Rockies. You can ebook a guided tour or go by yourself. You strap on ice cleats and stroll proper on the frozen flooring of the canyon, surrounded by large, glittering icefalls. It’s an excellent enjoyable and otherworldly expertise.
Ride the Jasper SkyTram
For the absolute best view of the sheer scale of the encompassing mountains, you’ve to take a trip on the Jasper SkyTram. It climbs over 1,000 metres up Whistlers Mountain to a viewpoint that offers you a surprising 360-degree panorama of six totally different mountain ranges.
Our finest tip is to ebook a spot on the primary tram of the day. You’ll get the very best morning gentle for photographs and keep away from the most important crowds that arrive mid-day.
Take a Cruise to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake
You’ve most likely seen the photograph a thousand occasions; it’s considered one of Canada’s most iconic photos. So, is the cruise to see it in particular person price it? In our opinion, sure. The boat cruise itself is gorgeous, with guides declaring glaciers and historic spots alongside the way in which.
And seeing Spirit Island with your individual eyes, framed by the turquoise water and large peaks, is a second that really lives up to the hype.
Walk on the Athabasca Glacier
Part of the huge Columbia Icefield, the Athabasca Glacier is among the most accessible glaciers in the world. You can ebook a tour that takes you out onto the ice in a large Ice Explorer car, permitting you to step out and stroll on ice that’s 1000’s of years outdated.
It’s a humbling expertise to stand on such a strong river of ice. Even on a sizzling summer season day, the wind coming off the glacier is frigid, so ensure to carry a jacket and put on sturdy, closed-toe footwear.
Hike to Pyramid Lake and Gaze at Pyramid Mountain
Just a brief drive from Jasper city, the Pyramid Lake space is considered one of our favorite spots for a simple, rewarding outing. The important attraction is the small wood footbridge that leads to Pyramid Island, the place you may get that excellent photograph of the enduring, pyramid-shaped mountain mirrored in the nonetheless water.
We love coming right here in the early morning earlier than the tour buses arrive, when the lake is like glass and you may usually spot elk or deer grazing close to the shore.
Feel the Power of Athabasca Falls
While not the tallest waterfall in the Rockies, Athabasca Falls is among the strongest. The sheer quantity of water from the Athabasca River that thunders via a slim gorge is unimaginable to witness.
There’s a community of protected, paved trails and viewpoints that allow you to get shut to the motion. Our tip is to comply with the path down to the decrease canyon to see the place the churning water opens up into the river valley, it’s a perspective most individuals miss.
Explore Sunwapta Falls
Located additional south on the Icefields Parkway, Sunwapta Falls is one other must-see cease. We love this one as a result of the point of view is only a brief stroll from the car parking zone, making it tremendous accessible.
The traditional view is of the higher falls with its small island of timber proper in the center, however ensure to take the brief hike down to the decrease falls for wonderful views. It’s far much less crowded and presents an exquisite stroll alongside the river.
See the Sights from a Motorcycle Sidecar
For an exciting and completely distinctive perspective on the park, you’ve to strive a motorbike tour. We did this on our final summer season journey and it was an absolute blast. Bundled into the sidecar, you are feeling utterly immersed in the panorama—the wind in your face, the rumble of the engine, and utterly unobstructed, panoramic views.
Our information took us on a two-hour journey out to Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake, sharing fascinating info alongside the way in which, and seeing these iconic sights from the open air was a very totally different expertise than seeing them from a automobile. It’s a implausible manner to really feel the dimensions of the mountains and have a ton of enjoyable doing it.
Brave the Columbia Icefield Skywalk
Just a brief drive from the Athabasca Glacier Discovery Centre is the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, and it’s not for the faint of coronary heart. We’ve executed a number of of those glass-floor viewing platforms, and this one is actually spectacular. You stroll out on a walkway that extends over the Sunwapta Valley, with nothing however bolstered glass between you and a 280-metre (918-foot) drop.
The views of the glaciers and the valley beneath are breathtaking, and it provides you an actual sense of the dimensions of the panorama. Our recommendation is to give attention to the mountains on the horizon as you stroll out, and don’t look down till you’re prepared!
Best Relaxing Experiences in Jasper
Jasper isn’t nearly adrenaline-pumping adventures. It’s additionally a spot that invitations you to decelerate, breathe in the mountain air, and easily be current. These are a few of our favorite methods to unwind after a protracted day of exploring.
Stargaze in a Dark Sky Preserve
Did that Jasper is the world’s second-largest Dark Sky Preserve? This means the park has made a particular dedication to limiting gentle air pollution, and the outcomes are breathtaking. On a transparent evening, simply drive a couple of minutes out of city, pull over, and search for. We’ve spent hours simply staring on the Milky Way splashed throughout the evening sky, extra sensible than we’ve ever seen it anyplace else.
Soak in the Miette Hot Springs
Tucked away on the finish of a scenic street, the Miette Hot Springs are the most well liked mineral springs in the Canadian Rockies. Soaking in the nice and cozy, mineral-rich water whereas surrounded by towering peaks is the proper treatment for sore climbing muscle groups. It’s about an hour’s drive from city, however the gorgeous journey is a part of the journey. We assume it’s properly well worth the journey.
Explore the Downtown Jasper
The townsite of Jasper has a laid-back, unpretentious appeal that we love… Our favorite post-hike ritual is to seize a pint and a chunk on the Jasper Brewing Company, the primary nationwide park brewery to open in Canada. It’s the proper place to calm down and mingle with Jasper locals and fellow travellers. Don’t overlook to try the Two Brothers Totem Pole close by, an exquisite piece of native artwork.
