Natural wonders
With towering mountains, shimmering glaciers, crystal-clear lakes, thundering waterfalls, deep canyons, evergreen forests and alpine wildflowers, Jasper is a natural wonderland.
Fast facts
- 11,228 square kilometres big (4,335 miles)
- The national park is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Has 1,762 lakes, ranging in colour, accessibility and available activities
Stories
Outdoor Adventures
Foot trails crisscross Jasper National Park, but hiking isn't the only way to see the mountains. Jasper has a wide range of activities that add novelty and excitement to explorations of all kinds.
Fast Facts
- Summer activities: guided hiking, biking, rock climbing, rafting, SkyTram flight, canoeing, motorcycle tour, train tour, helicopter tour, boat cruise and golfing
- Winter activities: skiing at Marmot Basin, dog-sledding, ice climbing, skating, canyon floor ice walks, sleigh rides, snowshoe, and x-country skiing
- Year-round: wildlife tour, Jasper Planetarium, Maligne Canyon tour, Fireside Chat with Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, photography tour
Stories
Heritage
Jasper is linked to many of Canada's historical milestones, including the fur trade, cross-continental railroad, and wilderness protection.
Fast facts
- 1810 - Surveyor David Thompson makes the first recorded visit to the Athabasca Valley
- 1907 - the government protects the area as Jasper Forest Park
- 1930 - Jasper National Park is established
- Mt. Edith Cavell, the most prominent peak entirely within Alberta, is named after a heroic war nurse
Stories
Wildlife
The park is home to caribou, elk, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bears and wolves, a variety of birds and many smaller creatures like marmots and pikas.
Fast facts
- The best times to see wildlife are spring and fall, at dusk and dawn.
- It is illegal and dangerous to touch or feed wildlife. Maintain distance at all times.
- A wildlife tour can give you a better chance of spotting wildlife
- For every human resident in the national park there are approximately 1.3 large animals (eg: bighorn sheep, elk, bears, wolves etc.)
Stories
Dark Sky Preserve
As a designated Dark Sky Preserve, Jasper reduces light pollution in all its forms to preserve ideal conditions for dark sky viewing.
Fast facts
- The Royal Astronomical Society in Canada designated Jasper as a DSP in 2011
- Jasper is one of 17 DSPs in Canada
- Jasper is the world's largest accessible DSP (there's a town within the preserve)
- Second largest DSP in the world
- The award-winning Jasper Dark Sky Festival is held every October
Stories
- 11 Reasons Jasper's Dark Sky Preserve Should Top Your Travel Bucket List
- Top 10 Stargazing Spots in Jasper
- How to See the Aurora Borealis
Video
Cabin Culture
Quintessentially Canadian and oh-so-cozy, Jasper's cabins pair heritage aesthetic with modern comforts, and our longstanding cabin culture has helped make Jasper the Cabin Capital of Canada.
Fast facts
- 438 individual cabins to rent, ranging from cozy riverside cabins to luxurious log refuges that British royalty have stayed in
- Jasper was named after Jasper Hawse, who in the early 1800s operated a cabin that served as a trading post
- Some cabin properties (including the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Bear Hill Lodge and Overlander Mountain Lodge) are open year-round
Stories
Community
Jasper is an intimate, inclusive community that welcomes anyone who wants to venture beyond.
Fast Facts
- Town population of 4,590 people as of the last federal census in 2016
- The Jasper Pride Festival is held in spring
- Jasper mayor Richard Ireland has held the position ever since the the town was created in 2001
- Multiple accommodations have won awards for their environmentally-friendly business practices
Stories
- What makes Jasper one of the best destinations for LGBTQ travellers
- Video: How Ryan Titchener rebuilt his life and legs in Jasper National Park
Videos
Food & Drink
From hearty mountain breakfasts to an elegant alpine dinner for two — friendly pubs to charming cafés, this is creative Rocky Mountain cuisine at its finest.
Fast facts
- Cuisines from across Canada and the world mix and mingle here
- The town’s community-oriented culinary traditions date back to the early railroad days when a tardy cargo train meant no new food so local families grouped their rations to create meals for all
- Backcountry cooking lessons include panoramic views
Stories
Wellness
From spa visits to firelit après-ski, Jasper is the dream escape where visitors can relax and embrace a slow, peaceful small town pace.
Fast Facts
- There’s growing scientific evidence that being in nature can boost overall wellbeing
- The Spa at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge was rated the #1 spa in Alberta
- Multiple different types of massage are available, from hot stone to Thai to classic full body