** Update! Following the terrible wildfire in Jasper National Park in 2024, some parts of the town and surrounding area were burned. Some activities and hotels are currently closed. But don’t worry! I revisited Jasper in summer 2025 to check out the situation, and had a great time. You can still go, and there’s still loads to do, just make sure you book early during busy times to avoid missing out. **
Jasper National Park is one of the best loved and most stunning National Parks in the whole of North America.
With 4200 square miles of untamed wilderness, Canada’s second largest national park is a designated Dark Sky Preserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with endless opportunities for sightseeing, biking, hiking, skiing, wildlife spotting, watersports and much more.
There’s enough here to easily keep you busy for several months if you wanted to hike every trail, climb every peak and visit every lake.
But if you don’t have months to spare (and who does?) I think you can get a great sense of the place, and take in most of the highlights in four days.
How do I know this? Because that’s exactly what I did!
About this Jasper National Park itinerary
I spent four days in Jasper as a guest of Jasper Tourism. This itinerary is adapted from the one they gave me, which means it’s been designed by the experts – after all, who knows more about how to explore Jasper in 4 days than the tourism board?
They gave me many more suggestions of things to do and places to eat than I could cover in such a short time, so I’ve boiled down their version to give you my tried-and-tested itinerary, with a few extra options on the side.
If you follow this 4 day Jasper itinerary, you should be able to see most of the main sights and enjoy plenty of nature and hiking along the way.
Of course, your choices may be affected by the weather or your own preferences, but since you’re staying in the same place every night, you can easily re-order these activities to suit you and whatever the elements may throw at you.
When to do this Jasper itinerary
I did this 4 day itinerary in Jasper in early October, when the weather was perfect for hiking and there weren’t many crowds. If you visit in winter or early spring, many of these suggestions won’t be possible due to road closures, or snow and ice making things unsafe.
If you travel to Jasper in summer, you may need to allow extra time for traffic on the roads, or finding car parking spaces. And you probably won’t be able to do astrophotography or enjoy the dark skies, as it’ll be too light.
So I’d recommend doing what I did and following this itinerary for Jasper in fall (or autumn as we Brits would say).
Read more: Jasper In Fall: 10 Reasons Autumn Is The Best Time To Visit
How to get to Jasper Alberta
There are a few different ways to get to Jasper for the start of your four-day adventure.
Luxury train
I arrived by the most luxurious and fancy route – the Rocky Mountaineer train. It took two days to travel from Vancouver to Jasper through stunning Canadian Rocky Mountain scenery with an overnight stay in Kamloops.
This is definitely not the cheapest way to travel, but you will certainly arrive refreshed and ready for adventures!
Read more: Inside The Luxury Rocky Mountaineer Train: A Complete Review
Regular train
The cheaper train option is with VIA Rail, which runs to Jasper from Edmonton (about 6.5 hours) or Vancouver (19 hours).
Getting to Jasper by bus
Several bus companies offer services to Jasper, including Brewster Express and Sundog Tours. Buses connect to Jasper from major cities in Alberta like Calgary and Edmonton or from Banff and Lake Louise.
After my stay in Jasper I travelled on to Edmonton by bus with Sundog Tours – they picked me up from my accommodation, the journey was comfortable and took about five hours.
Getting to Jasper by car
The most popular route to Jasper is by car, via the beautiful Trans-Canada Highway 16, also known as the Yellowhead Highway, which runs all the way from Edmonton and takes about 4 hours.
Another famously scenic route is the Icefields Parkway, which connects Jasper with Lake Louise and Banff National Park, passing through the magnificent Canadian Rockies en route. This is a great way to see both Jasper and Banff, the two most iconic destinations in the Canadian Rockies, and if you have time to visit both, you definitely should.
From Calgary you’ll also need to come via Banff and Lake Louise and the journey time takes about five hours.
The advantage of arriving by car is that you will then have one at your disposal for exploring the area.
Getting around in Jasper Canada
There isn’t much in the way of public transport in Jasper, so I highly recommend renting a car during your stay. Doing that will give you the flexibility to come and go as you please, and to stop wherever and whenever you like to take photos (you will find yourself doing a lot of this!).
If you don’t drive, taxis are available, but they’re expensive and there also aren’t very many of them, so you may have quite a long wait for one to arrive.
If you don’t drive, it’s also possible to see most of the sights by doing various tours and day trips, such as a boat trip on Maligne Lake or to go wildlife spotting.
