Canada · Alberta
Jasper
Wilder. Vaster. Untamed.
Jasper unfolds on a grander scale — immense valleys, ancient glaciers and seemingly endless wilderness.
Discover the destination
More than a destination
Jasper unfolds on a grander scale — immense valleys, ancient glaciers and seemingly endless wilderness.
From the legendary Icefields Parkway to Maligne Lake and Spirit Island, this is the Rockies at their most expansive: remote, powerful and beautifully untamed.
WATER & WILDERNESS
MALIGNE LAKE & SPIRIT ISLAND CRUISE
Journey across the glacial waters of Maligne Lake into the heart of Jasper’s wilderness. Surrounded by immense peaks, travel toward Spirit Island — one of the Canadian Rockies’ most celebrated and secluded landscapes.
GLACIAL ENCOUNTERS
GLACIER ADVENTURE
Journey into the heart of the Columbia Icefield aboard a specialized exploration vehicle and step onto the Athabasca Glacier — an extraordinary landscape of ancient ice surrounded by immense Rocky Mountain peaks.
The essentials
A place to understand before you wander
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
- Best time
- June — September
- Ideal stay
- 4 — 6 days
- Known for
- Global Scenic Highway · Glacial Expanse · Ancient Ice
- Climate
- Continental alpine, wide seasonal swing
- Protected since
- 1907
In the landscape
Things to do
Scenic Navigation
Maligne Lake Cruise & Spirit Island
Travel deep into Maligne Lake by boat to experience legendary Spirit Island.
Alpine Tram
Jasper SkyTram
Rise above the valley for expansive views and access to alpine terrain.
Glacial Exploration
Columbia Icefield Adventure
Travel onto the Athabasca Glacier aboard a specialized Ice Explorer.
Suspended Overlook
Skywalk
Step onto a glass-floored observation platform high above the Sunwapta Valley.
Canoeing & Kayaking
Explore Jasper’s mountain lakes at a slower pace.
Paddling
Wildlife Viewing
Jasper is renowned for opportunities to encounter elk, bighorn sheep, bears and other Rocky Mountain wildlife.
Fauna Safari
Stargazing
Experience one of the world’s largest accessible dark-sky preserves.
Dark Sky Astronomy
Skiing — Marmot Basin
Jasper’s alpine ski area offers winter terrain surrounded by national park wilderness.
Winter Expeditions
On the trail
Walks and climbs
01Maligne Lake Lakeside
easy · 3.2 km return
A peaceful introduction to the forests and mountain scenery surrounding Maligne Lake.
02Valley of the Five Lakes — Wetland Way
easy · 1.8 km return
A gentle walk through regenerating forest and wetlands.
03Valley of the Five Lakes — Emerald Circuit
moderate · 5.4 km loop
Discover a collection of vividly coloured mountain lakes.
04Parker Ridge
moderate · 5 km return
A relatively short climb revealing an extraordinary view toward the Saskatchewan Glacier.
05Bald Hills
moderate · 10.4 km return
Climb above Maligne Lake for expansive views across the surrounding mountain ranges.
06Wilcox Pass
challenging · 11.2 km return
High-alpine scenery with exceptional views across the Columbia Icefield area.
07Sulphur Skyline
challenging · 8 km return
A demanding climb culminating in panoramic views over Jasper’s eastern ranges.
Must visit
The landmarks that define Jasper
Global Scenic Highway
In pictures
Scenes from the park
The story of the place
A landscape shaped by mountains, water and time
Established in 1907 to protect the pristine upper watershed of the Athabasca River, Jasper was named after Jasper Hawes, an early 19th-century North West Company trading post commander. In 2011, Jasper was designated the world's second-largest Dark Sky Preserve, safeguarding its celestial midnight dome for astronomical wonder.
Encompassing 11,228 km², Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Fed by the massive Columbia Icefield — which straddles the Continental Divide — Jasper boasts immense U-shaped river valleys, deep gorges like Maligne Canyon, and Mount Columbia (3,747 m).
Wildlife of the park
Grizzly Bear · Black Bear · Elk · Caribou · Moose · Mountain Goat · Bighorn Sheep · Grey Wolf · Lynx · Bald Eagle
Find it
Where is Jasper?
Jasper sits in Alberta, Canada. The panel marks the park until a live map is connected.
National park
Alberta
Canada
- Coordinates
- 52.8734° N, 117.9543° W
- Elevation
- 1,060 m (3,478 ft)
- Protected area
- 11,228 km²
- Established
- 1907
- UNESCO
- UNESCO World Heritage Site (1984)
Practical notes
Travel with the mountain, not against it
Arrival
Getting there
Airport
Edmonton or Calgary are the main airports. The drive from Edmonton takes about four hours.
Road
Highway 16 arrives from the east. The Icefields Parkway arrives from Lake Louise.
Train
VIA Rail’s Canadian calls at Jasper, and the town is still a working railway centre.
In the park
Seasonal shuttles serve the Icefield and Maligne Lake. A Parks Canada pass is required.
The year
Weather
Summer
June to September is optimal for mountain cruising and glacier tours. October hosts the international Jasper Dark Sky Festival. Winter transforms the Athabasca canyon into ethereal ice sculptures.
Autumn
Clearer trails and thinner crowds around Jasper, with frost arriving first on the summits.
Winter
Snow settles over Jasper. Daylight is short, the air is dry, and the landscape feels newly emptied.
Spring
Waterfalls run full as the snowpack releases. Higher routes around Jasper open late.
Before you go
Travel tips
What to pack
Layers, a rain shell, broken-in shoes and sun protection. Mountain weather turns inside an hour.
Safety
Stay on marked routes, carry water, and read the day’s trail and road alerts before leaving town.
Wildlife awareness
Give Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, Elk plenty of room. Never approach or feed an animal.
Park rules
A valid national park pass is required. Drones, off-trail travel and feeding wildlife are restricted.
Through the year
Experience the destination
Spring
Meltwater fills the rivers around Jasper. Lower trails open while the high country is still waking.
Suggested · Maligne Lake Lakeside
Summer
June to September is optimal for mountain cruising and glacier tours. October hosts the international Jasper Dark Sky Festival. Winter transforms the Athabasca canyon into ethereal ice sculptures.
Suggested · Maligne Lake Cruise & Spirit Island
Autumn
The light softens over Jasper. Crowds thin, and the high country turns gold before the first lasting snow.
Suggested · Parker Ridge
Winter
Jasper settles under snow. Days are bright, cold and made for a slower kind of mountain travel.
Suggested · Skiing — Marmot Basin
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