Jasper National Park is in the Alberta Rockies region of Alberta, Canada. It has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is the largest of Canada's Rocky Mountain Parks, spanning 10,878 km² (4200 square miles) of broad valleys, rugged mountains, glaciers, forests, alpine meadows and wild rivers along the eastern slopes of the Rockies in western Alberta. There are more than 1200 km (660 miles) of hiking trails (both overnight and day trips), and a number of spectacular mountain drives.
- Jasper.
Jasper.
Columbia Icefield.
Comprising of delicate and carefully protected ecosystems, Jasper's scenery is nonetheless rugged and mountainous. In this special corner of Canada you can thrill to the thunder of Sunwapta Falls, enjoy the serene beauty of Mount Edith Cavell, connect with nature along more than 1,000 km of trails, experience Athabasca Glacier up close, or resign yourself to a relaxing soak in Miette Hot Springs.
All visitors stopping in the park (even just for gas) require a park permit. If you are driving through non-stop, the pass is not required. Day passes and annual passes are available.
All Canadian National Parks require visitors to pay an entry fee. Canadian residents and international visitors pay the same fees. The national parks in Alberta and BC are fairly close to each other and it is possible to visit several of them in a single day. If you pay an entry fee in one mountain park (e.g. Banff National Park), and visit another on the same day (e.g. Yoho National Park), you will not have to pay a second time. Your paid entry fee is valid until 4PM the following day.
The fees that visitors pay do not go to general government revenues; they are used to enhance and maintain the parks and visitor services.
For 2018, the entry fees are:
- $9.80 per day for an adult (aged 17-64)
- $8.30 per day for a senior (aged 65+)
- free for children and youth (aged 0-16)
If you are entering the park as a group of 2-7 people travelling in a single vehicle, you can pay the group fee of $19.60 per day. (This is the same fee as paying for two adults.)
If you will be visiting Canadian National Parks for 7 days or more, you may save money by purchasing an annual Discovery Pass:
- $67.70 for an adult
- $57.90 for a senior
- $136.40 for a family/group
A Discovery Pass includes admission to national historic sites operated by Parks Canada, such as the Banff Park Museum, Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Bar U Ranch, Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, and Fort Langley National Historic Site. Parks Canada does not operate all of Canada's national historic sites.
Additional variable fees are required for camping and backcountry exploration. See the official Parks Canada website for a complete current schedule.
A Park Pass is also required for anyone travelling the Icefields Parkway (#93) between Lake Louise and Jasper.
- Whistler's Mountain. Take the Jasper Tramway half way up the mountain. From there it is a relatively short but very steep walk to the peak. On a clear day there are some superb views of the mountains ranges of the area and back into the valley below. May people get a false sense of security in the summer walking from the cable-car but be aware the weather can change quickly and you can find yourself in clouds or a small whirlwind.
- Maligne Lake. Regular boat trips to see the wonder of a lake with water two different colours in different parts. Spirit Island, made famous by a photography competition, is in the middle of Maligne Lake. The only way to see the island is to take the boat cruise (1.5 hours round trip). Below the car park and gift shop area it can be crowded with visitors in the summer, just south past the buildings is a raised view point providing an excellent view of the lake. A little walk along the northern shore passed the boat house takes you to a trail with fewer people. It follows the lake shore for a while before heading inland and looping back to the car park. It provides a chance to experience the local flora and fauna as well as see a glacial kettle.
- Maligne Canyon. Impressive deep cut canyon with waterfalls and interesting carved rock formations. Steep but good footpath along the top of the canyon, one side being fenced while the other is open. The river, up near Maligne Lake, flows in a mighty torrent. When it enters Medicine Lake (named in reference to bad medicine) it does so with great volumes. It does not, however, appear to flow out. Indeed, through the summer months Medicine Lake disappears until, in mid autumn all that is left is a thin channel that itself disappears into the shoreline. In Winter, walk on the canyon bottom to see masses of blue ice where waterfalls flow in the summertime!
- Medicine Lake. Not strictly speaking a lake but the point where water backups from the Maligne River before disappearing underground through sink holes. There is no river running out of the lake, the depth depending on the inflow rate from ice melt. A pull-off at western end of the lake provides a spectacular view of the valley and hills.
- Beaver Lake. A 1.5 km hike along a broad slightly climbing trail through bush and woodland brings you to a beautifully clear lake teaming with fish between the Colin and Queen Elizabeth Ranges. For the more intrepid continue along the Jaques Lake Trail South of Boundary Trail. Be aware that although you will not see many people along this trail, there is a good chance of meeting bears.
- Athabasca Falls. An impressive waterfall. The Athabasca River thunders through a narrow gorge where the walls have been smoothed and potholes are created by the sheer force of the rushing water carrying sand and rock. There are parking and toilet facilities. Paved trail and picnic sites are available.
- Angel Glacier. Glacier on the north face of Mount Edith Cavell. Easy hike along Cavell Meadow trail from the car park to see some spectacular colours of ice and rock.
