Jasper 3 Day Itinerary: The Best 3 Days in Jasper

Welcome to the town of Jasper and Jasper National Park, my absolute favourite destination in Alberta and the place I will come back to again and again.

Known for its breathtaking landscapes and mountains, Jasper is a sight to behold. I made this Jasper 3 day itinerary to showcase the best of what the town of Jasper and Jasper National Park have to offer!

Canadian rockies, a charming mountain town, and exciting hiking trails make Jasper the perfect vacation for nature lovers. And let’s not forget the incredible wildlife sightings that add a touch of magic to the experience.

Get ready to jump into the beauty of Jasper, and let the adventure begin!

Some links in this Jasper 3 Day Itinerary post are affiliate. If clicked, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

3 Days in Jasper Itinerary Map

How many days in Jasper National Park?

Recommended length of stay in Jasper: 3-4 days (to fit in more hiking)

Our stay: 3 days (I wish we had longer)

Getting to Jasper

If going straight to Jasper National Park, the fastest route is by flying into Edmonton International Airport (YEG) and then driving the 365 km to Jasper.

Use Skyscanner to monitor flight fluctuations, deals and cheap fares!

Driving to Jasper

Similar to the rest of Alberta, the most convenient way to get to Jasper National Park at your own pace is by renting a car. This grants you the freedom to come and go as you please and complete as many activities as you would like.

I recommend driving to Jasper via the Icefields Parkway, starting in Banff National Park.

The Icefields Parkway starts at Lake Louise, in Banff National Park and is 232 km all the way to Jasper.

Jasper is 365 km away from Edmonton via the AB-16.

Check out rental cars for deals & discounts!

Take a Bus to Jasper

BusBud: BusBud offers numerous bus options offered daily. This website lists different bus companies to choose from (including the below Sundog Tours).

Sundog Tours: Sundog Tours provides bus transportation to & from Jasper, Edmonton and Calgary. From Edmonton to Jasper, adult tickets are around $100.00 CAD.

Brewster Express: Brewster Express runs from a few different locations and is part of the Banff Jasper collection tour company.

Train to Jasper

Via Rail: Via Rail offers a 6.5 hour train ride from Edmonton to Jasper. This train runs once per week. Tickets cost upwards of $100.00 one way.

Rocky Mountaineer: This is the definition luxury in a train. Travelling via Rocky Mountaineer is truly a bucket list experience alone. They have two different options that end up in Jasper.

• Journey Through the Clouds starts in Vancouver, stops in Kamloops and ends up in Jasper, starting at around $2000.00.

• Rainforest to Gold Rush starts in Vancouver, goes to Whistler, Quesnel and then Jasper, starting around $3000.00.

Getting Around Jasper

Driving Around Jasper

The easiest/most convenient method of getting around Jasper National Park is driving. Honestly, I am a big fan of driving on vacations to go at my own pace, Jasper is no different.

In order to get to the best hikes and go for the best drives searching for wildlife, rent a car for convenience!

Taking a bus around Jasper

Brewster Express: Brewster Express has private shuttles in and around Jasper.

Where to Stay in Jasper

Luxury Hotels in Jasper

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

This secluded luxury resort is located within the Canadian Rockies on a gorgeous Lake.

An outdoor pool, spa with a tremendous amount of services and numerous dining options to choose from will have you in paradise.

Check out Fairmont reviews here.

Go straight to Fairmont booking & prices here.

Pyramid Lake Lodge

Looking for a chalet with gorgeous mountain views? Look no further! Jasper’s Pyramid Lake Lodge is the full package all year long.

Activities per season, complimentary coffees and teas, firepits, bbqs and gorgeous lodgings are just a small portion of what this gorgeous hotel has to offer!

Check for Pyramid Lake Lodge reviews here.

Booking info for Pyramid Lake Lodge here.

Mid Range Jasper Hotels

Where we stayed: Mount Robson Inn

Mount Robson Inn

A small and cute inn downtown Jasper. 4-star rating on TripAdvisor & Expedia.

