Visit Jasper National Park in spring for fantastic skiing, quiet trails, great wildlife viewing, and affordable accommodation.
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Day 1: Drive the Icefields Parkway & Explore Downtown Jasper
The sun is setting and painting the mountains brilliant shades of pink as we drive into the town of Jasper. Elk lazily cross the street without a sideways glance. They’re headed for their favorite spot, the front lawn of the Visitor Centre, in the heart of town. We decide to follow suit, ditch the car, and explore on foot.
It’s late March and the weather is mild compared to Lake Louise, where we began our journey. Jasper’s lower elevation (1060 m vs 1600 m for Lake Louise) means spring comes sooner here. While cross country ski season is over and many winter roads remain closed, alpine skiing is still going strong at Marmot Basin, and wildlife viewing is better than ever. Streets that were packed in summer are now half empty. A few blocks down the road, we score a table at Evil Dave’s Grill – one of the best restaurants in town – without a reservation.
Over “sinful starters” – Holy Cow is my favorite – and delectable Karma Curry, we ask the kids what their favorite stop was along the Icefields Parkway. Unanimously, they say, “bum sliding” on The Toe of the Glacier Trail. Never mind that the Columbia Icefield is the largest ice field in North America’s Rocky Mountains; to the kids it’s just another fun place to play in the snow!
Discover The Best Stops on the Icefields Parkway on your drive to Jasper!
Day Two: Fire and Ice
Where we walk on a frozen riverbed to dazzling ice falls, have a bonfire, and hike some more.
After scones and coffee at Bear’s Paw Bakery, we drive past herds of bighorn sheep and elk to Maligne Canyon. We peer into the depths of the canyon – over 50 metres (160 feet) deep near the second bridge – at natural ice sculptures. At the winter Canyon Access Point, we descend onto the frozen riverbed and gain an entirely different perspective. The falls look bigger from below and change color depending on how the light hits them. We’ve arrived before the other tour groups and have the canyon to ourselves, so we linger and enjoy the solitude.
WARNING: Hazards in Maligne Canyon include slips and falls, drowning, and death (if you fell through the ice and were carried downstream under the ice). Conditions are variable throughout winter and spring, so we recommend taking a guided Maligne Canyon Ice Walk tour.
Read about our guided experience here: Hike & Dine at Maligne Canyon.
Lunchtime finds us at Lake Annette for a picnic and bonfire. It’s quiet, save for a few cheeky whiskeyjacks who have come see what’s on the menu. They flit from tree to tree, closer and closer, until they realize we don’t have any handouts for them. (Never feed wildlife! Human food isn’t good for wildlife, including birds, and is a ticketable offense.)
Next stop is Old Fort Point Loop Trail (3.4 km) near the Athabasca River. It’s a short, steep climb to the lookout where locals tell us they just saw a grizzly in the woods! Not wanting to bother a hungry bear recently out of hibernation, we return the way we came. At least we got to enjoy the view from the top!
Feeling peckish ourselves, we return to town for extra cheesy pepperoni pizza at Lou Lou’s, and a swim at our hotel. It’s been an active, fun filled weekend minus crowds… unless you count all the animals.
More Things to Do in Jasper in Spring
Note: Snow sports are weather dependent. Check the Jasper Trails Reports for current information before you go.
Alpine Skiing
Marmot Basis Resort is open from early November to early May. Expert skiers will love Tres Hombres‘ “complex, steep fall line riding.”
Cross Country Skiing
Cross country skiing in Jasper usually winds down in mid to late March. Check the Jasper Trail Report for current information.
Dogsledding
Dogsledding tours are available from several companies near Jasper until the end of March. Try SunDog Tour Co. or Cold Fire Creek Dog Sledding.
Hiking
Trail conditions are variable in early spring. Pack microspikes/ice cleats just in case!
- Maligne Canyon is the premiere early spring hike. For your safety, Parks Canada recommends going with a guide. Pursuit Banff Jasper Collection offers tours from mid December to late March, conditions permitting. Read our trip report here: Hike and Dine at Maligne Canyon, Jasper.
