Is Jasper Still Worth Visiting After The Wildfires?

Is Jasper still worth visiting after the infamous wildfires? Our answer would be, yes it very much worth visiting Jasper after the fires. In July 2024, a wildfire ripped through much of Jasper National Park and made its way through the town site, destroying nearly 30% of the town.

The fire burned 32,722 hectares of forest and 358 structures, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in Canadian history. One year later, Jasper is welcoming back visitors. Many are now asking whether Jasper is worth visiting despite the damage done to the park and town.

There are several reasons why we would say yes. First, there is still a lot to see in the massive national park that was unaffected by the fires. Second, the areas of damage are fascinating and a stark reminder of the effects of a changing climate. Third, we would like to help support the businesses in a time of need.

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What Does The Fire Damage Look Like?

We usually try to visit Jasper once a summer. Due to obvious reasons, we were not able to in 2024, but we were able to visit in summer 2025 to enjoy the town and, of course, see what had changed.

The 2024 Jasper Wildfire Complex was multiple separate wildfires that converged and eventually made its way towards the town. Emergency services and the municipality successfully evacuated all civilians. However, due to extreme conditions and wind gusts, the wildfire tore through much of the town and the park.

The fire left many Jasper residents without homes, possessions, and livelihoods. It was devastating and resulted in the fatality of one firefighter. It will be a long road to recovery for the town and those affected by the fires.

The extent of the damage extends from around Athabasca Falls on the Icefields Parkway up to the town and to the east of town towards the Maligne Canyon area. Fire damage was extensive in some of these areas, and areas like the Valley of the Five Lakes and Maligne Canyon will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

Popular areas with extensive damage include Athabasca Falls, Maligne Canyon, Horseshoe Lake, Edith Lake, Annette Lake, and The Valley of the Five Lakes. Maligne Canyon and the Valley of the Five Lakes remain closed to the public. Visitors can stop at the Maligne Canyon Lookout to get an idea of the extensive damage done to the area.

Horseshoe Lake is open, but it has lost some of its magic after almost all of the forest around the lake has burned. That said the lake’s beautiful waters remain the same and the brave can still go for a dip this summer. The popular cliffs aren’t going anywhere!

Unfortunately for the town, most of the damage to structures was to personal homes. The core of downtown and many hotels that tourists frequent survived the fire, but this is not to say some local institutions were not affected. Some of our favorite spots in Jasper, like Patricia Street Deli, closed permanently after the fire.

This is largely why Jasper has been able to welcome back visitors so soon. The downtown Jasper’s core offers a similar experience to visitors as it did before the fire. There are still quite a few hotels, cabins, and restaurants that remain open for visitors.

Many famous historic buildings and monuments survived such as Jasper the Bear, Two Brothers Totem Pole, Jasper Firehouse, Jasper Station, Jasper Skytram, and the Athabasca Hotel. Also many of the natural highlights of Jasper remain unchanged. Notably, the Pyramid Lake and Patricia Lake area were left unscathed. You can still have an extraordinary time in the park and town.

For the most up-to-date information regarding what’s open and closed in the park, we suggest checking the Jasper National Park website. They have a map and post updates to give a good idea of the conditions.

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Is Jasper Still Worth Visiting?

Yes, Jasper is still very much worth visiting after the fires. Much of the park and town remains untouched by fire damage, and natural beauty is abundant throughout the area. Jasper has not lost its towering peaks, sparkling lakes, and huge landscapes. Highlights you can still easily visit include Pyramid and Patrica Lake, Lac Beauvert, Maligne Lake, the Athabasca Glacier, Athabasca Falls, and Sunwapta Falls.

Many of the operators are open for business visitors can still go for a paddle, navigate whitewater rapids, ride a gondola, go for a guided hike, cruise along a lake, catch a theatre show, eat their way through a food tour, hop on a bike, ride a horse, or learn about the stars. There is still a lot to do in Jasper!

A highlight we’d stress the most for visitors is Maligne Lake, which remains astounding. A cruise along its turquoise waters to see Spirit Island is undoubtedly a quintessential experience in the Canadian Rockies. It’s worth the journey to Jasper alone.

You can still get on classic hikes this summer like Wilcox Pass, Stanley Falls, Bald Hills Loop, and Pyramid Lake Loop. We hope to see Edith Cavell Meadows and the Tonquin Valley reopen this summer, but the fire damage leading along the road leading up to the trails is extensive and requires some cleanup.

Above all, Jasper has not lost its spirit; the town’s soul remains the same. It has long been said that many prefer their time in Jasper over more developed and commercial Banff.

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More Photos from our 2025 Trip