Jasper National Park is the most important nationwide park in the Canadian Rockies, spanning an unbelievable 11,000 sq. kilometres (4,200 sq miles). It boasts a number of the most awe-inspiring hikes for each ability degree. With its shimmering glacial lakes, huge glaciers, and plentiful wildlife, Jasper is a hiker’s paradise.
But you don’t must enterprise deep into the backcountry to expertise it. Many of one of the best trails and strolling routes are simply minutes from the city of Jasper, making it excellent for memorable day hikes. After many journeys to this a part of Alberta, we’ve discovered that whereas Banff will get quite a lot of the eye, Jasper affords a wilder, extra rugged magnificence that we hold coming again to.
This information is designed that can assist you discover the right path in your journey. We’ve damaged down our favorite hikes by issue and included all the sensible particulars you should hit the path with confidence.
Map of the Best Jasper Hikes
Best Jasper Hikes at a Glance (Top 5 Picks)
If you’re brief on time, this fast information will level you to the can’t-miss trails in the park.
Planning Your Jasper Hiking Trip
Before you lace up your boots, listed below are just a few important suggestions for planning your journey.
Jasper National Park Pass Info
To enter Jasper National Park, you need to have a legitimate Park Pass. You can purchase it on the park gates upon entry or on-line in advance.
Daily Pass (2025 charges): $10.50 CAD per grownup or $21.00 per car/group.
Discovery Pass (Annual): $72.25 CAD per grownup or $145.25 for a household/group. This provides you limitless entry to all of Canada’s nationwide parks for 12 months. If you intend to go to for quite a lot of days or see different parks like Banff, that is one of the best worth.
You can buy your cross on-line from the Parks Canada web site. Please confirm all costs on the official website, as they will change.
Getting to the Trailheads
Jasper is greatest explored by automotive. The park is situated roughly 4 hours (365 km / 226 miles) from Edmonton and about 3.5 – 4 hours (288 km / 179 miles) from Banff through the extremely scenic Icefields Parkway.
Check automotive rental charges right here.
Bear Safety & What to Pack
Jasper is dwelling to each grizzly and black bears. It is important to be bear-conscious on all trails.
Carry Bear Spray: Know the way to use it and hold it accessible in your hip, not in your pack.
Make Noise: Talk, sing, or name out periodically to keep away from stunning a bear.
Pack in Layers: Mountain climate adjustments rapidly. Bring a water-resistant jacket, a heat mid-layer, and a hat, even on a sunny day.
Bring Water and Snacks: There are not any outlets on the trailheads. Pack greater than you suppose you’ll want.
Where to Stay in Jasper
We stayed on the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, which makes for an important luxurious base. For different choices, you’ll be able to try trip leases and lodges in the city of Jasper. There are additionally quite a few entrance-nation and backcountry campsites managed by Parks Canada, which ought to be booked nicely in advance.
Easy & Accessible Jasper Hikes
These trails are excellent for households, informal walkers, or for a day once you need most scenic reward with minimal effort. They showcase a few of Jasper’s most iconic options with out requiring a strenuous, all-day dedication.
1. Maligne Canyon
Length: 3.4 km (2.1 miles) loop
Elevation Gain: 118 m (387 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Trailhead: Maligne Canyon Trailhead
Maligne Canyon is likely one of the most spectacular hikes in Jasper National Park. Located simply 10 minutes from city, the path is well accessible. The nicely-maintained path crosses a number of bridges, providing unbelievable views down into the deep, slender gorge carved by the Maligne River. You’ll see waterfalls and distinctive rock formations as you wind your method alongside the canyon rim.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: The canyon is gorgeous in summer time, nevertheless it’s a totally completely different world in winter. If you’re visiting then, a guided ice stroll with cleats by means of the frozen canyon flooring is likely one of the most unusual and memorable experiences you’ll be able to have in the Rockies.
2. Valley of the Five Lakes
Length: 4.7 km (2.9 miles) loop
Elevation Gain: 162 m (531 ft)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Approx. Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Trailhead: Valley of the Five Lakes Trailhead on the Icefields Parkway.
This hike is an area favorite for good purpose. The path takes you thru a lush forest earlier than arriving at a sequence of 5 pristine lakes, every glowing with its personal distinct shade of jade and blue. The path has some light rolling hills however is a rewarding hike for the entire household.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: The color of the lakes is actually unbelievable on a sunny day. The Third Lake is essentially the most vibrant and one of the best for pictures. It’s additionally the preferred spot for a really chilly swim when you’re feeling courageous!
3. Athabasca Falls
Length: 1.0 km (0.6 miles)
Elevation Gain: 26 m (85 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 30 – 45 minutes
Trailhead: Athabasca Falls Parking Lot on the Icefields Parkway.
