Jasper National Park

We are visiting from the States and have been absolutely pleased with every part of our visit here. Your roads are well maintained, the park is extremely clean, and you have restroom facilities available along the road pull-offs. Brilliant! Our experience here has been better than we could have hoped for. Job well done, Canada.

Breathtaking park. Although not as busy as its southern sibling, Banff, it still holds the beauty of Mother Nature in her entirety. It’s worth even just driving the ice fields parkway for an unforgettable scenic drive.

This is such a magical place, and I wish I could live here again. We and my wife went for Christmas 🎄 and it was great to show her where I lived for years. Everyone is friendly, there are amazing views, the animals, skiing, and so much more. I wish everyone could spend some time here so they could see how beautiful it is and how the animals and people can live closely together. I can't wait to be back 💯

One word to describe this park…. INSANE!!! Driving the Icefields Parkway was hands down the best drive of my LIFE! I have road tripped across Colorado, Utah, Washington and more and this location is simply unmatched. From the winding rivers to the milky teal glacial lakes to the towering snow capped mountains, this place is MAGIC!!! I already cannot wait to come back when I have more time. We saw so much wildlife, everything from bears to moose and elk, it was a surprise around every turn! If you are thinking about a trip here, DO IT! BOOK THE TRIP!!! You will be AMAZED!!!

This is the best national park in the area. It offers a tremendous amount of hiking and wildlife viewing without the tourism and crowds of Banff. You can spend weeks here and not see everything. The campsites, especially Wapiti, are wonderful. Those located near Jasper provide excellent access to basic amenities while also making you feel secluded. If you can, wake up at sunrise and drive to Maligne Lake because I almost promise you'll see wildlife - sometimes literally on the road.

Jasper National Park is an awe-inspiring destination that showcases the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. From towering mountains to crystal-clear lakes, it's a haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Hiking trails offer breathtaking views, and the chance to spot wildlife is a thrill. This park is a must-visit for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the wonders of the great outdoors. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the pristine wilderness of Jasper National Park!

It's so beautiful, more than Banff I would say. It's pleasant, not too commercial and yet you find everything, less tourists than banff and more things to do, hikes camping waterfalls sand dunes and just casual swimming or even night parks at medicine lake. I feel like regular photos cannot do justice to the beauty you see with your eye

Satisfied. Jasper National Park is so awesome. There’s a lot of beautiful places to visit to. Traveling within these places would be difficult if you do not have a friend/family who can drive for you. Unless of course you join arranged tours but you have to pay sum of money and it’s not cheap. Always wear a comfortable shoes because you’ll hike a lot and it is not a choice 😉.

Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies & home to the 2nd largest dark sky preserve in the country, Alberta's Jasper National Park contains 4,335 square miles of the most stunning scenery in Canadian Rockies. The park is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including grizzly bears, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep. In 1984, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's known for pristine ecosystems, unique geological formations, and a commitment to preserving natural beauty. Towering glaciers, turquoise lakes dense forests contribute to the park's unparalleled environmental features. Spread over 5 regions, the park is most famous for its extensive network of hiking trails for all abilities.

This is the best national park in the area. It offers a tremendous amount of hiking and wildlife viewing without the tourism and crowds of Banff. You can spend weeks here and not see everything. The campsites, especially Wapiti, are wonderful. Those located near Jasper provide excellent access to basic amenities while also making you feel secluded. If you can, wake up at sunrise and drive to Maligne Lake because I almost promise you'll see wildlife - sometimes literally on the road.

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 review for the entire park. That said... If you are trying to decide if visiting Jasper National Park is worth it, the answer is 'yes'. The only real drawback is that it is somewhat isolated. * You can fly to Edmonton, rent a car, and drive 4 hours to Jasper townsite. * You can drive 2.5 hours or so north from Lake Louise also. * You can fly into Vancouver, but I think the drive from there is more like 10 - 12 hours. However, once you reach Jasper, there are a lot of things to see and do: * Mountain / lake trail hikes * At least 2 large waterfalls * A sky tram to the top of a tall mountain near the town * A boat tour of a scenic lake (Maligne) within 30 miles * Touring onto a glacier just over an hour south of town * Various other canyons and lakes nearby You will likely make the town of Jasper your home base for a trip, as it is just about the ONLY option within reasonable driving distance. It is a bit touristy, but is still picturesque. It has a number of hotels, restaurants, and shops all catering to tourists. Fees to enter the park are around $22 CDN per day per car. The scenery is spectacular. When we visited in August of 2023, there was still lingering smoke from this years' wildfires, such that the mountains were less clearly visible in the distance, but this is not normally the case.

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. When I looked at the mountains in front of the National Park Office in towncentre, I felt a serenity, a rugged beauty, a gravity from the mountains. For this scenary alone, I recommend visiting Jasper if you can. Of the various activities available in Jasper, we chose to go hiking (free of charge; comfortable and ankle protecting shoes recommended), take the SkyTram to climb one of the rockies ($60pp; recommended), join a bus tour to see wildlife in Maligne Valley ($72pp; recommended if you don't have a car), scroll around town (free; recommended) and try various food places ($20 to $100pp; recommended). Jasper is an expensive foodies heaven with a vibrant food scene, full of cuisines from various cultures. The most expensive is to have a steak. If your hotel room comes with a kitchenette, consider buying the steaks from Your Jasper Grocer and cook them yourself. There are other famous activities that we didn't get a chance to do: hot spring, water sports, star glazing (Jasper is a dark sky preserve area). We stayed in a hotel, so I cannot comment on the camping aspect of the park.

