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Animals in Jasper - Where to See Wildlife in Jasper
If you’re looking to find some of the famed North American species, Jasper National Park is a great place to visit! The Park is teeming with wildlife, and with a little luck you might find some iconic species like: elk, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, grizzly bears, mountain goats and more!
We’ve visited the park plenty of times and assembled this list of places with the best chances of spotting some wildlife. For even more convenience, be sure to download our map below which features all the best locations pinned out for you. Visit all of them to maximize your chances at spotting some famed wildlife!
Table of Contents
Where to See Bears in Jasper - Wildlife in Jasper
Bears make up some of the most impressive wildlife in Jasper, but they can be much harder to find. Bears in Jasper National Park are quite common and come in two main groups: black bears and grizzly bears. While there is plenty of wildlife in Jasper, bears are always on the top of everyone's checklist.
Where to See Black Bears in Jasper
The smallest and most common bear found in Jasper National Park, with an estimated population exceeding 100, they typically stand upright between 5-7 feet and weigh up to 400bs (170kg). Their diet consists mostly of roots, berries and insects. They rarely attack mammals and humans.
They are typically solitary (except with cubs) and are quite comfortable around humans. They are not as territorial as grizzly bears and typically have overlapping territories of 200 square kilometers (124 sqmiles). Black bears are most active when emerging and preparing for hibernation, May to June and Sept to Oct and can be found throughout the Park.
We almost always manage to see black bears every time we go to Jasper National Park and we recommend you go sometime in mid May to mid June and travel along the Maligne Lake Rd. Drive the road at dawn or dusk to increase your odds at spotting one and don’t forget to scan the top of the trees (they are excellent climbers).
Where to See Grizzly Bears in Jasper
The largest and most intimidating animal found in the Rockies, they can stand upright at 8ft, and weigh up to 700lbs! Their diet is mostly grasses, berries, and various plants. They only occasionally hunt elk and their young, and rarely attack humans.
Grizzly bears are also solitary animals (except when with cubs) but far more territorial than black bears. They have vast swaths of territory (ranging up to 4000 square kms or 2485 sq miles). There are an estimated 100-120 individual grizzly bears within Jasper National Park.
Grizzly bears are best seen in Jasper from May to October, but we recommend arriving from late May to mid June for the best sighting opportunities! They are much harder to find than black bears - we recommend driving alongside Hwy 93 just outside town. We have only encountered grizzly bears while hiking. In Jasper along the Overlander Trail, and deep in the backwoods of Banff on our Ya Ha Tinda to Lake Louise Hike.
Please remember that bears are incredibly dangerous. While attacks on humans are rare, they do happen. Make sure you familiarize yourself with bear safety before setting out.
Where to See Bighorn Sheep in Jasper
Bighorn sheep are some of the most common wildlife in Jasper that you can encounter - with an estimated population of more than 3,000 in Jasper National Park!
The males can stand over 3 feet tall at the shoulders, and weigh up to 350lbs. They males are distinguished by their large, curved horns; while the females are smaller with shorter, pointy horns. The females (Ewes) can be frequently mistaken for mountain goats. Bighorn Sheep have short, brownish fur while mountain goats have much longer, white fur with short black horns.
Bighorn sheep can usually be found on Hwy 16 outside of Jasper and between Miette Road; alongside the Athabasca River. The Hidden Valley Trail is also a good hike for spotting them (but only the first couple kilometers). The peak of the Old Fort Point trail is also a great location to spot them!
Where to See Elk in Jasper
There are roughly 400 elk in Jasper, and they are quite easy to find - that's because the elk in Jasper, Alberta tend not to go very far from the town! Elk in Jasper National Park tend to travel in groups of roughly 10 - 20, so if you find one there are most likely others nearby.
Elk in Jasper can usually be found alongside Pyramid Lake Road, Old Lodge Road, and Maligne Lake Road (don’t travel any further than the Maligne Canyon Hostel though). They can often be found near the rail tracks within town as well!
Where to See Mountain Goats in Jasper
Mountain goats in Jasper are some of the most difficult wildlife to find - there's not very many of them and they tend to avoid the crowded places. They are recognizable from their long white hair, pointy black horns, and of course their beards! Their incredibly agile creatures who can be found in the higher altitudes of the park.
There’s really only three places to see mountain goats in Jasper National Park: IceFields Parkway (The glass walk is usually a good spot), the Goat and Glacier Lookout, and at the summit of the Opal Hills trail (although this can be quite challenging to reach).
Where to See Moose in Jasper
Moose in Jasper are very difficult to find - there's only an estimated 150 in the entire park and they really don't enjoy interacting with people. However, it is still possible to see moose in Jasper National Park.
Moose in Jasper can sometimes be found along Maligne Lake Road - travel at dusk to give yourself the best chance at spotting a moose. You can also occasionally find them walking through the parking lots located at Maligne Lake itself. If you’re desperate to see them, Jacques Lake Trail is an excellent spot, particularly at the Summit Lakes.
Summary
There are plenty of beautiful views throughout Jasper National Park - far too many for us to list! But that is our personal favorite list, and we are sure you will agree that they stand out.
