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Jasper is many things: beautiful, welcoming and downright tenacious. Since the 2024 Jasper wildfire, this town and national park have emerged more vibrant than ever, with plenty of new reasons to explore.
If you’re wondering what to do in Jasper this summer, check out this line-up of new and refreshed activities. There’s something here for every kind of traveller.
Take to the Athabasca and Sunwapta rivers with Jasper Rafting Adventures. You’ll get a stunning perspective on the national park with just the right level of thrill.
Totally new to rafting? No problem. This family-run outfitter has been guiding on these rivers for decades. Your expert guides will help you feel confident from the first dip of your paddle.
Choose between three family-friendly rafting trips based on the type of adventure you’re seeking:
You can go whitewater rafting in Jasper with absolutely no experience. Your guides lead the way, teaching you the names of local peaks, sharing area history and stories of the 2024 Jasper wildfire and recovery.
Prefer to your pilot your own vessel? Join certified guides at Maligne Rafting Adventures on the Athabasca River for an accessible and adventurous two-hour whitewater kayaking experience.
A 15-minute drive from the Jasper townsite, this section of the Athabasca is perfect for kayakers of all levels, from total beginners to experienced paddlers, including kids 12 and up who can swim.
In a single or double kayak, follow your guides through a varied course that’s cruisey, calm and the fun kind of splashy. Plus, you’re surrounded by the natural beauty of Jasper National Park.
Pack those hiking boots this summer! With 1,000+ kilometres of trails open and ready, Jasper is a hiking paradise. You’ll also discover unique opportunities to see regeneration in action: new grasses, wildflowers, young trees and an open canopy with expansive views.
There are trails for all ability levels. You can also hire a hiking guide in Jasper to give local insights and help you connect with the natural world around you.
Here are some ideas for hikes (beginner to moderate experience):
Freshly reopened, the Valley of the Five Lakes is one of Jasper’s most iconic hiking areas. After the wildfire, these trails required a full redesign with new bridges, thoughtful routing, hand-built rock stairs and replanted vegetation (to help avoid erosion). Brand new signage helps hikers find their way.
The network winds through wetlands, open forest and along the shores of five glacier-fed lakes. There are routes to suit every pace, including visitors without mountain hiking experience. The Wetland Way (0.9 km, 0.5 miles one-way) offers an easy access point. From there, longer loops, such as the Emerald Circuit (3.7 km, 2.3 miles) and Valley Loop (4.7 km, 2.9 miles), feature rolling terrain and scenic views.
Throughout the Valley of the Five Lakes, Parks Canada has added benches and picnic tables built from trees salvaged from fire-affected areas. This gives new life to these materials while providing hikers with rest spots to enjoy.
Departs from Highway 93, 9 km (5.6 mi) south of Jasper townsite.
Join Jasper Food Tours for the Guided Wildfire Peak-Nic Tour, a 4-kilometre (2.5-mile) hike through the heart of the wildfire-affected areas, where new growth is already pushing through the ash.
Along the way, guides share the geology, history and ecology of wildfire, including why fire is essential to forest renewal. Top it off with a hot lunch on the summit with 360-degree views of the landscape.
Departs from Old Fort Point, five minutes from the Jasper townsite (pick-up from Jasper hotels on request).
This Parks Canada experience is led by Warrior Women's Matricia Bauer (Isko-achitaw waciy; "She Who Moves Mountains") of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. The Healing Through Fire Guided Walk invites visitors to see wildfire as a source of renewal. Over a half-day, participants observe regeneration up close. You’ll be invited to plant a tree and explore Indigenous perspectives on resilience and taking care of the land. It's a powerful way to understand what shapes this place.
Departs from Lake Annette Parking lot, rain or shine. Book ahead for select dates online.
Travel through Jasper’s recovering landscapes on a guided E-Bikes Safari Eco-Tour. This easygoing e-bike ride follows scenic back roads through both old‑growth forest and areas newly blooming after the 2024 wildfire
You’ll reach quieter corners of the park and you may spot wildlife, including elk, bighorn sheep and even bears. Pause at white‑sand beaches, jewel-coloured lakes and even actual quicksand (don’t worry, it’s safely behind barriers). With a microphone headset system, you can learn about local ecology and history from your guide without needing to stop your pedalling to chat.
Three experiences by Pursuit stand out for first-time Jasper National Park visitors and returning travellers alike. Grab the Pursuit Pass if you want to take in all three, plus their experiences in Banff: the Banff Gondola, Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise and Open Top Touring.
Maligne Lake Cruise offers a narrated journey across the largest glacially fed lake in the Canadian Rockies to Spirit Island. Accessible only by boat, Spirit Island is one of Canada's most photographed locations. The journey up Maligne Lake is impressive at every turn.
Further south along the Icefields Parkway, the Columbia Icefield Skywalk delivers a one-kilometre (0.6-mile) interpretive walk above fossil-studded cliffs. The view? A glass-floored platform suspended 280 metres (918 feet) above the Sunwapta Valley. For the full experience, add an Ice Explorer bus ride onto the Athabasca Glacier, a 10,000-year-old sheet of ice.
The Jasper SkyTram, Canada’s longest and highest guided aerial tramway, ascends to 2,263 metres (7,424 feet) on Whistlers Mountain. Take an optional summit hike, enjoy on-site dining, or stick around for stargazing nights in the world's second-largest Dark Sky Preserve.
A gateway for adventure since 1922, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has new activities to try this summer.
On the shore of Lac Beauvert, the Glacial Plunge & Sauna is a guided hydrotherapy experience led by certified instructors. You’ll start in the heat of a barrel sauna before taking a bracing plunge in the glacier-fed lake. But you’re not on your own. Certified instructors will guide you through the experience with breathwork and calming techniques. Afterward, relax fireside with tea or unwind in the hot tub. You’ll feel grounded, restored and closer to nature.
Available to both hotel and non-hotel guests year-round.
Jasper Park Lodge has fully refreshed its dining experiences. Expect local ingredients, thoughtful service and menus designed to inspire. Three restaurants are open: Lume, a modern day-to-night bar; Elderwood, an all-day family restaurant anchored by a grand stone fireplace; and The Barbicon, an intimate steakhouse. Menus feature local, seasonal ingredients, including fresh fish, foraged mushrooms and wild game.
A new lakeside patio, Elderwood Terrace, rounds things out with lighter fare and stunning views of Lac Beauvert.
There’s lots to do at Jasper Park Lodge even if you’re not a guest of the hotel.
Jasper is a small town with big flavours. Here are some of the top picks for places to eat in town.
Estio Jasper brings Caribbean-Canadian dishes to the mountains, while Evil Dave's Grill delivers bold, creative cooking that has earned a loyal following among locals and visitors alike. The Maligne Range offers a polished sit-down experience, and Jasper Food Tours is the ideal way to graze across multiple spots in one outing.
Coffee lovers can check out Otto’s Cache Provisions + Café, Andromeda Coffee, Bear’s Paw Bakery or Lostlands Café. And for something truly memorable, the Jasper Theatre Productions Dinner and Theatre Package combines a meal with a live performance.
For a great guide on where else to eat, read about the 9 Best Dining Experiences in Jasper.
With new and refreshed things to do in Jasper this summer, there's never been a better reason to make your trip and plan to linger in this special Canadian place. Book your stay, pack your bags and get ready to discover the wild and wonderful sides of this mountain town.