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 road-tripped through the Canadian Rockies and had unlimited time this past summer of 2022, I would suggest using about 3 - 5 days in the area to enjoy the sights and surroundings. Here are a list of attractions that are worthwhile to check out during your visit... Jasper Skytram - a very popular activity situated 7 kilometers outside downtown. It takes you to the "top of it all", but for me, I preferred the gondola in Banff much better. Oh, btw...since cell phone reception works well in downtown Jasper, simply plug destinations into Google Maps and you'll have no issues finding any of your destinations. Annette and Edith Lakes - these lakes are good for walking around and having picnics. The settings here were quiet, but I was yearning for more in terms of sceneries. The snowcapped mountains were situated too far away in the distance. You can do some paddling on the lakes as they offer rentals. Medicine Lake - is located on the road to Maligne Lake and if you visit in the morning with the sun shining brightly, the reflections are top notch!!! Maligne Lake - located 37 kilometers from downtown. You must take a boat tour while at Maligne Lake. You'll exit the boat for 15 minutes at Spirit Island...which is the pinnacle/apex for what makes Maligne Lake so wonderful. I recommend making reservations for boat tours during peak summer times. You can do it online when you plug Maligne Lake into Google Maps. Maligne Canyon - located 6 kilometers from downtown. This exhibits some walking pathways among a canyon with overlooks and a waterfall. It was nothing special but still, another frequented spot for tourists. Miette Hot Springs - located 60 kilometers outside downtown Jasper, but technically still located within the park boundaries. The springs are sort of secluded and out of the way from the rest of the landmarks, but if you have free time...it was pleasant to soak up in the hot waters among a picturesque setting. Also here while driving the road to the hot springs, I came across a bear. So, I guess, be on the lookout for wildlife. It's very cheap to come here. It was less than $10 Canadian for entry - a bargain!! And they provide showers and changing rooms. Lastly and technically part of Jasper NP is... - Sunwapta Falls - right off Icefields Parkway and 42 kilometers north of downtown. It's a quick stop for a canyon ravine atmosphere. It took me 30 minutes to hang out. Just okay. - Athabasca Falls - 24 kilometers north of downtown Jasper and again, situated right off Icefields Parkway. It's very similar in terms of what to expect, just like Sunwapta Falls. Photography was sort of difficult to capture and...I didn't need more than 1 hour to explore. Oh, btw...almost forgot...Valley of the 5 Lakes is 22 kilometers from downtown. I really appreciated the colorful lakes here and the hiking trails. This should be a top priority to check out!!...conveniently sitting right off Icefields Parkway. Finally...I stayed at a terrific campground called Whistlers Campground, located just outside downtown Jasper. It was cheap, maybe $25 Canadian per night featuring brand new showers and bathrooms. I stayed for 3 nights at Whistlers Campground and it was fantastic, with great cell reception and perfect accessibility to wildlife and all the great attractions in Jasper. Welp...if you've made it this far, thank you for taking time to read this.

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 parks and waterfalls but in the US you definitely don't get that same clear blue you see here from the rock silt. The only thing I would point out is that I thought the ice fields was thing looooonnnnggg area you drive by but it's really just this small part. We stayed here for 3 days and 2 nights so we had plenty of time to take in the sights without rushing. We found that a lot of the popular places were empty with lots of parking spots later in the day (the advantage of just being 2 people without having to force your kids to come along)! Come and enjoy the views of you can!

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 surface of exploring the park, but what we saw was incredible. We did The Colombia Ice Field adventure and it was one of our favorite parts of the trip. Tickets aren't cheap, but it's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime-type experience. A bus takes you to a GIANT ice vehicle that has the ability to drive down steep inclines and over the massive ice field. Such a blast! We'll be back, Jasper!

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 at Lake Louise or Jasper. The Columbia Ice Field Road is the connecting road to all the point of interests. Start from the south to north of Ice Field Road with easy access point of interests count the mile marker from Lake Louise at the highway. It begin with the Crowfoot Glacier which the ice river fall shape like an animal foot. It is very close to Bow Lake and Create the reflection in the lake at Kilometer (KM) 37. The Bow Glacier is at KM 40 is look like icing on top of the mountain. it is beautifully presented. The next stop is the Peyto Lake. When you reach there, there is two way to get to the lake. One by hiking and the other at the bus terminal and walk there and the lake is there. The Peyto Lake is like a marble blue. It is beautiful and now you are at KM 43. Along the way of KM 109, The Bridal Veil and Weeping Wall falls can be spot on the right of highway. The so many falls on the rock like a weep rock. My favorite stop is at the Icefield Center when Columbia Icefield is once the have the glacier river at the foot hill of the center. You can book a tour to the glacier river and skywalk overlook. This is the tour you don't want to miss in this trip. Now you are at KM 130. The next two fall is Sunwapta Falls at KM 179 and Athabasca Fall at 203 should not be miss. This two falls is easy access and spectacular. The last thing of this trip is at Jasper Junction and have lunch and gas before turn back.

Even when it's raining, you can find something to do. Hikes, boats, tram, birding, animal watching, shopping, partying. There is something about the air. We are lucky to live so near the Rocky Mountains. The lakes and waterfalls are beautiful. This year, the park entrance is free. This will save us a ton of money!

