A Guide to Visiting Jasper National Park, Alberta

Most travellers visiting Alberta focus on Banff National Park, but Jasper National Park is also a must-see. Jasper National Park is a nature-lover’s paradise. The park is filled with beautiful lakes, glaciers, waterfalls, canyons, and tons of camping spots and hiking trails. After spending time in Banff National Park, we drove the Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park and stayed in the town of Jasper, and I’m so glad that we did. I hope you enjoy my guide to visiting Jasper National Park!

WHAT TO DO

Pyramid Lake

The first thing we did after getting off the Icefield Parkway in the town of Jasper was visit Pyramid Lake. I was so excited to see this beautiful lake with a boardwalk leading out to an island, and it did not disappoint.

Annette Lake

If you’re looking to take a swim in Jasper National Park, Annette Lake is the place to do it. We were told by locals that this lake is slightly warmer than the other lakes in Jasper and there is also a beach.

Maligne Canyon

A popular hiking spot in Jasper National Park is Maligne Canyon. Head down Maligne Lake Road and stop at Maligne Lookout for a beautiful view before you start your hike.

Continue a minute down the road and you will reach the parking lot for Maligne Canyon. This is an amazing hike with several bridges crossing the canyon. We went as far as the fifth bridge, but if you would like a longer hike, the trail continues to the sixth bridge and then along the Athabasca River.

As we left the parking lot we saw this beautiful guy!

Medicine Lake

Continue down Maligne Lake Road and you will pass Medicine Lake.

Maligne Lake

At the end of Maligne Lake Road you will reach, you guessed it, Maligne Lake! This gorgeous lake is famous for Spirit Island, an island that is a spiritual place for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. Spirit Island can only be reached by boat, so I highly recommend taking the Maligne Lake Cruise out to the island. It’s pricey, but worth it – the cruise was my favourite thing that we did in Jasper National Park! You will learn alot about the lake, the island, and the surrounding mountains, and the views are unforgettable.

More info on the Maligne Lake Cruise: https://www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/maligne-lake-cruise/

Jasper Sky Tram

The Jasper Sky Tram is a popular attraction in the town of Jasper. I did not take a ride on the Jasper Sky Tram, but I’m sure it has beautiful views!

More info on the Jasper Sky Tram: https://www.jasperskytram.com/

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is a well known, beautiful hotel in Jasper National Park. Although we did not stay there, I rode along with my boyfriend when he played a round of golf at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course. The scenery was amazing and we saw some wildlife!

After golf, we enjoyed a drink and some food on the hotel patio. If you are not staying or golfing at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, I highly recommend stopping by for some food and drinks, and make sure to check out the grounds like we did!

Icefields Parkway

As mentioned, the Icefields Parkway is an infamous highway that runs between Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. If you are visiting Jasper National Park, I highly recommend driving as much of the Icefields Parkway as you can. You won’t regret it!

To read my blog post, “A Guide to Driving the Icefields Parkway,” click here.

WHERE TO STAY

When visiting Jasper National Park, we stayed at Pine Bungalows Resort, and we absolutely loved it. Pine Bungalows is just a few minutes drive from downtown Jasper. There is a main lodge and private cabins that run along the Athabasca River. We stayed in a King Cabin, which was so spacious and had everything we needed, including an extra bed, a BBQ, and outdoor seating.

Although the King Cabins are in a row behind the riverfront cabins, we just had to walk a few steps to the trail and benches that run along the Athabasca River. We spent every night and morning here and it was my favourite part about staying at Pine Bungalows Resort.

Pine Bungalows serves delicious meals at the main lodge, and they even have a grocery store!

Another amazing part of staying at the Pine Bungalows Resort is all the wildlife that we saw. There were so many elk hanging out on the property!

WHERE TO EAT

Most of the places to eat in Jasper National Park are in the town of Jasper. My favourite restaurant that we went to in Jasper is Jasper Brewing Company. I highly recommend the wild boar tacos, spaghetti with wagyu meatballs, Cherry Cola pork ribs, and the nachos (they’re huge!).

We also had a lovely dinner at Fiddle River, a seafood restaurant. We had a caprese salad, the lobster and shrimp dinner, and banana cashew creme brûlée for dessert. It was delicious!

Some other restaurants in Jasper that I heard great things about are Cassio’s, Jasper Pizza, and Papa Georges.