Honestly, people usually lump Jasper and Banff together like they’re the same place. They aren't. While Banff is the glamorous, high-heeled cousin of the Rockies, Jasper is the one in scuffed hiking boots with a thermos of whiskey. It’s bigger, wilder, and—after the 2024 wildfire—it’s a place that’s teaching us a lot about resilience.
If you’re looking for things to do in Jasper National Park in 2026, you’re likely seeing two types of advice. One side says it’s "all gone" (it isn't) and the other says "everything is normal" (it's not). The truth lives somewhere in the middle. Most of the iconic spots, like Maligne Lake and the Columbia Icefield, were completely untouched. Other spots, like the Valley of the Five Lakes, have finally reopened this spring with a surreal new landscape of charred trees and bright green regrowth. It’s actually kinda beautiful in a haunting way.
The Classics That Still Rule
Let's talk about Maligne Lake. It is the largest glacially-fed lake in the Canadian Rockies. Most people take the boat cruise to Spirit Island. Do it. It’s famous for a reason. But if you want to avoid the $100 price tag and the crowds, rent a canoe and paddle it yourself. It's a long haul—about 14 kilometers one way to the island—so only do this if you actually know how to handle a boat.
Then there's the Jasper SkyTram. It takes you up Whistlers Mountain. From the top, you can see six different mountain ranges. On a clear day, you can even spot Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, sitting over in British Columbia. If you have the legs for it, don't just stay on the boardwalk. Hike the rest of the way to the actual summit. It’s steep. You’ll huff. But the view of the Athabasca River snaking through the valley is basically the best thing you'll see all year.
Beyond the Postcards
- Athabasca Falls: It isn’t the highest waterfall, but the sheer power is terrifying. The water has carved a "pothole" canyon that looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.
- Pyramid Lake: This spot was totally untouched by the fires. It’s the best place for a quiet morning. The little bridge to Pyramid Island is basically a requirement for your camera roll.
- Miette Hot Springs: These are the hottest springs in the Rockies. By the time the water reaches the pools, it’s cooled to about 40°C. It’s a bit of a drive—about an hour north of town—but the road is one of the best spots to see bighorn sheep.
Why the Icefields Parkway is Non-Negotiable
The drive between Lake Louise and Jasper is often called the most beautiful road in the world. It’s not hyperbole. You’ll spend the whole time pulling over because every corner looks like a Mac desktop background.
The Columbia Icefield is the crown jewel here. You can take those massive Ice Explorer buses onto the Athabasca Glacier. It’s cool, but it’s also a sobering look at climate change; the glacier has been retreating for decades. For a more "human" experience, book a guided ice walk with a company like Athabasca Glacier Icewalks. Actually walking on the ice with crampons feels way more authentic than sitting in a bus.
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The Wildlife "Secret"
Everyone wants to see a bear. Or an elk. In Jasper, you probably will. But here is what most people get wrong: they look for them in the deep woods.
Wildlife loves the edges. They love the grassy clearings next to the roads and the townsite. In fact, you’ll often find elk just hanging out on the lawn of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
Pro Tip: If you see a "bear jam" (a line of cars stopped on the highway), don't be that person. Stay in your car. Parks Canada wardens are notoriously strict about this, and for good reason. A "tame" bear is a dead bear because they eventually get too comfortable around humans and have to be relocated or worse.
If you’re serious about sightings, the Maligne Lake Road at dusk is your best bet for moose. They like the marshy edges of Medicine Lake. Just remember that Medicine Lake is a "disappearing" lake—it drains through a massive underground cave system every year, leaving a mudflat in the autumn.
Jasper’s Dark Secret (The Good Kind)
Jasper is the world’s second-largest Dark Sky Preserve. This means the town has strict rules about light pollution. If you’re here in October, the Jasper Dark Sky Festival is a massive deal. They bring in speakers from NASA and host "Symphony Under the Stars."
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But you don't need a festival to see the stars. Just drive ten minutes out of town to Annette Lake or Pyramid Lake on a clear night. You’ll see the Milky Way so clearly it looks like a cloud. If the Kp-index is high enough, you might even catch the Northern Lights.
The Reality of Hiking in 2026
Hiking is still one of the top things to do in Jasper National Park, but the 2024 wildfire changed the trail map.
The Skyline Trail—the 44km "Holy Grail" of Rockies backpacking—is open, but the access points have shifted. You need to book these campsites months in advance. Like, the second the reservation system opens in early spring. If you miss out, try Wilcox Pass. It’s across from the Columbia Icefield and gives you a bird's-eye view of the glacier without the $100 tour price.
Valley of the Five Lakes is the go-to for families. The third and fourth lakes are that insane Gatorade-blue color that doesn't look real. The fire hit this area hard, so you’ll see "silver forests" of burned trees. It's a stark reminder of how nature resets itself.
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How to Actually Plan This
- Transport: You need a car. There is no shuttle system like the one in Banff/Lake Louise. If you don't drive, you're stuck in the townsite.
- Timing: June to September is prime time. July and August are packed. If you can handle a bit of chill, September is the sweet spot. The bugs are gone, the elk are bugling (it’s a weird screaming sound, you can’t miss it), and the larches turn gold.
- Parks Pass: You need a Discovery Pass to enter. You can buy them at the gate, but buying online saves you a line-up.
- Food: Go to Bear’s Paw Bakery. Get the "Morning Glory" muffin. For dinner, Jasper Brewing Co. is the local haunt. Their Crisp Pilsner is exactly what you want after a 15km hike.
Jasper isn't about checking boxes. It’s about slowing down. It’s about sitting by a glacial river and realizing how small you are. Even with the scars from the fire, the park’s soul is intact.
Check the Parks Canada "Bulletins" page before you head out. Conditions change fast in the mountains—one day it’s 25°C, the next it’s snowing. That’s just Jasper.
To get started on your trip, your best first move is to download the Parks Canada App. It has real-time trail closures and GPS maps that work even when you lose cell service, which will happen the second you leave the town limits.