While not an extended hike, Athabasca Falls is likely one of the strongest and picturesque waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies. The straightforward, paved pathways result in varied viewpoints overlooking the falls as they roar by means of a slender gorge. It’s a busy path, however nicely definitely worth the cease for the unbelievable views of the falls and the Athabasca River.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: The energy of the water right here is the principle occasion. While the higher viewpoints are nice, you’ll want to take the steps all the way down to the decrease platform. You can really feel the mist and listen to the roar of the canyon, which actually places the pressure of the river into perspective.
4. Toe of the Athabasca Glacier
Length: 1.4 km (0.8 miles)
Elevation Gain: 60 m (196 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 45 minutes – 1 hour
Trailhead: Toe of the Athabasca Glacier Trailhead on the Columbia Icefield.
This is an excellent, household-pleasant hike that provides a free different to the guided excursions on the glacier. The path leads you over the rocky moraine left behind by the retreating glacier. Along the route, indicators mark the glacier’s location in completely different years, offering a sobering have a look at how a lot it has shrunk.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: It is extraordinarily vital to remain behind the ropes and on the marked path. The terrain close to the glacier may be unstable and there are unobservable crevasses which are very harmful. This hike is about witnessing the glacier’s scale from a secure distance.
5. Jasper Discovery Trail
Length: 8.5 km (5.2 miles) loop
Elevation Gain: 264 m (866 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 2 – 3 hours
Trailhead: Multiple entry factors from parking heaps in the city of Jasper.
If you need to discover near city, the Jasper Discovery Trail is a good alternative. This straightforward path takes you on a stroll across the city’s perimeter, providing pretty views of the encircling mountains and the Athabasca and Miette rivers. It’s straightforward to navigate; simply comply with the bear indicators.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: This is the right factor to do in your arrival day. It helps you get your bearings, stretch your legs after an extended drive, and you’ll scout out some dinner spots in city alongside the best way.
6. Wapiti Trail
Length: 4.8 km (3 miles) out & again
Elevation Gain: 113 m (370 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
Trailhead: Wapiti Campground
The Wapiti Trail is a stunning, light stroll that follows the trail between the Icefields Parkway and the Athabasca River. Starting from the Wapiti Campground, it heads northbound in direction of the city of Jasper. It’s a comparatively flat and quiet path, excellent for a morning stroll or for households seeking to benefit from the riverside surroundings and not using a main climb.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: While it’s an important brief hike by itself, you may as well use this path to stroll all the best way from the campground into city for dinner, which is a good way to earn your meal and benefit from the night gentle on the mountains.
7. Wabasso Lake Trail
Length: 7.7 km (4.7 miles) out & again
Elevation Gain: 276 m (905 ft)
Difficulty: Easy
Approx. Time: 2 – 2.5 hours
Trailhead: Wabasso Lake Trailhead
The Wabasso Lake Trail is a well-liked however peaceable hike that takes you thru a dense forest to a secluded, marshy lake. The path has some rolling terrain however isn’t overly strenuous, making it one other nice possibility for households. The actual reward is reaching the quiet shores of Wabasso Lake and having fun with the solitude and mountain reflections earlier than heading again.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: This path is understood for being muddy in sections, particularly after it rains, so waterproof mountain climbing footwear are a good suggestion. It’s additionally an important spot for birdwatching when you take your time by the lake.
Moderate Hikes in Jasper (5km – 10km)
Ready for extra of a problem? These average trails contain extra elevation achieve however reward you with spectacular, excessive-nation views that it’s important to work for.
8. Edith Cavell Meadows
Length: 8.4 km (5.2 miles) loop
Elevation Gain: 582 m (1909 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Approx. Time: 3 – 4 hours
Trailhead: End of Cavell Road
The Edith Cavell Meadows hike is an attractive and rewarding path in Jasper National Park. It begins on a paved path alongside the Glacier Trail, resulting in a shocking viewpoint of Angel Glacier and Cavell Pond. The path then climbs steadily by means of a rocky moraine and subalpine forest earlier than opening up into an attractive meadow that’s stuffed with wildflowers in July and August. You are handled to unbelievable glacier views for your entire journey.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: The drive to the trailhead is an journey in itself, with tight switchbacks. The actual star right here is Angel Glacier. You get nice views from the decrease lookout, however push on to the higher meadows. The sight of the glacier framed by wildflowers is completely definitely worth the climb.
9. Sulphur Skyline Trail
Length: 7.9 km (4.8 miles) out & again
Elevation Gain: 653 m (2142 ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Approx. Time: 3.5 – 5 hours
Trailhead: Miette Hot Springs car parking zone
The Sulphur Skyline Trail is certainly one of Jasper’s signature hikes, identified for its unrelenting uphill climb that pays off with a number of the greatest panoramic views in the park. The path begins at a gradual incline and simply retains going. Once you break by means of the treeline, the trail continues to a ridge providing a wide ranging 360-diploma scene of the encircling peaks and the Fiddle Valley under.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: Don’t neglect your swimsuit! The final reward for this powerful hike is an extended soak in the Miette Hot Springs, situated proper on the trailhead. Trust us, your drained muscular tissues will thanks. It’s the right finish to a difficult day on the path.
