Things to Do in Jasper National Park: The Complete 2026 Guide
Glaciers, turquoise lakes, thundering waterfalls, abundant wildlife and one of Earth's largest dark-sky preserves — the very best of Jasper, with 2026 prices and up-to-date open/closed status.
Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies — a vast wilderness of glaciers, turquoise lakes, thundering waterfalls, and abundant wildlife, all crowned by one of the largest dark-sky preserves on Earth. Whether you have two days or two weeks, there is far more here than you can fit into a single trip. This guide rounds up the very best things to do in Jasper National Park, with current 2026 prices and, crucially, up-to-date open/closed status following the 2024 wildfire.
2026 status at a glance: Jasper is open and welcoming visitors. The town and park are largely accessible, and nearly all major attractions are operating. The key exceptions this year are Maligne Canyon, the Mount Edith Cavell area (Cavell Road), and Wabasso Campground, all closed for the 2026 season. Everything else on this list is open. Always check Parks Canada's "What's open in Jasper" page for the latest, as recovery status can change.
1. Cruise Maligne Lake to Spirit Island
The signature Jasper experience. Maligne Lake is the largest glacier-fed lake in the Rockies, and a guided boat cruise takes you 14 km down its length to Spirit Island — the tiny, tree-topped islet that is the most photographed scene in the park and one of the most iconic images in Canada. Spirit Island is reachable only by boat, so the cruise is the only way to see it.
- Operator: Pursuit (Banff Jasper Collection)
- Season: roughly late May to mid-October
- Price: from ~$106 CAD adult (Classic Cruise), dynamic pricing
- Getting there: ~1 hour from Jasper via Maligne Lake Road (open in 2026, with visible burn along the lower stretch)
See our dedicated Maligne Lake & Spirit Island guide for full details.
2. Walk on a glacier at the Columbia Icefield
An hour south of town on the Icefields Parkway, the Columbia Icefield offers a genuine bucket-list experience: ride a massive Ice Explorer onto the surface of the Athabasca Glacier, then step onto the glass-floored Columbia Icefield Skywalk suspended nearly 300 metres above the valley. Prefer something more active? Guided glacier hikes on foot are available for a deeper, roped-up exploration of the ice.
- Operator: Pursuit (Banff Jasper Collection)
- Season: ~May to mid-October
- Price: from ~$116 CAD adult for the Ice Explorer + Skywalk combo, dynamic pricing
See our dedicated Columbia Icefield & Athabasca Glacier guide for full details, and the Icefields Parkway road-trip guide if you are driving there from Banff.
3. Ride the Jasper SkyTram
Canada's longest and highest guided aerial tramway whisks you up Whistlers Mountain in about seven minutes, climbing to an upper station at 2,263 metres. From there, an optional 1.4-km summit trail leads even higher, to around 2,463 metres, for sweeping panoramas over six mountain ranges, the Athabasca River valley, and the town of Jasper far below. On clear days you can see all the way to Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
- Operator: Pursuit (Banff Jasper Collection)
- Season: roughly April to late October
- Price: approximately $80 CAD adult, $50 youth (6–15), free under 6 (dynamic pricing; verify live)
- 2026 note: The SkyTram survived the wildfire intact — fire crossed Whistlers Mountain but both stations were spared. Discounts are available for sunset rides (May–early September) and for AMA/CAA and military members. A shuttle-plus-ticket package is available from town via SunDog.
4. Soak in Miette Hot Springs
The hottest mineral springs in the Canadian Rockies, Miette bubbles out of the ground at 54°C and is cooled to a blissful 40°C for the soaking pools. Tucked in the scenic Fiddle Valley about an hour east of town off Highway 16, it is the perfect way to soothe tired legs after a day of hiking — surrounded by mountain peaks.
- Operator: Parks Canada
- 2026 season: opens May 15, 2026; daily 11:00 AM–9:00 PM (last entry 8:30 PM)
- Price: $19.75 adult, $17.25 youth/senior, free under 3
- Note: first-come, first-served — no advance booking. A valid park pass is required (pool admission is separate and not covered by the Canada Strong Pass free-entry program).
5. Chase waterfalls: Athabasca & Sunwapta Falls
Two of the park's most dramatic waterfalls sit right off the Icefields Parkway south of town. Athabasca Falls channels a huge volume of water through a narrow quartzite gorge — short on height, long on power, with excellent paved viewing platforms. Sunwapta Falls tumbles around a small rock island, with an easy walk to the upper falls and a longer trail to the quieter lower falls. Both are open for 2026 and both sit along the Icefields Parkway drive.
6. Explore the lakes near town: Pyramid & Patricia
Just minutes from Jasper townsite, Pyramid Lake and Patricia Lake offer easy, scenic escapes. Pyramid Lake, backed by the striking rusty-red Pyramid Mountain, has a small island reached by a footbridge — a favourite spot for sunrise, sunset, and stargazing. Both lakes are lovely for a gentle stroll, a canoe or kayak paddle, or simply a lakeside picnic, and both are easily accessible in 2026.