Jasper National Park Pass
Although many of the hikes and natural landmarks in Jasper National Park are free, you’ll need a pass for every day you’re there, which you must print out and display in your car.
You can either buy a day pass which costs CAD$11 per person per day, or you can buy annual ‘discovery’ passes, for either individuals or family groups. Find out more about National Park Passes here.
Some attractions, like the Jasper Skytram or Maligne Lake boat trips, also charge for tickets.
So now you’ve arrived in Jasper and worked out how to get around, here’s how to spend four days in Jasper National Park.
Day 1 – Arrive in Jasper and explore
Depending on how you’re travelling, you might arrive in Jasper at any time. Head to your hotel, check in, freshen up, maybe grab a bite to eat, and then get ready to start your adventures!
I stayed in Bear Hill Lodge, which has rooms and cute individual cabins with log fireplaces and is about 10 minutes’ walk from the town centre. There’s plenty of parking if you brought your own car.
Once you’ve settled in, it’s time to explore!
Since you’ve only just arrived, I’d suggest wandering into the town, or getting in the car and just going for a drive to get your bearings.
Easy places to get to where you can take in the scenery without committing to a big hike include:
Maligne Canyon
**Note: As of summer 2025, Maligne Canyon is closed due to fire damage. It will reopen at some point, so check before you travel.**
An easy 15 minute drive from town you’ll find Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park, with a depth of more than 50 metres at certain points.
Entry is free and the trail is easy to follow from the car park, heading downhill along the canyon and crossing back and forth over it via six bridges.
For a leisurely stroll, head over the first and second bridges. The second bridge offers the highest viewpoint, towering more than 50 meters above the rushing water below. At this point you might have seen enough, or you can keep going to the third bridge, which overlooks an impressive waterfall.
If you want to carry on, the trail continues all the way to the sixth bridge – this extended walk can take 3-4 hours to complete depending on how long you spend stopping for photos.
Maligne Canyon is the first place I visited after I arrived in Jasper. The taxi dropped me off in the car park, from where it was easy to find the start of the hike, and the trail was easy to follow. After my walk, I had lunch at the Maligne Wilderness Kitchen.
- Driving time to car park: 15 minutes.
- Total distance of hike: 1.5-3 miles one-way or loop.
- Total elevation gain: 120 metres if you do the whole loop.
Patricia and Pyramid Lakes
** I revisited in 2025 and these lakes were unaffected by the fire **
Pyramid and Patricia Lakes are a pair of gorgeous interconnected lakes located about 10 minutes’ drive outside Jasper town.
As you drive there, the first one you come to is the slightly smaller Patricia Lake, with its clear turquoise waters and views of Pyramid Mountain behind. If you visit in fall as I did, you’ll also be rewarded with the blazing colours of the trees that surround it.
Stop and take a few photos, and then carry on just a few minutes more down the road to Pyramid Lake. Since I didn’t have a car, I walked this part – it’s not far.
Pyramid Lake, the larger of the two, is known for its calm waters reflecting the iconic Pyramid Mountain. At the southern end of the lake is Pyramid Lodge, where you can rent canoes and kayaks, or enjoy an al fresco lunch surrounded by stunning views.
About a 20-minute walk round the lake, or a few minutes’ extra drive, a scenic pedestrian bridge leads to Pyramid Island, a small island in the centre of the lake offering another chance to admire the surrounding mountains reflected in the lake’s calm waters.
You can also head up Pyramid Beach Road on the west side for a different angle on those amazing views (but this road is closed in winter).
If you like walking, you can also follow the easy trail that loops around both lakes, with yet more gorgeous viewpoints along the way.
Athabasca Falls
** Athabasca Falls were also unaffected by the fire **
One more easy-to-visit spot for the first day of your Jasper National Park itinerary is Athabasca Falls.
These iconic falls are the most famous in Jasper, not necessarily because they’re the biggest or most beautiful – though they are stunning – but because they’re easily accessible.
Located a 45-minute drive from town, there’s a car park just off the main road, and a paved walkway so you can view the cascading water from several angles.
Don’t miss the steps down to the bottom of the falls, so you can admire how the foaming white torrent calms to a serene and vivid blue meander as it continues downstream.
Although I spent ages there taking photos, you can easily see Athabasca Falls in an hour.
