The 13 Best FREE Things to Do In Jasper

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 (in both summer and winter).

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.

Hiking in Jasper

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. 

Here are some of the best trails in the park, including popular and lesser-known ones. 

Hikes Around Jasper Town

• Maligne Canyon. A hike for everyone, this traces the banks of the Maligne River through a stunning gorge.
  • Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 4 km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Start/Finish: Fifth Bridge Parking Lot

• Mina & Riley Lakes Loop. A hike to a series of three alpine lakes.
  • Duration: 3 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 9 km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Start/Finish: Jasper-Yellowhead Museum Parking Lot

• Old Fort Point Loop. An easy walk that doesn’t skimp on epic mountain views.
  • Duration: 1 – 2 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 4 km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Start/Finish: Old Fort Point Parking Lot 

• Whistlers Summit. A long walk up a steep hill, with the reward of the most beautiful 360-degree views at the top.
  • Duration: 6.5 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 15.8 km
  • Difficulty: Difficult 
  • Start/Finish: Trailhead on Whistlers Road 

Hikes Around Pyramid Bench Area

• Pyramid Lake Loop. A pleasant hike along Pyramid Lake, with gorgeous lake views and finishing with a stop at the red chair looking out at Pyramid Mountain.
  • Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 5.6 km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Start/finish: Pyramid Lake Resort Parking Lot

• Pyramid Lake Loop via Bench Edge and Katrine Lake. A good hike with great views of the Athabasca River, Pyramid Lake and Lakes Edith and Annette.
  • Duration: 5 – 6 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 17.7 km
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Start/finish: Pyramid Lake Resort Parking Lot

• Pyramid Mountain. An epic hike and scramble up the mountain, best enjoyed with a bike to assist in the descent down the fire road.
  • Duration: 10 – 12 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 29.3 km
  • Difficulty: Difficult 
  • Start/finish: Pyramid Lake Resort Parking Lot 

Hikes Around Maligne Lake Area

• Mary Schaffer Loop. A very gentle stroll around one of Jasper’s most popular lakes. 
  • Duration: 45 minutes round-trip
  • Distance: 3.2 km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Start/finish: Maligne Lake Parking Lot

• Moose Lake Loop. An easy, but uncrowded walk to a peaceful lake known for moose sightings. 
  • Duration: 45 minutes round-trip
  • Distance: 2.6 km
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Start/finish: Maligne Lake Parking Lot

• Beaver, Summit and Jacques Lake. One of the easiest long hikes in the park, with minimal elevation gain but lovely mountain views
  • Duration: 6 – 7 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 24 km
  • Difficulty: Easy-moderate
  • Start/finish: Beaver Lake Picnic Area

• Bald Hills Loop. A challenging hike to a 360-degree viewpoint above the treeline. 
  • Duration: 4 – 6 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 10.4 km
  • Difficulty: Difficult
  • Start/finish: Maligne Lake Parking Lot

Hikes Around Athabasca River Valley

• Valley of the Five Lakes and First Lake. A great trail with lots of varied terrain and amazing views of the mesmerising lakes and mountains.
  • Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 8.2 km
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Start/finish: Valley of the Five Lakes Trailhead Parking Lot

Hikes Around Icefields Parkway

• Wilcox Ridge. One of Jasper’s most accessible high country walks, this is a straightforward and rewarding hike into the high country near Sunwapata Pass for great views of the Athabasca Glacier. 
  • Duration: 3 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 9 km
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Start/finish: Wilcox Trailhead Parking Lot

• Path of the Glacier & Cavell Meadows Trail. Great views of glaciers and stunning mountain scenery
  • Duration: 3 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 9.1 km 
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Start/finish: Cavell Meadows Parking Lot

• Geraldine Lakes. A rocky scramble through a staircase-like valley filled with lakes and waterfalls. The first lake is easy, the second is much tougher.
  • Duration: 3 – 4 hours round-trip
  • Distance: 10 km
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Start/finish: End of Geraldine Fire Road 

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.

Swim at Horseshoe Lake

This is the best free thing to do in Jasper on a hot summer day! 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). 

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. 

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.

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.

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

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 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. 

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. 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. 

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. 

Free Things to Do in Jasper: Where to Stay

Budget

Jasper Downtown Hostel 

Hostel-style accommodation located right in the heart of Jasper’s downtown. 

HI Athabasca Falls 

A cabin-style hostel in a more remote setting, just next to Athabasca Falls. This is a great choice if you want to be immersed in nature and right next to world-class hiking trails. 

Mid-range

Mount Robson Inn

Every room has a mountain view, plus there are two outdoor hot tubs. 

The Crimson Jasper

Top-end

Pyramid Lake Resort

If you’re willing to splash out a bit, the Pyramid Lake Resort is a great choice. Sitting right in front of Pyramid Mountain and Lake, you can’t beat the stunning remote location. Some rooms feature gas fireplaces, there’s an outdoor hot tub and in winter they have outside bonfires to sit around.

Plus, included in your rate is all the rental gear you could ask for: skates, snowshoes, sleigh rides and the lot. 

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge 

The creme de la creme of Jasper accommodation, it doesn’t get any fancier than this. 

What to Pack for Jasper

What you should pack for Jasper will largely depend on what time of year you’re visiting and what activities you want to undertake. Here’s what we bring, with suggestions for specific gear.

Summer Camping Gear

• Tent
• Sleeping pad
• Blow up pillow
• Sleeping bag
• Headlamp
• Camp stove
• Cooking set (pot, bowls and mugs)
• 1 x 230 grams fuel canister
• Collapsible tea kettle (a luxury, but it’s worth it!)
• MSR MugMate Coffee Filter
• Spork
• Pocket knife
• Lighter and matches (in a waterproof bag)
• Water bladder
• Steripen Ultra Rechargeable Portable UV
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper
• Biodegradable dish soap
• Mini sponge (just cut a regular one)
• Rubbish bags
• Dettol spray – for the mosquitoes 

Summer Hiking Clothing and Gear

• Daypack
• Hiking boots (men’s and women’s)
• Hydralites
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Hiking pants (men’s and women’s)
• Women – hiking tank top and long sleeve shirt
• Men – sports t-shirt
• Sunglasses
• Buff
• Hat
• Swimming suit

Winter Clothing For Outdoor Activities

• Snowpants
• Merino baselayer
• Merino leggings
• Fleece
• Winter down jacket
• Toque
• Gloves
• Neckwarmer
• 2 x thick wool socks
• Sunglasses
• Buff
• Winter hiking boots

Winter Outdoor Gear

• Snowshoes
• Ice cleats
• Hiking poles

Electronics

• Phone and charging cables
• Camera / GoPro and charging cords

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