They offered a free breakfast which was quite plentiful. We enjoyed our stay at this inn and would definitely come back!

The hotel’s location is perfect, a short walk right into town. There are hot tubs to enjoy and each room comes with a small kitchenette.

Check here for Mount Robson Inn reviews.

Click here for Mount Robson Inn booking & pricing information.

Chateau Jasper

One of the most modern and charming chateaus in Alberta. This hotel comes equipped with an indoor pool, breakfast and the location is a short walk to town!

Click here for Chateau Jasper reviews & information.

Book Chateau Jasper here.

Jasper Budget Hotel

HI Jasper

This hostel is a short walk from downtown Jasper and the perfect place to stay to make friends on your Canadian adventure.

The room choices are; 4-person shared rooms, private suites and family rooms.

Check out reviews for HI Jasper here.

Check out HI Jasper prices here.

Important Resources for your Jasper 3 Day Itinerary

• To enter the National Park you will need a park pass/discovery pass which can be purchased here

• You will need bear spray if you plan to go hiking during your 3 days in Jasper. This can be purchased in many of the shops in town. Do NOT attempt to carry this on the airplane, it will be confiscated.

• Free APP for your smartphone: Alltrails. This free app is AMAZING for looking up and downloading hikes. You can use the app offline, which helps if you are visiting from afar. I love to read reviews and see some sample photos of hikes I want to take. Jasper is full of hiking, be sure to download this free app for your trip!

Jasper 3 Day Itinerary

Let’s get into the best itinerary for Jasper. Below I have listed the highlights to see and do while in Jasper for 3 days.

Don’t skip out on any of these adventures when visiting Jasper.

DAY 1: Travel Day, Jasper Town

Morning: Icefields Parkway

Drive along the Icefields Parkway to get to Jasper from Banff. 

This is the best route to get from Banff to Jasper and truly a breathtaking highway. I have never seen such gorgeous views on a road!

Afternoon: Arrive in Jasper 

Check into your Jasper hotel and go for a nice stroll through Jasper town. Spend time checking out their shops and cafes.

Grab a bite to eat at Jasper Brewing Co. or purchase some snacks to take with you for a picnic.

Jasper is a sweet mountainside town full of charm.

Drive the 10 minutes from town to Lake Annette parking lot.

Lake Annette Loop Trail

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 2.7 km, 50 – 55 minutes

Start: Lake Annette Parking lot, by the beach

Enjoy some snacks by the picnic tables around Lake Annette Beach. Take in the views of the beautiful lake.

Complete as much or as little of the trail as you would like! The full loop is short and will take less than an hour to walk.

Click here for Lake Annette Loop Trail.

Mildred Lake

Enjoy the views of Mildred Lake, located across from The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.

Check this out if you’re searching for some more free things to do in Jasper.

Evening: Dinner in Jasper 

Head back to Jasper Town for dinner. Jasper has a great list of delicious eats to choose from; pizza to local cuisine and craft beer. Enjoy

Relax for the rest of the evening, pack a day pack for hiking tomorrow. Then head to bed!

DAY 2: Valley of the Five Lakes, Pyramid Lake

Morning: Breakfast and Hike Valley of the 5 Lakes

Wake up and get ready for the day. Head to Bear’s Paw Bakery for some caffeine and baked goods.

You are now going to drive to your first stop of the day, hiking the Valley of the 5 Lakes. Drive south on The Icefields Parkway for 9.9km, approximately a 12 minute drive.

Valley of the Five Lakes

Difficulty: Moderate (but I would say it is quite easy)

Length: 4.7km, 1.5-2 hours (you will spend more time here enjoying the views)

Start: Trailhead link on Google Maps for Valley of the 5 Lake

Spend the morning hiking on this gorgeous trail. Make sure that you have bear spray for this hike as it is not as heavily trafficked as other paths.

Click here for Valley of 5 Lakes hiking information.

Afternoon: Lunch and Pyramid Lake

Enjoy some wood-oven pizza at Jasper Pizza Place before heading out to Pyramid Lake.

