The best day hikes in Jasper National Park
Owing to the massive fires in summer 2024, these hikes may not be accessible for some time. I encourage you to research the latest conditions on the Tourism Jasper website.
If you’re heading to Jasper National Park and want to see what the fuss is really all about then make sure you do some day hikes in Jasper.
Hiking in Jasper is the best way to escape the crowds. I read some crazy statistics before our visit that showed just how few people went 30 minutes away from their car.
This is great for you reading this since I’m guessing you’re planning some day hikes, but I feel kinda bad for those people for not going further away from their cars. They don’t know what they’re missing!
Whether you have 1-2 days or a week or more make sure you do at least one of these incredible day hikes in Jasper as they’re some of the best hiking trails in Jasper National Park.
I recommend spending about 3 days in Jasper. There are some great places to stay in Jasper and you’ll want a few days to explore both downtown Jasper, some of the hiking trails and the other attractions in Jasper.
What to know about hiking in Jasper National Park
Before you go hiking in Jasper National Park, make sure you’re aware of the following.
Be bear aware
Jasper National Park is home to a lot of bears. Make sure you know what to do if you see a bear by reading this post on bear safety.
It’s also a good idea to take bear spray (& know how to use it!). You can rent or buy bear spray from many outlets in both Jasper and Banff National Parks.
10 essentials
Don’t forget your 10 essentials before you go out hiking anywhere, but especially before doing some Jasper National Park hiking.
Read this post for a refresher on what they are.
Weather conditions
Weather in the mountains and on Jasper National Park trails changes quickly. Just because it’s warm and sunny in the town that doesn’t mean it’ll still be like that once you reach the summit or for the duration of your hike.
Likely no phone signal
You probably won’t have phone signal so don’t rely on online maps or GPS. Buy a trail map before your trip or at the very least pick up a basic one from the visitor centre in Jasper before you start hiking.
What to pack for Jasper hikes
What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.
- Check out my day hike packing list here.
- If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
- Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
- Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
- If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
- You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
- You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
- Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.
Best day hikes in Jasper National Park
There are a tonne of hikes you can do in Jasper but I’ve picked these ones out since they’re more accessible to everyone in terms of difficulty and accessibility. Oh, and they still offer some of the best hiking in Jasper.
AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.
Moose Lake Loop
Moose Lake Loop is one of several Maligne Lake hikes. It takes you along an old fire road to begin with before you head through the woods and past an old landslide. Then you’ll come out at beautiful Moose Lake (bound to be MUCH quieter than Maligne Lake). From here you can follow the lakeshore back to the parking lot.
- Difficulty: easy
- Distance: 2.7km
- Time: 1-2 hours
- Elevation change: 59m
Lorraine Lake and Mona Lake
Another great lake trail that you can try is the hike to Lorraine Lake and Mona Lake. This begins near the parking lot too but is a bit closer to the Skyline Kiosk.
The trail climbs gently through a pine forest and up to some ancient landslide debris which is where the lakes lie. The lakes are pretty close to each other and you make a great place to rest before heading back the way you came.
If you want more of a challenge you can extend your hike by continuing onto Little Shovel Pass (20km return, 548m elevation change, 7-9 hours)
- Difficulty: easy
- Distance: 5.2km
- Time: 2-3 hours
- Elevation change: 80m
Cavell Meadows Trail
The Cavell Meadows Trail is a moderately difficult day hike in Jasper. It starts from the top of Cavell Road in the Edith Cavell Mountain area. This area of Jasper has a fragrant subalpine forest, alpine meadows and beautiful views of Mt. Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier.
The Mt Edith Cavell hike is an extension of the more popular, and much shorter, Path of the Glacier Trail. As the name of that one suggests, you’ll actually be walking in the path of the glacier as it receded.
You’ll begin by crossing a rocky landscape before looking out onto the north face of Mt. Edith Cavell. Then carrying on from here you’ll begin to climb fairly steeply through forest and past the treeline for more incredible views making this one of the best hikes in Jasper National Park.
- The difficulty of Mount Edith Cavell hike: Moderate
- Distance: 6-8km (depends on when you loopback)
- Time: 3-5 hours
- Elevation change: 500m
Toe of the Athabasca Glacier
I’d say this is more of a walk than a hike but there is a little bit of a climb up to the glacier to look out for. You simply can’t miss this since the Athabasca Glacier is such a big attraction in Jasper National Park along the Icefields Parkway.
It’s without a doubt one of the must do hikes in Jasper National Park plus if you’re looking for easy hikes in Jasper then this is the one for you!
There are two routes to the toe of the glacier. You can take the longer 2.5km trail that starts just across the road from the Icefields Centre (the Forefield Trail).
Or you can park a little closer and just walk the 1.4km trail to the glacier. The Forefield Trail takes you across moraines and glacial debris before joining up with the Toe of the Glacier Trail.
