Top Things to do in Jasper National Park
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What to do and see in Jasper National Park, Canadian Rockies: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Jasper National Park, Alberta including Mount Edith Cavell Trail, Sulphur Skyline Trail, Beauty Creek Trail, Wilcox Pass, Angel Glacier, Skyline Trail, Athabasca Glacier, Athabasca Falls, Jasper Information Centre, Maligne Canyon.
Restaurants in Jasper National Park
1. Mount Edith Cavell Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 224 reviews
Reviewed By JayY_Canada
Best things about the hike: - Begins at fairly high elevation (1700+ meters) - not much effort before getting above the tree line - Awesome views: glacier, lake, mountain peaks, blue sky - Wild flowers (even late in the season) - Pikas and mountain marmots (they are not as shy as those we saw in other places; you can get a really close-up view) - Moderate efforts: took us 4 hours round trip to the highest point of the trail and back; this is with extended lunch and animal viewing stops; we are moderately active and only average in fitness level. - The pay-off is excellent for you effort. (It takes a lot more work to get this kind of view elsewhere.) Things to be prepared for: - Bug repellent (even this late in the season) - Prepare for changing weather (hot, cold, windy, rainy); but "marginal weather" often produces the most spectacular views. - Sturdy hiking shoes and/or hiking poles help; the upper part of the trail could be a little slippery/scary for some. - Could be crowded; (not so much this year due to COVID perhaps) - No outhouses once you leave the parking lot; time your "needs" for a 4+hr walk. - Bring your long lens if you are into animal photography
2. Sulphur Skyline Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 149 reviews
Reviewed By 159barrys - Mount Pearl, Canada
It took us over 4 hours up and back but we paced ourselves as a group and took multiple breaks. This was our first time to Jasper so we took a guided hike and had the benefit of an experienced tour guide who made the experience all the better. There was a lot of people on the trail the day we went so bears were not a factor. It was a warm September day but we needed our warm jackets at the top. The last 500 meters are the hardest but the view from the top is beyond description.
3. Beauty Creek Trail
4. Wilcox Pass
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By Czarofconsoles - Vancouver, Canada
Really amazing hike, with great views of Athabasca Glacier. It was a great sunny day with cool winds when we did this hike. Starts from the trailhead just a km away from Athabasca Glacier. Nice steady incline but not much challenging to the camping spot. Throughout the hike views to the glacier and valley don't leave you. You reach the intersection and take a slightly steep incline to the viewpoint just in front of glacier. Views were spectacular and we had a great lunch in those windy conditions.
5. Angel Glacier
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 98 reviews
Reviewed By E1646EVjulied
The pathway up from the new parking area has a great viewing platform to see the glacier as well as the cavell glacier at the waters edge
6. Skyline Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By frombeautifulBC
This was an amazing trail and I will be back to do it again, however as with any mountain trail be ready for sudden adverse weather! My daughter and I spent a few days kicking around Jasper in the days before taking on the trail, hitting many of the shorter day hikes. We decided to park at the north end (signal mountain traihead) and take the shuttle to the south trailhead at Maligne Lake, this I think was a good direction to travel as you (over the full length) descend more than ascend, although there are some steep sections to contend with. Once up in the alpine and sub alpine it is amazing, the scenery is beyond spectacular! Our initial intent was to do it three days two nights, with a spare night booked just in case. Day 1 was great, beautiful warm weather, and a generally nice sunny day, a prefect way to begin the backpacking trip! Day 2 began cold and cloudy, we had seen the forecast and were not unprepared for the colder weather and enjoyed the morning making a steady ascent and going through passes. However around early afternoon a sever hail and thunderstorm rolled over the tops of the mountains and began to unleash its fury! As it neared us, it became dark and windy and the lightning was too close for comfort in the exposed alpine, we decided to head off to a small patch of alpine trees. Thankfully we had my MEC scout tarp for a situation just like this and as we got to the trees the skies let loose. We were pelleted by a major hailstorm, we pulled the tarp over ourselves for protection and huddled for what seemed like half an hour, thunder and lightning were constant! Once it let up we packed up the tarp and began to make our way back to the main trail which, along with everything else, was covered in a couple inches of white stuff. Again with many years of experience backpacking in the mountains the temperature drop during and after the storm was not unexpected, it was however more than expected.As we crested the next pass