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The best Jasper hikes start the furthest south on Highway 93 at Athabasca Glacier, one hour and fifteen minutes away from Jasper. This is a spectacular hike you don’t want to miss. It’s a must-see and completely worth the drive. The other hikes (Athabasca Falls, Wabasso Lake, Valley of the Five Lakes, Edith Cavell) are found closer to Jasper on the same highway. Patricia Lake Circle is just north of the town of Jasper, while Maligne Canyon and the Opal Hills hike are found southeast of town on Maligne Lake Road. These hikes create long-lasting memories with their stunning views, gorgeous mountain-fed lakes, and rushing water, making them perfect for mountain hikes.
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Athabasca Glacier
Location: Athabasca Glacier is south of Jasper on Highway 93, one hour and fifteen minutes away.
Parking: There’s parking at the toe of the Athabasca Glacier trailhead.
Washrooms: There are outhouses available at the trailhead, but not on the mountain. Please keep this in mind when planning your expedition.
Hike: We booked this $175 per person hike through Rockaboo Mountain Adventures for four hours, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Hiking distances range from 2 to 8 kilometres, depending on the group’s fitness level. There is a 150 m elevation gain.
An Excellent Hike
One of the best Jasper hikes is the gorgeous Athabasca Glacier Hike. Children aged twelve years and older can accompany the group with no experience required. Younger children can accompany their parents on a private tour. The hike is slow as you make your way up the glacier. It was interesting to see many different formations and deep crevasses in the snow. Certain members of the group chose to descend into the dedicated crevasse when the guide set up a repelling team. I was not one of them, but Kris gladly volunteered. Running water was beneath him, making it less tempting for me to go. I was happy to look at his pictures afterwards.
Tip #1: The sun reflects off the snow on a sunny and cloudy day. Ensure you have sunglasses to protect your eyes. It’s too bright to be without them.
Tip #2: Even though it might be summer at the foot of the glacier, it’s much colder on the glacier, feeling more like winter conditions. There can also be chilly winds. Make sure you have a windbreaker, mittens, hats and layers. Carry a backpack to change out of, or to add more layers as needed.
Rivers Flowing Down the Glacier
The video below shows many small, blue-coloured rivers flowing down the mountain, with temperatures that continue to rise every year. They varied in size, but the volume of rushing water is rising exponentially.
We had to watch our footing. Some pools of water appeared shallow, but in fact, they were deep crevasses beneath the surface. Crevasses within our eyesight had running water beneath them that, with a slip, could lead a person underneath the glacier and end up who knows where. What a chilling thought.
Tip: Don’t go too close to the edge!
Best Jasper Hikes With a Guide
I would highly recommend going with a guide. He taught us a great deal about the terrain, including how glaciers move. If you’re not used to extensive melting snow conditions with crevasses on a glacier, you could find yourself in a very scary situation without a guide. Our tour guide said that he’d never seen this glacier melt so quickly before, with the large volume of water rushing down the mountain. It was a huge realization that our glaciers are melting extremely quickly, and we should try to do more to protect them.
Athabasca Falls
Location: Twenty-seven minutes south of Jasper.
Parking: There are ample parking spaces available. If it’s busy, there might not be room for a trailer.
Washrooms: There are outhouses available at the trailhead.
Hike: The falls are at the start of the 1-kilometre in-and-out trail.
It’s a short hike, but it’s worth seeing the volume of water rush down the falls. Hikers can continue down a path that will eventually lead to the Athabasca River, allowing them to explore the surrounding area. We stopped here after hiking the Athabasca Glacier. This is where the large volume of water from the glacier was flowing. It’s an accessible hike for those with mobility issues or for individuals who need to ride in a wheelchair, while offering a taste of adventure in the beautiful mountains.
Best Jasper Hikes: Wabasso Lake
Closed due to the 2024 Jasper Wildfire
Location: Fifteen minutes south of Jasper.
Parking: They have about ten spaces for cars, trucks and vans. Unfortunately, a trailer wouldn’t fit in this small parking lot.
