How to Spend One FULL Day in Jasper
Many people planning their trip to the Canadian Rockies want to explore the beautiful Jasper National Park. It’s a stunning part of the world, and we return every year to enjoy places like Maligne Lake, the Jasper Skytram, and Pyramid Lake. Although Jasper is well worth at least a few days of exploration, we know many visitors are crunched for time, so we wanted to put together a one-day itinerary for Jasper that flows well and makes sense!
Some Things to Note
- This itinerary is focused on summer travel. Activities like the Maligne Lake Cruise, are only accessible in the summer. Though, many of these sights are accessible year-round, but the days are much shorter, so keep that in mind.
- You’ll Want a Rental Car: This one day Jasper itinerary is best for those with a car.
- This itinerary avoided anything on the Icefield Parkway: This itinerary does not include popular places like Athabasca and Sunwapta Falls along the Icefields Parkway. It assumes you have driven the Icefields Parkway to get to Jasper. It’s best to stop at those sights when you are traveling from Banff to Jasper.
- You Need a Parks Pass: Jasper is a national park, you’ll need a Parks Canada pass to visit. This is the same pass you need to visit other Canadian National Parks like Banff or Yoho.
- You Should 100% spend more time in Jasper: Although this only focuses on spending one day in Jasper, you should absolutely spend more time there if you can. We recommend three days.
One Day in Jasper Itinerary
Hop in the Car and Drive Maligne Lake Road
Wake up bright and early, grab breakfast at your hotel, and hop in the car. Today, you will take one of Canada’s most beautiful drives along Maligne Lake Road. Maligne Lake Road is a scenic 46-kilometer drive that starts near Jasper and ends at Maligne Lake. Your first destination is the end of the road – literally. Drive to the end of the road until you reach the famous Maligne Lake.
Keep your eyes peeled as you drive Maligne Lake Road. Every time we travel Maligne Lake Road, we see moose, bears, and sheep. The earlier in the day you start, the higher the chance you have of seeing wildlife.
Maligne Lake
Once at Maligne Lake, you’ll be struck by its natural beauty. It is a premier destination in Jasper and the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies. If there’s one place you have to visit in Jasper- it’s here.
The lake’s grandeur, as countless glaciers run off into the lake below from the Hall of Gods, is beyond compare. On a sunny day, the waters of Maligne Lake sparkle a dazzling cerulean blue. You can enjoy the lake from the lakeshore, but we highly recommend you book a cruise to Spirit Island to take in the pristine area.
Cruise to Spirit Island
The Maligne Lake Cruise is something nearly every visitor has on their Jasper bucket list. It’s one of the most popular things to do in all the Rockies and only runs in the summer, so booking in advance is imperative. The classic cruise lasts 1.5 hours and will take you to Spirit Island, where you can get out on the shore and enjoy the famous view for 15 minutes. Along the way, a knowledgeable guide will share information about the area’s past, including its importance to the Stoney Nakoda people, all while you take in the glacial views.
If you think you’ll want more time at Spirit Island, make sure to book the Premium Cruise, which costs about $30 more and gives you an extra 15 minutes at the Spirit Island viewpoint.
Optional Canoe
If you want to spend even more time in this beautiful setting, there’s a boathouse at Maligne Lake. You can rent a canoe here and take to the water, however, it’s possible that you might not have time for this in your day.
Drive Back and Stop at Medicine Lake
On your way back from Maligne Lake, stop at Medicine Lake. This is an easy pull-off stop to enjoy the views for 10 to 15 minutes. Though technically part of the Maligne River, it looks like a lake to the untrained eye, especially when it swells with water from the big thaw, which occurs in late spring and summer.
However, Medicine Lake is actually called the “disappearing lake” amongst Jasper locals as the water drains out through sinkholes at the bottom, travels through a cave system, and resurfaces downstream in the winter months.
Late Lunch and Explore Downtown Jasper
Unlike Banff, there’s no grand Main Street that looks up to a goliath mountain. In Jasper, you get a much more down-to-earth small Alberta mountain town feel, so do your best to soak it all up! Take the afternoon to walk around Downtown Jasper and grab lunch. Visit the historic Train Station; it has plenty of history inside, with some interesting photos from the early days in Jasper. The Canadian National Railway constructed the station in 1926 and declared it a heritage railway station in 1992!
Just outside the station is the Two Brothers Totem Pole, which replaced the famous Raven Totem Pole in 2011 and tells the story of the two brothers historically. After enjoying the vibes, stop for lunch at The Raven Bistro.
Head Up the Jasper SkyTram
After lunch, make your way to the Jasper Skytram, Canada’s highest and longest tram. Starting at over 4,000 feet, the 10-minute trip to the top in the enclosed gondola will take you to over 7,500 feet.
During the 10-minute ride up, your tram conductor will point out landmarks and tell you about the area’s geology, history, and wildlife, helping you forget that you are sardined in with 20 other people! Don’t worry—the tight squeeze is more than worth it.
Walk to Whistler’s Peak
Once at the top of the Skytram, you can enjoy the views and restaurant, but the highlight is a hike up the path to Whistler’s Mountain.
If you walked from the valley floor, the hike up Whistlers Summit would be a long, grueling day, but in this case, the Jasper Skytram assists you most of the way. After unloading from the top of the Skytram, another 20-30 minute walk will get you to Whistler’s Peak. The hike is an easy and well-designated path that almost every able-bodied visitor can hike, and it’s well worth planning for and incorporating into your day in Jasper. Plan for this hike to take 1-1.5 hours round trip from the Skytram station.
Spend an Evening at Pyramid and Patricia Lake
You might be tired from the day’s adventures, so our next recommendation is to rest somewhere beautiful. Drive to Patricia Lake and enjoy the views. Just past Patricia Lake is Pyramid Lake, which sits right under the iconic Pyramid Mountain. Here, you can simply enjoy the lakeside, rent a canoe, or go for a dip. However, the highlight of Pyramid Lake is Pyramid Island, a small island accessible by a bridge from the road.
Dinner at Aalto
Aalto is one of the best Jasper restaurants and is located at Pyramid Lake Lodge, right on Pyramid Lake. It’s a great spot for dinner, and here you can expect an intimate setting complete with dishes like Wilde Boar Pâté, Duck Confit, and Braised Alberta Venison. Reservations are definitely recommended in the summer season.
Where to Stay in Jasper
If we had an unlimited budget, we would spend all our nights at the Jasper Park Lodge. They have stunning grounds and sit right on one of the most beautiful lakes.
If you want a hotel just a short walk away from Downtown Jasper we highly recommend the Forest Park Lodge.
Plan Your Trip to the Canadian Rockies
- Recommended Experiences: There are many things to do in the Rockies, but our top recommendation is the Banff Gondola – a must do experience! If you want to get active, consider snowshoeing on top of the world. Lastly, enjoy nighttime in Banff on this Sunset and Stars Tour!
- Want an all in one tour? Pursuit is running this special Winter Wonder tour on weekends!
- Transport in the winter: If you don’t want to drive to Banff in the winter, we totally get it. To avoid this book with the Banff Airporter.
- Hotels in the Rockies: There are many places to stay, from luxury hotels to wilderness cabins. See all our favorites here.
- Get Around: We suggest renting a car to get around. You can search for rental cars on Rentalcars.com. For a campervan trip, you can check prices and compare on Outdoorsy.
- We can help you plan your 2025 trip to Western Canada! If you’re feeling overwhelmed by planning we can assist! We’ll personally go over your itinerary, hop on a 1 on 1 phone call, or create a bespoke itinerary just for you! See our services here.
