What is Jasper known for?

Largest of the Canadian Rockies national parks, Jasper is known for its wilderness filled with wildlife, hiking trails, and the Columbia Icefield.

With a much quieter vibe than Banff, the TOWN OF JASPER nevertheless has all the services you need, ranging from funky cafes to shops selling Indigenous arts.

JASPER NATIONAL PARK WILDLIFE VIEWING is a major attraction. You may see elk around the town of Jasper, grizzly bears on the golf course, and bighorn sheep feeding beside the highway.

You’ll want to take all the JASPER NATIONAL PARK SCENIC DRIVES, but the ICEFIELDS PARKWAY, along the continental divide past sparkling rivers, snowcapped mountains, and tumbling waterfalls is the highlight.

Jasper’s most famous lake is MALIGNE LAKE, where tour boats cruise to the famously photogenic SPIRIT ISLAND.

Spirit Island, Maligne Lake.

At the south end of the Jasper section of the Icefields Parkway is the COLUMBIA ICEFIELD, a massive expanse of ancient glacier where there are bus tours, a skywalk, ice walks, and hiking.

JASPER NATIONAL PARK HIKING ranges from easy lake walks from downtown Jasper to overnight treks deep into the backcountry. For an introduction to Jasper, we recommend VALLEY OF THE FIVE LAKES, while the trail to WILCOX PASS reaches spectacular high-alpine meadows with relatively little effort.