10. Pyramid Lake Loop
Length: 5.6 km (3.4 miles) loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 203 m (666 ft)
Trailhead: Multiple entry factors close to Pyramid Lake.
The Pyramid Lake Loop is a good alternative for a day hike with stunning views, situated just some minutes from the city of Jasper. The path climbs by means of the forest to viewpoints overlooking the enduring Pyramid Mountain and Pyramid Lake. There are many various intersecting routes in the realm, however most lead again to the principle path. It’s additionally a canine-pleasant path, so long as your canine companion is on a leash.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: For one of the best pictures of Pyramid Mountain mirrored in the water, be sure to take the brief stroll over the bridge to Pyramid Island both earlier than or after your hike. It’s one of the photographed spots in Jasper for a purpose.
Difficult Hikes in Jasper (10km+)
For skilled hikers in search of a severe problem, these trails supply a number of the most expansive and rewarding views in your entire park. Be ready with sturdy mountain climbing boots, loads of water, and bear spray.
11. Bald Hills
Length: 15 km (9.3 miles) out & again
Elevation Gain: 780 m (2559 ft)
Difficulty: Difficult
Approx. Time: 5 – 7 hours
Trailhead: Maligne Lake parking space (furthest lot).
For views excessive above the treeline, nowhere is healthier than the summit of the Bald Hills. The path follows a large hearth highway for a lot of the climb, with a steep shortcut possibility obtainable for individuals who need it. As you achieve elevation, the bushes skinny out and the views of Maligne Lake and the encircling mountain ranges develop into more and more spectacular. The last push to the summit ridge opens as much as a shocking 360-diploma panorama.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: The last push to the true summit past the principle viewpoint is a little bit of a scramble, nevertheless it’s the place you’ll go away 90% of the opposite hikers behind. The 360-diploma panorama from the very high is likely one of the greatest in the Canadian Rockies.
12. Opal Hills Loop
Length: 8.0 km (5 miles) loop
Elevation Gain: 517 m (1696 ft)
Difficulty: Difficult
Approx. Time: 3 – 5 hours
Trailhead: Maligne Lake parking space (close to the boat home).
Don’t let the shorter distance idiot you; the Opal Hills Loop is a steep and strenuous exercise that takes you straight up. The path climbs relentlessly by means of the forest earlier than opening into an attractive alpine meadow that’s typically stuffed with wildflowers. This hike is a good alternative when you’re in search of a difficult climb with rewarding views and fewer crowds than the close by Bald Hills path.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: This is a steep one, so mountain climbing poles are your greatest good friend, particularly for the descent. The actual reward is the alpine meadow on the high, which is a good place to identify marmots and pikas in the summer time.
13. Whistlers Mountain Summit
Length: 12.7 km (7.9 miles) out & again
Elevation Gain: 968 m (3175 ft)
Difficulty: Difficult
Approx. Time: 5 – 7 hours
Trailhead: Upper station of the Jasper Skytram.
While the Jasper Skytram whisks you a lot of the method up the mountain, the hike to the true summit is a difficult journey at excessive elevation. From the higher tram station, the path continues to climb throughout a rocky, uncovered ridge. The path may be slippery with snow even in summer time. The reward is an unparalleled view over the city of Jasper, the Athabasca Valley, and numerous mountain ranges stretching to the horizon.
Dave & Deb’s Tip: Don’t be fooled by the tram experience; it is a correct mountain hike. Be ready for wind and chilly temperatures on the high, even in August. The view from the summit makes you are feeling such as you’re on high of the world.
FAQ: Jasper National Park Hikes
One of one of the best all-round hikes is the Valley of the Five Lakes for its gorgeous colors and accessibility. For a more difficult day with epic rewards, the Sulphur Skyline Trail is a signature Jasper expertise, particularly with a soak in the new springs afterward. The “best” one actually is determined by your health degree and what you need to see!
Beyond the mountain climbing trails, you shouldn’t miss a drive on the Icefields Parkway, a ship tour on Maligne Lake to see Spirit Island, and the possibility to see wildlife like elk, bears, and moose (from a secure distance, in fact). The Jasper Skytram additionally affords unbelievable views with out the lengthy hike up.
There are over 1,000 km (600+ miles) of mountain climbing trails in Jasper National Park, starting from brief, straightforward walks to multi-day backcountry treks. This information covers 13 of our absolute favourites that provide one of the best experiences.
So, Which Trail Will You Hike First?
And these are our favorite hikes in Jasper National Park! There are dozens extra to discover, however these 13 trails supply an unbelievable style of what makes this nook of the Canadian Rockies so particular. Whether you’re taking a straightforward stroll to a waterfall or tackling a difficult summit, the views are assured to be value it.
Let us know in the feedback which hike you’re including to your checklist!