The Best Hikes in Jasper National Park

Compiled by the Road Trip Alberta team

December 2, 2019

Half-day, full-day, and multi-day: the best hikes in Jasper National Park.

A bull moose stands tall and proud, knee-deep in a misty pond, his giant antlers tangled with moss. His glassy eyes watch you – like a king watching his citizen – and you sense he’s in no hurry about anything.

It’s serendipitous moments like these that draw hikers to Jasper, Banff’s less busy, northern brother. The moment you set foot out here, the pace of life seems to slow right down. From the laid back vibes of Jasper’s townsite, to the glacier-fed lakes and meandering alpine trails surrounding it, this 11,000 square kilometre park gives you the chance to experience nature with fewer crowds.

Jasper Townsite Hikes

Some of the most beautiful hikes in Jasper are just minutes from the townsite, making it easy for all experience levels to embrace Jasper’s rugged wilderness. Keep in mind the hikes in town skew toward the quick and easy side of the scale, and should be able to be completed in 1 – 3 hours. (The great news is you’ll have time to fit in a hike between brunch and happy hour at say, Jasper Brewing Company)!

Check out the map of Jasper’s townsite hikes here.

Jasper Skytram

For those looking to begin their Jasper hikes above the clouds, the Jasper SkyTram lets you conserve your energy for exploring the alpine meadows on top of Whistlers Peak. This is an absolute must for those looking for 360º mountain top views!

Book Jasper SkyTram Tickets here.

Jasper Day Hikes

From half-day hikes to multi-day hikes – and everything in between – there are tons of trails of varying difficulties for you to discover once you leave Jasper townsite. From glacier-fed lakes bluer than Ryan Gosling’s eyes, to winding paths through untouched alpine meadows, to breathtaking mountain top views, there’s a hike for everyone in Jasper! The hardest part is choosing which trail to take. 🙂

Half-day hikes in Jasper

Athabasca Falls

Just thirty minutes from the townsite, the Athabasca Falls are considered the most powerful falls in the Canadian Rockies. A quick walk in leads you to a network of trails around the falls and a canyon begging for you to take photos. Careful of that ice cold-spray of glacier water!

Athabasca Falls at a glance :

• Length: 1 km
• Time: 1 hour
• Elevation Gain: 25 m
• Trailhead location: Here
• Type: Out and back
• Season: Year-round
• Bring: Water, snacks, sturdy shoes, layers, waterproof jacket

Maligne Canyon

The Maligne Canyon trail brings hikers through a lush forest and follows a deep, narrow centuries-old fissure cut into the local limestone. The winding trail features waterfalls, gorgeous views, and five suspension bridges spanning the gorge. For those who love Johnston Canyon in Banff, Maligne Canyon is a great, less crowded alternative.

Maligne Canyon at a glance:

• Length: 3.7 km
• Time: 1 – 2 hours
• Elevation Gain: 118 m
• Trailhead location: Here
• Type: Loop
• Season: Best from April until September
• Bring: Water, snacks, sturdy shoes, layers, waterproof jacket

Valley of the Five Lakes

The five lakes of this hike offer an array of colours rarely seen outside Group of 7 paintings. From milky jade to icy blue, each lake is stunning in its own right, but lake #3 and #4 are often considered the most awe-inspiring. While the hike only takes 1.5 to 2 hours, hikers should pack a lunch as the sheer amount of photo ops might keep you busy all day!

Valley of the Five Lakes at a glance:

• Length: 4.5 km
• Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
• Elevation Gain: 66 m
• Trailhead location: here
• Type: Loop
• Season: Best from March until October
• Bring: Water, snacks, sturdy shoes, layers, waterproof jacket

Full-day hikes in Jasper

Bald Hills

The Bald Hills hike gives you the chance to work up an appetite as you conquer not one, but three peaks, along with the most scenic lunch spots you’ll ever experience! Depending on the route you take, the trail varies from a long, slowly ascending hike with little challenge, to a steeper, shorter hike that can include simple scrambles. But once you’re at the top and enjoying the gorgeous view as you eat your lunch, the effort it took to get there will melt away. 😉

Bald Hills at a glance :

• Length: 13.2 km
• Time: 4 – 6 hours
• Elevation Gain: 500 m
• Trailhead location: Here
• Type: Loop
• Season: Best from May until October
• Bring: Water, sunscreen, sturdy footwear, dress in layers as mountain weather is unpredictable, lunch, snacks, waterproof jacket

Sulphur Skyline

Short and steep (ahem, we mean sweet!) perfectly describes this hike. Come prepared, both physically, and mentally and you won’t be disappointed by the amazing views at the top. From the peaks of the skyline, hardy hikers can see countless mountains spanning the great, Canadian Rockies. As an added bonus, the trailhead is near Miette Hotsprings – the hottest natural springs in the Canadian Rockies – offering hikers the perfect place to relax after all that hard work, as long as you’re down before it closes.

