Jasper National Park at a glance
Jasper National Park lies in Alberta, Canada, and is managed by Parks Canada. The town of Jasper is the main base for visitors inside the park and is its own municipality. This guide covers Maligne Lake and Spirit Island, the Columbia Icefield, the Icefields Parkway, Athabasca Falls, the Jasper Skytram, Pyramid Lake, Miette Hot Springs, wildlife, rafting, hiking, getting there and the history of the area.
You can reach Jasper from Edmonton International Airport (YEG) by shuttle or rental car, or from Calgary (YYC) via Banff and the Icefields Parkway. VIA Rail trains also stop in town. Park fees are in Canadian dollars (CA$) and tours are priced in US dollars. All amounts are 2026 prices and can change.
Adults aged 18 to 64 pay CA$12.25 per day for park entry, seniors from 65 pay CA$10.75, and a family or group of up to 7 people in one vehicle pays CA$24.50. Visitors up to 17 enter free. The free summer period ran from 19 June to 7 September 2026, and regular fees apply again since 8 September.
Our picks: Jasper tours
The glacier and Skywalk are the big summer day, the Maligne Valley adds the boat and the animals, and the river and the food walk are the shorter options. If you only have one day, start with the glacier or the boat.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Maligne Valley wildlife tour with Spirit Island cruise
- Boat trip to Spirit Island
- Medicine Lake stop
- Hotel pickup
Six hours in a minibus with a guide, stops at Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake and a 90-minute boat trip toward Spirit Island, which you see from the water. Animals are never guaranteed, the guide just knows where to look.
Check availability →
Food walk through the town centre
- Four food tastings
- Four drinks
- Local guide
Three hours with a local guide, four larger tastings and four alcoholic drinks. A good rainy-day or evening plan in town.
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Guided boat cruise on Maligne Lake
- Guide on board
- Boat cruise on the lake
About 90 minutes on the lake with a guide. The dock is roughly an hour from Jasper, so plan 90 minutes for the drive and be ready 15 minutes before departure; the cruise is seasonal, so check the dates.
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Athabasca Glacier ride and Skywalk
- Guided glacier ride
- Skywalk entry
- Shuttle at the Icefield
A guided ride onto the Athabasca Glacier with live commentary, plus entry to the Skywalk with an audio guide. The glacier and Skywalk run in summer only, so check the dates; getting to the Discovery Centre is up to you.
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Easy 2-hour float on the Athabasca River
- Transport to and from the river
- Life jacket
- Rain poncho if needed
A calm two-hour trip with transport to and from the river, a life jacket and a poncho if you need one. Rafting season is summer, so check the dates.
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Evening or morning wildlife drive
- Guide with commentary
- Minibus
- Hotel pickup
Three hours in a minibus with a guide who explains the animals along the way. No sighting is promised; the early and late hours are simply when animals are most active.
Check availability →Jasper tours and day trips
Lake cruises, glacier outings, wildlife trips, rafting and more, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Jasper trip
Start with the big sights, then pick the pages you need.
Things to do in Jasper
Lakes, glaciers, waterfalls and wildlife in one overview.
Jasper National Park tours
Day trips, glacier outings and wildlife tours, and how to choose.
Maligne Lake and Spirit Island
The 22 km lake, the boat trip and the viewpoint near Spirit Island.
Maligne Canyon
The closure in 2026 and what you can do instead.
Columbia Icefield
The Athabasca Glacier, the Skywalk and the 2026 season.
Icefields Parkway
Stops, pass rules, winter tires and fuel on the 232 km road.
Athabasca Falls
Viewpoints, safety at the rail and Sunwapta Falls nearby.
Jasper Skytram
Heights, the walk to the summit and how booking works.
Pyramid Lake
Pyramid Island, the bridge and the rules for paddling.
The town of Jasper
Rebuilding, parking, buses and a dark-sky preserve.
Nature, seasons and practical pages
Animals, water, trails, weather and the way in.
Wildlife in Jasper
Elk, bears and caribou, plus the viewing distances for 2026.
Miette Hot Springs
Fees, season and the winding road from the highway.
Rafting in Jasper
Class II and class III sections on the Athabasca and Sunwapta.
Hiking in Jasper
Day hikes that are open, closed trails and bear safety.
Weather and best time
Monthly temperatures and which season suits which plan.
Where to stay in Jasper
Town, cabins and Parks Canada campgrounds, with 2026 fees.
Getting to Jasper
Edmonton, Calgary, shuttles, rental cars and parking.
Trains to Jasper
VIA Rail routes through the Rockies and what to check.
Canadian Rockies trip
Jasper with Banff and Lake Louise on one route.
History of Jasper
From the first peoples to the 2024 wildfire.
A few things to know before you go
The points that change most plans in 2026.
Maligne Canyon is closed in 2026
The canyon trails and the surrounding ground are closed, and winter activities there are not allowed either. The Fifth Bridge day-use area is a separate, open place. Cavell Road is closed to all traffic too.
Maligne Canyon →Spirit Island is a viewpoint
You cannot walk on the island. Boats stop at a viewpoint near it. The island matters to the Stoney Nakoda First Nation.
Maligne Lake →Valley of the Five Lakes is open again
The trail has reopened after the 2024 wildfire. Stay on the cleared trail corridor, because areas outside it remain restricted.
Hiking →Clean, drain, dry your gear
Water activity zones have applied since 31 July 2026. Boats and paddling gear must be cleaned, drained and dried, including your own equipment.
Pyramid Lake →Rebuilding is not finished
Of 374 lots to rebuild, 73 were ready to occupy in autumn 2026 and 98 were under construction. Do not assume a lodging that stood before 2024 is open.
Where to stay →Jasper National Park: frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Jasper?
It depends on the plan. The Icefield Adventure and the Skywalk run from 1 May to 12 October 2026, weather permitting. July and August have the highest average daytime highs, about 23 °C, while October nights already average below freezing. Winter tires or chains are required on the Icefields Parkway from 1 November to 31 March. See the weather page.
Can I land on Spirit Island?
No. Visitors may not walk on the island. The boat trip goes to a viewpoint near it. Private paddlers also use the lake, and the same landing rule applies.
Can I visit Maligne Canyon?
Not in 2026. The canyon area is closed because of unstable slopes and a higher risk of landslides after the wildfire. A guide does not lift the closure. See the canyon page for the alternatives.
Do I need a park pass in Jasper?
Yes, a Parks Canada pass is needed, including for a drive on the Icefields Parkway. A day pass costs CA$12.25 for adults aged 18 to 64 in 2026. A Discovery Pass for adults costs CA$83.50, lasts 12 months and covers Jasper and Banff. Youth up to 17 enter free. Camping, hot springs and reservations cost extra.
How do I get to Jasper?
Fly to Edmonton (YEG) and continue by shuttle or rental car, or come from Calgary (YYC) via Banff and the Icefields Parkway. VIA Rail also stops in Jasper. See getting to Jasper and trains to Jasper.
Is discoverjasper.org the official website of the park?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to Parks Canada, the Municipality of Jasper, Tourism Jasper or any tour operator.