Warmer days have arrived in the Rockies, and it's finally time to turn our adventure dreams into reality.
But where to start? Jasper National Park has an endless catalogue of activities to do in the summer and it can be hard to narrow down your options. Get planning with this list of top activities.
Adding to our excitement: Whistler’s Campground is open, compete with a new registration centre, new washroom and shower facilities, improved campsites and much more.
1 Hiking
Jasper has thousands of kilometres of trails criss-crossing its enormous national park. Not sure where to start? These guided hiking experiences are all winners.
2 Rock Climbing
They’re called the Rocky Mountains for a reason. As the temperature rises, so too will the many rock climbers in the national park; get introduced to some limestone slabs with these beginner-friendly experiences.
3 Canoeing, kayaking
Canoeing on the turquoise glacial lakes of Jasper National Park is not only a great way to get unobstructed views of the mountains, it’s also incredibly peaceful. Sign us up.
4 Whitewater rafting
Peaceful might not be the words we’d use to describe the rapids on the Athabasca River, but it’s still a rip-roaring good time. Multiple local outfitters offer multiple levels of adrenaline.
5 Golfing
The award-winning golf course at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Club is one of the must-play courses in Canada. We can’t wait to get back to those dramatic vistas and beautiful greens.
6 Wildlife viewing
After a loooong hibernation, we’re as excited as the new bear cub to get out and see all the furry creatures who call Jasper National Park home. A wildlife tour is highly recommended for safety and chances of seeing animals.
7 Biking
See more in less time while still getting your sweat on. Rentals and guided tours are available for bikers of all skill levels, and hundreds of kilometers of trails are waiting to be explored.
8 Sightseeing + Spirit Island
Jasper National Park is a wonderland of dazzling glaciers, crystal-clear lakes, thundering waterfalls and evergreen forest, roaming wildlife, all surrounded by mountains. A guided tour helps you see as much as possible.
9 Jasper SkyTram
From a spring snowshoe in the alpine to a panoramic picnic at the peak of summer, the Jasper SkyTram is always a good time.
10 Patios
Nothing says summer like relaxing on a patio. And here in Jasper it’s extra special, with countless opportunities for mountain views, sampling local-made brews and spotting born-and-bred Jasperites.
11 Food Tour
Jasper Food Tours always come up with fun new ways to reinvent a meal (their Peak Nic experience, which combines backcountry methods with gourmet cuisine, has won awards!) and we can’t wait to see what they come up with this summer.
12 Motorcycle tour
The open road. Fresh mountain air in your hair. Trees and flowers in bloom. Jasper Motorcycle Tours will bring us all these and more.
13 Planetarium
The shorter days of fall and winter do mean more time to stargaze, but thanks to the Jasper Planetarium’s dome theatre we will still be able to marvel at the wonders of the night sky long before night has fallen.
14 Photography
Remember taking pictures without having numb fingers? That time will come again, and when it does you can find us capturing the magic of the mountains via a photo tour with a resident professional.
Mike Gere | @mikegerephoto
15 Helicopter
Get a bird’s eye view of Jasper National Park with a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter tour that will completely change the way you see mountains.
