Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is in the Alberta Rockies region of Alberta, Canada. It has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is the largest of Canada's Rocky Mountain Parks, spanning 10,878 km² (4200 square miles) of broad valleys, rugged mountains, glaciers, forests, alpine meadows and wild rivers along the eastern slopes of the Rockies in western Alberta. There are more than 1200 km (660 miles) of hiking trails (both overnight and day trips), and a number of spectacular mountain drives.

Towns

 * &mdash; small tourist town that serves as a base for exploring the park.

Other destinations

 * &mdash; continue south to Banff, the largest region of ice and snow in mainland North America south of the Arctic Circle.

Understand
Comprising of delicate and carefully protected ecosystems, Jasper's scenery is nonetheless rugged and mountainous. In this special corner of Canada you can thrill to the thunder of Sunwapta Falls, enjoy the serene beauty of Mount Edith Cavell, connect with nature along more than 1,000 km of trails, experience Athabasca Glacier up close, or resign yourself to a relaxing soak in Miette Hot Springs.

The park starts in the south at just north of Banff National Park near the Columbia Icefield with the  20 minutes southwest of Hinton. The town of Jasper is located within the park. The other park entrance is from the west at.

Visitor information

 * Park website

By car
Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) bisects the park east-west. Hinton is and Edmonton is  to the east. Valemount is to the west. The only other way into the park is from Lake Louise in the south via the Icefields Parkway.

By train

 * Two routes stop in Jasper:
 * The Canadian between Vancouver and Toronto via Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg
 * A route between Jasper and Prince Rupert via Prince George

By plane
The closest International Airports are in Edmonton, east of the park ( from Jasper townsite) and Calgary   southeast of the park ( from Jasper townsite). Edmonton is generally a quicker drive but Calgary is a more scenic route and has more international connections.

Fees and permits
All visitors stopping in the park (even just for gas) require a park permit. If you are driving through non-stop, the pass is not required. Day passes and annual passes are available.

All Canadian national parks require visitors to pay an entry fee. Canadian residents and international visitors pay the same fees. The national parks in Alberta and BC are fairly close to each other and it is possible to visit several of them in a single day. If you pay an entry fee in one mountain park (e.g. Banff National Park), and visit another on the same day (e.g. Yoho National Park), you will not have to pay a second time. Your paid entry fee is valid until 4PM the following day.

The fees that visitors pay do not go to general government revenues; they are used to enhance and maintain the parks and visitor services.

For 2022, the entry fees are:
 * $10.50 per day for an adult (aged 17-64)
 * $9.00 per day for a senior (aged 65+)
 * free for children and youth (aged 0-16)

If you are entering the park as a group of 2-7 people travelling in a single vehicle, you can pay the group fee of $21.00 per day. (This is the same fee as paying for two adults.)

Additional variable fees are required for camping and backcountry exploration. See the official Parks Canada website for a complete current schedule.

A Park Pass is also required for anyone travelling the Icefields Parkway (#93) between Lake Louise and Jasper.

Get around
Car is the only way to really cover the distances involved, although you do see the odd intrepid cyclist. The only fuel stations in the park are in Jasper town.

The best way to see the area is by foot. Head a few hundred metres from a car park and you are in wilderness and does not take much longer to get away from the people.

Itineraries

 * Icefields Parkway.

Eat

 * The town of Jasper has a good selection of places to eat.
 * There is a cafeteria at Columbia Icefield

Sleep
For lodging right in Jasper, please see the Jasper article.

Camping
The following are the only designated camping sites throughout the park. There are maps available online with information and fees. It is illegal to camp outside of designated areas without a special backcountry pass.

Stay safe
You should know that you are in bear country, and be alert of their presence. Bears become a common sight in the summer where they find food for their cubs, and food must be disposed in bear-proof containers.

Driving through the open wilderness can be a challenge, especially in the winter. You should drive carefully, and watch out for crossing wildlife. Drivers not used to winter driving should find another mode of transport to get around, or travel in the summer. Areas near mountain slopes are prone to avalanches, weather can change very quickly, and road closures may come without warning. Calling for help is nearly impossible in the middle of the wilderness, as cell coverage never reaches them, and it can take days for help to come, especially in adverse weather.

Slow down while driving the Icefields Parkway - be it for going downhill, other tourists, slow RVs and buses, the wildlife, the road conditions - or for the frequent speed reductions often with speed traps. Cellphone reception is spotty along the Icefields Parkway, so would be good to have downloaded your maps.

Go next
Travel south on the Icefields Parkway to Banff National Park. Travel west into British Columbia and Mount Robson Provincial Park. Travel southwest into Hamber Provincial Park.