Day 2 – Jasper Hiking and biking
There are loads of different hikes you can do around Jasper, and in four days you won’t manage them all. But here are some options for you to choose from on Day 2 of your Jasper itinerary – again, all recommended to me by the Jasper Tourism board so you know they’ll be good!
Edith Cavell glacier and meadows hike
** When I visited in 2025 I was told that parts of this hike have been affected by the fire, so check before you go **
One of the most famous and easily accessible mountains close to Jasper is Mount Edith Cavell, named after a nurse who saved many lives during World War 1.
On the north face of Edith Cavell mountain is the Angel Glacier, so-called because it’s said to resemble an angel with outstretched wings. Though this resemblance is sadly fading as the glacier recedes.
You can enjoy views of the glacier and surrounding landscape from the Path of the Glacier Trail, a moderately challenging route that winds along in front of the mountain and through meadows that in summer are full of colourful wildflowers.
I did part of this hike at the end of my second day, though as I started late, I didn’t have time to do the whole thing. My taxi dropped me at the car park, from where a paved path takes you along the side of Edith Cavell Mountain.
Follow the paved Path of the Glacier Trail all the way to the end and the come back the way you came, or, after the paved section ends, take a sharp left turn and follow the route towards the meadows. The trail eventually levels out at the treeline, angles slightly left, and loops back down to rejoin itself at the forest’s edge.
- Driving time to trailhead: 45 minutes
- Total distance of hike: 3-4 miles return
- Total elevation gain: 500m
Valley of the Five Lakes
** When I visited in 2025 I was told this trail was closed due to the fire. It will reopen at some point, so check before you go **
The Valley of the Five Lakes walk is an easy hike suitable for all ages and fitness levels. There’s a choice of longer and shorter loops ranging from an easy 1.8 miles to a more ambitious 5.5 miles, but the terrain is mainly flat so none of it is too tough.
Along the way, you’ll pass five different coloured lakes that offer yet more amazing photo opportunities.
- Driving time to trailhead: 20 minutes
- Total distance of hike: 1.8 – 5.5 miles
- Total elevation gain: 100m
Read more: 18 Stunning Photo Spots In Jasper National Park
Old Fort Point Loop
This is another relatively easy morning or afternoon hike to help you get your bearings and enjoy some fresh air and scenery around Jasper.
The trail leads through an area that’s also popular for birding and road cycling. Some parts are a bit uphill, but offer beautiful views from the top to reward your efforts.
The best time to do this trail is March to October; you can bring your dog, but it must stay on a leash at all times.
- Driving time to trail head: 4 minutes
- Total distance of hike: 2.3 miles
- Time to complete: 1-2 hours
- Total elevation gain: 173m
Jasper bike tour
As much as I love hiking, you don’t cover a lot of ground, so another really great way to explore Jasper’s vast landscapes is on two wheels.
Knowledgeable mountain bike guides can tailor tours to your skill level, leading you on scenic paths like the paved Lakeside Loop around Lac Beauvert or the moderately challenging Pyramid Lake Trail.
The company recommended to me by Tourism Jasper was Journey Bike Guides, or you can search for other Jasper bike tours here.
Another great thing to do if you’re not into hiking or cycling is a white water rafting trip.
Day 3 – Jasper SkyTram and wildlife tour
I think this was possibly my favourite day in Jasper. Amazing views, fresh air, and wildlife, what’s not to like?
Morning: Jasper SkyTram
According to the promotional blurb, the Jasper Skytram is ‘the longest and highest guided aerial tramway’ (or in normal English, a cable car) in Canada. It whisks you up Whistlers Mountain near Jasper to an elevation of 2,263 metres (7,425 feet) in just seven minutes, and is definitely worth the trip for the amazing views you get from the top.
The bottom station for the Skytram is just a few minutes’ drive outside the town. You can buy tickets online in advance, or at the ticket window.
At the top station there’s a café, gift shop and a boardwalk that takes you around the area to enjoy the endless views of mountain ranges, glacially fed lakes, rivers and of course the town of Jasper itself. On a clear day, you can even see the snow-capped peak of Mount Robson in nearby British Columbia, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.
If you’re feeling energetic, you can then leave the boardwalk and hike uphill to the peak of Whistlers Mountain itself (not to be confused with Whistler the Canadian ski resort, which is in British Columbia).
This is what I did, and it took me about 45 minutes, but when I visited in October they had just had the first snowfall, so the path was snowy and slippery, and I kept stopping for photos.
