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Jasper National Park Itinerary - 3 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 3 day Jasper itinerary.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Exploring Maligne Lake
Morning
Your 3 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.
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).
Day 2: Waterfalls Galore
If you're spending 3 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 The Valley of the Five Lakes for a quick easy hike with some remarkable views. We recommend you try to arrive around 9:30. The trail is relatively easy and you shouldn't spend more than 3 hours there.
Afterwards, continue to Athabasca Falls (only about a 15min) to see one of the best waterfalls in Jasper. These waterfalls can be very tourist packed, so be cautious while driving. You should be arriving prior to 1pm - just in time for lunch! There are plenty of picnic tables there for you to enjoy. 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. 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!
Evening
If you're okay with the driving distance - which we are not - you can drive back and spend the evening in the town of Jasper or you can spend the night at the lodge located at Sunwapta Falls. Alternatively, you can keep driving to Columbia Icefields and spend the night at Columbia Icefields.
Day 3: Columbia Icefields - Ending your 3 day Jasper Itinerary
As mentioned the Icefields Parkway is actually quite far from Jasper, nearly 2 hours in driving, so it can be somewhat inconvenient to get to. However, a 3 day Jasper itinerary allows ample time to visit the Columbia Icefields - trust us you don't want to miss it. The largest mountains, glaciers and some remarkable waterfalls can be found there!
Morning
After your energizing breakfast, we suggest you start the day with the Columbia Icefield Skylwalk - you'll have to be at the Discovery Center for this. This skywalk is a 1km (.6mi) glass walkway along a jagged 280m (918 ft) cliff. The Skywalk provides you some amazing views and mountain goats are frequent to the area! If that doesn't interest you, there are plenty of viewpoints, hikes and waterfalls in the area to explore!
Afternoon
One of the most iconic tourist attracts in Jasper National Park has to be the the Columbia Icefields Adventure - essentially a giant truck that takes you out onto the glacier for a first hand experience! The tour last for approximately 3 hours and you get to see several iconic views, plenty of informational knowledge, and of course drink from the glacier! Be sure you have a quick lunch before!
Once you've returned from your adventure, we suggest you do a nearby hike. Parker Ridge, Wilcox Pass, and Boundary Lake are all wonderful hikes. There's also some nearby waterfalls to explore if you wish - although not as impressive as Athabasa or Sunwapta.
Evening
Alas, your 3 days in Jasper is almost over. And what you decide to do this evening will really depend on where you are heading the next day. If you're driving to Edmonton we suggest you stay the night in the Icefields Parkway and then drive to Edmonton via Hwy 11. You'll have to consult with google maps and decide what is best for you!
If you manage to get your tours done quickly, there are plenty of viewpoints nearby that we're sure you would absolutely love!
Summary
We hope that this 3 day itinerary Jasper was helpful for you in planning your trip! There are plenty of ways to spend 3 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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