A Backpacker’s Hiking Guide to Jasper National Park

A Backpacker’s Hiking Guide to Jasper National Park

Last week, I embarked upon a month-long train journey across Canada, from Vancouver to Montreal. The first stop on my east-bound route was Jasper, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. With evergreen forests, crystal-clear lakes, magnificent mountains, and lots of wildlife, my six-day stay was filled with picturesque hikes and endless adventure. The wonderful thing about Jasper is that both the town and the mountains are easily accessible by foot. I logged just over 75 kilometers on my own two legs – walking around lakes, hiking through forests, and climbing up mountains – and I feel like I was able to see quite a lot that way. While most blog posts recommend exploring Jasper National Park by car, I’m here to advise you otherwise. Car rentals in Jasper run upwards of $100 per day and for us backpackers on a budget, that’s simply not going to fly. Hence why I decided to write a more affordable and sustainable guide to Jasper National Park, which I am beyond excited to share with you!

Arrival & Accommodation

How To Get There: Jasper was actually a railway town way back when, and with the 1926 Heritage Railway Station conveniently located in the middle of town, arriving by train is a great option. I made the 19-hour overnight journey from Vancouver to Jasper with VIA Rail, which also connects the cities of Edmonton, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Prince Rupert. It was a very enjoyable and incredibly scenic ride through the mountains, and I highly recommend it.

Where To Stay: Opened earlier this year, HI Jasper offers shared rooms for four, private ensuites, and family rooms, all within a stone throw’s of the train station. Between the fireplace lounge and fully equipped communal kitchen, not to mention the in-house sauna and on-site café, HI Jasper caters perfectly to the modern-day backpacker. I spent six nights in a female dorm and met some wonderful hiking pals, plus the staff are absolute gems. HI Jasper is part of Hostelling International Canada, which in turn is part of Hostelling International – the world’s largest hostel network! With 3,300 hostels in 64 countries, 54 of which are in Canada, HI Canada makes it possible for us backpackers to travel through Canada without breaking the bank. Given its prime location and homey feel, HI Jasper proved to be the perfect base for all of my mountain adventures. If you too want to experience the joys of hostel life, just click here!

Old Fort Point Loop
To Old Fort Point at 1170 meters above sea level
Distance: 3.8 kilometer loop
Time: 1 to 2 hours return

A 3.8-kilometer loop featuring excellent town and valley views, Old Fort Point makes for a great sunrise or sunset hike. My very first morning in Jasper, I set out on this trail with a girl named Faull, who was also staying at HI Jasper. We instantly bonded over our love for travel, photography, and writing. The plan was to go bright and early in hopes of catching a beautiful sunrise from the top, but the clouds had other plans… nonetheless, it was a fun adventure! 

We left the hostel around 6am in total darkness, following Red Squirrel Trail along Athabasca River to the Old Fort Point trailhead. All was well until our flashlight hovered over a relatively fresh pile of poop that certainly didn’t belong to a horse. With knowledge of grizzly bears in the area a few months prior, it’s safe to say we were a little spooked, so we spent the next 30 minutes hollering ‘HEY BEAR’ at the top of our lungs.

Once we reached Old Fort Point, we took photos of our surroundings for a good hour, allowing dawn to turn to day before we started our descent. You can either take the long and flat route up and the steep and short route down, or vice versa… we chose the former and I suggest you do the same! The views are absolutely breathtaking.

Pyramid Lake Trail
To Patricia Lake, Pyramid Lake, Pyramid Island
Distance: 5.4 kilometers (one way)
Time: 3 to 4 hours return

A 5.4-kilometer hike from town, Pyramid Trail winds through aspen and pine forests on its way to Pyramid Lake, Pyramid Island, and the majestic Pyramid Mountain. It’s a great option for those who don’t want to venture too far from civilization, since the trail runs parallel to the road. Just before you reach the Pyramid Lake Area, you’ll pass Patricia Lake which is just as worthy of a stop. I ate a snack on the beach here, admiring the colorful boats and snowcapped mountains.

As you continue onto Pyramid Lake, you’ll approach the unmistakable Pyramid Mountain, the highest peak in the Jasper townsite vicinity. This mountain was formerly known as ‘Priest’s Rock’ in the 1800s and its red-orange hues are caused by the oxidation of iron minerals. To get even closer to Pyramid Mountain, walk across the footbridge to Pyramid Island.

This bridge was built in the 1930s and the island has been a popular spot for locals and visitors ever since. As a community-sponsored restoration project, Pyramid Island is a ‘shared treasure’ that aims to reduce the impact of humans on this protected area. The island features a number of viewpoints – Mt. Edith Cavell, Yellowhead Valley, Pyramid Mountain, and Mt. Colin – in addition to a picnic shelter and lots of wildlife.

Whistlers Mountain Trail
To Whistlers Summit at 2,463 meters above sea level
Distance: 6.8 kilometers + 1.4 kilometers (one way)
Time: 3 to 5 hours up, 2 to 3 hours down (or Jasper SkyTram)

While most people associate Whistlers Mountain with the Jasper SkyTram, there is in fact an other way up – hike it! The Whistlers Trail is 6.8 kilometers in length with an elevation gain of over 1,000 meters, but the challenge is well worth the experience. Supposedly there are mountain goats, golden-mantled ground squirrels, ptarmigan, and grizzly bears in the area, but I didn’t encounter any such wildlife… only trees, ice, and snow. Regardless, seeing the terrain change from fall colors to a winter wonderland was pretty spectacular.