Washrooms: There are no outhouses at the trailhead; however, options are available. Outhouses are available a few minutes north at Valley of the Five Lakes, or you can stop at a rest area on your way north from Athabasca Glacier before you arrive to hike at Wabasso Lake.
Hike: It’s a 7.7-kilometre in-and-out hike with the possibility of going further if you try to reach the first lake on the Valley of the Five Lakes loop.
If you want a hike just as pleasant as the Valley of the Five Lakes but less touristy, I recommend Wabasso Lake instead.
It’s a tranquil spot to see mountains, animals, and lakes, and enjoy hiking in the forest, without worrying about the crowds on the trail.
It was quite pleasant for Kris and I to be there, essentially by ourselves, back in May 2021. We saw a handful of other hikers, but not nearly as many as we encountered on the other trail. There is barely any elevation as you stay in the mountain valley, making it an easy hike. If you’re looking for more easy hikes in Alberta, I highly recommend checking out 4 Spectacular Drumheller Hikes.
Valley of the Five Lakes
Closed due to the 2024 Jasper Wildfire
Location: It’s a twelve-minute drive south from the Jasper townsite.
Parking: There’s a big parking lot for vehicles and trailers.
Washrooms: There are outhouses available at the trailhead.
Hike: It’s a 4.8 km loop that generally takes 1.5 hours to complete, depending on how many pictures you take and how many breaks you take. It also depends on how fast you’re walking.
It’s a gorgeous hike, but it tends to be crowded with tourists, especially in the summer.
The hike is pretty easy with some slight uphill and downhill in certain areas. You can loop either clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction doesn’t matter. Either way, you’ll see all five lakes that vary in colour and size. They make for awesome pictures and selfies in the mountains.
Tip: To avoid crowds of tourists, consider visiting early in the morning or late in the evening.
For more secluded hikes, consider exploring the hiking trails in Nordegg.
Edith Cavell Meadows Trail
Closed due to the 2024 Jasper Wildfire
Location: It’s a thirty-six-minute drive south of Jasper.
Parking: The parking lot fills up by 10 am in the summer, so go early to get a spot. It’s a narrow, winding road to the trailhead: no trailers and large motorhomes allowed on Cavell Road.
Washrooms: There are outhouses available at the trailhead.
Hike: It’s an 8.2-kilometre moderately difficult loop that takes approximately 3.5 hours to complete.
Short and Easy Section
Edith Cavell offers a short and easy hike to explore the glacier. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can head higher up to do a moderately strenuous loop that offers spectacular views. You’ll climb out of the trees and up the scree to enjoy a 360° view of the valley below and its stunning surroundings.
Hard but Worthwhile Section
You’ll need to take your time making your way up there if you’re not in shape, but it’ll be one hundred percent worth it. I think every tourist should take the time to hike this fantastic trail. This hike embodies my love for the outdoors! Hard work will make you feel like you’ve accomplished a significant challenge for the day, and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the mountain scenery and the glacier below. If you happen to get a beautiful day with not a cloud in the sky, that’s icing on the cake!
Tip #1: It’s an extremely popular hike in the summer, and the parking lot fills up quickly. Please arrive at the trailhead by 9:00 a.m. to avoid disappointment and the need to turn around due to a lack of parking spaces.
Tip #2: Go clockwise, it’s a steep climb but an easier descent for your knees and toes this way.
Canadian Rockies Animals
This is a fantastic hike to see animals like marmots and pikas that live in the Canadian Rockies. All the other hikes mentioned don’t go in rocky terrain to see these wonderful animals. This might be your only chance to see them. They love sun tanning; keep an eye out! They both make high-pitched calls that will alert you to their whereabouts. If you’re lucky enough, marmots might pose for you, allowing you to take a photo shoot of the family.
Tip #3: Be sure to bring sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Here are 8 tips to treat a sunburn if you forgot to apply enough sunscreen to your face and body.
Tip #4: It often gets windy by 2:00 p.m. at the peak. Try to head down the peak by then to avoid potential storms and increasing winds.