If you visit in summer or early autumn I’m sure you could do it quicker without the snow.
Note that at that elevation it can be cold, so if you’re planning to hike, wear proper shoes with a good grip and bring warm clothes.
I saw quite a few people who were totally inappropriately dressed for the conditions, which can be extremely dangerous in the mountains where the weather can change in an instant.
Afternoon: Jasper wildlife discovery tour
With a vast expanse of pristine wilderness untouched by human influence, Jasper National Park is a haven for wildlife, including elk, deer, black and grizzly bears, moose, mountain goats and bighorn sheep.
While you may well stumble across animals as you drive around the park, the best way to spot them is on a tour, with a guide who knows the best spots where animals like to hang out, and can give you loads of information about the different species and their behaviours.
I did my tour with SunDog Tours but you can find other wildlife tour options here. There are morning and afternoon tours, so you could swap the two halves of this day around if you prefer.
If you’re into wildlife photography, note that the windows on the tour buses don’t open, which I found frustrating. However, sometimes we were able to get out of the bus (for smaller, non-scary animals only!), or the driver would open the doors to let me take a photo.
Keen photographers who have a car might prefer to drive around by themselves with the windows rolled down – but please, if you see elk, bears, moose or other large animals, do not approach them and definitely do not get out of the car!
Day 4 – Boat cruise, plant walk and night photography
A packed day for the last full day of your Jasper itinerary, with some more exploring, lessons in Indigenous culture, and night photography.
Morning: Maligne Lake boat cruise
** Maligne Lake and Medicine Lake were unaffected by the fire **
The iconic Maligne Lake is one of the most famous lakes in Jasper National Park, and is definitely a must-see! This insanely beautiful lake is surrounded by dramatic mountains, which are perfectly reflected in its calm turquoise waters.
It’s also home to the legendary Spirit Island, a sacred island for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation and one of the most photographed places in Jasper National Park.
You can either drive to Maligne Lake and follow the trail to walk around it – I recommend getting here around sunrise or just after to enjoy the perfect morning calm and mist on the lake. Be aware that elk and moose are sometimes spotted along the trail, so be careful.
Or book a boat cruise to visit Spirit Island and learn more about Maligne Lake from the excellent guides.
Afternoon: Plant Walk with Warrior Women
For something completely different, an Indigenous experience is a great way to see another side of Jasper and the Rocky Mountains, and learn about the people who have lived on this land for many thousands of years, since long before white settlers arrived.
Matricia Brown is a Knowledge Keeper from the Cree Nation who runs Warrior Women, an organisation dedicated to preserving Indigenous heritage and traditions.
Matricia runs various talks and workshops, but the one I did was the plant walk, a 1.5-hour exploration that teaches you about the different plants that can be found around the area, and how they have been used by local people for food, medicine, and cultural practices.
Evening: Night photography tour
Jasper National Park boasts some of the darkest skies in the world and is officially designated as a Dark Sky Preserve, the second largest in Canada.
With stunning landscapes and minimal light pollution, it’s prefect for night photographers. If you’re lucky with the weather you should get to see the Milky Way exploding overhead in a breathtaking display of millions of stars, and in winter you may also get to see the aurora borealis (Northern Lights).
The best way to make the most of this incredible astrophotography opportunity is with a night photography tour. Jasper Photo Tours run 2-hour workshops where photographer Mike will take you to the best spots and teach you techniques to capture the night sky.
As a travel photographer, this was one of my favourite things to do in Jasper, even though it was cloudy, so we didn’t see many stars. Mike was still great company and very knowledgeable, teaching me about light painting and how to photograph the moon instead.
Mike also offers daytime photography workshops, so if you’re visiting in the summer when the daylight hours are too long for dark sky photography, this could be another excellent afternoon activity.
Day 5 – Depart Jasper to Banff, Lake Louise, Edmonton, Calgary or Vancouver
And that’s the end of this four day Jasper itinerary! A short but brilliant stay in an amazing part of Canada that will definitely leave you wanting to come back. Or at least that’s how I feel!
On Day 5, you can depart whenever you need, and either head home, or onto somewhere else. I’m desperate to explore Banff and Lake Louise next.
Where to stay in Jasper National Park
Budget: The 3* HI Jasper Hostel offers a social and affordable option in the heart of Jasper town. Dorm beds and private rooms are available, with shared kitchen facilities and common areas perfect for meeting fellow travellers.
