The sheer diversity of terrain on offer means that you’re sure to find the perfect hike for your trip, whatever your fitness and experience level. Jasper National Park is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Canadian Rockies, and is somewhat more wild and untamed than neighboring Banff. Path of the Glacier 3. Be warned - “easy” in The Rockies is still uphill, just not for hours on end! It’s a particularly popular area for backpacking, with some epic multi-day trails and lots of good campgrounds. The deep blue water gushes through the steep canyon walls with such power that when you’re near it the mist will cool you down which was blessing for us hiking here on a surprisingly hot day. It’s a moderately steep hike on a well-maintained trail and … We're Cat Smith and Joe Bird, two travel fanatics from the U.K. We both caught the travel bug on solo trips in 2003 and have been hopelessly addicted ever since. The views above the tree line are epic and you can see the mountain tops for miles in all directions. Step away from the Upper Station and broaden your view of Whistlers Mountain’s Alpine Tundra. A couple are along the Icefields Parkway which are a great way of breaking up the journey if you’re coming from Banff. Beauty Creek to Stanley Falls Copyright © 2021 10Adventures Inc. All rights reserved. The hot springs have a large car park, but if you go on a weekend try to arrive in the morning as the hot springs are popular! In fact, it ended up being one of our favourite photography spots in Jasper. At every turn you’ll see this incredible mountain, glacier lake and sublime alpine scenery. There are quite a few steps at Maligne Canyon, on the way out it will be downhill and on the way back it’s of course all uphill so it’s worth factoring that in when you decide if you want to go as far as lookout five (a bridge over the river). If all that has worn you out, you can always sit back and relax in the Miette hot springs at the end of a long day on the trail! However, for most visitors on a tight schedule that’s not realistic, and it’s certainly possible to see many of the highlights in just a few short days. With some steep ascents and breathtaking scrambles, this is the place to push your hiking skills and fitness to the next level. The hike to this gap between Mt. Jasper’s best hikes. Maligne Canyon Jasper National Park encompasses some of the most diverse and enchanting scenery in the Rockies, from incredible ice fields and glaciers to lush valleys and meadows. 10 km (6.5 miles) return trip. Hike The Alpine Adventure For The Whole Family Your flight on the Jasper SkyTram is just the beginning of your high altitude experience. However, you may run the risk of some early snows on higher ground, so it’s important to keep an eye on weather reports and make sure you seek advice from knowledgeable locals. A hike to the meadows is 6-7 km return and takes between 3-5 hours. Today for free and be the first to get notified on new updates. A lot of people focus solely on the summit and overlook the stunning ridgeline loop you can add to this hike. Majority of visitors take the Gondola and hike up the the nearby Whistlers summit. Be warned though, the car park here fills up quickly. Difficulty If you’re travelling with children, you’re also likely to find some fun, easy trails that are a good introduction to wilderness hiking. You may want to avoid the middle of the day! The Opal Hills hike in Jasper National Park is exhilarating, with a unique beauty that casts a spell on the hikers who make it through the steep trail – moving up to a lush meadow and beautiful mountains. Difficulty: ModerateDistance: 8.8km return Elevation: 685mTime: 2hr 45. You can hike independently or with a guide depending on how confident you feel and if you have the right gear. Recommended by Hannah of That Adventurer. The Canadian Rockies are comprised of several national parks. The Path of the Glacier trail is suitable for everyone and the paved track is wheelchair friendly, although this is the Rockies and that doesn’t mean it’s flat! Featuring bridges, forests, waterfalls, and the famous Ink Pots – the only thing that matches the beauty of the Johnston Canyon hike are the crowds that flock to see it. Jasper hikes: the views of Maligne Lake from the Bald Hills Trail. July and August are the most popular seasons for hiking, when you’ll enjoy fine weather, blossoming flowers and plenty of activities on offer for visitors of all ages. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Bald Hills. It is well worth the trudge up the fire trail to get to. We would actually love to return to Jasper just to experience this as we think it looks even more beautiful! We combined this walk with the Edith Cavell Meadows hike, which we highly recommend as an epic combination, but in case you want something shorter we’ve listed them separately. You’ll start ascending immediately and it’s pretty steep but the views begin immediately so you know it will be worth it. Keep in mind the hikes in town skew toward the quick and easy side of the scale, and should be able to be completed in 1 – 3 hours. The lake is beautiful from any angle, but is at its best from the ridge and summit of the Bald Hills Trail. However, you don’t have to be a seasoned hiker to enjoy Jasper National Park. There isn’t a lot of flat track but it’s not overly steep. The chairs at the end make a great spot to sit and take it all in. With epic mountain scenery, abundant wildlife and far fewer crowds than nearby Banff, Jasper has to be one of the best places to hike in the whole of