Jasper Highlights
Jasper is located in Jasper National Park and is a town that serves as a base for exploring the Canadian Rockies. If Banff is the base in the south, Jasper is the base in the north.
Jasper has a VIA Rail station, making it possible to travel by train from major Canadian cities.
The summit of the Trident RangeThe Whistlers. The photo shows the Whistlers Inn accommodation with The Whistlers in the background. It is distinct from Whistler, the Canadian town famous for its ski resort.
Jasper Bear
Jasper the Bear is Jasper’s official mascot. 1948 was created by Canadian artist James Simpkins. The first statue is installed at Jasper SkyTram.
Jasper SkyTram
The Jasper SkyTram is an aerial tramway ascending Whistlers, the mountain rising behind the town, and a nearby attraction for enjoying mountain scenery from Jasper.
For information about Jasper SkyTram’s attractions, operating hours, and reservations, please see the article below.
Two Brothers totem pole
This totem pole stands north of Jasper Station. It is associated with the Haida, an Indigenous people of British Columbia, Canada. When walking in front of the station, this is a place to turn your attention to the town’s history, connected with both the railway and Indigenous culture.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is a resort hotel operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.
It has a different character from the château-style Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Basic information about Jasper
The information below was checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Please also check the latest information on the official website when planning your trip.
- 🔗 Official website
- Parks Canada’s Jasper National Park fees page provides information on admission fees and passes.
FeesFree admission and discounted camping fees, program fees, and more.parks.canada.ca - 📍 Location
- Jasper, Alberta, Canada. The information centre is on500 Connaught Drive.
- 🕒 Hours
- Hotels, attractions, rail services and the Jasper SkyTram each have different hours and operating conditions. The information centre is open from2026 year10 month1 day to2027 year3 month31 day, from9:00 to17:00; it is closed on12 month25 day. These are not the hours for the entire town.
- 💶 National park fees
-
- 1Day pass – adult (18 to64 years) 12.25 Canadian dollars
- 1Day pass – senior (65 years and over) 10.75 Canadian dollars
- 1Day pass – youth (17 years and under) free
- 1Day pass – family / group 24.50 Canadian dollars. For up to7 people arriving in1 vehicles
- ⏱️ Suggested duration
- For a walk through the town centre, Jasper Station, Jasper Bear and the totem poles, continuing to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge area, allow about2 to4 hours. ⚠️ If you combine this with the Jasper SkyTram and nearby lakes and hikes, allow half a day to1 days.
Access to Jasper
The main road to Jasper is Highway 16 through Jasper National Park (Highway 16). It is also known as the Yellowhead Highway.
From the Banff area, the Icefields Parkway connects Lake Louise, the Trans-Canada Highway
1 near Banff and Jasper. Allow extra time for stops, traffic and bad weather.
By car
Jasper National Park has seasonal road closures and travel restrictions, and plans may change without notice. Immediately before departure, check road conditions and closures on Alberta’s 511, and do not rely solely on a navigation app.
Jasper highlights
Railway Carriages
I saw CN ET44AC at Jasper Station. Canadian National Railway is a Canadian freight railway company. It is called “CN” after its initials. The vehicle is a diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by GE.
Canadian railways focus primarily on freight rather than passenger transport. Canadian National Railway is Canada’s largest railway company.
The CN U-1-a class steam locomotive was formerly operated by Canadian National Railway. The only preserved U-1-a class locomotive is at Jasper Station.
The VIA Rail F40PH-2D is a diesel-electric locomotive manufactured by GM-EMD. VIA Rail (Via Rail) is a Canadian passenger railway company. “VIA” is pronounced “vee-uh.”
VIA Rail’s predecessors were the passenger division of Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway.
A Park car is a railcar that VIA Rail inherited from Canadian Pacific Railway. It was manufactured by the Budd Company. Each car is named after a national or provincial park in Canada, and the series is called the Park series.
For attractions, transport and suggested itineraries, see “Canadian Rockies: A Guide to Attractions, Food, Transportation, and Suggested Itineraries”.
