Jasper and the Icefields Parkway

Jasper is the largest and wildest of the Canadian Rocky Mountain parks, a UNESCO wilderness of glaciers, canyons, waterfalls and abundant wildlife, with darker skies and fewer crowds than Banff to the south. It is reached by the Icefields Parkway, one of the most spectacular drives in the world, which runs past glacier-hung peaks and the vast Columbia Icefield, where you can step onto the Athabasca Glacier itself.

The landscape

• The Icefields Parkway - one of the world's most scenic mountain drives.
• The Columbia Icefield - the great glacier you can walk on or ride onto.
• Maligne Lake and Spirit Island - the iconic lake and its islet.
• The dark skies - the stargazing in one of the world's largest dark-sky preserves.

When to go

Summer, June to September, for open roads, glacier tours and the best weather; the Parkway is stunning but can be treacherous or closed in winter snow. Autumn brings golden larches and elk in rut. Wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk.

Good to know

It is wilder and more remote than Banff, so distances are long and services sparse; fill up and plan. A 2024 wildfire damaged the town and surrounds, so check current conditions and closures. The glacier is retreating fast, and stepping on it should be done only with a guided tour for safety.

Nearby

The Icefields Parkway links it to Lake Louise and Banff; Mount Robson lies to the west.