National Parks
Jasper National Park: Complete Guide
Jasper National Park after the 2024 wildfire: what is open and closed in 2026, Maligne Lake, SkyTram, Miette Hot Springs, winter, fees and where to stay.
Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Along the Icefields Parkway, glaciers reach down almost to the road, and Maligne Lake with Spirit Island is one of the best-known views in the country. Together with Banff, Yoho and Kootenay, Jasper belongs to the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A large wildfire in July 2024 changed parts of the park and the town. In 2026 some trails and roads are still closed, and there are fewer hotel rooms than before the fire. This guide explains what is open, what is not and how to plan around it. Prices in Canadian dollars (CAD), as of October 2026.
Jasper National Park at a Glance
The park lies in western Alberta, on the border with British Columbia. It covers about 11,228 square kilometres. It was founded on September 14, 1907, as Jasper Forest Park and became a national park in 1930. The name comes from Jasper Hawes, who ran a North West Company trading post in the area in the early 1800s.
The town of Jasper, at about 1,060 metres, grew out of that fur trade post and later the railway. It has hotels, restaurants, shops and the park visitor centre. The park is home to elk, moose, black bears, grizzlies, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, wolves and a small herd of woodland caribou. More than 1,200 kilometres of trails lead to waterfalls, lakes and alpine meadows.
After the 2024 Wildfire: What You Need to Know
On July 22, 2024, lightning started several fires south of town that merged into one large fire. The town was evacuated that evening, and on July 24 the fire reached Jasper. According to Parks Canada, about 32,722 hectares burned. In town, 358 of 1,113 buildings were destroyed, about 30 percent. A firefighter died during the response.
Jasper is open to visitors and the town is rebuilding. Hotel capacity is still lower than before the fire, so book your accommodation early. In the park, about 77 percent of the frontcountry campsites that existed before 2024 were open in 2026, and all backcountry sites were open.
Closures in 2026, based on Parks Canada area closure orders:
- Maligne Canyon: closed from the First Bridge parking lot to the Fifth Bridge junction, including winter use. Unstable slopes and debris flows after the fire are the reason.
- Edith Cavell Road: closed, along with the Path of the Glacier and Cavell Meadows trails.
- Valley of the Five Lakes and Old Fort Point area: the main trails are open again, but one section of trail 9 towards Wabasso Lake is closed, and you must stay on the trail.
- Campgrounds: Wabasso and Whirlpool Group stay closed for 2026 while they are rebuilt. Only part of Wapiti is open.
- Reopened: the Whistlers Trail (since August 2025), the Fifth Bridge trailhead and day-use area, the full Lac Beauvert loop, the Maligne Road, Maligne Lake and the Skyline Trail.
Entering a closed area can lead to a fine of up to 25,000 CAD. Closures change through the season, so check the Parks Canada page on what is open in Jasper (opens in a new tab) shortly before your trip.
Highlights
Maligne Lake and Spirit Island
The glacier-fed lake is 22 kilometres long and up to 97 metres deep. It lies at the end of the 48-kilometre Maligne Road, which starts 3 kilometres east of town off Highway 16. Pursuit recommends allowing 1 to 1.5 hours for the drive. The fire did not reach the lake, and the road is open all year.
Spirit Island, a small treed island about 14 kilometres up the lake, can only be reached by boat. The Pursuit cruise runs from May 27 to October 11 in 2026. The classic cruise takes about 1.5 hours and stops at a viewpoint across from the island. You can’t walk on Spirit Island itself. Check prices on banffjaspercollection.com (opens in a new tab). Arrive about an hour before your cruise, because parking at the lake gets busy in summer. At the boathouse you can rent canoes, kayaks and pedal boats in summer.
Maligne Canyon
The canyon is up to 50 metres deep and used to be one of the most visited places near town. In 2026 the main section between the First and Fifth Bridges is closed. You can still walk the trails around the Sixth Bridge day-use area and from the Fifth Bridge trailhead, but there is no through access along the canyon.
Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield
About 100 kilometres south of town on the Icefields Parkway lies one of the most accessible glaciers in North America. Pursuit’s Columbia Icefield Adventure takes you onto the Athabasca Glacier in an Ice Explorer and includes the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, a glass-floored platform about 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley. The season ran from May 1 to October 12 in 2026. Read more in our Icefields Parkway guide.
Jasper SkyTram
The SkyTram is back in service after the fire. The ride up Whistlers Mountain takes about seven minutes, and the upper station sits at 2,263 metres. From there a trail of about 1.4 kilometres climbs to the summit. On a clear day you can see Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. In 2026 the SkyTram runs from April 15 to October 26. It opens at 8 am in high season (May 16 to September 6) and at 10 am in the shoulder season. Children ride free during the first two hours of each day with an adult paying full price. The lower station is about 10 minutes by car from town. Prices are on banffjaspercollection.com (opens in a new tab).
Miette Hot Springs
Miette Hot Springs are the hottest springs in the Canadian Rockies. They are about an hour’s drive from town, at the end of Miette Road off Highway 16. In fall 2026 they are open daily from 11 am to 9 pm until October 12, with last entry at 8:30 pm. They reopen in May 2027. Tickets are sold only in person at reception on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission prices are on the Parks Canada fees page. The Sulphur Skyline trail starts at the hot springs parking lot.
