National park · Canada
Jasper National Park
Pay the Parks Canada entry fee (about CAD 11 per adult per day) and give Jasper 2 nights: Maligne Canyon and the valley lakes on day one, Mount Edith Cavell or a Valley of the Five Lakes walk on day two; skip the Maligne Lake cruise unless you want Spirit Island, and drive the Icefields Parkway south rather than backtracking.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
10,878 km²4,200 sq mi
approximate
Established
1907
Best months
Jun–Sep
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Area
- 10,878 km²4,200 sq mi
- About 10,878 km² (4,200 sq mi); the largest of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (check).
- Established
- 1907
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Jasper is the largest of Canada's Rocky Mountain parks and the quietest of the big three, because it sits 3.5 hours north of Banff on the same highway. The town of Jasper is inside the park, so you sleep among the mountains rather than commuting to them. Trails run from 20-minute canyon boardwalks to multi-day backcountry routes, and the Icefields Parkway south to Lake Louise is one of the best drives in the country. Wildlife is real here: elk, bighorn sheep and both black and grizzly bears share the valleys, so food storage and distance rules are not optional.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1984Part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.
Size and age
10,878 km²4,200 sq mi · national park since 1907
About 10,878 km² (4,200 sq mi); the largest of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (check).
Why go
- The town sits inside the park, so trailheads and lakes are minutes from your bed.
- More than 1,000 km of trails, from flat lakeshore loops to the Tonquin Valley.More than 621 mi of trails, from flat lakeshore loops to the Tonquin Valley.
- The Icefields Parkway south to Lake Louise passes glaciers, waterfalls and the Columbia Icefield.
- Quieter than Banff: fewer buses, easier parking, and dark skies over the townsite.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanDeep cold; most services closed
- FebSki and ice-climb season; -20°C nightsSki and ice-climb season; −4°F nights
- MarSnow persists on trails
- AprMelt and mud; lakes still frozen
- MayLow trails open; some snow up high
- JunLong days; waterfalls full; snow lingers on passes
- JulWarmest and busiest; book everything
- AugWarm; wildfire smoke possible
- SepClear, cooler, thinner crowds
- OctLarches turn gold; early snow possible
- NovShoulder season; many places shut
- DecWinter driving; short days
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk and bighorn sheep along Highway 16 and the townsite edgesMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Black and grizzly bears in valleys and berry slopesMay–Oct · Carry bear spray on trails and make noise. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Mountain goats at roadside mineral licksJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Larch colour in the high meadowsSep–Oct | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Edmonton
Drive Highway 16 west via Hinton; airport at Edmonton (YEG).
3.5–4 h
Open the page →
From Calgary
Drive the Icefields Parkway north from Lake Louise; longer but far more scenic.
5–6 h
From Banff and Lake Louise
Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) north; fuel at Lake Louise and Jasper only.
3.5–4 h
From Vancouver
VIA Rail's The Canadian to Jasper station, or fly to Edmonton and drive.
19–20 h by train
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Jasper townsite | Shops, hotels, hostels, the visitor centre and the only fuel in the park. | Open; walkable centre. |
| Maligne Valley | Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake, east of town. | Open; road plowed in winter to the canyon. |
| Mount Edith Cavell and Cavell Meadows | Angel Glacier, meadows and the steep Cavell Road. | Road open roughly June to October; check status. |
| Icefields Parkway corridor | Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, glaciers and the Columbia Icefield. | Open year-round; winter conditions can close it. |
| Miette and the east gate | Hot springs, Miette campground and the road toward Hinton. | Open; springs seasonal. |
Sketch map
- 1Jasper townsite and visitor centre · Town≈52.877, -118.081Map ↗
- 2Maligne Canyon · Trail≈52.920, -118.004Map ↗
- 3Medicine Lake · Viewpoint≈52.871, -117.801Map ↗
- 4Maligne Lake · Beach≈52.727, -117.639Map ↗
- 5Mount Edith Cavell trailhead · Trail≈52.687, -118.056Map ↗
- 6Athabasca Falls · Viewpoint≈52.665, -117.885Map ↗
- 7Sunwapta Falls · Viewpoint≈52.532, -117.646Map ↗
- 8Columbia Icefield · Viewpoint≈52.199, -117.246Map ↗
- 9Miette Hot Springs · Sleep≈53.130, -117.772Map ↗
- 10East gate near Hinton · Gate≈53.221, -117.837Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks Canada entry, adult, per day | CAD 11 | person | 2026 estimate; buy at a gate or online (check current rate). |
| Parks Canada Discovery Pass, annual adult | CAD 75–80 | person | 2026 estimate; pays off on a multi-park trip. |
| Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island | CAD 95–130 | person | 2026 estimate; book ahead in July and August. |
| Jasper SkyTram | CAD 55–65 | person | 2026 estimate; summit walk is steep and exposed. |
| Miette Hot Springs | CAD 15–20 | person | 2026 estimate; open roughly May to mid-October. |
| Front-country campsite, unserviced | CAD 25–35 | night | 2026 estimate; serviced sites cost more. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry pass permit or guide
Backcountry camping permit permit or guide
Fishing licence permit or guide
Maligne Lake cruise no permit
Park rules
- Food storage
- Keep all food and scented items in a vehicle or bear-proof container; never in a tent.
