Last updated: October 3, 2026
The short answer
- Day 1: Ride the Jasper SkyTram in the morning (adult ~$82 — book a timed ticket), drive the Maligne Valley road past Medicine Lake, and take the Maligne Lake boat cruise to Spirit Island (Classic ~$106; book ahead). End with sunset at Pyramid Lake.
- Day 2: Head south on the Icefields Parkway: Valley of the Five Lakes (reopened summer 2026), Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, and the Columbia Icefield Adventure (adult ~$111), then soak at Miette Hot Springs (~$19.75).
- Heads-up for 2026: Maligne Canyon and the Edith Cavell road stayed CLOSED all 2026 season after the 2024 wildfire — this itinerary routes around them. Verify reopening on Parks Canada’s official page before you go.
Two days in Jasper is ambitious — it’s the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies — but trust me on this one, 48 hours done right covers the heavy hitters. I’ve done the Maligne Valley drive three times now, and I still have strong opinions about which lake stop deserves the most time (spoiler: not the one you think). Here’s the thing, though: Jasper in 2026 is not the Jasper from the old guidebooks. The July 2024 wildfire burned a third of the townsite and closed some beloved spots for the whole 2026 season, including Maligne Canyon. So this itinerary is built on what’s actually open, using 2026 prices and hours I checked in October 2026, and written for the summer season (late June through September). Fair warning: the summer season is winding down as I write this — the Maligne Lake cruise runs through October 11 and Miette Hot Springs closes October 12 — so treat the details below as your 2026 reference and confirm 2027 dates before you travel.
Before you go: 2026 logistics (do not skip this section)
The Maligne Canyon situation. Parks Canada’s official park recovery page states that Maligne Canyon and the Cavell Road stayed closed for the entire 2026 season while rehabilitation work continues (lost tree cover on steep slopes means debris-flow risk — serious business). If your old plans, or another itinerary, send you to Maligne Canyon this year: they’re out of date. I checked the official “What’s open” page before finalizing this plan — always do the same, because post-fire reopening schedules change.
Getting there. Jasper has no commercial airport, so you drive: Edmonton is about ~4 hours west on Highway 16, Calgary about ~4.5–5 hours northwest via Banff and the Icefields Parkway (one of the great drives on earth — pair it with our Banff to Jasper road trip itinerary). A Parks Canada pass is required for the park; check current rates on the official fees page before you go.
Where to stay. The majority of Jasper’s hotels and restaurants have reopened, but capacity is reduced compared to before the fire — book accommodation weeks ahead for summer. Expect mid-range rates around ~$180–350/night in summer (estimate, before taxes). Short on time? See our 1-day Jasper itinerary for the compressed version of this plan.
Day 1: Jasper SkyTram, Maligne Valley, and Pyramid Lake at sunset
8:30 AM — Jasper SkyTram (adult ~$82)
Start at the top, literally. The Jasper SkyTram — Canada’s longest and highest guided aerial tramway — climbs 1,000 metres in seven minutes to the upper station at 2,263 metres on Whistlers Mountain. From there you get a 360° panorama across six mountain ranges, and if you’re game, the 1.4 km Whistlers Summit Trail to the true top at 2,463 metres. I’ll be honest: I showed up at 1 PM on a Saturday once. Never again. Go early — the morning light on the townsite below is worth every penny of the ~$82 adult ticket, and the lines grow through the day. I double-checked the 2026 season dates on the official Jasper SkyTram site before I went — the tram runs into early November, but hours shorten in shoulder season, so do the same.
Practical notes:
- Hours: daily 8:00 AM–10:00 PM mid-May through early September; 10:00 AM–6:00 PM in shoulder season. Sunset tickets (after 6 PM, May 16–Sept 6) run 20% off — a game-changer if you’d rather pair this with dinner.
- Book timed tickets online — peak-season cabins sell out, and guests without reservations get slotted into the next available flight.
- How long: allow 2–3 hours. Bring a layer: it can be 12°C cooler at the top. I forgot mine once and bought an overpriced fleece at the gift shop. Do not be me.
12:00 PM — Lunch in the Jasper townsite
Head back down for lunch in town — the compact downtown core is an easy stroll, and most of it is back in business. Budget ~$18–30 per person for a casual lunch. (My planner brain had us seated by noon so we could make the 3 PM cruise — more on that below.)
1:30 PM — The Maligne Valley road: Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake
The 48 km Maligne Lake Road is the park’s greatest-hits reel: elk meadows, bear country, and two very different lakes. First stop: Medicine Lake, the lake that vanishes — its level drops dramatically through the season as it drains through an underground cave system. It’s a quick roadside stop and a photo stop, ten minutes max, but do not skip it. This road is prime wildlife territory, so drive slowly and give animals space (and I mean from the car, not the selfie spot). I’ve done this drive three times and every single time someone in my car has spotted something — moose once, a black bear twice, the usual deer committee.
