Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park in Alberta's Rocky Mountains offers glaciers, lakes, hot springs and waterfalls, with the Icefields Parkway linking it to Lake Louise.
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Jasper National Park covers about 11,000 square kilometers (4,200 square miles) of Alberta's Rocky Mountains, north of Banff National Park and west of Edmonton. It is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors come for the Columbia Icefield, Maligne Lake, Maligne Canyon, Athabasca Falls and the hot springs at Miette. Tour vehicles carry visitors onto the Athabasca Glacier, and Pursuit sells the tickets. The Icefields Parkway, about 230 km from Lake Louise to Jasper, is a tourist-only road: freight trucks are banned, and everyone on it needs a national parks pass.
The town of Jasper holds most of the park's services, including the Visitor Information Centre, so it makes a practical base for the sights. Summer brings hiking, boat tours, rafting, kayaking and camping; the Edith Cavell Road is open from May to October. Winter means skiing, snowshoeing and dog sled tours. A 2024 wildfire destroyed a significant part of the town and its surroundings, so check current conditions before you go.
Jasper National Park in five
- Check fire closures before you plan hikesParks Canada is still reopening trails and day-use areas burned in the July 2024 wildfire, and the closures list changes through the season.Wildfire status
- Use the same pass system as BanffJasper charges a daily park fee for adults, and youth 17 and under enter free. The Banff pass guide works out when the annual Discovery Pass beats paying by the day across both parks.Parks Canada pass guide
- Give the Icefields Parkway its own dayHighway 93 North links Jasper with Lake Louise and has little cell service. The Banff and Jasper planner covers fuel stops, winter tires and how to split the drive across nights.Banff and Jasper planner
- Arrive by trainVIA Rail's Canadian and the Jasper to Prince Rupert train both stop at Jasper station, in the middle of town.
Things to do in Jasper National Park
See all attractions in Jasper National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- Daily park fee or Discovery Pass; rates on Parks Canada's page Read more
- Permits
- Wilderness pass for backcountry camping; reserve campgrounds ahead
- Season
- Open all year; most services May to October
- Nearest town
- Jasper, inside the park
- Getting there
- Edmonton airport (YEG), about 4 hours by car; VIA Rail to Jasper
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, clear
- FebruaryCold, clear skies
- MarchLate winter
- AprilSnowmelt
- MayLakes thaw
- JuneGreen, long days
- JulyPeak season
- AugustPeak, fire risk
- SeptemberElk rut, fall color
- OctoberDark sky season
- NovemberEarly snow
- DecemberSki at Marmot
Right now in Jasper National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-7
- Feels like
- -12°
- Humidity
- 84%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Jasper National Park
01:52 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today8°-7°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed9°-7°4%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Thu7°-8°4%Thursday: Fog. High 7°, Low -8°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri5°-7°71%Friday: Snow. High 5°, Low -7°. Chance of rain 71%.
- Sat4°-8°13%Saturday: Fog. High 4°, Low -8°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sun7°-6°55%Sunday: Snow. High 7°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 55%.
Updated 12:42 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.398 CAD
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Jasper National Park
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Rules for Jasper National Park, checked
- Parks Canada: the Jasper fees page lists the adult daily fee and the Discovery Pass, and youth 17 and under enter free.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Parks Canada lists an area closure for a wildfire-impacted zone; check its warnings and closures page before you set out and stay out of closed areasChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Jasper National Park
The busier park, a half day south
Read the guideParks Canada passDaily pass or Discovery Pass, explained
Read the guideBanff and Jasper plannerIcefields Parkway and nights each end
Read the guideAll of CanadaeTA, regions, cities and money basics
Read the guideVancouverWest-coast start for a Rockies trip
Read the guideTrains and long distancesRail, car hire and flights in Canada
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for remote roads and trip changes
Read the guideEdmontonNorthern gateway by air and road
Read the guideJasper National Park FAQ
Is Jasper open after the wildfire?
Yes. The town and most of the park are open, and Parks Canada reopens more trails each season. Some areas stay closed for recovery work, so check the wildfire status page before you go.
How long is the drive from Banff to Jasper?
About 290 km, usually 3.5–4 hours without stops on the Icefields Parkway. Most people take a full day with viewpoints and the Athabasca Glacier.
Can I walk on the Athabasca Glacier?
Only with a guide. A short trail leads toward the toe from the Icefields Parkway, but hidden crevasses make the ice itself dangerous on your own.
When is the best time to visit Jasper?
June to September for hiking and open roads. September brings the elk rut and fewer people; winter suits skiing and dark skies.
Is Jasper or Banff better?
Banff has more shuttles, shops and lake viewpoints within a short drive. Jasper is bigger and quieter, with Maligne Lake, wildlife and dark skies, but is still reopening some areas after the 2024 fire. Many visitors combine them on the Icefields Parkway.