I just wrote a review for Banff National Park. I could say that all of that stands the same for Jasper. This is perhaps Banff's lesser-visited northern neighbor. Everything about it simply seems more "wild". It seems to me to have less lakes and more rivers, canyons and gorges. It seems less visited with higher, rougher roads and tighter nooks and crannies. Heading out of the park to the north there is a large, flat expanse of lake. We called it colloquially "the flats". In the dead of summer people can wade out for several hundred yards/meters and the depth is still no higher than your knees. The water is clear to the bottom and sunset here is splendid so why not? Well, because they only reason this water isn't frozen is because it's constantly moving. It's sooo cold it made my bones ache! But so worth it to score the picture I got. My most favorite part of Jasper NP would have to be Maligne Canyon and River. A hike along this deceptively deep and narrow canyon is breathtaking. The clear blue river has carved through this stone for hundreds of years slowly creating its own ecosystem in the process. Again, it looks positively inviting though the clear waters are quite cold. Why not take a dip? Vacation doesn't last forever and most people don't get to see such beauty more than once. The town of Jasper itself is also far smaller and more quaint than Banff to the south. Again, less touristy though it had a train stop right in town. The train even adds a picturesque mountain charm to the whole thing. Definitely do stop through Jasper NP when you hit Banff too!

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 comprised of 5 separate parks before I planned my trip. Jasper National Park is actually the largest of the parks and features the most wilderness. Banff is more beautiful but it is also a lot more commercialized. Nonetheless, there are obviously many tourists visiting Jasper too. I did not fear wildlife on the hiking trails I traversed on because there were plenty of people around to keep them away. However, it is not overrun by tourists either. I definitely felt there was a lot more room to breathe and enjoy the Canadian Rockies up in Jasper in contrast to Banff. Of course, Jasper is certainly stunningly beautiful in its own right with the majestic Maligne Lake, breathtaking skyline views and hikes, and a glacier and icefield you can take a tour on. I will point out that I got incredibly lucky with the weather conditions during my trip. In general, mountain climate can change very quickly. As a result, I was checking the weather constantly. I chose the end of August because I heard the colors of the lakes, which are the main attractions in the Canadian Rockies, are most rich and beautiful during that month. However, I was ignorant to the fact that there can be significant smoke via annual wildfires from British Columbia. From the last two weeks of July through August, there is a high risk of smoke ruining your trip during that period. I was informed that the smoke completely blocked out the sight of mountains in the two weeks before I arrived. I also heard about the horror stories and upset tourists who felt their vacations were wasted. I definitely would have felt the same way. It is heartbreaking and frustrating to pay thousands of dollars to see the Canadian Rockies and not be able to see anything. Cruelly, the end of July and August is prime vacation time. In the absence of smoke, it would be an ideal time to experience the Rockies. The trails of most hikes would have thawed and it is warmer. However, heavy smoke is certainly a factor to consider before you book your trip. Of course, you may not have a choice if that is the only time you have available. I spoke to a teller in a bank in Jasper and she noted that May through early July are the best times to visit the Canadian Rockies. Again, it may not be ideal for hikers since some of the better and higher elevation hikes may not have thawed out from the winter yet. For this reason, I agreed with her suggestion that mid-September is probably the best time to visit. The smoke is usually gone by then. Moreover, there is a lot less tourists after Labor Day when the kids are back in school. Ironically, I was upset about the heavy rain that occurred on my first day in the Rockies. In actuality, I lucked out because the rain cleared out all the smoke. Sunshine is the prime commodity in the Rockies. You will chase it and try to align your visits to the main attractions to when there is sun. When you see photographs, you generally see them with perfect conditions. Realistically, you are not likely to get great conditions for all the points of interest. Accordingly, prioritizing is a key to planning a trip. I spent two full days in Jasper (arrived in the town of Jasper Sunday afternoon and completed my tour of the Athabasca Glacier around 5 PM on Tuesday) and checked off most spots on my list. However, I traveled alone, got up early, and got through my itinerary efficiently. I also did two summit hikes on the same day when the weather was the best. However, a trip to Jasper could definitely be 3-4 days to go at a slower pace or provide a buffer for weather. Of course, cost is a motivating factor to be as efficient as possible since it is certainly not cheap to stay in Jasper. Regardless, I am thrilled I added a couple of days to visit Jasper as an addition to my trip to Banff. The closest airport to Jasper National Park is in Edmonton. It is a four hour drive to the town of Jasper. Calgary is almost a five hour drive and cuts through Banff and a lot of the Rockies. Of course, many visitors to Jasper are combining it with a trip to Banff. It made sense for me to fly into Calgary, drive up to Jasper first, and then head back to Banff before returning to Calgary. Although the drive is long, the road between Jasper and Banff is one of the most scenic drives anywhere. There are plenty of lookout points and points of interest to break up the drive. In addition, I recommend buying the National Parks pass ahead of time at https://www.banfflakelouise.com/parks-pass-online. It is $9.80 per day and covers you for all the parks in the Canadian Rockies. If you are visiting the Canadian Rockies and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary/ recommendations, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found via my Yelp profile.

A truly amazing nature place! Many terrains to hike and many animals too. It's super less crowded than Banff, and it's a lot more remote (aka there aren't gondolas and buses everywhere). There are still a lot of mosquitos though! Jasper National Park is a huge place, and it takes a while to get anywhere. When we went, we did Bald Hills, Sulphur Skyline, Valley of the Five Lakes, Wilcox Pass, and Maligne Canyon. Bald Hills was super amazing even though the hike was pretty tough, and the Valley of the Five Lakes was really pretty for not a lot of effort which I very much appreciated! Definitely recommend going to Jasper if you're around that area, and make the trip there if you're already in Banff!