When I reached the upper station, I enjoyed a celebratory plate of sweet potato fries in the Summit Restaurant with my friend Faull. She had taken the Jasper SkyTram up the mountain in time to meet me and it was so nice to see a familiar face after my solo 3-hour hike. The Jasper SkyTram brings you from the lower station to the upper station, 1,258 meters to 2,263 meters respectively, in 7-and-a-half minutes. While the ticket will set you back $49.30 plus 5% GST, it’s a good option if you’re short on time or prefer to save your energy for other adventures.

With a bit more fuel in my tank, I made the post-lunch push to Whistlers Mountain summit, an additional 1.4 kilometers to 2,463 meters above sea level. I must say the alpine trail is quite intense at this time of year, between the icy terrain and strong winds, but again it’s well worth the climb. When I returned to the upper station, I paid half the Jasper SkyTram ticket price to ride down the mountain with Faull, in addition to the $10 I had already paid for the return shuttle between town and the base of the mountain. 

Maligne Canyon Loop Trail
To the first, second, third, fourth bridges
Distance: 2.1 kilometer loop
Time: 1 hour return

Another shuttle-accessible destination is Maligne Canyon. It’s actually a free shuttle that runs between town and the Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen, but I heard that non-restaurant guests can use it as well. From the Wilderness Kitchen, you can walk along an interpretive trail between the first and fourth footbridges, which takes no more than an hour. (For bridges five and six, add an additional 1 to 2 hours to your hike.) Maligne Canyon is a deep gorge with a total of six footbridges and an abundance of waterfalls, fossils, potholes, and plant life. It’s truly remarkable to see how the forces of nature create such a canyon overtime. Following my hour-long excursion, I sat myself by the fire and waited for the shuttle back to town.

Lac Beauvert, Lake Annette, Lake Edith
From Lac Beauvert to Lake Annette to Lake Edith
Distance: 3.8 kilometers (one way)
Time: 1 hour

Many bodies of water lie between Old Fort Point and Maligne Canyon, namely Lac Beauvert, Lake Annette, and Lake Edith, in addition to some smaller lakes. Lac Beauvert is a so-called wildlife hub, situated in the middle of a vibrant ecosystem. The emerald waters are home to rainbow trout, mink gobble water voles, frogs, and aquatic insects. Osprey are often spotted in the sky above and wolves, elk, and deer can be found roaming around in the surrounding areas. You can rent pedal boats, paddle boards, kayaks, and canoes from the Boathouse at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, or take a seat on the edge of the lake and admire from afar.

The Woodpecker Trail connects the Jasper Park Lodge to Lake Annette and Lake Edith. The former is known for being the most popular of Jasper’s beaches, while the latter is a quieter resting place with views of Roche Bonhomme. From here, you can either continue to Maligne Canyon’s fifth and sixth bridges, or take the 4.4-kilometer long Bighorn Trail back to the town of Jasper. I opted for the latter… after all, every adventurer needs to relax from time to time.

Jasper Discovery Trail
Around the Town of Jasper
Distance: 8.3 kilometer loop
Time: 2 to 3 hours

The Jasper Discovery Trail circles around the town of Jasper and is clearly marked by bear symbols. It’s a great loop to get a sense of the area and explore a bit of the endearing streets. During my visit, I spent an afternoon in Coco’s Cafe, a local java joint with an artsy vibe and plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and allergy-friendly options. I also spent an evening watching the new Joker movie at Chaba Theater, an old-school cinema with delicious popcorn. You can also deepen your yoga practice at Jasper Wellness and jam to some live music at Jasper Legion. Needless to say, there’s plenty to do in the charming town of Jasper after a long day’s adventure.

With ♡, Julia Elizabeth

A special thank you to HI Jasper and HI Canada for collaborating with me on this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

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4 Comments

  1. October 13, 2019 / 07:36

    Love your squirrel photos! I’d love to get back to Jasper, it wasn’t great weather when I went, so I didn’t do the SkyTram (although now I’d probably rather hike it!). Really enjoyed Maligne Canyon though. Good to hear the new hostel is great, too! (I worked for HI Canada last year so they were preparing to open it!)

    • October 13, 2019 / 12:47

      Aw thank you, squirrels in Jasper are just the cutest. Yes I totally recommend the hike… I feel like I got to experience a lot more of the mountain that way! Oh how fun that you saw HI Jasper in the preparation stage, it certainly came together nicely! Feels more like a resort than a hostel 😅

  2. October 12, 2019 / 13:36

    Great post. Jasper is our favourite get away. In fact, we are there right now for Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, staying in cabins by the lake. Cheers. Allan

    • October 12, 2019 / 20:19

      Thank you Allan! Oh how lovely, enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend in Jasper. It sure is a great place to celebrate the holidays ☺️

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