14 Awesome FREE Things to Do In Jasper In 2024

Jasper National Park is an incredible destination. We’d say it’s one of the best national parks in Canada.

Often overlooked for its very famous (and very developed!) southern sister, Banff, Jasper has a rugged, down-to-earth charm and appeals to adventure travellers looking for a more natural and authentic experience.

The best thing about visiting Jasper? It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, because there are tons of awesome free things to do in Jasper.

From hiking through unmatched Rocky Mountain scenery to cliff jumping into glacial lakes, we’ve got you covered with our complete list of the 13 best free things to do in Jasper.

Free Things to Do in Jasper in Summer

Summer is high season in Jasper, but that doesn’t mean your visit will have to cost a premium. There are tons of great free things to do in Jasper in the summer.

Go Hiking!

With over 1200 km of trails in the park, Jasper hosts a baffling amount of hiking options. Hitting a trail to explore this mountainous wonderland is top of our list of free things to do in Jasper. 

Not only are Jasper’s trails extensive, but they’re extremely well-organised. The park has built an incredible system with numbers (and sub-numbers) for each trail, good signage and maps dotting the park.

If you have the stamina, it’s relatively easy to walk from one part of the park to another via the trail system.

Jasper also hosts comparatively fewer visitors than other national parks in Canada, so you have a greater chance of seeing wildlife and an overall more serene experience.

Pro tip: Need wheels to get around Jasper? Use Discover Cars to find the best deals on rentals. It’s what we personally use and recommend.

Cliff Jump at Horseshoe Lake

On a hot summer day, cliff jumping into tourquoise Horseshoe Lake is the absolute BEST free thing to do in Jasper!

Horseshoe Lake is a blissful, blue-green lake located just off the Icefields Parkway.

It’s not as popular as many of the other lakes in the park, which means it’s never jam-packed or filled with tour buses.

It’s a popular spot amongst locals for swimming (but it’s cold!) and the brave even jump off the cliffs into the water (do so at your own risk). 

Explore the Jasper Discovery Trail

This is a great free thing to do in Jasper if you’re craving an easy walk and want to learn more about the area.

The Jasper Discovery Trail is part walking trail, part outdoor museum that circumnavigates Jasper town over 8 km. The pathway is partially paved and very flat. 

Interpretive boards en route provide educational information about the town and the park’s history. You can start the Discovery Trail from the info kiosk just north of the train station. 

Visit a stunning glacier lake

The Rockies have no shortage of beautiful alpine lakes, and Jasper is no exception. With dozens of incredible lakes to admire, visiting one is a great free thing to do in Jasper.

Some feature beaches, and picnic areas and all have at least one walking trail. 

If you have a stand-up paddleboard, then bring it along for a ride on the lake!

Some of the more notable ones include:

• Pyramid Lake
• Patricia Lake
• Lake Annette
• Lake Edith
• Lac Beauvert 
• Maligne Lake
• Medicine Lake

Free Things to Do in Jasper in Winter

Winter is a fantastic time to visit Jasper. There are fewer people, rooms are cheap and everything is coated in snow, creating a magical winter wonderland to explore.

Whilst the big names like Marmot Basin will cost a premium, there are still plenty of free things to do in Jasper when it’s cold outside.

Looking for more things to do in Jasper in the winter? Read: 15 Awesome Things to Do in Jasper in Winter

Winter hiking

Our favourite free thing to do in Jasper in winter is to go winter hiking!

Yes, hiking isn’t just a summer activity. Hiking is a great Jasper winter activity.

Many of the trails can be used year-round and are compacted enough to go even if there’s deep snow. 

Some of the best winter hiking trails are: 

• Overlook Trail. 9 km, moderate. Starting from Pyramid Lake, this loop features some of great views. 
• Lake Annette. (2.7km). Easy. Loop.
• Lake Beauvert Loop (3.5km). Easy. Loop.
• Wilcox Trail. (9.3 km). 
• Mina and Riley Lakes Loop. (8.5 km). Moderate. 
• Beauty Creek to Stanley Falls. (6 km). This lesser-known Jasper National Park hike (6km roundtrip) will take you through a narrow canyon complete with eight waterfalls.

Visit Frozen Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls

Visiting these stunning frozen waterfalls is a beautiful, yet easy free thing to do in Jasper.

Whilst both waterfalls are nice in the summer, in winter, when they are frozen over, they become very dramatic and special to experience. 

Both waterfalls are located on the Icefields Parks (Highway 93), going south from Jasper Town toward Banff National Park. 