My friends and I visited Jasper National Park last month and it was beautiful. Located above Banff National Park, it is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights and wildlife. Unfortunately when my friends and I was there, it was cloudy and we couldn't see the Northern Lights. FYI, you have to go pretty up north like near Edmonton to see them. It was still wintertime when we visited so everything was covered in snow and the lakes were mostly frozen. Fees (in CAD): Adult $ 9.80 Senior $ 8.30 Youth $ 4.90 Family/Group $ 19.60 Commercial Group, per person $ 8.30 School Groups, per student $ 3.90 The daily fee allows you to go into 8 national parks (wow!): Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Waterton Lakes and Elk Island national parks Time Zone: Mountain Daylight Time Here is where we traveled to: Columbia Icefield Parkway Athabasca Falls: http://www.yelp.com/biz/athabasca-falls-jasper?hrid=rgh1P3RVMzzqFvReX3Y3Kw Athabasca Glacier: http://www.yelp.com/biz/athabasca-glacier-jasper?hrid=3EZqbcZ2tDVdHZ-JXmP8XA Sunwapta Falls: http://www.yelp.com/biz/sunwapta-falls-jasper?hrid=EIeMT_1SMtqHZ7DzkUIxyg Maligne Lake: http://www.yelp.com/biz/maligne-lake-jasper?hrid=RIKT0Pey9-iol6L3GClkrg Medicine Lake: http://www.yelp.com/biz/medicine-lake-jasper?hrid=YrMRLn8mEEl13TU4gJBIrQ The weather was about in the high 30s and low 40s during the day and high 10s and low 20s at night. The roads weren't too icy where you needed chains but if you have them, I would bring them just in case. There were some parts on the road where it was slightly icy and I would've felt safer if we had the chains. Some of the roads were snowed in so we definitely did not attempt to drive through that. Also layer up to help with the weather change throughout the day! Downtown Jasper was not has poppin' as downtown Banff. Majority of the places closed by 5pm and there weren't many stores, just a couple hotels, restaurants and gift shops. It definitely gives the whole small town feel.

Must visit places in or near jasper -maligne canyon -maligne lake -athabasca falls -sunwapta falls - valley of the 5 lakes trail loop Between jasper and banff -icefields drive highway 93 - peyto lake - lake Louise - moraine lake

Jasper deserves more credit (and much needed hype) than it is currently given. Because of its close proximity to Calgary, Banff is much more popular than the far, yet utterly beautiful and peaceful Jasper. We spent a day in Jasper and here's what we did: 1) Grab Java and breakfast at Bear Paws Cafe - http://www.yelp.com/biz/bears-paw-bakery-jasper?hrid=g-MbmLZAV3RNkH-Kr-kQ0g&page_src=shared_via_messages_or_emails 2) Take the Jasper Skytram to the crest of Whistlers Mountain If you are an avid hiker, walk from the base to the summit of Whistlers Mountain and it takes 6 hours!!! We boarded the sky tram and in less than 10 minutes climbed over 1000 metres to reach the summit! Pretty neat, wasn' it? And the views - incredible Utterly gorgeous panoramic views from the top! From Mt. Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies to several other rolling glacier covered mountains, to the gorgeous Jasper town (in the shape of the letter "J"), to the turquoise blue glacier fed lakes, one can never get enough of it. Be on the lookout for ground squirrels and beavers hidden underneath the rocks. The tour guide said that the Mt. Robson peak wasn't visible until the day before, so I guess we picked a good day to come here! 3) Buy a sandwich from Patricia's Café - http://www.yelp.com/biz/patricia-street-deli-jasper?hrid=vlA38U49pgz5ZzhdUIKxjg&page_src=shared_via_messages_or_emails 4) Hike along the Maligne Canyon After hiking the Maligne Canyon, you'll know why it was named so. The Maligne River steadily flows between deep gorges, looks scary at times and mind blowing at other times. The hike from the parking lot was very enjoyable; the trail is downhill and along the canyon. Peek in at viewpoints to capture the beauty of the river gushing through the narrow and deep canyons and swirling around at certain places, forming ink pots. The view from the 3rd bridge is my personal favorite. Here's the spot where you can feel the spray; much needed on a sweltering day. We hiked for about 30 minutes one-way and returned. The trail back to the lot is not so cool - It is mostly uphill. 5) Picnic by the Maligne River While driving from Maligne Canyon to Medicine Lake, we came across a lovely picnic spot by the Maligne River and stopped there. The clouds alternatively hid the sun for a bit and paved the way for the sunlight to pierce through, gleaming the river. 6) See the lovely Medicine Lake that disappears during winter From the Maligne Canyon, we drove on a narrow road bordering the beautiful Athabasca River. Keep your eyes peeled out for wildlife along the way - A bear crossed the road right in front of our car. A turn around the mountain suddenly unfolds a lovely view of a large, deep green color lake, which often disappears during winter. It is the Medicine Lake! The lake was untouched, calm and clear. Occasionally, you see swarms of geese fluttering in the lake. Of course, it is intriguing that such a big lake can disappear during winter, but the mystery has been uncovered. During winter, the water from the south drains into the sinkholes before reaching the Medicine Lake. During summer, when the glaciers melt, the water swells over the sink holes and flows into the Medicine Lake. 7) Visit the Maligne Lake and take the boat tour to Spirit Island This lake should be renamed. Something so beautiful should never be named as "malign". This lake is one of the safer places for novice paddlers and kayakers. We booked a boat tour to the Spirit Island, one of the most photographed locations in the Canadian Rockies. During the 30 minutes boat ride to the Spirit Island, we saw the Maligne Glaciers. Only 10% is seen from one side of the mountain and it is massive as it is. Leaves you wondering how colossal the unseen 90% is. Another glacier, though smaller compared to the other glaciers in the Canadian Rockies is the biggest that is visible from the boat tour. We even saw a waterfalls flowing down the tall mountain cliffs from the melting glaciers. As we gaped at the tall mountain peaks hugging the lake and the massive glaciers, our boat turned towards the Spirit Island. The beauty of this part of the lake, is not just the Spirit Island itself, but the turquoise blue waters surrounding it and the Coronet glacier immaculately serving as its backdrop. The water color changes from green to blue, depending on the amount and density of glacier silts in the water. Since we visited during summer, most of the glacier silts were probably deposited and the others were evenly spread out, absorbing all but the blue color of the sunlight. Mary Schaffer, who found this lake said that if God's ever do come down to Earth, here's where they would meet. And I couldn't agree more! 8) End the day by eating dinner at Downstream - http://www.yelp.com/biz/downstream-jasper?hrid=2j3aiLPGIjOOs0sBJUz_6Q&page_src=shared_via_messages_or_emails