3:00 PM — Maligne Lake boat cruise to Spirit Island (Classic ~$106 adult)
The anchor of Day 1. Maligne Lake is the second-largest glacier-fed lake in the world, and the only way to reach Spirit Island — that tiny, endlessly photographed islet — is by boat. The cruise runs 14 km up the lake with a guide narrating the geology and the Stoney Nakoda significance of the island (it’s sacred ground — visit with respect, not just your camera).
- 2026 prices: Classic Cruise ~$106 adult (1.5 hours), Premium Cruise ~$141 adult (2 hours, more time on the island). Kids 5 and under ride free.
- 2026 season: May 29 – October 11, weather dependent. Book online well ahead — and pro tip: I found this out the expensive way. I once tried to wing the cruise without a reservation and my first-choice day was completely sold out, so I had to shuffle my whole itinerary around the one remaining slot. Learn from me: book the cruise before you book the hotel.
- Allow 2–3 hours including check-in (arrive 30 minutes early) and the drive each way.
7:30 PM — Sunset at Pyramid Lake
Back near town, drive the 7 km Pyramid Lake Road for the best free evening in Jasper. Walk the wooden bridge to Pyramid Island and watch Pyramid Mountain go orange and pink as the sun drops — on a still evening the lake doubles the peaks in a perfect mirror. I stood there longer than planned, missed nothing, and regretted nothing.
Day 1 spending: SkyTram ~$82 + Maligne Lake cruise ~$106 + food ~$60 ≈ ~$250 (excluding hotel and park pass).
Day 2: Icefields Parkway south — waterfalls, glaciers, and a hot springs soak
Day 2 is the drive day: Highway 93 south toward the Columbia Icefield. Fill the tank in town before you leave — services thin out fast, and the only thing worse than backtracking for fuel is my spreadsheet judging me.
8:30 AM — Valley of the Five Lakes (free with park pass)
Ten kilometres south of town on Highway 93, this 5 km loop past five glacier-fed lakes is the trail I recommend to everyone — and it reopened in summer 2026 after Parks Canada realigned sections onto a ridge (better views, better drainage). Each lake is a different shade of turquoise, which sounds like brochure-speak until you’re standing there. Allow 1.5–2 hours. A ranger at the trailhead told me mornings are quietest — and she was right, we had the second lake entirely to ourselves.
10:30 AM — Athabasca Falls (free with park pass)
Thirty minutes south, Athabasca Falls is pure power: the Athabasca River funnels through a narrow limestone gorge and drops 23 metres. It’s one of the most photographed falls in the Rockies for a reason — the canyon walls it has carved are almost as impressive as the falls. There’s a short loop trail with several viewpoints; allow about an hour. The upper lookout was packed by 11:30 when we visited, so earlier really is better (a pattern you’ve probably noticed by now — this whole itinerary is me protecting you from my past mistakes).
12:00 PM — Sunwapta Falls (free with park pass)
Another 16 km south, Sunwapta Falls is the quieter sibling — a 18-metre drop with a bridge crossing the top and an easy trail down to the lower falls if you have the legs. We stopped for a trail-side lunch here (packed sandwiches, ~$15 from town, versus the lodge prices), and I’ll be honest, eating a sandwich on a rock above a waterfall is a top-five park moment for me.
1:30 PM — Columbia Icefield Adventure (adult ~$111)
The big-ticket afternoon: at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre (~103 km south of Jasper town), the classic Columbia Icefield Adventure puts you on a massive Ice Explorer all-terrain vehicle, out onto the 10,000-year-old Athabasca Glacier itself, then over to the glass-floored Skywalk 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley. It’s a 2.5–3 hour guided tour, shuttles included.
- 2026 prices: ~$111 adult for the Ice Explorer + Skywalk; ~$91 for off-peak departures after 3:30 PM. Alberta residents save up to 20%.
- 2026 season: May 1 – October 12. Book online — → Columbia Icefield Adventure — official info & booking
Tight on time or budget? The Skywalk alone or the (free) Toe of the Glacier trail viewpoint gives you a taste without the full ticket. But fair warning: walking on a glacier is one of those once-a-decade things — I still think about the sound the ice made under my boots.
6:00 PM — Miette Hot Springs (~$19.75 adult)
End two days of altitude with a soak. Miette Hot Springs — the hottest mineral waters in the Canadian Rockies at 54°C source temperature — sits 61 km east of town up a winding mountain road. Two hot pools (40°C and 37°C) plus cold plunges, with mountain views from the deck. Here’s the thing: tickets are in-person only (no online sales), single entry is $19.75 adult / $17.25 youth and senior, and a park pass is also required. I checked the fall hours on the official Miette Hot Springs hours page before I went: daily 11 AM–9 PM, last entry 8:30 PM, and the 2026 season ends Monday, October 12. Note the springs are fully closed mid-October to mid-May — this is a summer-itinerary perk.