- Visit Athabasca Falls then drive a little further south to hike Valley of the Five Lakes (4.5 km loop) and get a photo at the red chairs!
- Lac Beauvert Loop is a short and scenic trail that begins at Jasper Park Lodge. 3.4 km loop
- Walk to Pyramid Island (200 metres) for beautiful views of Pyramid Mountain. This is also a great star gazing spot!
Sightseeing Tour
Go sightseeing in style, in a vintage-themed coach, with Open Top Touring! We loved learning about local history, wildlife watching, and visiting scenic viewpoints on this family-friendly tour. Read about our experience in Discover the Legends of Jasper with Open Top Touring. Tours run from June until Thanskgiving weekend.
Snowshoeing
The Maligne Lake area tends to have the most snow. Here are two snowshoe trails to try:
- Snowshoe Medicine Lake‘s shoreline (3 km from northern viewpoint) for stunning views of the Endless Chain Ridge.
- Mary Schaffer Loop (3.2 km) at Maligne Lake is a scenic trail that starts near the boathouse. By spring you can usually hike this trail unless it has snowed a lot.
Stargazing
Jasper National Park is the world’s largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve. Great star gazing locations near town include Pyramid Lake Island, Lake Annette, and Lac Beauvert. You can also do some stargazing at Jasper Planetarium.
Wildlife Viewing
Wildlife Viewing is excellent in Jasper National Park. Elk are often seen in the townsite, but another great spot to see bighorn sheep and elk is near the junction of the Yellowhead Highway and Maligne Lake Road.
Stay in your vehicle and never feed wildlife (the Parks Canada fine for feeding wildlife is up to $25,000).
Local Attractions
- Jasper Skytram takes you up Whistler’s Mountain for panoramic views of Jasper National Park and beyond. Open March 22-October 27, 2024.
- Jasper Planetarium offers planetarium shows and telescope programs with the largest telescopes in the Rockies. Check hours here.
- Glacier Adventure and Skywalk at Columbia Icefield is open May 4* β October 7, 2024 (*opening date is weather dependent). Reservations recommended.
- Miette Hot Springs will open for the season in mid May.
Where to Stay
Jasper has a great selection of hotels and cabins. We have stayed at The Crimson (Expedia affiliate link), Jasper’s newest hotel located on the edge of downtown; as well as Pyramid Lake Resort (Expedia affiliate link), a short drive from from town. We like The Crimson for its swimming pool and proximity to dining and shopping, and Pyramid Lake Resort for the outdoor hot tub and quick access to trails and stargazing.
Disclosure: As an Expedia affiliate, I receive a small commission on bookings at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our family business!
Getting Here
The town of Jasper is located at the north end of the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 N); 413 km from Calgary and 365 km from Edmonton.
What to Bring
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Base layers, insulated winter boots, a down jacket and windproof/waterproof shell (or insulated ski jacket/parka), gloves or mittens, and toque are must-haves. See our fall/winter hiking gear guide for product recommendations. You should also carry The Ten Essentials including: water, extra food, extra clothes, a headlamp, a GPS/satellite communicator (or compass) and map of the area, sunscreen (this one is safe for babies), and bear spray. Carry bear spray in a Frontiersman Bear Spray Holster (attaches to your backpack or belt) or Scat Belt.
In snowy/icy conditions, we recommend traction devices such as Kahtoola Microspikes (Available from Amazon, MEC, and Valhalla Pure Outfitters), or Hillsound Trail Crampons (Available at Valhalla Pure Outfitters and Sport Chek) and trekking poles with snow baskets. For snowshoeing, see our Snowshoeing Gear List.
A Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator is highly recommended for contacting Search & Rescue and emergency contacts in the event of an emergency, or communicating with friends and family when you are out of cell phone range. You can send text messages and your GPS coordinates via satellite (but a monthly plan is required)!
Related Posts
- Discover the Legends of Jasper with Open Top Touring
- Hike & Dine at Maligne Canyon, Jasper
- Valley of the Five Lakes Trail, Jasper
- Visit Peyto Lake Viewpoint on the Icefields Parkway
- Jasper Summer Fun Guide
- Jasper Winter Fun Guide