There is endless hikes, lakes and things to do in Jasper National Park. So far some that I'd recommend are checking out: Valley of Five Lakes (bring a snack and eat by one of them) - 3ish hours Maligne Canyon - 3ish hours if you start from the Sixth bridge and walk to the Canyon (longer but much better) Maligne Lake - 1hour from Jasper higher in elevation with tons of hiking around the area, long and beautiful Maligne Lake to kayak or do a boat tour. You'll pass Medicine Lake which is a lake that gets drained every year due to underground caves so depending what time of year it can be a sand flat or a real lake. Very interesting. I love Horseshoe lake! It's so beautiful and a perfect place to sit on a flat rock and read/sunbathe. You can tube on the lake. Pyramid lake is also very beautiful. The drive on the Icefield Parkway highway is worth just to drive along it - amazing views. Holy moly! Anywhere you go will be amazing in Jasper National Park.

Jasper National Park is my favorite, favorite place on earth. Not only for Jasper itself, but for the scenic drive along highway 93. I do numerous trips a year up to Jasper, even though from Calgary, it is a long haul up there. The reality is, the fact that it is a long, scenic drive is its beauty. When I first moved to Calgary, I was in absolute awe of the Rocky Mountains. It took me a number of years living here to make it to Jasper, and I was astounded that the mountains actually got "bigger" and more impressive! It is not uncommon in Jasper National Park, or even in the town of Jasper for that matter, to find wildlife. My last trip, I have pictures of a bear, moose, elk, sheep and even a squirrel. The attractions in the park, such as Athabasca Falls, Miette Hot Springs, Maligne Canyon and simply the rockies themselves are world class. We are so lucky to have all of this in our backyard, and it astounds me how many Albertans don't even consider it. I am heading west (and north) every chance I get. Mount Robson Provincial Park borders Jasper National Park, which is another must-see. Don't miss this local attraction. Hop in your vehicle and hit highway 93!

I liked it more compared to Banff, which is too crowded. The lake is so clean and kayaking is less expensive.

Unfortunately I was hugely disappointed in every way in Jasper national Park, partly especially because I believed all the hype ahead of time and looked at all the gorgeous photos of this stunning huge property in its prime. I learned the hard way that I will never ever ever return here in August, nobody warned you ahead of time when you're booking all your tourist attractions that August is always a right off and has zero visibility and you can't even see any mountains nearby because forest fire smoke coming all the way from BC... Did you know you can look at satellite photos right now of Canada and the forest fire smoke stretches all the way to Ontario? Therefore Alberta is a complete write off and you might as well just stay home and stay indoors if you live in Calgary and don't bother doing anything touristy. I learned that all the tickets to the various gondolas and glass floor tourist attractions are completely useless and a waste of money I didn't even bother going and of course they don't offer refunds. There is no visibility even though the mountains are right in front of you you literally can't see because of the smoke... Another problem is even though they brag it's the best place in the world for stargazing because it such a dark sky, and also it is great to see the aurora borealis... Again thanks to the forest fire smoke this is impossible all through August and September, we never saw anything at all, even though we were there during the Perseids we couldn't see those either...Another huge problem which of course they don't warn you about is unfortunately the pine beetle has invaded and already killed more than 50% of the beautiful pine trees in Jasper... I will add some photos here so you know what I mean. Who wants to pay to be close to nature when you are just surrounded by dead brown trees? Unfortunately I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel whatsoever... All of this land is just kindling for any fire spark or carelessly thrown cigarette or fireworks or who knows what, this whole forest will go up in flames and then the whole town will probably burn as well because there is no safeguard set up whatsoever. Unfortunately a massive wildfire still will not guarantee that it will kill all the Beatles in the area so even after that there is no happy future to look forward to, even if they replant all the trees as small seedlings it would take 30 years minimum for them to get this high again and who has that much time to wait, it's a huge disappointment and I'll be taking my tourist dollars elsewhere, probably south of the border to Montana unless they are experiencing the same problems with fires and invasive bugs. Quite disappointing. Another unfortunate thing is even though the visitor centers in Jasper especially on the icefield parkway are massive and have parking probably for 500 cars, they are hugely overrun and far too crowded, filled with very very rude tourists who clearly don't understand the idea of personal space or how to walk or how to avoid crashing into people and families with young children... Plus about 90% of them are morbidly obese. The only fortunate thing with the size of all these overweight tourists is I never saw any of them when we went hiking up the mountains because I'm sure they couldn't even get 5 feet up and they clearly don't do anything at all for exercise.

