Things to do in Jasper in 48 hours
If you are planning to spend a couple of days in Jasper, continue reading! We have put together the perfect list of must-do activities when visiting this year-round destination.
Jasper National Park offers plenty of activities for everyone in every season. From mountain biking, hiking the Skyline trail, rafting and more in summer to ice walking the famous Maligne Canyon, dog sledding and snowshoeing in winter.
Wildlife Viewing
You can spot wildlife every season in Jasper National Park. The park is home to caribou, elk, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bears and wolves. Remember to keep your distance though, as it's illegal and dangerous to touch or feed wildlife.
During the winter, it's common to see bighorn sheep and mountain goats, deer and elk. The wildlife in Jasper is abundant thanks to the town's location in the largest inhabitable valley in the Canadian Rockies and you’ll often see animals grazing near the entrance to the town. In summer, travel through Athabasca Valley to seek out native wildlife such as grizzly bears, wolves, coyotes, deer, elk, big-horned sheep, moose and mountain goats.
Maligne Lake
Fed by three glaciers, Maligne Lake is the largest glacially fed lake in the Canadian Rockies. Famous for the colour of its water, it is surrounded by stunning mountain views and is one of the most photographed lakes in Canada, often with Spirit Island in view.
Maligne Canyon
Carved by thousands of years of ice, Maligne Canyon is the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park and one of Jasper’s most popular spots to visit during winter due to its striking geological features and walls of sparkling ice. In summer, hikers can enjoy stunning vistas whilst following the trails that span the gorge.
Jasper SkyTram
Travel up Whistlers Mountain on Canada’s longest and highest aerial tramway. The SkyTram runs seasonally from mid-March to late October/early November, and you need to book a ticket to ride it, but cabins depart about every nine minutes.
Experience the best views of Jasper, the Rockies, and the Athabasca River. You can also hike up the summit of Whistlers Mountain for even more spectacular views. During winter, you can strap on snowshoes and do some exploring on foot!
Dark Sky Preserve
Witness a completely dark sky in which the stars sparkle brightly. Due to the limited light pollution, Jasper has ideal conditions for dark sky viewing and is the largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve in Canada.
Although the night sky can be enjoyed year-round, October is the ideal time to celebrate the skies, which is when the annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival takes place. The festival includes moon viewing events, planetarium visits and guest speakers including NASA astronauts.
Icefields Parkway & Columbia Icefield
One of the best drives in the world, the Icefields Parkway winds over 230 kilometres along the Continental Divide through soaring peaks, vast sweeping valleys and icefields connecting Jasper with Lake Louise to the south. See the amazing Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls and amazing wildlife scaling steep craggy slopes; turquoise lakes and over 100 glaciers, including the famous Athabasca Glacier in the heart of the Columbia Icefield.
Take a ride onto the surface of the glacier on a specially adapted Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle and walk on the surface with thousands of years of ice beneath your feet. Visit the Glacier Skywalk and view the Sunwapta Valley from a glass-floored viewing platform suspended from the cliff edge 918 feet above the valley.
Float down the Athabasca River
Take a scenic float trip down the Athabasca River and learn about the history of Jasper while navigating the same route used by the “fur traders” over two centuries ago. The guides do all the rowing for you - you just sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery.
Take a sidecar tour
Feel the breeze on your face as you explore the beauty of the Rockies on a legendary Harley Davidson Motorcycle driven by a professional rider. Enjoy a sidecar tour for two passengers, one passenger in the sidecar and one behind the driver. Let your driver guide you on the best wildlife viewing and sightseeing routes.
One for the Foodies
Take Jasper’s original Foodie Tour, a 3-hour walking tour visiting four restaurants and tasting specially selected regional dishes paired with drinks, all the time learning about Jasper’s fascinating and sometimes chequered past.
Inspired to explore this amazing destination, request our brochure here. If this article has inspired you to visit Jasper, our team of expert advisors would be happy to personalise your perfect holiday, just call us on 0161 888 5632 or click here to explore more holidays with First Class Holidays.
