Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is open and worth visiting in 2026, roughly two years after a major wildfire damaged part of the townsite. The park's headline sights — the Columbia Icefield, Maligne Lake, and the Icefields Parkway connecting Jasper to Banff — were all unaffected and remain fully accessible; some specific trails near the fire zone (Maligne Canyon, Cavell Road) are still closed. It's genuinely quieter than Banff, with fewer crowds and comparable wildlife and scenery.
Jasper doesn't get the same instant name recognition as Banff, and that's actually the case for visiting it — the mountains are just as dramatic, the wildlife sightings are arguably better, and post-wildfire, it's noticeably less crowded than its more famous neighbor to the south.
Is Jasper open after the wildfire?
Yes. A major wildfire in 2024 damaged roughly 30% of structures in the town of Jasper (mainly residential buildings), but hotels, restaurants, and highways are fully operational, and the park's biggest draws — the Columbia Icefield and Maligne Lake — were never affected by the fire at all. A handful of specific trails closer to the burn area (including Maligne Canyon and the Cavell Road) remain closed while recovery continues; check Parks Canada's current status page before planning around any one specific trail.
Jasper vs. Banff
They share the same mountain range and a lot of the same wow-factor, but Jasper is larger, wilder, and less developed than Banff — fewer boutique hotels, fewer crowds, and a real sense of quiet even at popular viewpoints. Many recent visitors who've done both actually prefer Jasper specifically because of the lighter crowds since the wildfire, not despite it.
What's actually worth doing
- Columbia Icefield — shared with Banff along the Icefields Parkway; the Ice Explorer vehicle drives out onto the Athabasca Glacier itself, and the adjacent Glacier Skywalk is a glass-floored platform over the valley. Unaffected by the wildfire.
- Maligne Lake — one of the most photographed lakes in the Rockies, with a boat cruise (about $83 USD, 90 minutes) out to Spirit Island, the classic postcard shot. Also unaffected.
- Jasper SkyTram — North America's highest and longest cable car, climbing Whistlers Mountain (not the same Whistler as the BC ski town) for a genuinely sweeping view; tickets run roughly $58 and up, with a 20% sunset discount in summer.
- Wildlife viewing — Jasper's rivers, lakes, and open valleys are especially strong for elk, bighorn sheep, and (with real caution) bear sightings, even more so in 2026 as wildlife has returned to the burned areas.
Getting there and the drive from Banff
| Route | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Banff to Jasper (Icefields Parkway) | 288km / 179 miles | About 3.5 hours nonstop; realistically 8–10 hours with stops |
| Edmonton to Jasper | ~365km | About 4 hours |
| Nearest airport | Edmonton International (YEG) or Calgary (YYC, via Banff) | — |
The Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper is the whole point of a Rockies road trip, not just a transit leg — budget a full day for the drive itself, with stops at Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, and the Columbia Icefield along the way, rather than treating it as a 3.5-hour point-to-point transfer.
Best time to visit
Summer (June–September) for full trail access and the Maligne Lake cruise season; winter for a much quieter, snow-covered version with its own skiing (Marmot Basin) and the Jasper Dark Sky Festival, since Jasper is also a certified Dark Sky Preserve — genuinely excellent stargazing with minimal light pollution.