The beautiful Canadian mountains, something that no picture can ever do justice. I traveled here from Vancouver which was part of our road trip all the way from the Bay Area! Which would be about 20 hr driving time if you don't stop at all. And let me tell you, it was well worth the time! We spent just a day here which would usually require about like a week here to see all the beauty! You have so many options in Jasper to do like sightseeing, camping, hiking, kayaking, tours, wildlife viewing and many more. You can spend your time on a number of activities. You can spend a day, a week and you'll have many things to do! For a day trip I would recommend seeing Maligne lake, Athabasca Falls, pyramid lake and Sunwapta falls. We started about 10AM so you might be able to do more! We also did photo shoots which took even longer. The lakes are glacier blue and it just is amazing in the summer time! The waterfalls are refreshing to be near when the summer sun is scorching. One thing to be careful for is wild fires as it does close some roads down and it'll be blocked off. Winter and summer gives you two totally different parks and it's super awesome! Make sure to stop by the visitors center to grab a map which you will need to guide you for your stay/trip! The only gripe I have is that it opens at 8AM I believe. And please do not feed the wild animals, it's a hefty fine with it! Enjoy you time at Jasper and whatever you do, do not swim in the cold glacier water unless you want to be a part of Jasper forever

Jasper National Park is one of the most amazing highlights of the Canadian Rockies. The drive on the Icefields Parkway alone is worth the price of admission alone. It is also home to the famous Spirit Island in Maligne Lake, which certainly enjoys worldwide reputation and this landmark is one of the most famous views of the Canadian Rockies. The Canadian Rockies doesn't boast the highest mountain range in Northern America, my Eastern Sierras is home to much more taller mountains, however, the mountains here effectively jaunt from sea level to towering heights - the effect is staggering. Beautiful in every sense and definitely worth a visit.

The gem of the Canadian Rockies, in my opinion. It is less commercialized, less crowded, and more preserved than Banff NP. It feels more untouched by humanity, has a great little town at a central location and is filled with beautiful wilderness and wildlife. I would choose Jasper over any other National Park. In my opinion, if you go to the Canadian Rockies and don't hit up Jasper, then you really missed out and didn't see what it all has to offer. AB-16 Road alone had so much wildlife it took our breath away. In a 5 minute period we saw elk, a fox, a mountain goat and big horned sheep. We also saw a mama moose and her calf in Jasper. The only thing we didn't see were bears, but it was our understanding that when we came they went up in elevation one last time to get the last of the food up there before coming down for the last berries for hibernation. Don't miss out on Jasper. Make time for it!

Definitely worth the visit! Pending on the timing of your visit and vacation preferences, this place is truly world class and there's something for everyone regardless of your budget. If you're travelling in the summer book way in advance. Otherwise you'll be very disappointed. It's also way pricier in the summer, so bear this in mind when you book. The extra expense is somewhat worth it as you'll have more access to sites than you would if you came after October's long weekend. But, if you're a winter fan that loves skiing and snowboarding, then obviously you'd have access to sites you otherwise wouldn't have during the warmer months. But that's the beauty of this park. There's something for everyone at every season.

Classic national park in the Canadian Rocky Mountain ranges is a UNESCO world heritage site. Not to be missed: Jasper town, Pyramid Lake, Fort Point lookout, Maligne Lake boat tour, Whistlers Mountain cable car, Mount Edith Cavell glacier view and hike and Athabasca Falls. Drive an hour east to Miette Hot Springs too!

I had never been to Jasper National Park until this year. The park is beautiful with lots of breathtaking views and interesting things to do. The town of Jasper inside the park even has a brewpub! One thing I loved about the park is that if you camp in any of the front country vehicle campsites you pay a low fee for a fire permit and all of your firewood is then included! I wish BC Parks would take on this model but I know BC Parks is in serious financial trouble with our government cutting so much funding. If you love nature and you love taking in breathtaking scenery then you should really make your way to this park. If you don't you should probably do some soul searching!

Beautiful national park for nature lovers. I love Jasper in the summer for camping, hiking and breathtaking mountains. Pretty good skiing in the winter and the hotels are much more affordable.

Most people who know me, know that I love Jasper National Park (NP) a lot! This review is not taking into account how beautiful Jasper is or how many animals it has. It is regarding the national park as a public service. Let's focus on the immense number of positives first. Clearly the Canadian Rockies are unmatched or stand at par with any other famous sites around the world. Jasper NP is also the largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world, which is a really great accolade to have to its name. It's one of the oldest NP's in North America and has a deep history and heritage. I like that you can't just build property here. The best you could do is buy houses that already stand. Now, the negatives! Really, for something Canadian (this coming from someone who has lived in the US for 5 years and thinks of Canada as utopia) it lacks the seriousness a national park deserves. Firstly, there is no shuttle service in this national park. It's not an impossibility to see shuttle buses taking passengers from downtown Jasper to key vista points like Maligne Canyon and Lake, Mt. Edith Cavell, Athabasca and Sunwapta falls, and, the Icefields Center. This, I would think is a minimum. My demand isn't unreasonable, since I see these facilities in Yosemite NP (California). Their shuttle buses are green-earth friendly and work on ethanol (I believe). Secondly, they need to really think about what they want to do with Miette hot springs. It's a big mess, if you ask me: serving up fried foods and beer on the top of a mountain in a national park - not cool! Thirdly, I admire the Icefields Pkwy a great deal, but they need to seriously consider heavy fines on speeding. There were so many Dodge Rams and other such trucks going at over 140 kph there. Not cool, again. Finally, right outside the National Park, in Hinton and towards the northwest of Hinton, along the Rockies, are huge coal mining and other plants. I am not into government policy. All I can say - not cool, again. Ideally, this national park should be accessible for people who take a bus and come here. It certainly is not. Private tour operators give good services but charge a lot; let's face it. Everybody doesn't want a tour. Reduce the car use here, reduce the greenhouse emissions. This isn't just any old place, it's a national park for crying out loud!

