Linking Yoho, Banff, and Kootenay national parks, Jasper National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most beautiful and prominent in the Canadian Rockies. Well, it is known for its vast wilderness, majestic mountains, plentiful wildlife, amazing aqua-colored lakes, and marvelous natural views. Hence, visitors from all over North America and around the world travel here to enjoy this remarkable place.
Helpful Information
Getting to Jasper National Park
Jasper is located 256 miles (404 km) northwest of Calgary, 192 miles (370 km) west of Edmonton, and 500 miles (805 km) northeast of Vancouver. Getting there by driving through the heart of the Canadian Rockies is one of the best things you can do. The beautiful view of Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) will take your breath away.
By Self-Driven Car – The main route to get to Jasper from Edmonton is by taking Trans-Canada Highway #16 (Yellowhead Highway). From Calgary and Banff, the Trans-Canada Highway #1 and switching over to Icefields Parkway will take you to Jasper. Regardless of which way you are taking, the drive is absolutely scenic.
By Bus – Edmonton and Vancouver have daily Greyhound bus service to Jasper. You can also take Brewster Transportation and Tours; they offer tour buses to and from Jasper via Banff along the panoramic Icefields Parkway.
By Air – Nearest International airports are in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver, and major domestic and international flights can access all.
Getting Around
Jasper is a small town easily walkable from one end to the other, but a self-driven car is the best way to move around and visit all the park attractions in your own time.
Guided Tour – A few tour companies offer guided sightseeing tours in Jasper National park. Check out Brewster Sightseeing as well for day trip attractions.
Best Time to Visit
It’s a tricky question to answer as many circumstances must be considered. Furthermore, Jasper National Park is a year-round destination, so you will have a different enjoyable experience depending on the time of the year.
Summer – July, and August is the peak season. You will have the best opportunity for great weather, warmer temperatures, and open hiking trails. Expect expensive accommodations, crowded attractions, and tours, fun rides, and cruises are required in advance bookings. Wildflowers can be seen in the lower elevations, and it’s a good time to spot grizzly bears and other wildlife as they feed on the lower valley grasses.
Winter – Between December to Mid April is the winter in Jasper National Park. Winter changes the landscape into a winter fairyland, starting up opportunities not possible in the warmer months. Jasper is a paradise for winter lovers, and easy to fall in love with the endless activities Jasper has to offer and a white Christmas for sure.
Fall – I visited between mid-September to mid-October, and I loved it. The relatively mild temperature stayed around 45º F during the day and went down to 32º F (7º C to 0º C) at night. It was sunny most of the time, but occasionally, scratted clouds moved in with a short rainfall or snowfall in higher altitudes in case you get bored with the Sun. Best of all, you will find fewer crowds, so the accommodation and airfare will be moderately lower than in the summer months.
Useful Information
How Many Days is Enough to Visit
It is well worth planning a few extra days in the Rockies as there are so many attractions to see, which will surely make it challenging to narrow down your list. Moreover, on your way from one point to another, the landscape is so fascinating that it will be difficult for you not to make frequent unplanned stops resulting in going way over your scheduled plan.
Of course, the place of interest is subject to individual opinion, but regardless of the interest, it is good to allocate at least two to three days in Jasper and its surroundings. Four to Five days at least to see the real Jasper and enjoy what it offers without rushing. No matter how many days you plan, at the end of your trip, you will think that you must go back again.
Useful Tips
Rent a car – I highly recommend researching before booking your rental car. You are better off sticking with multinational companies, especially if you are a foreign visitor. There are local companies that may quote you low prices, but you will end up purchasing mandatory car insurance during car pickup as they are not in a position to honor international insurance. As a result, you may end up paying an extra C$ 25+ per day.
Feeding wild animals – Feeding a bear or wolf can endanger the animal, the people involved, or other visitors. If you see someone feeding a bear, officials ask that you write down their license plate and, if it’s safe to do so, take a photo or video of the unlawful feeding and the person or vehicle involved. It can then be reported to 1-888-WARDENS (927-3367).
Travel Insurance – Bad things can happen anytime, especially when you are doing activities you are not used to. I have practical experience in this. Travel insurance will protect you and your family from surprises. Don’t think about all the things that might go wrong on your trip, but these things can and do happen.
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Things To Do In Jesper National Park
First Our Driving Experience to Jasper From Banff
From Banff, we drove 180 miles northwest on one of the most scenic highways in the world to Jasper. If you drive nonstop, then it shouldn’t take more than 3 hours. For us, we spent the entire day on the road. Made frequent sightseeing stops on the way before making the final stop at our hotel. Whether you plan to visit Jasper in winter to take advantage of endless winter activities or enjoy the summer activities at a warmer temperature, you will find plenty of things to do all year long. Here are a few that I enjoyed during my trip in the fall between mid-September and mid-October.
Quick Stop at Waterfowl Lake
Many popular scenic spots along the Icefields Parkway give ample opportunity for a photo shoot. Every other moment spent on the way is rewarded. Waterfowl Lake was one of them; even though that was not in our plan, one can’t resist stopping for fun. About 55 km north of Lake Louise, these Waterfowl Lake is perfect for enthusiastic photographers and also for hikers.