Canada. If you want a more detailed guide, check out our post all about the hikes around Mount Edith Cavell. It’s a good idea to make noise around any blind corners as surprising a bear can lead it to behave unpredictably. Enter a land of ice as you marvel at Angel Glacier and the turquoise water below in Cavell Pond. The leaves begin to turn in September, and this can be a wonderful time to visit, when the trails are quieter and the forests are at their best. Jasper National Park is administered by Parks Canada, and as such, visitors must purchase a Park Pass in advance of their trip. The trail to the top and the Sky Tram is located just 6 km from Jasper. Tell us! This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This is when the views start to completely open up. This is… Read More, A walk along Athabasca Falls in Jasper National Park is a great family-friendly hike. The mountain snows linger in higher areas until June, meaning that many trails and even some roads are inaccessible until the summer. Why not try your hand at horseback riding, or learn how to rock climb? No spam. The majority of the best hikes in Jasper are about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours from Jasper town and are usually around some of the most popular lakes or spots in the park. All the relevant information can be found on the Parks Canada website. It was our favourite hike along the Icefields Parkway and one of the best views to effort ratio hikes we did in the whole of Canada! Why we love this Jasper hike: the deep canyon walls and incredibly powerful water are a truly mesmerising sight. Temple and, in autumn, the stunning gold shimmer of alpine larches. The Sulphur Skyline. As exhausted as we were at the end of this trip, I am so glad we spent the majority of the time on the Banff hiking trails. The Opal Hills Loop Trail This hike is very steep but during wildflower seasons it is worth the effort and the ocean of mountains views from the summit is amazing. Try this hike from the top of the Jasper… Read More, This is our favorite family-friendly hike in all of Jasper, with a well-maintained path taking… Read More, The Bald Hills are a legendary hike in Jasper, getting you high above the tree… Read More, A helpful waiter shared this gem as a local’s view of the best hikes in… Read More, The Maligne Canyon walk explores the finest limestone gorge in Jasper National Park. Don’t forget your camera, as you’ll have plenty of awesome photo opportunities! You start the hike in a pretty stretch of forest as you make you way fairly gently uphill. Inside you’ll find glittering lakes, magnificent glaciers, and an abundance of rare wildlife, all just waiting to be explored. Not to be confused with the Skyline trail, the Sulphur Skyline is a short and steep day hike. You can choose to just hike for 3km return to the lookout, or continue for another 6 km (return) to the pass itself. The Maligne Canyon is considered one of the most interesting places in Jasper to discover waterfalls, fossils, plant life, and rich forests. Hello, this is Connie from the Lake Louise Visitor Centre.. A couple mountains in Banff National Park with hiking trails to the summits are in the Lake Louise area: Fairview Mountain (2744 m), 5.1 km one-way with 1013 m elevation gain; and, Mount St Piran (2649 m), 6.2 km one-way and 900 m elevation gain - this trail branches off from the popular Lake Agnes/Little Beehive trail. We used to talk about travelling the world together, and in 2012 we finally made that happen. Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 7.8km return Elevation: 359mTime:  2-2.5 hours. If you want a more in-depth guide, then check out our post all about the Bald Hills Trail. Difficulty: EasyDistance: 3km return Elevation: 183mTime: 55 mins. The trails are most heavily trafficked in summer when the snow is often melted and the roads are all open. After the fourth lookout you will predominantly be heading alongside the river which is pretty in itself but it no longer feels like a canyon and therefore only necessary if you fancy a peaceful riverside walk. Find hotels and airbnbs near Hiking (Map) Cirque Peak Trail Maligne Canyon The Sulphur Skyline Trail It’s a hike where your effort is rewarded with a big payoff at the end. Maligne Canyon is to Jasper what Johnston Canyon is to Banff, but mercifully it’s a little bit less crowded! Fairview and Saddle Peak promises stunning views of the 11,000-foot Mt. In particular, kids will love getting up close to the Angel Glacier, or scampering through the Maligne Canyon. It’s a good trail but there are some rocks and tree roots to watch out for. If you still have the energy there is a final scramble up to an even higher viewpoint on an unmaintained trail which offers the best views of all. There are five main lookout points (bridges) on the trail (technically there are six but very few people go that far), but if you are short on time or energy you only really need to see the first four for the absolute best canyon views. If not, it should be! With reservations right around the corner (okay, okay, I understand that they aren’t coming out until March…) there is no better time to start planning your next hiking adventures in Jasper and around Jasper National Park. Hiking is one of the best activities that you can take part in while holidaying in this area. It would likely take you about 2.5 to 3 hours, but you can reward yourself with a cold one or a meal at the restaurant at the top. How long is a piece of string? After buying a one way ticket to Istanbul we spent a year making our