Being in the Jasper National Park is good for my soul. I don't know how else to put it. When I am stressed to my limits, or I'm in a hard place in life, coming out to Jasper for an afternoon or a weekend is just incredible. Skiing up at Marmot Basin, drinking wine by the fire in the Fairmont JPL, hiking Maligne Canyon, walking out at Lake Edith Cavell, popping into cute shops and galleries along Main Street and Patricia Ave... all of it is literally food for my soul, and puts me at peace. We are so incredibly lucky in Canada to have so many stunningly beautiful National Parks, and I am incredibly grateful to live so close to Jasper. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (and deservedly so), the second largest dark sky preserve in the world and home to the incredibly cool Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience and Glacier Skywalk! Need I say more?

Been here several times during the past ten years; this place always seems to amaze me. First time to ride our motorcycles through the park and the view was even more breathtaking. Mountain fresh air and perfect weather made our short trip so memorable. We even had the wildlife approach us as we stopped by the side of the road. So many great roads for riding and so many pristine lakes for swimming and kayaking too. Jasper (town) has many fine restaurants so our trip became a gastronomic delight as well.

Magnificent beyond compare. Isolated, yet the charming town of Jasper welcomes. Huge phalanx of elk, mountain rams abound, bears are plentiful, topaz colored rivers, streams and legs, sawtooth jagged mountain ranges pierce the robin's egg blue skies. Thick for-boding forests give way to delicate meadows filled with sheep and various birds. Night, which is five hours in the summer, reveals the vastness of our twinkling galaxy like you'll see nowhere else. Cold bracing nights and pure velvety air. Occasionally the intoxicating smoke from a fireplace tickles your senses. My favorite park in North America. Note : To the the reviewer fixated on some rebellious far left envoirmental whack-a-doodle perspective, PLEASE! This park is magnificent, accessable and well managed.

It was my first time staying in Jasper National Park and it was absolutely awesome. The first two nights were spent in the Pocahontas Campground and the second two nights were at the Snaring Campground. All camping experiences were great and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The town of Jasper was adorable and it was easy to park and walk to where ever we wanted. All of the lookouts and hiking trails were well maintained and gorgeous. I can't wait to come back!!

I live in Edmonton, but I hardly ever come to Jasper National Park. I'm not much of a parks person, and skiing (something JNP has lots of in the winter) isn't my forte. That being said I know I'm pretty lucky to be within a day's drive (about 4 hours one-way) of one of the most iconic landmarks in Canada - The Rocky Mountains. Last couple times I've been here has just been driving through, although I've been to the Jasper tram, Miette Hotsprings, and stayed in town before. I like the fact that if you are just driving through the park you don't have to pay a park entrance fee. If you are planning to stay in the park then you have to pay a park rate. There are usually several animals here, so be prepared to see a line of vehicles stopped on the road to take a photo of the mountain sheep/bear/elk/moose, etc. I know the animals are pretty cool looking (as if the spectacular scenery), but do remember they are wild animals. Don't get to close, and if you are stopping to take photos please pull to the side of the road. Jasper isn't as well-known (at least not outside Alberta/Canada) as it's sister park of Banff further south. I like Banff, but I think Jasper is definitely underrated and well worth a visit if you want to see the Rockies up close.

What a gorgeous place to stay in / drive through! Got lucky and saw some wildlife incl, bears, mountain goats, caribou. Glacier lake is breathtakingly beautiful. I would honestly try to describe it more but it would be inadequate. The words that've come up consistently in the past 3 days have been; surreal, breathtaking, ethereal, gorgeous, OMG Look over there!!, etc...so hopefully you get the idea!

Absolutely loved JASPER! My favorite part of my trip in Alberta. The town is really fun to shop in and see different locally made clothes, jewelry and various foods! The trails were amazing and took my breath away! I highly recommend seeing the Rockies from Jasper National Park, it is worth the drive! The wildlife is pretty amazing to see. Just be sure to wear layers because the weather changes so much when you are close to the mountains!

Very pretty, even spectacular in areas. Jasper National Park is diverse, intriguing and full of unspoiled wildlife, hiking and vistas. Do go.

Love Jasper! There's loads of nice hikes and cool things to see and do. It's disappointing that so many things are closed during the winter. It's a very quiet town not a lot happening, so I'd recommend it as a place to go and completely relax and chill out. The best accommodation I've stayed in was the Sawridge, it's convenient for everything.

Pyramid and Patricia Lakes - Believe not many tourist get up to these gems! Beautiful area, actually picked up info for the nieces for Pyramid Lake where they have chalets and boats for rent. Seen the most wild life just west of Patricia Lake that we had seen on our trip in the Rockies until leaving heading east out of Jasper. Put these lakes on your itinerary! Visited September 2016

Love the town. You can camp couple miles from downtown, take a bus back forth for free. Several great hiking trails all around the town. One I like is from campground, thru woods along the river into town. Another is overlooking the town. Going back again this summer. Heres my video of the town https://youtu.be/MrCpnGo2s6I

It was so fun seeing tons of beautiful waterfalls. I really loved seeing the beautiful nature. I saw lots of elk, black bears and goats.

