Explore Alberta’s northern Rocky Mountains this summer and find all the fun things to do at Jasper National Park. You can pick from many free activities like hiking, wildlife viewing, or seeing the sights of the town. But there are also many adventures you can take within a huge range of price options.
There are several thrilling and relaxing adventures to pick from, as well as Jasper’s main attractions and the beautiful waters all around the park.
Here are just a few ideas for how to spend your summer at Jasper National Park:
1. Attractions
Drive the Icefields Parkway
This iconic stretch of road can provide fun for days or a weekend. The Icefields Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in Alberta and connects Banff with Jasper National Park. It begins on the west side of town via the Yellowhead Highway (16) and follows the Athabasca River south through the Valley of the Five Lakes, Athabasca Pass and Falls, Sunwapta Falls, the Columbia Icefields, the Saskatchewan River Crossing, and Peyto Lake. Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre and Columbia Icefield is first the major attraction before the boundary demarcating the Jasper and Banff park.
When: year-round; some of the side-roads are open seasonally in spring and summer
Where: Jasper to Lake Louise/Highway 1
How much: free
Visit Maligne Canyon
The various canyon spots in the Maligne area are some of the deepest in the Canadian Rockies, reaching up to 50m at some points. Exploring the area is simple and safe, however, and there are a variety of ways to do so. It only takes about a half hour to access the first few bridges over the canyons; from the bridges you’ll get breathtaking views of the rushing waters down below, and waterfalls leading deep into Maligne Canyon. All the water makes this area a lush, green, and densely forested areas in the spring and summer with tree lining the entire canyon.
When: year-round
Where: Maligne Lake Road, Maligne Lake Lookout Parking
How much: free
Relax in the Miette Hot Springs
A drive up Miette Road from the main highway makes for a scenic half-hour journey dotted with rest stops and viewing areas along the way. At the top, you’ll find the large open parking area for the Hot Springs, the picnic areas, and for the hikers. The pool area is quite large, and has open views of the surrounding mountains and hills. You can stop for lunch here too at the Fiddle Valley Café and take a short hike one the Source of the Springs trail. Along the path is the former hot springs pool slowly being reclaimed by nature.
When: May 6-early September
Where: Miette Road via Yellowhead Highway (16),
How much: $5-$24.75
Stargazing with the Jasper Planetarium
The national park is the world’s second-largest dark sky preserve and offers magnificent chances for sky and star gazing. You can visit the Planetarium to first learn about the stars and sky in the dome theatre before heading outside with an astronomy expert to see what you can see. They offer five different experiences over summer.
When: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Summer
Where: Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge – meet/check-in at the Planetarium desk INSIDE the hotel lobby.
How much: $15-$89 per person
Ride up on the Jasper Sky Tram
Your adventure with the Jasper Sky Tram begins with your base area which has several of its own viewpoints and gift shop to check out before you ride up. You can explore a bit once you’re at the top and they provide maps to guide you around the viewpoints off of Whistlers Mountain. You can also choose to ride for sunset/sunrise.
When: March 25-October 30
Where: Whistlers Rd, Jasper
How much: $6-$57.30
Visit Mount Edith Cavell
Why visit this mountain peak out of all the places in Jasper? Mount Edith Cavell stands out as the most easily viewed peak, and you can see it from a variety of places within the park, too. It stands above the town at over 3000m, and to reach it you’ll need to take a winding but scenic 14km drive. Once at the parking lot, you can hike/walk to glacier viewpoints (Angel Glacier), the bright green Cavell Pond, and stop to smell the various Alberta wildflowers in bloom.
When: road opens mid-June-October
Where: Edith Cavell Road via Highway AB-93A
How much: free
For more attractions: Top Places to Visit in Jasper National Park
2. Guided Tours
See the Park by Rail
Sundog Transportation & Tours has two different railway tours through Jasper National Park: one which heads to McBride and passes Canada’s tallest peak, Mount Robson; and one which heads a little further into BC and stops at the Dunster Station.
When: open for season June 10, 2022
Where: 414 Connaught Street, Jasper
How much: $65-$129
Downtown Jasper Foodie Tour
Explore the more refined part of Jasper this summer through a Foodie Tour: these guided experiences include four incredible delicious plates from four different restaurants, and four drinks included. You’ll walk about 1.5km total of downtown Jasper along which you’ll get to hear tales of Jasper’s history and food scene.
When: June to December
Where: Visitor Information Center, 500 Connaught Drive
How much: $119 per person
Learn how to Rock Climb
The Rock Climbing Experiences from both Jasper Hikes & Tours, and Rockaboo Mountain Adventures require no experience at all and are suitable for kids as young as eight! They’ll provide all the equipment you need for your first climb in the Rockies which lasts about four hours.
When: June-October
How much: $125-$325 per person
Learn how to Canyon
There are four different Jasper canyons that Rocky Mountain Canyoning can help you explore: either Two Valley, Morro, Ogre, or Pleckaitis Canyons. These adventures are the opposite of rock climbing and bring you down instead of up. But of course, there will be the climb back up afterwards.
When: September-October
Where: pickup available from most Jasper hotels
How much: $169-$269
Multi-day Hikes with Skyline Adventures
You can select from multiple different multi-day hiking experiences with Skyline in Jasper. Their adventures include trips to Jacques Lake, backpacking to Brazeau, trips through the Tonquin Valley, or their 9-day Ancient Wall Trip. You can even make requests for modified trips and Skyline will do their best to customize the excursion for you.
When: June-October
Where: depart from Jasper townsite
How much: $575-$2000 per person
Nature-focused Guided Hikes
With Walks & Talks Jasper, you can book guided hikes through the region with Paula. Who is Paula? A lifetime resident of Jasper and former interpretive guide. On her adventures she can teach you all about the wildlife around you, the plant life, bugs, and more.
