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Jasper National Park Itinerary - 2 Days in Jasper
Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park offers countless activities for nature lovers and adventure seekers. The Park is huge! There is so much to do and so much to see; it can all be very overwhelming! To make sure you get the most of your time in Jasper, we've crafted this perfect 2 day Jasper itinerary.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Exploring Maligne Lake
Morning
Your 2 days in Jasper National Park begin bright and early! Hitting the road early is not just a great way to beat the tourist crowds, but this is also a time when the wildlife is most active - particularly along the Maligne Lake Road. This is an excellent area to see black bears, moose, elk and sometimes mountain sheep. Also, be sure you stop at the beautiful Medicine Lake on your to Maligne Lake.
Ideally, you should be arriving at Maligne Lake around 10am - meaning you should be leaving Jasper by roughly 8:30am. Once there, take in the beautiful turquoise views and explore the local area. If you're up for it, hop on the Maligne Lake Boat Tour to see the famed Spirit Island - once of the most famous photograph locations in Canada. If you're on a tighter budget, there's a couple wonderful hikes nearby and no shortage of water activities.
Afternoon
Following your adventure on Maligne Lake, we recommend you have a picnic amidst the beauty of the area. There are several picnic areas in which you can relax and unwind - otherwise there are a few decent restaurants as well from which you can order.
Then, continue your jasper itinerary by heading to Maligne Canyon - one of the most popular and beautiful hikes in Jasper National Park. You'll get to traverse some rugged landscapes, rushing water, and beautiful limestone walls. Stop at some of the bridges and appreciate the overwhelming beauty and tranquility of Maligne Canyon.
Evening
After your hike through Maligne Canyon, we recommend you continue straight to Pyramid Island - another remarkable viewpoint in Jasper National Park. It is less than a 30min drive from Maligne Canyon and takes you very near the town of Jasper. Pyramid Island is a very short trail that features some great views of Pyramid Lake and Pyramid Mountain.
If you're up for it, there are several trails in the area - one of our favorites being the Patricia Lake Trail. If not, enjoy some fine dining at the Pyramid Lake Lodge - one of our favorite restaurants in Jasper National Park. The food there is some of the best in Jasper, although fairly pricey. Return to Jasper for a wide variety of cuisine options if Pyramid Lake Lodge is of no interest to you.
Day 2: Waterfalls Galore - Ending Your 2 Day Jasper Itinerary
If you're spending 2 days in Jasper National Park you would be crazy to not see some of the waterfalls. Jasper is home to some of the most mesmerizing waterfalls found in the Canadian Rockies and you'd be foolish to pass them.
Morning
If you missed out on seeing any wildlife on the first day - we recommend you continue your Jasper National Park itinerary bright and early, otherwise sleep in a little bit!
Once you've had your breakfast, continue to Athabasca Falls (only about a 25min drive from town) to see one of the best waterfalls in Jasper. These waterfalls can be very tourist packed, so we recommend you arrive prior to 10:30am. 1 hour should be sufficient time to spend at this breathtaking waterfall.
Afternoon
Once you've finished your time at Athabasca Falls, we recommend you continue your drive to the Goats and Glacier viewpoint - our favorite viewpoint in Jasper National Park. The viewpoint is only about a 6 min drive from Athabasca Falls and has several picnic tables so you can enjoy your lunch in one of the prettiest surroundings in the Park. If you're lucky, you might get to see some
mountain goats on the salt licks - as they frequent the area.
Once your belly is full, continue on to Sunwapta Falls - quite possibly the only waterfall in Jasper National Park that can rival Athabasca Falls. Sunwapta Falls is only a short drive from Goats and Glacier viewpoint. These falls are unbelievably impressive and should warrant about an hour of your time. There is also a restaurant there if you'd prefer to dine there!
Once you've finished Sunwapta, we recommend you head back to Jasper. If it's still early, you can always stop and do a hike at the Valley of the Five Lakes.
Evening
Alas, your 2 days in Jasper is almost over. We think you should take it easy and relax a little. Take the evening to walk downtown Jasper, enjoy a nice dinner, pop into some souvenir shops and treat yourself to a beaver tail (donut like treat).
Summary
We hope that this 2 day itinerary Jasper was helpful for you in planning your trip! There are plenty of ways to spend 2 days in Jasper National Park, but we think this is about as good as it gets!
If you have questions, feel free to leave us a comment!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is two days enough for Jasper National Park?
In our opinion, no. 2 days is not enough time to spend in Jasper National Park. 3 days is what we recommend for Jasper, and if you plan on doing some hiking you might want to consider even 4.
How many days should I spend in Jasper National Park?
Can you get around in Jasper National Park without a car?
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