2 Days in Jasper : Itinerary, Hotel & Food Ideas

2 days in Jasper is the absolute minimum you should spend in this gateway town. Often just used as a stopover in a road trip in the Canadian Rockies, it is a real gem for wildlife, scenic landscapes and magnificent dark skies. These itinerary, hotel and food ideas will hopefully tempt you to give Jasper more than just a passing visit.

How many days in Jasper?

How many days should you spend in Jasper? I recommend 2 full days / 3 nights if you can. There is so much to do in and around Jasper, especially the National Park and scenic areas, and 2+ nights will ensure you get time to admire the skies too. If you’re into hiking, then allocate more time in the area. If you are visiting in winter, stay awhile and enjoy skiing and snowboarding in Marmot Basin.

Jasper is usually a stop before or after driving the incredible Icefields Parkway, and often just part of a bigger road trip. As a result, it can be overlooked as a destination in itself. But you need 1/2 a day at Maligne Lake alone, so you can see how 2-3 days in Jasper is the minimum.

Things to do in Jasper : Itinerary Ideas

Medicine & Maligne Lakes

The drive out to Maligne Lake is simply stunning, no matter what time of the year you do it. It is within the Jasper National Park boundary, so you must have a park pass to visit (you can buy them at the gate, at the office in town, or online).

Maligne Lake, and the drive out there, is the very best at dawn and later at night when you can go star-gazing and do some astrophotography. In the early morning, you have the best chance of spotting wildlife. Even in a late spring snow storm we saw a mama black bear and her baby high up in a tree, feeding on spring shoots.

Maligne Lake Boat Tour

The Maligne Lake boat tours run from mid May to early October, although these are just estimates, as it all depends when the lake thaws. A good chance to spot wildlife from the calm of the boat, it is a lovely way to see the area.

After your visit and boat tour on Maligne Lake, head back down the road and either have a picnic at Medicine Lake Viewpoint, or at the Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen.

Maligne Canyon

Maligne Canyon is a spectacular slot canyon at the beginning of Maligne Lake Road, and only 10kms from downtown Jasper. Up to 50m deep, the Canyon is crossed by 7 bridges. You can choose the short meander near the carpark across 2 or 3 of the bridges, or you can spend 1-2 hours exploring them all. You can also take guided hikes to get a real feel for this amazing landscape.

The viewpoints are easy to access, although some of the best views involve rocky steps or navigating dirt paths. There is a nice loop that runs from the carpark across some bridges and then back to the Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen. There is also toilet, gift and coffee shop facilities in this building.

Miette Hot Springs

Miette Hot Springs are located 61kms outside of Jasper. Head east out of Jasper, drive 44kms, and then turn right at Miette Mountain Resort. The road is only open April-November, so visiting the hot springs isn’t a winter activity.

Why not hike the 8km Sulphur Skyline trail first, then give your body a healing soak in the 37-40c (98-104f) to recover.

Dark Sky Preserve

The lack of light pollution in Jasper National Park means that it is a prime location for astro-photography. Jasper’s dark skies were designated a preserve in 2011 and this ensures the very best viewing opportunities. From thousands of stars on a clear night, to seeing Aurora-Borealis if you are lucky!

Jasper holds a Dark Sky Festival every year in October.

Jasper SkyTram

Running March through to the end of October, the Jasper SkyTram is an aerial tramway up The Whistlers mountain. What’s the difference between a gondola and a tramway? A gondola is a loop of cable with lots of cabins attached, which rotates constantly. Whereas a tram way is just two large cabins, shuttling back and forth at opposite ends of the route – when one is at the top, the other is at the bottom.

The Jasper SkyTram is the longest and highest tramway in Canada, and the views and hikes at the top are worth the trip.

Jasper Shopping

Jasper has a lovely bijou downtown area. While there are the usual tourist shops, there are also boutiques, candy stores, and artisan stores. In typical mountain town style, there are also outdoor gear and ski hire shops.

I bought a beautiful pair of turquoise bear earrings from an indigenous art gallery called Our Native Land. Bears became my absolute favourite thing after seeing them in Jasper National Park. I have never been so captivated by a creature!

Other activities in Jasper include: The Jasper-Yellowhead Museum, Wildlife Tours, Golf at the Fairmont, Helicopter Tours, and Foodie Tours!

Where to eat in Jasper

For a tiny town, I was impressed by the food offerings in Jasper. Yes, it runs the gamut from cheap fast food to tourist restaurants, curry houses and local bars. But there are also refined restaurants, steakhouses and cafés.

• Refined – For a taste of local game, try the elegant Syrahs of Jasper. Or visit The Raven Bistro for elevated Mediterranean fusion style food in a modern setting.
• Hearty & Approachable – Harvest Food & Drink offers simple European influenced brunch, lunch and dinners, with sharing platters as a highlight. Haldi’s Fine Indian Cuisine offers delicious eat-in or takeout curries, with huge naan breads.
• Cheap & Cheerful – For the diner experience and all-day breakfast, try Smitty’s. For cocktails and wings with big screen sports and pool, head to the Whistle Stop Pub. Need a snack on the go, grab yourself a classic Canadian food, a Beavertail!

Accommodation options in Jasper

There a so many accommodation options in Jasper. Catering to week-long ski chalet type apartments, to overnight stay motels, tour groups and up-market getaways – there is something for every taste. It is, because of its location in the national park and in the Rockies, not the cheapest place to stay. But here are a few recommendations in varying budgets:

• Budget Digs – Jasper Downtown Hostel (which also has private rooms), and the HI Jasper are two budget options in an expensive part of the world.
• Mid-range motel options – The Marmot Lodge is located in the east end of town, a little away from the downtown area, so it was quiet. The rooms were roomy and well-appointed, despite the outside looking dated. Other mid-range options are: Whistler’s Inn, Mount Robson Inn, and the Overlander Mountain Lodge.
• Upper-range hotels and lodges – The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is a grand version of a log cabin (and incidentally where Harry and Meghan honeymooned). It is positioned over the river from Jasper, and is a luxurious spot to base yourself. Pine Bungalows Resort offers individual cabins for that romantic feel.

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All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.