At the Athabasca Falls parking lot, it’s a 250-metre walk to the viewpoint. At Sunwapta Falls, it’s just a few steps away. 

Skating

One of the best free things to do in Jasper in winter is go skating on a mountain lake! 

Like all of the national parks in the Rocky Mountains, Jasper is dotted with beautiful alpine lakes in all shades of turquoise and blue. Come winter, most of these lakes are converted into giant outdoor skating rinks.

The two biggest and most popular spots for skating in Jasper National Park are Mildred Lake, home to the Fairmont Hotel, and Pyramid Lake.

Of the two, Mildred is much busier, with stands, impromptu hockey games and hot chocolate on offer. Pyramid Lake is quieter, plus you have the epic views of Pyramid Mountain. When you’re finished, stop by the Pyramid Lake Resort for a hot chocolate at the bonfire they have most days. 

Pro tip: if you want a quieter experience, head to one of the smaller, lesser-known lakes in the area such as Patricia Lake. 

Explore Frozen Maligne Canyon

This is probably the busiest and most popular thing to do in Jasper in winter and for good reason!

We normally don’t like big tourist attractions and were initially skeptical, but walking through icy Maligne Canyon really impressed us. 

In winter, the narrow canyon carved by Maligne River turns into a winter wonderland of frozen waterfalls, hanging icicles, and slippery paths (you absolutely need ice cleats to do this one!). The canyon walls reach nearly 200 feet in places and the canyon is filled with bright blue, frozen waterfalls. 

While most people explore this one on an expensive tour, it’s more than possible to do it on your own, given that you are prepared. However, ice cleats are absolutely essential. 

You can access the ice walk from a few gates between the Fourth and Fifth Bridges, then walk upstream on the frozen stream (Maligne Canyon has a total of six bridges, with the highest one, Bridge 1, by the main parking lot). 

Free Things to Do in Jasper Year-Round

Some of the best free things to do in Jasper can be enjoyed in both summer and winter.

Look for wildlife 

With so much megafauna around, wildlife tours are a popular thing to do in Jasper in winter and in summer. But at around $70 per person, they can be a pretty expensive endeavour. 

Want to join the fun without the cost? Seek out one of the very conspicuous wildlife tour vans and follow along in your own car. 

The tours generally leave around 8.30 am, with another departure in the early afternoon. Ask at your hotel for precise times, or drop in at the Visitor’s Centre. 

Visit An Awe-Inspiring Viewpoint

Jasper is all about the views and there is no shortage of epic viewpoints in the park. Walk, drive or bike to one and take in those world-famous Rocky Mountain views!

Our favourite? The Edge of the World near Marmot Basin. It’s quiet, secluded and stunning. What more could you ask for?

Drive the Maligne Lake Road 

The Maligne Lake Road is an incredibly scenic drive, with lots of wildlife to boot. 

Starting at the Maligne Lake Road turnoff, this drive features views of Roche Bonhomme and Pyramid Mountain.

Be sure to take the turnoff for Medicine Lake, with incredible views across the water. You’ll finish at Maligne Lake, where you can relax by the lakeshore or go for a walk around the shore. 

If you feel like a walk, when you cross the Fifth Bridge, you can cross the bridge and head on to the trail into Maligne Canyon. 

The drive is approximately 46 km and it should take around 45 minutes of driving time (this does not include time at each stop). 

Drive the Icefields Parkway

Driving the Icefields Parkway is a popular activity in both summer and winter. It allows you to see some of the best mountain scenery in the park without ever having to leave your car.

There are so many things to see on the Icefields Parkway drive, but some of the highlights include Mt Edith Cavell, Horseshoe Lake, Athabasca Falls, Honeymoon Lake, Sunwapta Falls, the Stutfield Glacier Viewpoint and Tangle Falls.

Beginning in Jasper town, and finishing at the Columbia Icefield Centre, this drive is 103 km and should take around 2 hours. 

Athabasca Glacier

Visiting the epic Athabasca Glacier is, hands-down, one of the top things to do in Jasper. And while an excursion on the glacier will cost a pretty penny, you can still visit the glacier without paying anything.

The tongue of the Athabasca Glacier runs from the Columbia Icefield to within walking distance of the road opposite the Icefield Centre and can be visited on foot. 

To reach its toe (bottom edge), walk from the Icefield Centre along the 1.8km Forefield Trail, then join the 1 km Toe of the Glacier Trail. 

Stargaze

Due to its limited light pollution, Jasper National Park is one of 17 designated Dark Sky Preserves in Canada, and the second largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world.

What this means is that if it’s a clear night, you’re guaranteed incredible stars to gaze at. 

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