Jasper National Park - map, photos and other informations

Research checked: 2026-10-18. Check linked official notices before travel.

Jasper National Park in Alberta combines mountain lakes, waterfall stops, alpine trails, and the services of Jasper town. Recovery from the 2024 wildfire continues to affect access. Choose the part of the park you want to explore, then check its current restrictions before booking accommodation or selecting a walk.

Lakes, waterfalls, and the Icefields Parkway

• Maligne Lake: Lakeside walks provide a different outing from the area's demanding upland hikes.
• Pyramid Lake: Roadside stops and the island footbridge offer mountain and lake views close to town.
• Icefields Parkway: The southern highway connects waterfall viewpoints and the Columbia Icefield area, with changing weather and seasonal services.
• Night skies: Jasper's dark-sky setting adds an evening option when cloud and local access allow.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Wildlife and fire-affected terrain

Stay at least 30 m from elk, deer, and moose, and 100 m from bears and other carnivores. Remain in your vehicle when watching roadside animals and move on if congestion develops. Carry bear spray and know how to use it before a walk.

Open fire-affected areas can still contain falling trees, unstable ground, flood hazards, and missing signs. Avoid burned areas in strong winds. Stay on designated routes and use the park's trail information when planning. Reopening does not remove every hazard.

Keep wildlife wild

Secure food, garbage, and scented items rather than leaving them on a picnic table or in a tent. Keep pets leashed where permitted; some sensitive routes exclude dogs. Recreational drones are prohibited. Leave natural and historic objects in place.

Sleeping in a vehicle at a pullout or trailhead is not a substitute for a permitted campsite. Follow designated camping rules and keep day-use areas available for their intended use.

Camping and backcountry permits

Reserve sites at the main reservable campgrounds through the official accommodation planner. Other campgrounds use first-come arrangements during their operating seasons. A listed campground is not proof that it is open on your travel date.

Backcountry camping requires the appropriate camping permit as well as park entry. For 2026, Tonquin Valley access is through the Portal trailhead; the Cavell Road and Astoria approach remain closed. Select the permitted route before reserving nights.

Maps, location, and access

Highway 16, the Yellowhead Highway, crosses the park east–west. The Icefields Parkway connects Jasper southward toward Lake Louise. Town accommodation and transport do not remove the need to plan onward travel to distant trailheads.

Download the town, campground, and seasonal route maps. Check Alberta 511 for driving conditions. Road 93A has anticipated south-only access and no through travel during work from mid-October to early November 2026; confirm the work status before using it as a connection.

Nearby parks on the highway approaches

• Mount Robson Park: Continue west on Highway 16 into British Columbia, just beyond Jasper's western boundary.
• William A. Switzer Provincial Park: On the eastern approach, use Highway 40 northwest of Hinton. Its visitor center has ended its season, and several water pumps have service notices.

Choose a lake day or a highway outing

At Maligne Lake, the Mary Schäffer Loop is listed as a 3.2 km walk. Near town, Old Fort Point is a 3.8 km loop with 130 m of climbing. Confirm current conditions before treating a published route description as an available outing.

On the parkway, waterfalls and glacier viewpoints can anchor shorter stops between longer drives. Plan for fewer services outside summer. Winter outings need their own route and avalanche assessment; a summer hiking map does not answer winter safety questions.

Town services and specific access barriers

Jasper provides commercial accommodation, shops, transport services, and public toilets. Town parking can have separate charges. Seasonal campground facilities vary: Whistlers has showers, Wapiti offers selected electrical sites, and Miette lists running water and flush toilets without showers. Confirm the actual operating period before relying on any service.

The information center has an accessible entrance through the gift shop. Public toilet buildings on Connaught Drive have ramp access. Pyramid Island's approach includes a sloping ramp and a small step on the return to the bridge. Lake Annette's paved loop has some steep sections despite its easy hiking rating. Consult the detailed accessibility descriptions for your equipment and needs.

About Jasper

Park creation and Indigenous homelands

Jasper Park Forest Reserve was created in 1907 and became Jasper National Park under the 1930 legislation. Indigenous Peoples had lived in, traveled through, and cared for this landscape long before those boundaries. Park creation led to the forced removal and exclusion of First Nations and Métis people. Parks Canada recognizes continuing connections across Treaty 6 and 8 and other traditional lands.

Mountain forests and alpine habitat

Elk, deer, and moose use valley habitat, while bears and other carnivores range through the wider park. Caribou, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep also depend on mountain habitat. Seasonal closures help protect animals and reduce conflict where visitors and wildlife share the landscape.

Contact

Jasper National Park official website
Telephone: 780-852-6176
Email: [email protected]
Information Centre: 500 Connaught Drive, Jasper, Alberta.
Mail: P.O. Box 10, Jasper, Alberta T0E 1E0.