Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park, Alberta

In July 2024, wildfire burned through roughly a third of Jasper Townsite and large sections of the surrounding park – the most damaging wildfire in Canadian national park history. Two years on, the park is open and largely operational, but this context matters when you plan. Wabasso and Whirlpool campgrounds remain closed due to infrastructure damage. Some trails are still being assessed. Most of what you came to see, though, is accessible: the Columbia Icefield, Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake, and Miette Hot Springs all reopened through 2025. In 2026 the park is welcoming visitors at something close to its pre-fire level, and there is a case to be made that now is a particularly interesting time to visit – the recovery of a burned boreal forest is a slow and fascinating ecological process, and Parks Canada has added educational tours specifically about the fire’s aftermath.

Getting There

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is the most practical entry point, about 360km from Jasper Townsite on Highway 16 (the Yellowhead). Calgary is 420km via the Icefields Parkway – one of the great scenic drives in Canada and worth taking in either direction. Rental cars are available at both airports. A Parks Canada pass costs $24.50 per adult per day, or $75.25 for an annual Discovery Pass that pays for itself on a longer trip.

What to See

The Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Lake Louise is 230km of mountain scenery along the continental divide. Do not rush it. The Columbia Icefield Skywalk offers a glass-floored walkway over a canyon at 280 metres above the valley floor (around CAD $40), and the Athabasca Glacier sits just below. Markers along the access road show the glacier’s position in past decades; the retreat is plainly visible and genuinely arresting. Guided glacier walks operate daily in summer.

Maligne Canyon is the most visited natural attraction in the park. The gorge is 50 metres deep in places and the trail crosses it multiple times on footbridges. The lower bridge, about a 30-minute walk from the main parking area, shows the best of the geology; the upper canyon adds little visual reward for the extra time.

Maligne Lake, 48km from the townsite, is the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies. Spirit Island at the lake’s western end is reached by boat tour (around CAD $80) and is one of the more photographed spots in Canada. You will not have it to yourself, but the setting is real.

Jasper’s wildlife is one of its strongest cards over Banff. Elk wander through the townsite so casually that Parks Canada posts signs about not approaching them. Bears – both black and grizzly – are active throughout the park; carry bear spray on any trail. Moose are commonly seen in wet areas along Maligne Road. Jasper is also one of the more reliable places in Canada for wolf sightings, though they require luck and good timing.

Hiking

The Skyline Trail is a 44km multi-day route along exposed ridgeline above the treeline with views across the surrounding ranges. Backcountry permits book out early – plan months ahead. For a day hike with genuine elevation gain and views, the Sulphur Skyline Trail (8km round trip from Miette Hot Springs) is the best option near the townsite. The Cavell Meadows loop from Mount Edith Cavell, about 45 minutes from town, crosses Alpine meadows below a glacier with a particularly dramatic setting.

Where to Stay

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge on Lac Beauvert, 5km from town, is expensive but the setting justifies it – the lake is genuinely beautiful and the lodge has its own golf course. In the townsite, Marmot Lodge and Whistler’s Inn are reliable mid-range options. Parks Canada-operated campgrounds book through reservation.ca; for July and August, book months in advance. In 2026, about 75 percent of frontcountry campgrounds are operational following wildfire recovery.

Eating

Fiddle River Restaurant on Connaught Drive is considered the best restaurant in the townsite for Canadian food, with a strong local reputation. Evil Dave’s Grill is popular and has an eccentric menu. For breakfast, Bear’s Paw Bakery opens early and is genuinely good. These three names keep appearing in local recommendations for good reason.

Practical Notes

Jasper Dark Sky Preserve is one of the largest dark sky preserves in the world. On clear nights the Milky Way is visible in a way that urban visitors genuinely find disorienting. June and September offer good weather with fewer visitors than July and August. Snow is possible at any time above 2,000 metres, even in summer.