When: year-round
Where: 618 Connaught Dr., Jasper
How much: $45-$90
Spot some Wildlife with Jasper Hikes & Tours
There are a variety of guided tours offered with Jasper Hikes & Tours, but none will get you as close to Jasper’s animal kingdom as their Wildlife & Hike Package will. It is available during July and August, but they recommend booking in late spring or early fall if you can; this ensures more wildlife activity.
When: May-September
Where: meet at and depart from 416 Connaught Drive, Jasper
How much: $90-$110 per person
3. Guided Water Tours
Gentle Floating with Jasper Raft Tours- with your Dog!
The river raft tours offered her are gentle enough for small children to enjoy, but also gentle enough for your furry friends. The Jasper Raft Tours offer two different packages which both take you on the beautiful Athabasca River: the Scenic Raft Trip, or the Dog Friendly Scenic Raft Trip.
When: June-October 9
Where: 611 Patricia Street, Jasper
How much: $10-$50 per person
Rafting on the Athabasca River
If you seek adventure on the waters of Jasper, Maligne Adventures can help guide you! They offer four different white water rafting trips along either the Athabasca, Sunwapta, or Fraser Rivers. The two trips on the Athabasca are better suited to newbies and allow kids as young as five. For more thrills, try the Sunwapta or Fraser packages which require kids to be 12 years and up.
When: May-September
How much: $79-$119 pr person
Where: 604 Connaught Drive, Jasper
Canoe Tours with Wild Current
There are several gorgeous lakes in Jasper NP, some of which are best viewed at a slow pace. You can book you and your family a canoe tour on pretty lakes like Pyramid or Maligne with Wild Current Outfitters. They offer a variety of experiences, including a pet-friendly trip.
When: June-October 31
Where: Maligne Lake Rd., Jasper
How much: $35-$120 per person
Book a Maligne Lake Cruise
The gorgeous and often calm Maligne Lake can be explored via hikes, canoe or kayak, and even cruise. The Maligne Lake Cruise opens in June 2022 for the season and gives you a 2-hour ride filled with serene views and possibly wildlife along the shores.
When: June 13-October 10
Where: Maligne Lake Rd
How much: $62-$65 per person
4. Self-Guided Hikes
Valley of the Five Lakes
The Five Lakes trail is a popular family hike and has you exploring lush meadows, the Wabasso Creek, and the bright blues of the five lakes. This is also a popular wildlife viewing area where you can hear loons, or possibly see deer and black bears.
Patricia Lake Loop
The loop around Patricia Lake (the smaller one next to Pyramid – Pyramid Lake hike to the small island via the board walk is also an excellent walk) is an easy 5km trail that brings you to meadow and valley views, and possibly wildlife views. Elk and moose are common the road leading into Patricia Lake.
Geraldine Lakes
You can make this hike easy with the 3.6km trek to the first Geraldine Lake; or you can make it a little more challenging and venture to the second Geraldine Lake for a total of 12.4km. Both offer stunning and serene views of the lakes and the spruce forests around them.
Lorraine Lake & Mona Lake
It is a short and relatively easy climb up to these two lakes, both of which provide the gorgeous bright turquoise colour you can expect from Maligne Lake down below. The trail heads at the Maligne Lodge parking lot, so it is advised that you get here as early as you can to explore.
Lake Annette Loop
This shorter trail is wheelchair and stroller-friendly with new pavement the entire way (cycling is not permitted). The shallow lake is a popular beach site in the area, with brave souls out swimming in the water on a hot enough day. Take the loop after or before a day at the beach!
5. More Outdoor Recreation in Jasper
Rent SUPs for Lake Edith
Translucid Adventures operate on the beach of Lake Edith, another stunning Jasper lake. You can rent SUPs from them and take a slow, relaxing journey around the clear waters.
When: June 18-September 6
Where: Lake Annette Road via the Trans-Canada Highway
How much: $35-$65
Camp under the Stars
There are seven first-come-first-served campsites around Jasper National Park, all of which provide their own unique landscapes and experiences. This is more rustic camping, even if you bring an RV, with no services available. You will have access to vault toilets, non-potable water, as well as your own picnic table and firepit.
When: May-September
Where: campsites Snaring, Overflow, Wilcox, Honeymoon Lake, Kerkelsin, Jonas, and Icefields (tent and RV)
How much: $16.75-$26 per night
Canoe or Kayak
Both Pyramid Lake Resort, and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge offer canoe and kayak rentals for their respective lakes (Lac Beauvert beside JPL). These stunning resorts are lakeside under the shadows of the Rockies and give you the ultimate sightseeing experience at your own pace.
Fish the Many Lakes
There are several lakes within Jasper which are “open season fishing” from May to September or May to October. These include some scenic areas like Annette Lake, Beaver Lake, Dragon Lake, Long Lake, Lorraine Lake, Moab Lake, Mona Lake, Pyramid Lake, as well as Lakes Three, Four and Five in the Valley of the Five Lakes. Remember your Parks Canada Fishing Permit and to review their National Park guidelines before you cast off.
Enjoy the World’s Best Mountain Biking
Simple biking around Jasper is easy with the Park’s connector trails which offer pathways between the townsite and the NP campgrounds. Jasper’s many multi-use trails which allow cycling are where you’ll want to start your mountain biking adventures, and these include the Three Valley Confluence, North Boundary Trail, or the Wildland Trails.
Tour the Townsite with E-Bikes
You may not be able to take these bikes on the Jasper trails, but they make exploring around town a lot easier, and a bit more fun. There are a few rental companies in town, so can pick the one closest to your hotel or campsite and head off on the roads from there.