Hiking Around Chephren Lake
Chephren Lake is the right one for you if you are not a seasoned hiker looking for a short and easy hike. The hike contains two parts of 1 mile (1.7 km) from the parking lot to the trail junction by the footbridge over the Mistaya River and then 2 miles (3.2 km) from the trail junction to Chephren Lake for a total round trip of 6 miles (9.5 km). We did not have a clear view of the glaciated mountain peak due to the low cloud, but it was well worth it if we considered the magnificent rewards at the end.
Columbia Icefield Discovery Center
Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre is about 3 hours (195 km) of driving on the scenic Icefield Parkway from Banff. If you are coming from Jasper as a day tripper, it’s only an hour and a half (130 km). That is a great place to plan a break and stretch your legs. Then, for an absolutely unique experience, have your lunch at the Altitude Restaurant overlooking Athabasca Glacier. Or take the Glacier Skyway trip to enjoy the stunning view of the wilderness, or take a unique Glacier Adventure trip on a vast Ice Explorer vehicle.
Glacier Adventure Trip
Once you are at Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Center, how about buying a trip to Glacier Adventure? Nothing can match the experience of taking an adventure walk over 85,000+ years old Athabasca Glacier or a thrilling ride onto that massive glacier on a huge vehicle specially designed for glacier travel, in addition to knowing the history of the glacier from the knowledgeable guide. I would not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if I visited Jasper National Park.
Glacier Skywalk
After being on the thousands of years old glacier, you can also head over the thrilling Glacier Skywalk to experience the walk on a glass-bottom extended pathway installed on the side of a mountain! The views from there were astounding, and the experience of walking out and looking straight down 100s of feet was definitely courageous.
Athabasca falls in Jasper National Park
This beautiful place was not under our radar, but we wanted to check it out after hearing from our Glacier Adventure tour guide. Over the years, Lake Louise became world famous for its turquoise water, beautiful jaw-dropping Victoria Glacier, soaring mountain backdrop, magnificent hotel, and incredible hiking and skiing.
Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park
Medicine Lake is located in the Maligne Valley and is just 30 miles (50 km) east of Jasper, about 45 minute drive. This lake is formed by the Maligne River, one of the beautiful scenic places for encaustic photographers one of the best lakes to enjoy the sunset and reflection on the water from the beautiful mountains in the backdrop.
Maligne Lake Cruise in Jasper National Park
Maligne Lake is only 45 minutes from downtown Jasper and one of the most recommended attractions in Jasper National Park. The drive is very scenic and will allow you to spot wildlife. Maligne Lake’s highlight is taking a Cruise to Spirit Island, one of those picturesque places, and witnessing such an iconic picture of Jasper National Park and glaciers in the distance.
Take the SkyTram to Mountain Top
The SkyTram is an excellent place to start your Jasper Trip, as you will have the opportunity to see a bird’s eye view of J, the shaped town of Jasper, and discover the endless view of the mountain range, turquoise lakes, and glacial-fed rivers. There are multiple viewpoints at the top, gift shops, and restaurants for the mountaintop experience. The Whistlers Mountain summit is one of Jasper’s most accessible alpine environments. The 8 minutes sky tram ride will take you to the summit restaurant & upper station at an elevation of 7425 feet (2263 m). If you choose to stroll along the boardwalks around the summit or take advantage of hiking up the trail to Whistlers Mountain summit at the elevation of 8080 ft (2463 m), keep your eyes open for possible wildlife.
Wildlife Tour
Jasper is, by far, the best area in the Canadian Rockies to spot wildlife. The wildlife in Jasper is abundant; therefore, a drive through the inhabitable valleys will give you a greater chance to see Alberta’s most fascinating local wildlife. Sprint and Fall is the best time to spot elk, moose, caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bears, and wolves in their natural habitats.
Recommended Restaurants
Evil Dave’s Grill, 622 Patricia St Jasper
Don’t get fooled by the name, just try their delicious food, truly a nicer local restaurant.
The Jasper Brewing Co., 624 Connaught Drive, Jasper
The Jasper Brewing Co – Over the years since this place opened, it’s door in 2005 became quite favorite among the locals and tourists alike. It was packed when we went there. Definitely, a perfect place to spend quality time with your friends while having the local beer and delicious food. Located in the center of the town right next to the historical Jasper train station. . Just give it a try!
I had warm Buttered Soft Pretzel V with jalapeño cheese fondue, dark cherry beer mustard on the side as appetizer
And I had a delicious JBC house burgers for the main course. It was 6 oz Alberta Bison chuck, lettuce, tomato, sliced onion, dill pickle, JBC burger sauce, mustard on a gluten-free sesame bun
Where to stay in Jasper National Park, Alberta
Maligne Lodge, Jasper
During our visit, we stayed at Maginle Lodge. It is located on the main street, only minutes away from downtown. Our room was spacious, with a kitchen and a balcony. There are plenty of restaurants close to the hotel.
The Crimson Jasper, Jasper
The Crimson Jasper is only a 10-minute walk from Jasper Railway Station. Guest rooms are spacious and include free WiFi, flat-screen TV, microwave, refrigerator, and electric kettle. In addition, the hotel is a 5-minute walk from downtown.
My Opinion and Last Word
Have you been to Jasper National Park, Alberta? Any cool tips to share?
I loved being in Jasper National Park, Canada, and want to go back again. I hope my story has motivated you to visit Canada.
Please leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you to improve my knowledge.
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