Calgary 
After the devastation caused by past summer’s Jasper wildfire, many are wondering when the park will return to normal operations. While it may be a while until Jasper fully reopens, there are parts which are still safe to enjoy, explore, and experience this Thanksgiving weekend.
Among those locations are some of Jasper National Park’s most popular or awe-inspiring attractions.
Here is a list of a few places you can visit.
Note: Please follow all signs and Parks Canada instructions.
Visit the Jasper Lakes
West of the Jasper townsite, and hidden within the trees, are the nearby Pyramid and Patricia Lakes. This quieter side of Jasper offers great hiking in a beautiful lakeside setting. The Pyramid Lake Lodge also offers boat or bike rentals until October 15th.
More lakeside day-use areas that are open in Jasper this weekend include Lake Annette, Maligne Lake, Lac Beauvert, and Jacques Lake. These locations offer picnic amenities and hiking opportunities.
Open Hiking Trails in Jasper
In addition to the waterfall areas, lakes, and open day use areas in Jasper, there are also open hiking trails. These include easy, moderate, and difficult hikes which get you best of the park’s scenery and wildlife views.
- The trails around the Miette Hot Springs are in good condition with three easy hikes to choose from or combine into one longer trek.
- The Old Fort Point Loop is a hike that can easily fill up to two hours on the trails with a few steeper climbs throughout the trail. With this, hikers get panoramic views of the valley below.
Miette Hot Springs
Thanksgiving weekend is the last of the season to enjoy the relaxation provided by the Miette Hot Springs. Fall is a premiere time for a soak at Miette with the surrounding scenery, cooler temperatures, and smaller crowds. The Miette Hot Springs include different hot and cold pools around the site, and picnic areas surrounding the area to enjoy before or after your soak.
Columbia Icefields
As with the Miette Hot Springs, the Columbia Icefields adventures are available seasonally until October 14th, making Thanksgiving the final chance of the year to see the attraction. There are three feature experiences offered at the Icefields include a Skywalk (over a glass pathway), the Icefield Adventure, or the Ice Odyssey. The Columbia Icefields also offer visitors three different dining options: Starbucks, the Chalet Grab & Go, or the Altitude Restaurant.
Visit the Jasper Waterfalls
Both Jasper’s Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls are official park day use areas. And both are now open!
Enjoy a scenic picnic next to the beauty of the rivers and waterfalls and the short trails in each area. Sunwapta and Athabasca are both located off the Icefields Parkway and can easily be combined with a visit to the Icefields.
Start with Athabasca Falls, closest to town, and continue south for about 25km to reach Sunwapta.
Food
Local businesses and community spaces are gradually reopening, though many still face significant challenges. Jasper now offers a variety of dining options, including A&W, Beaver Tails, Andromeda Coffee, De’d Dog Bar & Grill, Evil Dave’s Grill, Fiddle River Restaurant, Jasper China Restaurant, Lou Lou’s Breakfast & Pizzeria, and Kimchi House. Other popular spots include Lynn’s Food Truck, Lostland Cafe, Su Casa Mexican Lounge, and more.
Overnight Stay
Several accommodations in Jasper have reopened, providing a variety of options for visitors. Available stays include the Athabasca Hotel, Bear Hill Lodge, Chateau Jasper, Forest Park Hotel (Alpine Wing), Glacier View Hotel, and Jasper Downtown Hostel. Other options include Jasper Inn, Jasper Park Lodge, Marmot Lodge, Miette Mountain Cabins, Miette Hot Springs Bungalows & Restaurants, Park Place Inn, The Crimson, and Tonquin Inn. Additionally, Whistle Stop Pub offers a welcoming spot for relaxation. These establishments are working hard to resume full operations and offer comfortable stays as the community continues to recover.
What is closed:
Maligne Canyon, Highway 93A corridor, Skyline Trail area, The Palisades Centre and Frontcountry Campgrounds are closed. Details
Get Ready for Winter in Jasper
It is only a matter of time before snow and ice blanket Alberta’s northern Rockies and Jasper National Park. When that happens, Jasper will be ready for visitors with the same winter fun and activities normally available here. This includes backcountry winter camping, with reservations having just opened, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on groomed trails, ice skating, fat tire biking, and winter hiking.
Find out more about Jasper’s reopening plans here.