Scenic drive with great places to view glaciers and wildlife ruined by a wide highway that encourages people to speed and hurry to nowhere.

Best mountain park to visit in the Canadian Rockies. Lots of places to go and amenities to access within a small area. Including just enough commercial/retail activity that you still feel like you are in a laid back mountain community. Facilities are well maintained. Staff are friendly and always willing to help out. Wildlife for all to see.

My boyfriend and I went to Jasper a couple of weeks ago and we had a wonderful time! The mountains were absolutely breathtaking . We camped at the Pocahontas campsite, which is a pretty small area so there weren't too many people. There was also a restroom on the premises. After we set up our tent, we went to the Miette Hot Springs. There are two hot pools as well as one regular pool. On our way to and from the hot springs we saw three black bears. The actual town of Jasper is small and quaint. There are plenty of restaurants and gift shops. The staff at the visitor center were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the hiking trails in Jasper. One staff member suggested a hiking trail at Mt. Robson in BC, which is were we went to hike and camp. When we came back to Jasper, we stayed at the Pyramid Lake Resort, went to the stunning Athabasca Falls and then went rafting. As we drove out of Jasper on our last day, we saw even more wildlife: several mountain goats and an elk with antlers. Jasper is beautiful and I would love to come back. Maybe next time I can see a moose.

I would HIGHLY recommend a trip to Jasper National Park and the Ice Fields, they are just TOTALLY spectacular!! This park IMO is the crown jewel of Canada and you wont be sorry you decided to come to this park! WOW! The one thing we decided against on this trip was going on that Glacier car thing they have as we felt it was to pricey, but there is parking right next to the glacier and you can walk on it, so I would suggest save some money and just do that!

Who could NOT like this place? Jasper National Park is a Canadian treasure and I would say it has to be on your list of places to go in Canada!! The views are amazing, all the wild life here is amazing and there is nothing bad I can think of here- well maybe one, you better get gas when you can before you get to the park as its expensive inside the park as there is not many around.

Jasper (town) is the center hub of Jasper Park and it's where many people stay while exploring the Park. We stayed in Jasper (town) for 5 days, staying there every night and exploring the Park system each day. We're from southern California (SoCal), so we are used to high prices, but brother let me tell you, Jasper (town) is DOUBLE the high prices of southern California. In my opinion, the "modern" Jasper has done a disservice to the old, more sane Jasper that used to be here. Yes, the downtown is very clean, has rich history and laid out nicely, surrounded by beauty that words cannot describe, but present day Jasper tourism businesses have little to do with all this. That's why the 3 stars. Inspite of the high Canadian taxes and the high business prices, Jasper (town) is still a wonderful place to visit, but bring a ton of money with you. BTW, the Canadian Park system charges you about 10 dollars a day, PER PERSON to be here, YES! - and that's on top of the other high prices and taxes. Sadly, most poor people can never see this area of the world due to these prices. Jasper's downtown businesses are what I am mostly rating here, not the natural beauty of the area, which we love and is beyond words - we give that above 5 stars. NOTE: We stayed at a family's boarding house while in Jasper, and that experience was wonderful and believe it or not, very affordable. I easily give them and their home five stars. I also give the Canadian people 5 stars for their being so nice. That's sounds contradictory to this review, but it's still true. Maybe they do not have control of these high cost factors, being workers and employees, but they are super friendly and thumbs up to them.

How could anything get better than this? My family spent about a week in Banff and Jasper this past August and it was simply breathtaking. Such a wonderful way to spend a week enjoying the beauty of nature. I can't say enough about this park. We got our itinerary off of trip advisor. I can point you in the right direction should you need to plan a trip!

The timing of our visit in august couldn't have been more perfect. Our first day in jasper we rafted the sunwapta river. The day way absolutely gorgeous. The cold water was actually refreshing being that it was in the 80"s that day with all sunshine. The next day we did the Maligne boat tour and lunch at the chalet. Had lunch first and the buffet was awesome. We didn't even care about the view because we had time after to see everything. I would highly recommend the chalet buffet. You can't beat the price for what was a fabulous meal. The boat tour to spirit island was the best. There was a storm coming in but we got to spirit island where the view really takes your breath away. It was by far my favorite place to see during my visit to Canada. I will do it again on my next trip out. By the time we were heading back to Canmore, the smoke from the fires were getting more heavy. That in itself was making its own kind of beautiful by making the son turn orange. The smoke did get worse but we made the best of it. Our trip was coming to an end so the timing couldn't have been better. We'll be back Canada!!! Stay awesome!

I went here when I was just a teen. I probably enjoyed the time I spent wandering around town more than time on the glacier, which is rare for me. We took the tour ride onto the glacier, which seemed to take forever, and then when we finally parked and stepped onto the glacier it was not worth the trip. I actually got back onto the bus pretty quickly. That being said, it is something everyone should do at least once in their lives. It could have been better. Perhaps if it were a better time of year, or we had better weather I suppose. As a teen I was just bored to tears on that tour and I don't think it would make any difference now. On the other hand, wandering around Jasper on my own I was swarmed with wildlife, and enjoyed every minute of it. It is almost impossible to miss the elk and rams that are mentioned in so many other reviews. The townspeople are charming and the cute shops are dotted along the streets. Everywhere you look you are swept away with breathtaking views and I would go back just to enjoy that alone.