Mount Edith Cavell
The mountain is 3,363 metres high. It is named after Edith Cavell, a British nurse who helped Allied soldiers escape from occupied Belgium in the First World War and was executed in 1915. Normally a narrow road leads to the Path of the Glacier trail below the Angel Glacier. In 2026 the road and the trails are closed.
Jasper in Winter
Winter in Jasper is quieter and hotels cost less. Elk and other animals spend more time in the valley.
Icewalk
The classic icewalk through frozen Maligne Canyon is not possible while the canyon is closed. Tour companies now go to Pleckaitis Canyon in the Maligne Valley instead. SunDog Tours runs a three-hour Maligne Valley and Pleckaitis Canyon Icewalk for 79 CAD per adult and 39 CAD per child (ages 6 and up). Check dates on sundogtours.com (opens in a new tab).
Skiing at Marmot Basin
Marmot Basin, the park’s ski area, is about half an hour by car from town. The season usually runs from late November to early April, and tickets bought online cost less than at the ticket window. Check runs, lifts and current prices on the resort’s website.
Dark sky and northern lights
Jasper has been a Dark Sky Preserve of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada since 2011. With little light pollution you see many stars on clear winter nights, and with luck the northern lights. Jasper holds a Dark Sky Festival every October.
You can also go cross-country skiing, for example at Maligne Lake, or snowshoeing.
Getting There
By car
From Edmonton it is about 366 kilometres on the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16), roughly four hours. From Calgary it is about 412 kilometres via Banff and the Icefields Parkway, about five hours without stops. From Vancouver it is about 805 kilometres.
The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North) connects Lake Louise and Jasper over 232 kilometres. From November 1 to April 1, winter tires or chains are required. There is no fuel and no cell service along the way in winter, and the road is cleared only between 7 am and 3:30 pm. The parkway runs through both Banff and Jasper National Parks, and one park pass covers both. Details are in our Icefields Parkway road trip guide and our Banff National Park guide.
By train
Jasper’s station is on two VIA Rail routes. The Canadian, between Toronto and Vancouver, stops in Jasper twice a week year round. VIA Rail also runs from Jasper to Prince Rupert on the Pacific coast, with an overnight stop in Prince George. From April to October, the Rocky Mountaineer reaches Jasper from Vancouver on its “Journey through the Clouds” route, with an overnight stop in Kamloops.
Where to Stay
Hotels
Jasper has hotels, motels and lodges in town and a few lodges and cabins outside it. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge on Lac Beauvert was largely spared by the fire and reopened in fall 2024. HI Jasper, the hostel, was destroyed in 2024. Because there are fewer rooms overall, summer dates sell out early. Hinton, about 80 kilometres east of town just outside the park, is an alternative with more hotels.
Camping
Reserve campsites on reservation.pc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab). Whistlers, the largest campground near town, is open in 2026 and is also used to house residents and businesses displaced by the fire. Wapiti is partly open, with winter camping later in the year. Wabasso and Whirlpool Group are closed for rebuilding. Overall about 77 percent of the pre-fire frontcountry sites are available, so book early.
Best Time to Visit
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Summer (June to September) | Maligne Lake cruise, SkyTram, Miette Hot Springs and the Columbia Icefield all open. Trails mostly free of snow. Busy and expensive. |
| Fall (September to mid-October) | Fewer visitors, yellow aspens and larches, elk rut. Many attractions close around October 11 or 12. |
| Winter (December to March) | Icewalk, skiing, dark skies, lower hotel rates. Allow extra time for road conditions. |
| Spring (April and May) | Changeable weather, often good wildlife viewing in the valley. |
Park Fees 2026
| Pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Day pass, adult | 12.25 CAD |
| Day pass, senior | 10.75 CAD |
| Youth (17 and under) | Free |
| Family or group (up to 7 people in one vehicle) | 24.50 CAD per day |
| Discovery Pass (one year, all national parks) | 83.50 CAD adult, 167.50 CAD family |
If you spend more than about seven days in national parks in a year, the Discovery Pass is the better deal. Current fees are on the Parks Canada website.
Tours
If you would rather not drive, tours from Jasper go to Maligne Lake, the Columbia Icefield and on wildlife drives in the valley.
Did You Know?
- Mount Columbia (3,747 metres), on the edge of the Columbia Icefield, is the highest mountain in Alberta.
- Meltwater from the Columbia Icefield flows into three oceans: the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Arctic.
- The Maligne Valley has one of the largest known underground drainage systems in Canada, the Maligne Karst. Medicine Lake empties through it every fall.
- The park has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jasper open after the wildfire?
Yes. The town and most of the park are open. In 2026 the main section of Maligne Canyon, the Edith Cavell Road and a few campgrounds are still closed.
How much does it cost to enter Jasper National Park?
A day pass costs 12.25 CAD for adults and 24.50 CAD for a family or group in one vehicle. Youth 17 and under are free. The same pass is valid in Banff National Park.
How long does the drive from Banff to Jasper take?
It is about 290 kilometres via the Icefields Parkway. Without stops you need about four hours, but plan a full day so you have time for the viewpoints.
Can you still do the Maligne Canyon icewalk?
Not in Maligne Canyon itself. Tour companies run the icewalk in Pleckaitis Canyon in the Maligne Valley instead.
When is the best time to visit Jasper?
July to September for hiking and the Maligne Lake cruise. December to March for quiet, dark skies and winter sports.
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