way through Asia before arriving in Australia, where we have been living ever since. In addition to hiking, you’ll find plenty of other outdoor activities in Jasper National Park. Looking for an amazing adventure? If you've got photos, a GPS track and know the hike, we'd love to share your favourite hike with the rest of the 10Adventures community. To make the most of your trip, we’d recommend staying for at least 3 days in Jasper National Park, and ideally, around a week. However, you’ll also find some fantastic road biking and mountain biking routes, and opportunities for canoeing, kayaking and even paragliding! Sign up below to receive stories and tips from Walk My World. It’s a short trail and it won’t be long before you make it to the main lookout with panoramic mountain and glacier views as well as a birdseye look at an ice berg strewn lake. We actually couldn’t believe how good it was and even hiking on a wet gloomy day we couldn’t stop smiling when we got to the top. Stick with us though because once you do reach the ridgeline all is revealed, and you get the best views of Maligne Lake you could possibly imagine, as well as the spectacular snow capped mountains surrounding it. We’ll send a monthly summary of the best hikes around the globe directly into your email inbox. 1. Maligne Canyon becomes a winter wonderland during the long snowy season and can be hiked with the proper gear year round. So here is a list of bonus hikes in Jasper National Park that you should take a look at as well, Want a great walk in Jasper? The reason to do this hike is for the view at the lookout and far fewer people opt to see the glacier from here (choosing to go to the Toe of the Glacier instead) which makes it incredibly quiet and peaceful. You can also skip the tram and hike from the bottom – the trail head starts near the hostel. Beauty Creek to Stanley Falls offers fantastic payoff for relatively little effort, passing eight different… Read More, Cavell Lake is a quick hike that allows you to enjoy the pretty views of… Read More, This hike combines a relaxed trail around Maligne Lake with a hike up to Moose… Read More, The Old Fort Point Trail is a beautiful hike leading to a fantastic viewpoint over… Read More. And to make my point, here are 12 day hikes featuring the best of the Banff hiking trails, the best hikes in Jasper and Yoho National Parks. Challenging Hikes in Jasper Sulphur Skyline Trail. The Bald Hills trail will seem an unlikely contender for a spot on our best Jasper hikes list when you discover the first 6km is all fire trail through forest with almost nothing in the way of views. Why we love this Jasper hike: the ridgeline is phenomenal and there was no one else on it! As with most Rockies hikes it’s uphill most of the way but it’s not too steep for the majority of the trail. To help you get started, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to planning a trip to Jasper National Park, with plenty of tips on accommodation, the right time of year to visit, and all our favorite Jasper hiking and backpacking trails. We’ve included more information on each one in our individual trail guides. The Bald Hills Trail starts opposite a big car park at the end of the road to Maligne Lake. In winter, Jasper National Park is a wonderful place for winter hiking and snowshoeing, and you may still find some accessible low-elevation trails. Why we love this Jasper hike: the views get better and better with each step and the meadows have beautiful wild flowers in early summer. We wanted to hike the whole trail but unfortunately the weather turned really nasty, and we only made it to the lookout which is marked by two of Parks Canada’s iconic red chairs. Jasper National Park is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Canada. Having said that if you are hiking in high season most of these Jasper hikes are very well trafficked and bear encounters are unlikely. The best Banff hikes include views of striking mountains, aquamarine lakes, roaring waterfalls, and vast white/grey glaciers. We enjoyed the whole walk to lookout five but our favourite section was definitely between one and four. Verdant Pass is one of the most challenging hiking trails in Jasper, but also one of the most rewarding,... Bald Hills. Read next: Bucket list things to do in Lake Louise and The best hikes in Banff, Difficulty: Easy (but steep)Distance: 1.6km return Elevation: 70m. Difficulty: EasyDistance: 5.8km return Elevation: 190mTime: 1 hour 10. The Jasper Skytram assists you for most of the way, but a 20-30 minute hike further will get you to the summit. Read next: The best hikes in Banff: The Iceline Trail in Yoho, Stanley Glacier, The Via Ferrata Banff, The Larch Valley, Johnston Canyon, Ha Ling Peak and The Healy Pass, Difficulty: ModerateDistance: 8km including the Path of the Glacier Trail Elevation: 562mTime: 3 hours. Jasper Townsite Hikes . Jasper hikes: the chairs on the Wilcox Pass, Jasper hikes - The Columbia Icefield from the Wilcox Pass. You’ll also receive free hiking and outdoor resources in future. 9. So, hiking in one is not like hiking in another. As the higher alpine and sub-alpine trails are snowcapped and the risk of avalanches lasts until late June or longer, the best time to hike in Banff and Jasper National Park is from July to mid-September. Some of the most beautiful hikes in Jasper are just minutes from the townsite, making it easy for all experience levels to embrace Jasper’s rugged wilderness. Leave it to the experts and just enjoy the experience! 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