The 10 minute drive from Jasper via Pyramid Lake Rd is gorgeous. Pyramid Lake Rd. is a great wildlife spotting road.

Keep in mind, roads that lead to these trails are subject to seasonal closures, stay up to date with Parks Canada!

Hike the Pyramid Lake Loop

Pyramid Lake Loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Length: 5.6 km, 2 hours

Start: Parking lot, next to Pyramid Island

Spend some time walking along the lake on this loop trail. Complete the entire loop or do half and return, which is what we did. Look how gorgeous!!

Click here for Pyramid Lake trail information.

Pyramid Island

Pyramid Island Out & Back Trail

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 0.6 km, 8 minutes

Start: Parking lot, next to Pyramid Island

Hike the short 0.6km out and back trail to Pyramid Island. Spend some time exploring Pyramid Island. Enjoy the views, take a seat and relax.

Head back to Jasper and over to The Raven Bistro for dinner. This was one of our favourite restaurants in Alberta. You are in for a treat!

DAY 3: Maligne Lake & Maligne Canyon

Morning: Maligne Lake to Spirit Island

Get up and get ready to leave for the day, pack a bag and hit the road! If you tried out Bear’s Paw Bakery, try out their other location down the road, The Other Paw.

Driving from Jasper to Maligne Lake Rd is 48.2 km, which takes about 1 hour. This is one of the best roads to spot wildlife in Jasper, best seen in early morning and evening.

Once you arrive at Maligne Lake, get ready to board the cruise to Spirit Island.

The Maligne Lake Cruise to Spirit Island can be purchased here. You can buy it as a single admission ticket, or within a package.

I recommend the Jasper Ultimate Explorer Combo Package. This package includes; Banff Gondola, Columbia Icefield Adventure & Maligne Lake Cruise).

It is quite a beautiful experience, you learn about Canadian history and Indigenous culture. Truly an unforgettable experience, one of our favourite days of the trip.

Afternoon: Hiking Moose Lake Trail, Medicine Lake & Maligne Canyon

Moose Lake Trail

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 2.7km, 1 hour

Start: Maligne Lake parking lot

This is a popular and easy trail located by Maligne Lake. It is known to be perfect for spotting moose, hence the name Moose Lake Trail (however, we did not see any, broke my heart).

If you don’t want to risk a chance encounter with a moose, check out Mary Schaffer Loop Trail.

Mary Schaffer Loop Trail

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 3.2km, 1 hour

Start: Maligne Lake parking lot

This is another easy trail to hike that starts at the Maligne Lake parking lot. It is a shorter hike and will take approximately an hour to complete.

After your hike drive the Maligne Lake Rd. for 22.5 km back up to Medicine Lake.

Make sure to stop at Medicine Lake, if you can see it that is. Medicine Lake, is present in the spring and summer months and will disappear in the fall and winter.

Wildlife enjoys hanging out around Medicine Lake, hopefully you can enjoy some from afar!

After spending time admiring Medicine Lake, continue driving on Maligne Lake Rd. 14.8km until you reach Maligne Canyon.

Maligne Canyon

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 4.3km, 1.5 hours

Start: Maligne Canyon Parking lot

Maligne Canyon has a few trails, varied in length and difficulty that you can take when visiting. Maligne Canyon is well worth the visit!

Evening: Jasper Town & Dinner

Enjoy some time in Jasper town and head to dinner at ALBA Restaurant or one of your favourite Jasper restaurants.

Pack up your belongings and get ready to leave Jasper National Park the following day. Relax and say good night to Jasper!

Busy? Pin this Jasper 3 Day Itinerary for later! 

Need help with personal travel planning?

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Final Thoughts on your 3 Days in Jasper Itinerary

After your 3 days in Jasper, you will be left with memories and a sense of connection to nature.

Spirit Island’s deep culture will stay with you, the beauty of the mountains and lakeside trails will give you photo memories for days and the delicious food and charm of Jasper town will have you wanting to return.

Jasper can be a one stop destination or a starting point to the rest of gorgeous Alberta. Don’t skip out on this wonderful mountain retreat.