Check price
Maligne Canyon
A deep, narrow limestone canyon with a trail and footbridges over the gorge. Check trail status.
Canadian Rockies, Alberta
Jasper
A quieter Rockies town inside Canada's largest mountain national park: Maligne Canyon, Spirit Island, Athabasca Falls, the Columbia Icefield and a huge Dark Sky Preserve.
Photo: Spirit Island on Maligne Lake, Bernd Thaller, CC BY 2.0
Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, and it's the quieter one. The town sits where the Athabasca and Miette valleys meet, and elk often graze at the edge of town.
A large wildfire in July 2024 burned part of the townsite and areas of the park. Jasper has reopened, but some trails and areas are still recovering. Check Parks Canada before you go, then come and support a mountain town that's back on its feet.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Check price
Athabasca Falls
A powerful falls squeezed through a narrow gorge just off the Icefields Parkway.
Check price
Maligne Lake
A long glacier-fed lake up the Maligne valley, with shoreline trails and canoe rentals.
Check price
Pyramid Lake
A lake below Pyramid Mountain, a short drive from town, with a footbridge to a small island.
Check price
Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier
A glacier you can see from the Parkway. Walk the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier trail and stay behind the markers.
Check price
Dark Sky Preserve stargazing
Jasper is one of the world's largest dark sky preserves. Any pull-off away from town works on a clear night.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Paid
Jasper SkyTram
An aerial tramway up Whistlers Mountain with views over the town and valleys.
Season Runs roughly late May–mid-Oct (check before you go).
Paid
Columbia Icefield Skywalk
A glass-floored walkway over the Sunwapta Valley on the Icefields Parkway.
Season Open roughly May–mid-Oct (check before you go).
Paid
Jasper Planetarium
Telescope sessions and a dome show at the Dark Sky Preserve.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Maligne Lake Cruise to Spirit Island
Boat trips on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island.
Season Runs roughly late May–mid-Oct (check before you go).
Columbia Icefield Adventure
An Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier.
Season Runs roughly May–mid-Oct (check before you go).
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Jasper SkyTram Tickets
- Jasper Planetarium Experience
Part of our Canadian Rockies guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield is a full day on its own.
- Maligne Lake and Spirit Island are a half day up the valley.
- Jasper's dark skies only appear after you'd otherwise have driven home.
Nearby and worth the drive
Banffabout 3 h 30 · Guide ↗
The Icefields Parkway, one of the world's great drives.
Columbia Icefieldabout 1 h 30
The Athabasca Glacier beside the Parkway.
Ready-made trips with Jasper
Good to know
- Park pass: A Parks Canada pass is required in the park: parks.canada.ca/jasper.
- Check status: Trail, road and facility status can change after the 2024 wildfire. Check Parks Canada before you go.
- Tourism: jasper.travel.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Spirit Island on Maligne Lake, Bernd Thaller, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Maligne Canyon gorge, Jasper, Kevin He, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Athabasca Falls, Migueldalugdugan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Pyramid Mountain and Pyramid Lake at dawn, Florian Fuchs, CC BY 3.0