we found ourselves on an exposed slope with no wind buffer from the valley miles below, the chill, particularly for my daughter set in. When we reached out second night camp in what was now steady sleet/rain, we had to make a choice; either tough it out or take one of the two escape route trails back down into the valley and out to the highway. We made the choice for the escape route trail, hindsight being 20/20 we'd have been better off to camp the night and make a decision the next morning but I was worried my daughter might become hypothermic and so off we went. The trip out, although all downhill and slightly warmer (protected by trees) was a very long trip, the equivalent of what we'd already hiked that day. Long story short we made it out late that night and caught a cab to the other trailhead where my truck was and were happy to be free from that day. This is a rugged trail and you need to be in good shape and you need to be prepared for adverse weather. Our circumstance, not uncommon, was due to mother nature, she gave us what she had and this time it stopped us. In my 30 years packing the smartest people I ever knew on the trail where those who knew to make the choice to stop when they had to, thankfully I kept my daughter and I in that standing, you never know what the outcome might be otherwise. I'd recommend doing this trip in 2 nights / three days that seems to break it up easily into nice chunks and allows for extra exploring. We started early and made it to our first camp (Little Shovel) a little too early in the day. There is little to do at this camp and the bugs (mostly mosquitos) were incredibly bad. With an early start I would recommend at least going to the next camp (Snowbowl) then doing either Curator or Tekkara for the second night. We will be back to finish up this true gem, never give up on an adventure, just sometimes have to delay it a little. There is a lot to this, feel free to message me if you have any questions.
7. Athabasca Glacier
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 927 reviews
The snow never melts on this glacier, a major tourist attraction.
Reviewed By Fee_n_Gaz
Take the huge bus up to the glacier for a walk then walk out over the canyon using the glass bridge. Great staff on the bus keeping you entertained and amazing sights, well worth a visit.
8. Athabasca Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,708 reviews
A spectacular waterfall in Jasper National Park.
Reviewed By BrittanyMExplores - Winnipeg, Canada
Athabasca Falls is located approximately 30 minutes south of the town of Jasper along the scenic Icefields Parkway. It is a place definitely worth stopping and exploring. There were a network of paved pathways leading to various areas overlooking the waterfalls and viewpoints of the deep and narrow canyon. Athabasca Falls was powerful and gorgeous waterfall with a stunning backdrop of forests, mountains and the river flowing through as huge volumes of water rushed down into the canyon. There were a few lookout points offering different views of the falls along the trails. I visited on a sunny afternoon and the area was quite crowded with some of the lookout areas being very small, so I had to wait my turn in order to get up front and take photos. The pathways were interesting to explore and one of them led through a narrow section between two walls of the canyon with stairs carved into the rocks. There were some great vantage points overlooking the river and the canyon to see where the water had eroded the rock to create caves and unique rock formations over many years. Athabasca Falls was a wonderful area to discover, admire the natural beauty and take plenty of photos. The parking lot was large and could accommodate quite a few vehicles. It would probably be best to visit in the morning during the summer season before the crowds of people show up. If you’re driving the Icefields Parkway, definitely stop here.
9. Jasper Information Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 642 reviews
This historic building houses the visitor's center for Japer National Park.
Reviewed By nyalta - Bedford, United Kingdom
The weather was wet and cloud cover low so we visited the information centre for suggestions of things to do in the drizzly rain. The staff were excellent, very knowledgeable and keen to help the visitors. We left armed with a trail map marked with the recommended hikes and some bear spray in case our walks in the woods stumbled across a bear - we didn’t although did see bears by the roadside from our car. The parks staff have all the latest information on areas closed due to animal activity so a good place to start any trip to Jasper.
10. Maligne Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,561 reviews
A scenic limestone canyon with waterfalls and walking trails.
Reviewed By nikkisC5765BV - Banff, Canada
I did the whole hike all the way to 6th bridge (7+km out and back). The first 1/4 of the hike is heavily trafficked as it follows the canyon. After this, it follows a gorgeous river through the woods to 6th bridge. Stunning the whole way. Great for families as it can be customized to a long or short hike depending on which bridge crossing you turn back Lovely cafe with outdoor seating and a firepit at the parking lot.