Sulpher Skyline at a glance:

• Length: 8 km
• Time: 4 – 6 hours
• Elevation Gain: 700 m
• Trailhead location: Behind the Miette Springs building
• Type: Out and back
• Season: Year-round
• Bring: Water, sunscreen, sturdy footwear, dress in layers as mountain weather is unpredictable, lunch, snacks, waterproof jacket

Whistler’s Peak

Whistler’s Peak offers a choose-your-own-adventure. You can choose to ‘Ironman-it’, hiking both up and down the mountain, or ease the leg requirements and switch out one of the trips for a relaxing Skytram ride. The upper station observatory is only 1.4 km from the Skytram, and sits at 2263 m of elevation, offering a view of the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies (Mt. Robson) on a clear day whether you’re walking all the way, or choosing the more scenic way out. 

Book Jasper SkyTram Tickets Here

Whistler’s Mountain a glance:

• Length: up to 15.4 km depending on route taken
• Time: 4 – 6 hours
• Elevation Gain: 500 m
• Trailhead location: West side of the Skytram parking lot
• Type: Out and back
• Season: Nov. 1 to the following February
• Bring: Plenty of water, snacks, proper footwear

*Click here for more information on the Jasper Skytram

Multi-day hikes in Jasper

Skyline Trail, Jasper

The epic, 40+ km Skyline trail is one of the most popular backpacking trails in Jasper, and for good reason: most of the hike is spent at or above the treeline. Hike among clouds and follow along three lone mountain passes while you enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. And since there are plenty of campsites along the trail, you’ll have no shortage of spots to rest and replenish your energy.

Be sure to book your campsite ahead of time, or call 1-877-RESERVE (1-877-737-3783) to reserve a spot.

Skyline Trail at a glance:

• Length: 44 – 47 km
• Time: 2 – 4 days
• Elevation Gain: 1380 m
• Trailhead location: The most popular starting point is the end of Maligne Lake Road, 48 km from Jasper townsite. Other trailheads are Signal Mountain, Wabasso Lake, and the Watchtower.
• Type: One-way – Malign Lake Road parking lot to Signal Mountain (call in advance to reserve a shuttle ride back to Malign Lake Road parking lot).
• Season: Early July to early October
• Bring: Layers (as weather can change at a moment’s notice), waterproof jacket, plenty of food and water, camping gear, sunscreen, toilet paper, bugspray, sturdy hiking boots

Tonquin Valley

Starting from either the Portal or Astoria Trailhead, the Tonquin Valley hike offers amazing scenery and a great chance of seeing some wildlife – including bears and endangered Woodland Elk.

While hikers can park at one trailhead, and start from the other for the complete experience, it requires some ingenuity or budgeting for a $100 taxi ride from one trailhead to the other. For those who don’t want to pay, an out and back option is available.

Whether you choose point to point, or out and back, the highlight of the trip is Amethyst Lake, with its glorious view of the Ramparts – a jagged stretch of rugged mountains that are absolutely breathtaking.

Be sure to book a campsite early, or at one of three accommodations: 

1. The Tonquin Valley Backcountry Lodge
2. The Tonquin Valley Adventure Lodge
3. Alpine Club of Canada’s Wates-Gibson Hut

Tonquin Valley at a glance:

• Length: 44 km
• Time: 2 – 7 days
• Elevation Gain: 500 – 700 m elevation-gain (depending on trailhead)
• Trailhead location: Portal Trailhead or Astoria Trailhead
• Type: Point to point, or out and back
• Season: Portal trailhead is open year-round, while Astoria is closed in the winter until Feb. 15, after which it is trackset for cross-country skiing.
• Bring: Layers (as weather can change at a moment’s notice), waterproof jacket, plenty of food and water, camping gear, sunscreen, toilet paper, bugspray, sturdy hiking boots

Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park

We’re cheating just a bit on this one – but this hike is worth it. The trailhead for Berg Lake (and the lake itself), is in Robson Provincial Park, Jasper’s little British Columbian brother. But since this multi-day trail is only an hour outside of Jasper, and Berg Lake itself is only a couple of kilometres from the Alberta/Jasper border, we figured the beautiful scenery, the glacier-fed lake (complete with icebergs), the majestic, heart pounding Emperor Falls, and a view of the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies – earned the hike a place on the list!

There are tons of day hikes within the Berg Lake Trail hike too, and you can spend as much time on this hike as your food supply – and your energy level will allow.

Remember to book your campgrounds early, as they fill up quickly.

Berg Lake Trail at a glance:

• Length: 42 km
• Time: 1 – 4 days
• Elevation Gain: 1,083 m
• Trailhead location: Here, a short drive the Mount Robson Visitor Centre.
• Type: Out and back
• Season: Year-round, with no services or fees before May 15 or after Thanksgiving Day.
• Bring: Layers (as weather can change at a moment’s notice), waterproof jacket, plenty of food and water, camping gear, sunscreen, toilet paper, bugspray, sturdy hiking boots

Click here for more information and for a complete list of Berg Lake Trail hikes!

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