Jasper Hikes: Best Memories

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 from town on Maligne Lake Road. These hikes create long-lasting memories with their views, gorgeous mountain-fed lakes and rushing water making them perfect mountain hikes.

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: They have outhouses at the trailhead but not on the mountain; keep that in mind when starting your expedition.

Hike: We booked this $175/person hike through Rockaboo Mountain Adventures for four hours from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Two to eight kilometres can be hiked, depending on the fitness of the group. There is an elevation gain of 150 m.

An Excellent Hike

One of the best Jasper hikes is gorgeous Athabasca Glacier Hike: What to Expect? 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 to go myself. 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 be chilly winds as well. Make sure you have a windbreaker, mitts, 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 the temperatures that keep rising 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 looked shallow but in fact were deep crevasses beneath the water. 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 so much about the terrain, such as 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 is plenty of room to park. If it’s busy there might not be room for a trailer.

Washrooms: They have outhouses at the trailhead.

Hike: The falls are at the start of the 1-kilometre in-and-out trail.

It’s a short hike but worth seeing the volume of water rush down the falls. Hikers can continue down a path that will eventually lead to the Athabasca River to explore the surroundings. We stopped here after hiking Athabasca Glacier. This is where the large volume of water from the glacier was flowing towards. It’s an accessible hike for those with mobility issues or for people needing to ride in a wheelchair, while providing a taste for adventure in the beautiful mountain nature.

Best Jasper Hikes: Wabasso Lake

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 aren’t any outhouses at the trailhead but there are options. 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 just as nice of a hike but less touristy than Valley of the Five Lakes, I recommend doing Wabasso Lake instead. It’s a tranquil spot to see mountains, animals, lakes and enjoy hiking in the forest but not have to worry about having many people on the trail. It was quite pleasant for Kris and I to be there basically by ourselves back in May 2021. We saw a handful of other hikers but not compared to the constant foot traffic 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

Location: It’s a twelve minute drive south from the Jasper town site.

Parking: There’s a big parking lot for vehicles and trailers.

Washrooms: They have outhouses at the trailhead.

Hike: It’s a 4.8 km loop that generally takes one hour and a half to complete depending on how many pictures and breaks you take. It also depends on how fast you’re walking.

It’s a gorgeous hike but tends to be bustling with tourists, especially in the summer. The hike is fairly easy with some slight uphill and downhill in certain areas. You can loop either clockwise or counter-clockwise. The direction doesn’t really 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: If you want to avoid tourists, I suggest going early in the morning or later in the evening.

For more secluded hikes, enjoy hiking trails in Fort McMurray.

Edith Cavell Meadows Trail

Location: It’s a thirty-six minute drive south of Jasper.

Parking: The parking lot fills up by 10 am in the summer, 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: They have outhouses at the trailhead.

Hike: It’s an 8.2 kilometre moderately difficult loop that takes approximately three and a half hours to complete.

Short and Easy Section

Edith Cavell has a short and easy hikes to check out the glacier. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can head higher up to do a moderately difficult loop that offers spectacular views. You’ll climb out of the trees and up the scree to be able to see a 360° view of the valley down below and it’s gorgeous 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 will be one hundred percent worth it! I think every tourist should take the time to hike this awesome trail. This hike is the definition of my love for the outdoors! Hard work will make you feel like you’ve accomplished quite a challenge for the day and breathtaking views of the mountain scenery with the glacier down 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, the parking lot fills up quickly. Make sure to be at the trailhead for nine in the morning to avoid being disappointed and having to turn around due to 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 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 photoshoot of the family.

Tip #3: Make sure to bring sunscreen to protect yourself from the elements. Here are 8 Tips to Treat a Sunburn, if you forgot to apply enough to your face and body.

Tip #4: It often gets windy by two in the afternoon 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: They have outhouses 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; make sure to look at the map when reaching a T-intersection. It could be easy to get lost otherwise.

The path starts out wide and eventually gets narrower as you go further in the woods. You’ll encounter a wider, flat path that leads to Patricia Lake after an uphill.

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 about it, 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

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 might be doable if you go early or later in the day.

Washrooms: They have outhouses 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.

During the summer, you’ll need to stick to the paths as water will be flowing in the canyon but in the winter, it’s cool to check out the canyon by foot in certain sections safe to do so. There are signs indicating to stay on the paths, and you’ll want to make sure the ice is frozen before walking on it, as it will be at your own risk if you descend. If you aren’t sure if it’s safe, a guide could be a good option. If you don’t feel comfortable walking on the ice and snow in the canyon, you can also look down and see the different ice formations from the paths above. The water flowing through the canyon during the summer is lovely to see as well as the many waterfalls on this short hike in the mountains.

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 going vertically upwards 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 go downhill.

Tip #1: This is bear country. Make sure to make lots of noise by talking with your family members or partner or yelling “bear bear bear we don’t want to see you” 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 but generally, please stay on the trails to prevent erosion and encourage plants to keep 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 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 and breathtaking views. Focus on what matters in life and make time to spend outside with your family or partner enjoying 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.