7. See wildlife
Jasper is one of the best places in the Rockies to spot large mammals in the wild. Elk are common right around town; bighorn sheep, mountain goats, black and grizzly bears, moose, and even wolves range through the park. Maligne Lake Road and the Icefields Parkway at dawn and dusk are prime viewing corridors. Guided wildlife tours run from town for those who want expert eyes and safe distances.
Always keep your distance — stay in your vehicle when animals are near the road, never feed wildlife, and carry bear spray when hiking.
8. Stargaze in the Dark Sky Preserve
Jasper is one of the largest dark-sky preserves in the world — and the largest that is easily accessible, with a town right inside it. On a clear night the Milky Way stretches from horizon to horizon, and the Northern Lights make regular appearances. The annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival (October 16–25, 2026) turns stargazing into a headline event, but the skies are dark 365 nights a year. Easy spots include Pyramid Island, Lake Annette, and Old Fort Point.
9. Hit the trails
From gentle lakeside strolls to challenging alpine ascents, Jasper's hiking is world-class. Easy favourites include Valley of the Five Lakes (reopened for 2026) and the lakeshore paths near town; more ambitious hikers tackle Wilcox Pass for close-up glacier views, Bald Hills for panoramas over Maligne Lake, or the multi-day Skyline Trail.
2026 trail closures to note: Maligne Canyon and the Mount Edith Cavell area (including Cavell Meadows and the Path of the Glacier) are closed this season.
10. Wander the town of Jasper
The townsite itself is worth your time. Despite the 2024 wildfire — which destroyed roughly a third of the town's structures — Jasper is rebuilding steadily, and its shops, restaurants, cafés, and outfitters are open and welcoming visitors. Stroll the main streets, refuel with a good meal, pick up bear spray and trail snacks, and chat with locals whose resilience is a story in itself. Visiting and spending here directly supports the community's recovery.
Sample itineraries
One perfect day: Morning Maligne Lake cruise → afternoon drive back with a wildlife stop → evening stargazing at Pyramid Island.
Two days: Day 1 — Maligne Lake cruise + Maligne Valley. Day 2 — Icefields Parkway south to the Columbia Icefield, stopping at Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls.
Three days: Add the Jasper SkyTram, a soak at Miette Hot Springs, and a half-day hike such as Valley of the Five Lakes.
Practical tips for 2026
- Buy your park pass in advance or at the gate (free entry June 19–Sept 7, 2026, under the Canada Strong Pass — expect bigger crowds during that window).
- Pre-book the big-ticket attractions (Maligne Lake cruise, Columbia Icefield, SkyTram); they sell out in summer and use dynamic pricing that rewards early booking.
- Check closures on Parks Canada's website before finalizing plans — Maligne Canyon, Cavell Road, and Wabasso Campground are the key 2026 exceptions.
- Carry bear spray on any hike and know how to use it.
- Support local businesses — the town's recovery depends on visitors returning.
Jasper in 2026 is open, spectacular, and ready to welcome you. However you spend your days here, the combination of glaciers, lakes, wildlife, and star-filled skies makes it one of the great destinations in North America.
Things to Do in Jasper: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top things to do in Jasper National Park?
The headline experiences are the Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island, walking on the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield, riding the Jasper SkyTram up Whistlers Mountain, soaking in Miette Hot Springs, and chasing Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls. Add wildlife watching along Maligne Lake Road and the Icefields Parkway, stargazing in the Dark Sky Preserve, and hiking trails such as Valley of the Five Lakes.
What is closed in Jasper National Park in 2026?
For the 2026 season the key closures are Maligne Canyon, the Mount Edith Cavell area (Cavell Road, Cavell Meadows and the Path of the Glacier), and Wabasso Campground. Everything else — Maligne Lake and the cruise, the Columbia Icefield, the SkyTram, Miette Hot Springs, the waterfalls and the town — is open. Always check Parks Canada's What's open in Jasper page before you travel.
How many days do you need in Jasper?
One full day covers a single headliner such as the Maligne Lake cruise plus a wildlife stop and evening stargazing. Two days lets you add the Icefields Parkway and the Columbia Icefield with the waterfalls. Three days adds the Jasper SkyTram, a soak at Miette Hot Springs and a half-day hike such as Valley of the Five Lakes. A week allows serious hiking.
How much does the Jasper SkyTram cost in 2026?
The Jasper SkyTram is approximately $80 CAD for adults, $50 for youth 6–15, and free for under-6s, using dynamic pricing, so verify the live fare. It runs roughly April to late October up Whistlers Mountain. Discounts are available for sunset rides (May to early September) and for AMA/CAA and military members, and a shuttle-plus-ticket package is available from town.
Which Jasper attractions should you book in advance?
Pre-book the big-ticket attractions — the Maligne Lake cruise, the Columbia Icefield Ice Explorer and Skywalk, and the Jasper SkyTram. They sell out in summer and use dynamic pricing that rewards early booking. Miette Hot Springs is first-come, first-served with no advance booking. A valid Parks Canada pass is required for the park regardless.