Jasper National Park with Kids: A Family Explorer Guide (+ Free Map)

May 22, 2026

Jasper National Park is Canada's largest mountain national park — and one of its most wild and spectacular. For families who want the Canadian Rockies with fewer crowds and more wilderness, Jasper delivers an experience that is genuinely extraordinary.

Engage your kids in outdoor exploration with Nature Explorer Club's Jasper National Park Activity Book to track every wonder your family discovers.

Best Stops in Jasper with Kids

Athabasca Falls — One of the most powerful and dramatic waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies — not the highest but extraordinary for the sheer volume of water roaring through a narrow quartzite canyon carved by thousands of years of glacial meltwater. The falls are only 23 meters high but the force of the Athabasca River compressed into the canyon creates a thundering roar and a perpetual mist that supports mosses and ferns on the canyon walls. The viewing platforms above the falls give families safe access to views of the canyon and the potholes carved by the swirling water. A short flat walk from the parking area makes this accessible for all ages.
Columbia Icefield — One of the most extraordinary accessible glacial environments on Earth — a vast expanse of ancient ice straddling the boundary between Banff and Jasper along the Icefields Parkway. The Athabasca Glacier — one of the icefield's outlet glaciers — is accessible by foot on a marked trail or by Ice Explorer vehicle. Walking on a glacier and seeing the blue ice in the crevasses, the lateral moraines, and the meltwater streams emerging from the glacier's toe is a genuinely profound experience for children. The Glacier Skywalk — a glass-floored observation platform above the Sunwapta Valley — adds a thrilling viewing experience to any Columbia Icefield visit.
Maligne Lake — The longest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies — stretching 22 kilometers through a deep mountain valley with Spirit Island — a tiny forested island in the lake's middle section — creating one of the most photographed scenes in Canada. The lake is accessible only by boat tour or kayak for views of Spirit Island — the 90-minute boat tour is outstanding for families. Maligne Lake Road passes Maligne Canyon on the way — a spectacular limestone canyon with six bridges crossing at different heights above the creek that is one of the finest short canyon walks in the park.
Maligne Canyon — A spectacular limestone canyon on the Maligne River just outside the Jasper townsite — one of the deepest accessible canyons in the Canadian Rockies. The canyon trail crosses the gorge on six footbridges at progressively greater heights above the creek — the deepest section drops 55 meters from rim to water. The canyon walls display extraordinary geological features including potholes carved by swirling water, fossil imprints in the limestone, and the mysterious phenomenon of the river disappearing underground mid-canyon and reappearing downstream. A short loop from the first bridge is suitable for all ages — longer walks give progressively more dramatic views.
Mount Edith Cavell — A dramatic peak south of Jasper townsite with one of the park's finest short hikes — the Path of the Glacier trail — leading through a recently deglaciated landscape to the toe of Angel Glacier hanging from the mountain's north face. The hike crosses a moonscape of recently exposed bedrock and glacial debris — a dramatic illustration of how quickly glaciers are retreating — before reaching the turquoise meltwater lake below the glacier. The mountain is named for Edith Cavell, a British nurse executed by Germany during World War I — her story is told in the interpretive displays at the trailhead.
Pyramid Lake — A beautiful lake north of Jasper townsite with Pyramid Mountain reflected in its calm waters — one of the most photogenic and easily accessible scenic destinations in the park. The lakeshore trail is flat and suitable for all ages. Pyramid Island — connected to the shore by a footbridge — gives families an island walk experience with 360-degree mountain views. The lake is excellent for wildlife viewing at dawn and dusk — Elk, Osprey, and Beaver are all regularly seen here.
Valley of the Five Lakes — One of the finest family hikes in Jasper — a relatively flat 4.5 km loop through forest and meadow visiting five small lakes of distinctly different colors ranging from bright turquoise to deep green. The color variation between the lakes — caused by different depths, algae, and sediment compositions — is a fascinating natural demonstration of how lake color works. The flat terrain makes this one of the most accessible multi-lake hikes in the Canadian Rockies for families with younger children.
The Whistlers — The peak above Jasper townsite reached by the Jasper SkyTram — the longest and highest aerial tramway in Canada — rising to 7,500 feet elevation in 7 minutes. The upper station gives access to a trail that climbs to the summit of The Whistlers at 8,085 feet — above the treeline and into the true alpine zone where Hoary Marmots whistle from the rocky slopes. The views from the summit encompass Jasper townsite, the Athabasca River valley, and peaks stretching in every direction across the Canadian Rockies. The tram is named for the Hoary Marmots that live on its slopes — named "whistlers" for their loud alarm calls.
Miette Hot Springs — The hottest naturally occurring hot springs in the Canadian Rockies — mineral-rich water emerging from the ground at 54°C and cooled to comfortable bathing temperatures in the pools. The springs are located in a dramatic narrow valley 61 kilometers from the Jasper townsite — the drive through the Fiddle River valley passes excellent wildlife habitat. Soaking in geothermally heated mineral water in a mountain valley surrounded by peaks is one of the most memorable experiences any Canadian Rockies family trip can include. Mountain Goats are regularly seen on the slopes above the springs.
Sunwapta Falls — A powerful two-tiered waterfall on the Sunwapta River in the southern section of Jasper — easily accessible from the Icefields Parkway with a short flat walk from the parking area. The upper falls are the most dramatic — the river drops over a ledge into a deep canyon before continuing downstream to the lower falls a short walk away. Sunwapta means "turbulent river" in the language of the Stoney Nakoda people — and the falls demonstrate perfectly why the name was earned. Mountain Goats are occasionally seen on the canyon walls above the falls.