Best Jasper Hikes: Patricia Lake Circle
Location: 10 minutes north of Jasper
Parking: There is room for approximately fifteen cars to park. It would be harder to fit trailers in this tiny parking lot.
Washrooms: There are outhouses available at the trailhead.
Hike: It’s a 4.8-kilometre loop.
You start just south of Patricia Lake. It will be the parking lot to the left, after the horse ranch. If you hit Patricia Lake Bungalows, you’ve gone too far. You’ll start on a trail in the woods. It could be swampy and muddy.
Tip #1: Ensure you’re wearing waterproof hiking boots.
Tip #2: There are many trails in this area that veer in different directions; be sure to consult the map when approaching a T-intersection. It could be easy to get lost otherwise.
The path starts out wide and gradually narrows as you proceed deeper into the woods. You’ll encounter a wider, flat path that leads to Patricia Lake after an uphill climb.
Best Jasper Hikes History
Kris (a history buff) went looking for signs of where the Habbakuk used to be tied up. There was ”a plan by the British during the Second World War to construct an aircraft carrier out of pykrete (a mixture of wood pulp and ice) for use against German U-boats in the mid-Atlantic”.
The plank of wood and hardened tar is where scuba divers head out in their canoes in search of it. It was fascinating to learn about this history, read the details, and see the remnants left behind. I’d highly suggest checking it out. This was a top-secret military experiment.
The third picture in the set above depicts some of the key information.
Maligne Canyon
Closed due to the 2024 Jasper Wildfire
Location: It’s a twelve-minute drive east of Jasper on Maligne Lake Road.
Parking: There is ample parking for cars. It’s a bit more cramped for trailers, but it might be doable if you go early or later in the day.
Washrooms: There are outhouses available at the trailhead, but they are often locked.
Hike: It’s a 3.7-kilometre loop taking approximately one hour to complete, depending on how long you spend relaxing.
It’s a gorgeous walk along the path, watching the water flow in the canyon.
Best Jasper Hikes: Opal Hills
Location: It’s a forty-seven-minute drive southeast from Jasper on Maligne Lake Road.
Parking: Lots of parking for cars and trailers.
Washrooms: There are outhouses at this location.
Hike: The eight-kilometre challenging loop takes approximately three hours to complete.
Best Jasper Hike Views
The trail starts out narrow between spruce trees and eventually opens up closer to the top, where you can see 180 degrees to the west. To the east, you’ll have the narrow trail that continues up the mountain. Depending on the time of year, snow can be found at the very top of the mountain. To the west, you’ll be overlooking Maligne Lake, which makes for breathtaking pictures.
It’s more gradual if you hike it counterclockwise and hike back down on the steep part, compared to hiking the steep part and then gradually going downhill.
Tip #1: This is bear country. Make sure to make lots of noise by talking with your partner to let the bears know that you are sharing their space while hiking.
Tip #2: We had a picture taken on the grass, just off the trail. However, generally, please stay on the trails to prevent erosion and encourage plants to continue growing. If you see small plants, don’t step on them. We want to preserve our beautiful landscapes for years to come.
Fall Hikes
For more picturesque views, check out the 4 Best Larch Hikes in the fall. Fall Experiences Near Me might also be of interest to you as summer hikes wrap up in early September. We did this hike on the September long weekend.
Final Thoughts
These are the best hikes in the Jasper area. The trails offer a variety of lengths and difficulties, along with breathtaking views. Focus on what matters in life and make time to spend outdoors with your partner, enjoying the beauty of hiking in the Canadian Rockies. Your mental and physical health will benefit from the time you’ve devoted to exercising. You get to explore new landscapes that you might not have seen before. Enjoy the conversations and discoveries you’ll have here in Alberta with your loved ones and people you meet on the road. The best part is that you’ll make amazing memories to cherish for years to come. Go out and have fun! What are you waiting for? If you’re looking for more adventures, 2022 Edmonton fun day trips should have you covered.
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