Have a Drink on the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
You don’t have to be a visitor to expertise the grandeur of the historic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Set on the shores of the attractive Lac Beauvert, this sprawling property of log cabins and lodges is an attraction in itself. We love to cap off a day of climbing by heading to the Emerald Lounge, grabbing a seat on the outside patio, and having fun with a cocktail with a world-class view of the lake and mountains. It’s an ideal manner to expertise a chunk of iconic Canadiana.
If you might be staying on the lodge, we extremely advocate taking a dawn stroll round Lake Annette and Lake Edith. The views with the rising solar are spectacular.
Take a Jasper Food Tour
One of our favorite methods to get to know a brand new place is thru its meals scene, and a Jasper Food Tour is the proper manner to do this. We joined one on our final go to and had been so impressed. It’s a small-group strolling tour that takes you to 4 native eating places, pairing a signature dish with a craft beer or wine at every cease. It was an effective way to pattern totally different spots and chat with the restaurant homeowners and Jasper locals. We found a few new favorite dishes and it gave us a terrific really feel for the pleasant, down-to-earth meals tradition in Jasper city.
Planning Your Trip to Jasper National Park
Now that you’ve an thought of all of the unimaginable issues to do, let’s cowl the sensible particulars. Here’s what you want to know to plan your go to.
How to Get to Jasper National Park
The two closest main airports to Jasper are Edmonton International Airport (YEG) and Calgary International Airport (YYC).
From Edmonton: This is the closest and most direct route, usually a 4-hour drive.
From Calgary: The drive is longer, about 5 hours, however it takes you alongside the spectacular Icefields Parkway. If you’ve the time, we extremely advocate this route because it’s one of the vital scenic drives on the planet.
Combining Jasper and Banff: Many folks (together with us) mix a visit to each nationwide parks. We extremely advocate beginning in Banff National Park and Lake Louise, then driving the Icefields Parkway north to Jasper. The parkway is among the most scenic drives on the planet and an iconic Canadian street journey in itself. Give your self a full day to make the drive, as you’ll need to cease incessantly for photographs and viewpoints.
Getting Around (Do You Need a Car?)
In a phrase, sure. To benefit from your time and have the liberty to discover, a automobile is crucial. While the city of Jasper itself may be very walkable, a lot of the main sights like Maligne Lake, the Athabasca Glacier, and the assorted trailheads are unfold out throughout an unlimited nationwide park.
A car permits you to pull over safely for wildlife, go to viewpoints by yourself schedule, and actually expertise the wildness of the park. You can test for the most recent path situations and data on the Jasper Information Centre in city, or try the Parks Canada web site.
Where to Stay in Jasper National Park
Jasper doesn’t have a large collection of inns, so it’s vital to ebook properly in advance. For a primary go to, staying in or close to the principle townsite is your most handy possibility.
For a Central Location: Look for inns alongside Connaught Drive, the principle avenue in city. This places you in strolling distance of all of the eating places and outlets.
For the Ultimate Splurge: The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is an iconic Canadian expertise, set on an exquisite lake simply outdoors of city.
For a Rustic Feel: There are a number of cabin and lodge-style lodging simply outdoors the townsite that supply a quieter, extra rustic mountain expertise, which is nice for the entire household.
Best Time to Visit Jasper National Park
There’s no dangerous time to go to Jasper, however the expertise modifications dramatically with the seasons.
Summer (July – August): You’ll get the very best climate, the longest days, and all sights are assured to be open. However, that is additionally peak season, so anticipate the most important crowds and highest costs.
Fall (September – October): This is our private favorite time to go to. The crowds have thinned out, the aspen timber flip an excellent gold, and the air is crisp and funky. Wildlife can be very lively throughout this time.
Winter (December – March): Jasper transforms right into a magical winter wonderland. It’s the time for distinctive experiences just like the Maligne Canyon Icewalk, snowshoeing, and snowboarding at Marmot Basin. It’s chilly, however the snowy panorama is unforgettable.
Spring (April – June): This is the shoulder season. You’ll discover fewer crowds and higher costs, however the climate will be unpredictable. Many lakes should be frozen into early June, however it’s a good time to see bears and different wildlife rising from hibernation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jasper
Here are our fast solutions to a few of the commonest questions we get about visiting Jasper.
We advocate a minimal of three full days in Jasper. This provides you adequate time to discover the principle highlights like Maligne Lake and the Icefields Parkway with out feeling rushed, and it permits for no less than one massive journey like a serious hike or the SkyTram.
For the very best stability of excellent climate and fewer crowds, our private favorite time to go to is September. The fall colors are spectacular, wildlife may be very lively, and the summer season lots have gone dwelling. However, July and August provide the warmest and most dependable climate for climbing and lake actions.
Yes, you possibly can! Jasper is a large Dark Sky Preserve, which makes it an unimaginable place for stargazing and, in the event you’re fortunate, seeing the Aurora Borealis. Your finest probability is throughout the fall and winter months on a transparent, darkish evening. Head away from the lights of city for the very best view.
Your Jasper Adventure Awaits
Jasper National Park is the type of place that stays with you. It’s a very wild and humbling panorama that rewards the adventurous spirit. Whether you’re strolling on a glacier, watching a grizzly from a protected distance, or simply staring up at a sky filled with stars, we hope this information has helped you propose an unforgettable journey.
If you’ve any extra questions, drop them in the feedback beneath!