Jasper National Park VISUAL Travel Guide

Expect to be AMZAED! Jasper National Park has been surpassing everyone’s wildest dreams and greatest expectations for over 100 years!

Jasper National Park is a place of great natural beauty where soaring mountains plummet steeply to meet the azure waters of clear glacier lakes – a pristine landscape, graced with abundant wildlife, glistening glaciers, tumbling waterfalls, and verdant evergreen forests.

This breath-taking national park is nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for its unforgettable landscape and the exceptional outdoor experiences. The park covers more than 11,000 square kilometers making it the largest national park in the Rockies and it is also a designated Dark Sky Preserve.

Jasper was named for Jasper Haws, a trading post owner who worked for the North West Company back in the early 1900’s. Long before that, the outstanding landscape was home to several Native American tribes who hunted and fur-trapped in the beautiful Athabasca River Valley.

Yelp reviews

Jasper National Park

4.5

Based on 43 Reviews

Jim W.

2023-08-30 15:30:28

Honestly, if you are researching Jasper National Park, you'd probably do better to look at individual sites within the park, rather than checking one single... read more

Maurine S.

2023-06-27 07:41:16

Drove from Edmonton to Jasper during our major road trip. The views are awesome and as beautiful as everyone claims. I am a bit spoiled about national... read more

Allison Y.

2023-06-06 19:31:18

I am in awe of Jasper. In my eyes, the scenary of Jasper is beyond description. Calling it beautiful cheapens it. Calling it magnificent simplifies it.... read more

Seth A.

2022-11-10 16:46:06

I wanted to showcase the major highlights around downtown Jasper, Alberta, Canada and within the close vicinity of Jasper National Park as well. Although I... read more

Niki B.

2019-07-15 07:12:22

Inexplicably gorgeous. No words, yet so many words!!! We drove to the ice field for the glacier tour and loved the gorgeous drive. We barely grazed the... read more

Patrick W.

2018-11-29 21:30:09

Of course, Banff National Park is the first Park people think of when it comes to the Canadian Rockies. Honestly, I did not even know the Canadian Rockies... read more

Shal W.

2016-12-03 14:32:41

Jasper, Alberta, Canada: Stunning scenery! Driving along the Icefields Parkway from Banff NP was a great leadin to this more rugged park. Visiting in... read more

Boon C.

2016-06-30 21:46:48

Jasper National Park of Canada is the most beautiful park I have been to in Canada. It is the northern part of the Canadian Rockies. You can spend a night... read more

What makes Jasper National Park so Special?

Those of you who have not yet visited Jasper National Park may be wondering what makes this particular park stand out from the rest. Let’s have a look at some fun and Interesting facts which make Jasper National Park a bucket-list destination:

Rugged Wilderness – Jasper National Park is one of the few places left on earth where you can truly immerse yourself in the wilds. Rugged back-country trails, mountainous terrains and glittering glacial lakes attract adventurers

Discover the stunning natural beauty of Jasper National Park in Les McDonald’s insider video guide

Miette Hot Springs – can you believe there are hot springs so close to ice fields and glaciers? It’s true! Natural mineral hot springs flow out of the mountain and have to be cooled down from 54C to a comfortable 40C for your soaking pleasure.

Lake Maligne and Spirit Island – possibly the most iconic image associated with Jasper National Park. This one-of-a-kind lake is surrounded by a steep mountain canyon and is home to Spirit Island, which is probably the most photographed place in Jasper National Park. Interestingly, Spirit Island is often linked to the mainland by a causeway and only becomes an island when the snows start to melt in spring

Columbia Icefield – the largest of its kind in the Rockies, the Columbia Icefield covers 230 square kilometers. Heavy winter snows of up to 7m per year turn to ice which flows out in the form of glaciers. The Athabasca Glacier is the best known “toe” of the icefield.

Athabasca Glacier

Best Things to Do in Jasper National Park

Surrounded by some of the most astonishing natural landscape and outdoor activities on the planet, it is sometimes hard to choose between the best things to do in Jasper National Park. There is almost no limit to the options available for energetic outdoor enthusiasts who will find themselves spoiled for choice in this recreational wonderland.

To try and put things in perspective, it may be helpful to divide all the best things to do into seasonal categories so that you can arrange your visit to suit your favourite activities. While several of the major attractions are accessible all year round, other activities are more weather-dependant.

Join Kone Travel Vlog on a hike to discover 5 different beautiful turquoise lakes in the Valley of the Five Lakes

See more of Best Things to do in Jasper National Park

Top 10 Jasper National Park Attractions

Jasper National Park covers a sprawling 11,000 square kilometers filled with pristine natural wonders. It would be impossible to see everything in a single trip so we have drawn up a list of the top attractions (in our opinion!) which you simply have to see during your trip.

Read more about each of these attractions so that you can draw up a short-list of things to see and do, according to your specific interests and how many days you have at your disposal. Distances between attractions can be quite significant so remember to factor in travel time when planning your itinerary. The town of Jasper is located in the heart of the National Park and provides a good base for exploring many of the northern park attractions.

Explore 10 best attractions in Jasper National Park

Best Places to Eat in Jasper National Park

You need a hearty breakfast to set you up for a busy day of outdoor recreation in Jasper National Park. Likewise, at the end of a busy day of exploring everyone looks forward to enjoying at great dinner.

While some visitors prefer the freedom of preparing their own meals or firing up the BBQ, most visitors like to take a break from cooking and household chores. Luckily, you will never need to go very far to find a welcoming restaurant in Jasper National Park.

In this video, Claudia & Abbey will take you on a foodie tour from unique breakfasts, comfort pub-style food to date-worthy options and everything in between

Many of the hotels and resorts have on-site restaurants and there are also some excellent independent restaurants waiting to welcome you. A good way to get an overview of the restaurant scene is to join a Jasper Food Tour right at the start of your vacation – this way you will know which places deserve a second visit. Many of the best places to eat are grouped around Patricia Street and Connaught Drive.

Read reviews of all restaurants in Jasper National Park and book a table or order delivery

Best Places to Stay in Jasper National Park

Visitors will find themselves spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding where to stay in Jasper National Park. You can choose from luxury resorts with a long list of amenities or secluded cabins and camping where visitors can truly get back to nature and experience the essence of this pristine wilderness.

The first thing you need to decide is whether you want luxurious hotel accommodation with all the frills or the freedom that comes with a self-catering cabin – sometimes it makes sense to split your time between the two to see how much you enjoy both options.

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, a village of heritage log cabins built in 1921

Discover top 10 Places to Stay in Jasper National Park

Best Time to Visit Jasper National Park

It can be difficult to choose the best time to visit Jasper National Park, especially if you have never visited Canada before. While there is no such thing as a “bad” time to visit Jasper, the time you choose to visit will largely depend on what you want to do.

Summer in Jasper National Park

Temperatures can vary greatly between summer and winter and you will also need to consider your cold tolerance! To put things in perspective, it’s useful to have a look at each of the seasons and see what kind of temperatures you can expect and what activities are available.

Winter in Jasper National Park

Getting in and around Jasper National Park

Despite occupying a remote and pristine wilderness location, getting to Jasper National Park is relatively easy due to excellent air, road and rail connections. Many Canadians drive to the park in their own vehicles, while visitors from further afield generally fly in to one of the closest airports and then hire a car to drive to Jasper. Read on to find out which option will best suit your needs.

The Icefields Parkway, one of the top 10 scenic drives in the world, connects two Canadian national parks and links Lake Louise in the south with Jasper in the north

Discover various options for getting in and around Jasper National Park

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