Along the Toe of the Glacier Trail, you’ll see signs stating that the glacier used to be at that point several years ago. It’s fascinating (and kinda upsetting) to see how much it’s receded over time.
You can no longer walk on the glacier unless you’re part of an organised tour but this walk is still one of the top hikes in Jasper National Park.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 1.4km
- Time: 30 minutes – 1 hour
- Elevation change: 60m
Wilcox Pass
Wilcox Pass is another popular day hike in Jasper. It begins at the entrance of Wilcox Creek campground and starts off steep but soon levels out. There’s a high chance of spotting a bighorn sheep here!
You can make this hike shorter by just hiking to the red chairs (which you’ll see throughout Canadian National Parks), or add another 2.6km by going to another viewpoint.
Time it with the wildflower season to make this the best hike in Jasper National Park!
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 6.8km or 3.4km to red chairs
- Time: 2-3hours
- Elevation change: 390m
Sulphur Skyline Trail
This is one trail I really wanted to do but ended up accidentally doing the Source of the Springs trail instead and then heading to the hot springs early…next time for sure since I’ve heard it’s up there as being the best hike in Jasper.
It’s supposed to be a beautiful (but fairly busy) day hike in Jasper.
It tends to be one of the first snow-free alpine hikes which is great if you’re visiting in late May or June. It’s pretty steep the whole way up but you’ll get fantastic views of Utopia Mountain, The Fiddle Valley and Ashlar Ridge too. And then at the end, you can chill out in the Miette Hot Springs!
- Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
- Distance: 8.8km
- Time: 4-6 hours
- Elevation change: 700m
Maligne Canyon
Again, this one is arguably more of a walk than a hike but it’s nice whatever you count it as is one of the best Jasper day hikes for the whole family.
This trail takes you past all six bridges in Maligne Canyon and some of Alberta’s most beautiful waterfalls.
The first 3 have some of the better views where the water is more powerful and the canyon narrower and deeper but you’ll still be impressed with those further down too.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 4.4km return (for all bridges)
- Time: 1-3 hours
- Elevation change: 100m
The Whistlers Summit Trail
Make your hike super easy by taking the Jasper SkyTram to the top of the mountain and then hiking just 2.2km to Whistlers Summit.
At the top, you’ll have 360-degree views of the Athabasca Valley and the surrounding peaks. BEAUTIFUL!
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 2.2km return (for all bridges)
- Time: 1 hour
- Elevation change: 150m
Canada Travel Planning Guide
Should I buy Canada travel insurance?
100% YES! — You should have travel insurance for all your trips. Though Canada has “free” healthcare, it’s only for residents. If you’re just visiting, you’ll need travel insurance should you need medical care. It also helps you claim for delayed flights or lost/stolen baggage. We use SafetyWing for our travel insurance!
Is it safe to rent a car in Canada?
Yes — Renting a car is a good idea in most of Canada as public transit isn’t the best!
Car hire is usually quite reasonable, especially compared to some other countries and they’ll all be automatic so you shouldn’t have a problem driving it if you’re used to manual transmission.
I personally use a mix of DiscoverCars and RentalCars to find the best deal that works for me when I rent a car. I used them in Norway, Italy, and Canada when we first moved, and have never had an issue. For RV rental I recommend Outdoorsy.
What’s the best way to pay/exchange money for Canada?
Wise (formerly Transferwise!) — I use my Wise card everywhere these days. I fill it with a certain currency and then I can spend it in countries across the world, online and even for direct debits. Wise has the best currency exchange rates (and they’ll even tell you when you can get it cheaper elsewhere!). When you pay in another currency through chip and pin or tap/wireless, they’ll automatically convert it for you – it’s easy! This link gets you a fee-free transfer.
Do I need a visa for Canada?
Many countries do not need a visa to travel to Canada — However, you may need an ETA which costs $7 (you need this if you’re from the UK). You can buy them online and they usually take a few hours to come through though it can take longer. Only ever buy from this official website otherwise you’ll end up paying more money necessarily. If you want to move to Canada, check out my guide to the Working Holiday Visa which is how we first moved there! Always check the official Canadian Immigration website to see whether you need a visa to travel there.
Will my phone work in Canada?
It depends — Some American and European companies work in Canada for a certain amount of data or time but many will not work at all. Getting a Canadian SIM card will help you get around with Google Maps and stay in touch with people back home. There isn’t much free WIFI in Canada so you can’t really rely on that, especially if you’re heading outside of major cities.
Where can I book my Canada accommodation?
I always check Booking.com for hotels or Hostel World for hostels. If I’m looking for something for a bigger group of people, or a bit more unique (cosy cabins, luxury beach houses) then I use VRBO.
When we first moved to Canada we used Trusted Housesitters to get free accommodation!
What’s the best site to buy Canada flights?
I only ever use Skyscanner to find cheap flights no matter where I’m travelling!
Last Updated on August 8, 2024 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