- Wildlife distance
- Stay at least 100 m from bears and 30 m from elk, sheep and deer; stay in your car for roadside sightings.
- Drones
- Not allowed anywhere in the park without a permit (check).check
- Camping
- Only in designated campgrounds or with a backcountry permit; random camping is illegal.
- Fires
- Only in provided fire pits; check for fire bans before you light anything.
- Pets
- Keep dogs on a leash at all times; most trails and all backcountry routes exclude them.
Where to stay
In the park
Jasper townsite
Hotels, motels, hostels and restaurants; the only fuel and full services in the park.
In the park
Whistlers and Wapiti campgrounds
The two large front-country campgrounds south of town; Wapiti stays open in winter.
In the park
HI-Mount Edith Cavell and HI-Beauty Creek
Rustic hostels with no running water or electricity; propane kitchens, outdoor toilets.
In the park
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Full-service lakeside resort east of town with a golf course.
Near the park
Hinton
Cheaper motels 45 minutes east, outside the park.
Safety
Bears high
Winter driving and avalanches high
Cell coverage medium
Weather swings medium
Wildfire smoke medium
Accessibility
- The Jasper townsite, visitor centre, Maligne Canyon upper paths and Athabasca Falls viewpoints have paved, wheelchair-accessible routes.
- The SkyTram summit, Cavell Meadows and most backcountry trails are steep and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked trails; alpine plants take years to recover from a single bootprint.
- Pack out everything, including food scraps, and use bear-proof bins.
- Book shuttles or car-share to Maligne Lake in peak season to cut parking pressure.
- Keep your distance from wildlife; a photo is not worth an animal losing its fear of people.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Jasper National Park?
About CAD 11 per adult per day in 2026 (roughly USD 8), with lower rates for children and seniors and a family or group rate per vehicle. A Parks Canada Discovery Pass (about CAD 75–80 per adult for a year) is better value if you also visit Banff or other national parks. Buy at a gate or online and display the pass.
What are the best hikes in Jasper National Park?
For a short day: Maligne Canyon (1–2 h, easy) and Valley of the Five Lakes (2–3 h, easy). For something bigger: Cavell Meadows below Mount Edith Cavell (2–4 h, moderate, seasonal road) or the Path of the Glacier for a short paved option. Serious walkers head to the Tonquin Valley with a backcountry permit.
When is the best time to visit Jasper National Park?
June to September for hiking, with July and August the warmest and busiest. September is the sweet spot: clear air, fewer people and the larches turning in October. Winter is for skiing and ice climbing, and many services close from November.
Do I need a reservation to visit Jasper?
No reservation is needed to enter the park, but campgrounds, the Maligne Lake cruise, the SkyTram and hotels sell out in July and August. Backcountry camping needs a permit booked in advance.
Can I see the Columbia Icefield from Jasper?
Yes, but it is about 100 km south on the Icefields Parkway, roughly 1.5 hours each way. Most people see it while driving between Jasper and Lake Louise rather than as a day trip from town.
Is there fuel inside the park?
Only in the Jasper townsite. Fill up before heading south on the Icefields Parkway or east toward Hinton, and carry water and food for the drive.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go