- Goat lick. Chance of seeing mountain goats at the side of the road
- Sunwapta Falls. Small waterfall but worth a brief visit. Only a short walk from the car park
- Tangle falls. Picturesque waterfall that is right on the side of the road.
- Columbia Icefield. One of the largest and most accessible glaciers in the Rockies.
Whistler's Mountain. Take the Jasper Tramway half way up the mountain. From there it is a relatively short but very steep walk to the peak. On a clear day there are some superb views of the mountains ranges of the area and back into the valley below. May people get a false sense of security in the summer walking from the cable-car but be aware the weather can change quickly and you can find yourself in clouds or a small whirlwind.
Maligne Lake. Regular boat trips to see the wonder of a lake with water two different colours in different parts. Spirit Island, made famous by a photography competition, is in the middle of Maligne Lake. The only way to see the island is to take the boat cruise (1.5 hours round trip). Below the car park and gift shop area it can be crowded with visitors in the summer, just south past the buildings is a raised view point providing an excellent view of the lake. A little walk along the northern shore passed the boat house takes you to a trail with fewer people. It follows the lake shore for a while before heading inland and looping back to the car park. It provides a chance to experience the local flora and fauna as well as see a glacial kettle.
Maligne Canyon. Impressive deep cut canyon with waterfalls and interesting carved rock formations. Steep but good footpath along the top of the canyon, one side being fenced while the other is open. The river, up near Maligne Lake, flows in a mighty torrent. When it enters Medicine Lake (named in reference to bad medicine) it does so with great volumes. It does not, however, appear to flow out. Indeed, through the summer months Medicine Lake disappears until, in mid autumn all that is left is a thin channel that itself disappears into the shoreline. In Winter, walk on the canyon bottom to see masses of blue ice where waterfalls flow in the summertime!
Medicine Lake. Not strictly speaking a lake but the point where water backups from the Maligne River before disappearing underground through sink holes. There is no river running out of the lake, the depth depending on the inflow rate from ice melt. A pull-off at western end of the lake provides a spectacular view of the valley and hills.
Beaver Lake. A 1.5 km hike along a broad slightly climbing trail through bush and woodland brings you to a beautifully clear lake teaming with fish between the Colin and Queen Elizabeth Ranges. For the more intrepid continue along the Jaques Lake Trail South of Boundary Trail. Be aware that although you will not see many people along this trail, there is a good chance of meeting bears.
Athabasca Falls. An impressive waterfall. The Athabasca River thunders through a narrow gorge where the walls have been smoothed and potholes are created by the sheer force of the rushing water carrying sand and rock. There are parking and toilet facilities. Paved trail and picnic sites are available.
Angel Glacier. Glacier on the north face of Mount Edith Cavell. Easy hike along Cavell Meadow trail from the car park to see some spectacular colours of ice and rock.
Goat lick. Chance of seeing mountain goats at the side of the road
Sunwapta Falls. Small waterfall but worth a brief visit. Only a short walk from the car park
Tangle falls. Picturesque waterfall that is right on the side of the road.
Columbia Icefield. One of the largest and most accessible glaciers in the Rockies.
- Miette Hot Springs, Miette Road, Jasper National Park, +1 780-866-3939. A place to relax after a day of hiking, the hottest mineral springs in the Rockies flow from the mountain at 54ºC. The water is cooled to a comfortable 40ºC as it enters the pools. There are two hot pools and two cool pools, a café, a souvenir shop, a picnic ground and interpretive exhibits. Suits, towels and lockers are available for rent. It is open May to mid-October, and located between Jasper and Hinton.
- Icefields Parkway
Miette Hot Springs, Miette Road, Jasper National Park, +1 780-866-3939. A place to relax after a day of hiking, the hottest mineral springs in the Rockies flow from the mountain at 54ºC. The water is cooled to a comfortable 40ºC as it enters the pools. There are two hot pools and two cool pools, a café, a souvenir shop, a picnic ground and interpretive exhibits. Suits, towels and lockers are available for rent. It is open May to mid-October, and located between Jasper and Hinton.
- The town of Jasper has a good selection of places to eat.
- There is a cafeteria at Columbia Icefield
- Maligne Lake. Basic cafeteria
- Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge, +1 780-852-4852. Restaurant and cafeteria options.
Maligne Lake. Basic cafeteria
Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge, +1 780-852-4852. Restaurant and cafeteria options.
You should know that you are in bear country, and be alert of their presence. Bears become a common sight in the summer where they find food for their cubs, and food must be disposed in bear-proof containers.
Driving through the open wilderness can be a challenge, especially in the winter. You should drive carefully, and watch out for crossing wildlife. Drivers not used to winter driving should find another mode of transport to get around, or travel in the summer. Areas near mountain slopes are prone to avalanches, weather can change very quickly, and road closures may come without warning. Calling for help is nearly impossible in the middle of the wilderness, as cell coverage never reaches them, and it can take days for help to come, especially in adverse weather.
Travel south on the Icefields Parkway to Banff National Park.