Mid-range: Bear Hill Lodge, where I stayed, is a cosy and rustic lodge with comfortable cabins with fireplaces, some with kitchenettes. It’s only a 10 minute walk from the town centre which I found very convenient.
Luxury: The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is legendary in Jasper. Spacious rooms with balconies offer stunning views, and there’s an on-site spa, golf course, and eight restaurants. It’s a little out of town though, meaning you’d need to drive or get a taxi if you want to go into town for dinner.
How long should you spend in Jasper?
As you can see, I think four days is a great amount of time to spend in Jasper. To be honest, I would have loved to stay a bit longer, to have more time for hiking some of the trails I didn’t get to see. But in four days I got to visit most of the highlights.
If you don’t have that long, you can still get a feel for the place in two or three days – and if you have longer, I’d highly recommend making time to visit Banff and Lake Louise as well.
Where to eat during your 4 days in Jasper
The Jasper tourism board gave me a long list of suggestions of places to eat in Jasper. Here are few of the ones I tried and would personally recommend.
Cassio’s Italian Restaurant: Conveniently located right on the main drag, Cassio’s serves a wide choice of Italian dishes. I ate here on my first night and my pasta and mozzarella and tomato salad were great.
Jasper Brewing Co: I stopped in here for dinner on my second night and enjoyed Jasper’s own craft brews, and a typical pub grub menu of burgers, sandwiches, ribs and pasta (I had the chicken burger and fries).
Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen: This place offers smoky BBQ meals or a range of sandwiches and light bites, perfect after exploring the nearby Maligne Canyon.
Evil Dave’s Grill: Despite the somewhat silly name and claiming to serve ‘wicked food’, Evil Dave’s is just a nice restaurant serving good food made with fresh ingredients in a welcoming atmosphere.
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria: Famoso offers classic Neapolitan pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven, perfect for a casual meal. The lunch deal of a small pizza and a side of soup was perfect.
And that’s the end of my itinerary of things to do in Jasper! I hope you found it useful. If I’ve missed anything, please let me know, and if you visit Jasper, do come back and let me know how you got on!
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My favourite travel tools and brands
To help you organise your trip, here’s a short list of some of the brands and tools I use over and over again when I’m planning my travels. You can see more on my Travel Resources page.
- Booking.com: A huge range of hotels to choose from, often with free cancellation. If you book hotels regularly you can earn discounts. I’m on Genius Level 3 which gets me 20% off!
- Expedia: Another great place to find hotels and Expedia also sell flights, car hire, and loads more all in one place.
- Skyscanner: The only place I ever go to search for flights and compare prices.
- Flight Centre: Booking a more complicated route? Let Flight Centre organise it for you (and deal with the drama when something goes wrong).
- Priority Pass: I love having access to 1600+ airport lounges when I fly, allowing me to enjoy my time at the airport. Buy through my link and you get up to 20% off!
- Airalo: Say goodbye to ridiculous mobile roaming charges. Did you know you can now buy ane-SIM, install it in your phone before you leave home, and then use data abroad at local prices? Game changer. Get US$3 credit with code BELLA5735.
- TourRadar: If you prefer group travel and organised tours, TourRadar has a huge range of fantastic tours from respected operators. They’re very helpful and have 4.5 stars on TrustPilot.
- Viator: Part of the TripAdvisor brand, Viator is another great place to search for group adventures and day trips.
- GetYourGuide: A great place to find local tours and day trips in your destination.
- Wex Photo Video: The UK’s best camera gear store.
- Ellis Brigham: Looking for good quality backpacks, travel clothes and other gear? Ellis Brigham is where I buy almost all of mine.
- Rentalcars.com: Part of the Booking.com family and the world’s largest online car rental service, with 24/7 customer service.
- World Nomads Travel Insurance: I never ever travel without travel insurance and nor should you!
Where to next?
If you enjoyed this, why not try some of my other Canada and itinerary posts?
- The Perfect Nova Scotia Road Trip In 5 days
- Inside The Luxury Rocky Mountaineer Train: A Complete Review
- A Perfect Guatemala Itinerary In 10 Days, 2 Weeks Or 3 Weeks
- A Perfect Sri Lanka 2 Week Itinerary (With Stunning Photos)
- A Weekend In Tunisia – The Perfect Itinerary
- An Epic Uganda Itinerary In 2 Weeks
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