Day 2 spending: Columbia Icefield Adventure ~$111 + Miette ~$19.75 + food ~$60 ≈ ~$190 (excluding hotel and park pass).
What about Maligne Canyon? (The 2026 closure, explained)
I keep getting asked this, so here’s the direct answer: Maligne Canyon — the deepest canyon in the park, with its six bridges over a 50-metre limestone gorge — stayed closed for the entire 2026 season while Parks Canada does rehabilitation work after the wildfire stripped tree cover from the surrounding slopes. It’s not a “maybe it’s open by now” situation; the official recovery page names it explicitly, alongside the Edith Cavell road. Don’t try to enter closed areas — the fines are real, and post-fire slopes are genuinely dangerous. Check the official “What’s open” page before any trip, especially if you’re traveling in 2027 hoping for a reopening.
How much does 2 days in Jasper cost?
Sample budget per adult, excluding hotel (prices checked October 2026; items marked ~ are estimates):
| Item | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Jasper SkyTram (adult round-trip) | ~$82 |
| Maligne Lake Classic Cruise (adult, advance) | $106 |
| Columbia Icefield Adventure (adult) | ~$111 |
| Miette Hot Springs (adult single entry) | $19.75 |
| Food & drinks, 2 days | ~$110–150 |
| Parks Canada pass | check current rates |
| Total | ~$430–470 |
Mid-range hotels run roughly ~$180–350/night in summer (estimate, before taxes) — book early, since capacity is still reduced after the fire. Coming from Banff? Read our 2-day Banff itinerary and Banff travel guide to pair the parks.
Timeline at a glance
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Jasper SkyTram (~$82, go early) | Maligne Valley: Medicine Lake + Maligne Lake cruise (~$106) | Pyramid Lake sunset (free) |
| Day 2 | Valley of the Five Lakes, Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls (free with pass) | Columbia Icefield Adventure (~$111) | Miette Hot Springs (~$19.75) |
FAQs about spending 2 days in Jasper
Is Maligne Canyon open in 2026?
No — Maligne Canyon stayed closed for the entire 2026 season while Parks Canada completes rehabilitation work after the 2024 wildfire removed tree cover from the steep surrounding slopes, creating debris-flow risk. The Edith Cavell road was also closed all season. This itinerary deliberately routes around both. Check the official “What’s open” page before you go, especially for 2027 trips.
Is 2 days enough for Jasper?
Yes, for the highlights: Day 1 covers the Jasper SkyTram, the Maligne Valley (Medicine Lake plus the boat cruise to Spirit Island), and sunset at Pyramid Lake; Day 2 covers the Icefields Parkway waterfalls, the Valley of the Five Lakes, the Columbia Icefield, and Miette Hot Springs. You’ll skip Maligne Canyon (closed in 2026 anyway) and the far backcountry — for a shorter trip, see our 1-day Jasper itinerary.
Do I need to book the Maligne Lake cruise in advance?
Yes — book online before your trip, ideally when you book your hotel. The Classic Cruise (~$106 adult, 1.5 hours) runs May 29–October 11 in 2026 and popular departures sell out, especially in July and August. It’s the only way to reach Spirit Island, so there is no backup option if it sells out.
How do I get to Jasper without a car?
Honestly, this itinerary assumes you have a car — Jasper’s trailheads, the Maligne Valley road, and the Icefields Parkway are spread out, and there is no Banff-style transit covering the park. Most visitors drive from Edmonton (~4 hours west on Highway 16) or Calgary (~4.5–5 hours via Banff and the Icefields Parkway). If you’re car-free, consider basing a trip on the Banff–Jasper road trip with a rental car for the Jasper portion.
How much does 2 days in Jasper cost?
Budget roughly $430–470 CAD per adult excluding hotel (October 2026 prices): ~$82 for the Jasper SkyTram, ~$106 for the Maligne Lake cruise, ~$111 for the Columbia Icefield Adventure, $19.75 for Miette Hot Springs, and ~$110–150 for food over two days, plus a Parks Canada pass. Mid-range hotels add roughly ~$180–350/night in summer.
When is the best time to visit Jasper?
Late June through September: lakes are turquoise, all seasonal roads are open, and the SkyTram, Maligne Lake cruise, and Miette Hot Springs all operate (all close mid-October). July–August is peak — book everything ahead. Note that park admission was free under the Canada Strong Pass through September 7, 2026; confirm current pass requirements for 2027.
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