Summer in Jasper National Park is full of iconic experiences—paddling turquoise lakes, hiking mountain trails, and soaking up long days under endless blue skies. But beyond the bucket-list classics lies a side of Jasper that many visitors never discover.
From yoga sessions in alpine settings and Indigenous-led plant walks to glacier eco-adventures and voyageur canoe journeys, these experiences offer a deeper, more memorable way to connect with the Rockies. If you're looking to venture beyond the expected this summer, these unique Jasper adventures are a great place to start.
Unique Things to Do in Jasper National Park
Water-based
- SUP on a crystal clear lake
- Catch & Cook fishing tour
- Inflatable whitewater kayaking
- Rafting with your dog down the Athabasca
- Voyageur canoe experience
Land-based
- Wildfire hiking tour with panoramic picnic
- Plant walk with Indigenous Knowledge Keeper
- Eco-conscious Glacier tour
- Train tour
- Healing through Fire
Leisure-based
- Helicopter yoga
- Party on a rolling patio with Jasper Social Cycle
- Glacial Plunge at Fairmont Spa
- Dine on a mountain summit
- See stars during daylight at Jasper Planetarium
- Mystery food tour + theatre
- Unique accommodations
Unique water-based things to do in Jasper
Jasper National Park has 1,762 lakes (but can you guess the 18 best ones?) and there's tons of ways to enjoy them. And then there's the multiple historical rivers that served as highways for the region's earliest inhabitants. Here's five ways to explore and enjoy Jasper's waterways that are particularly memorable.
SUP on a crystal-clear lake
Stand-up paddleboarding (aka SUP) is already a pretty unique way to hit the water, but have you tried doing it on a lake so clear you can see the bottom? At the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Lac Beauvert is known for its sparkling green colour, and in certain shallower areas you can see straight through. Rent gear on-site from Embark Outpost & Provisions and afterwards, hit the patio for some lakeside cocktails and bites.
Catch & Cook fishing tour
Take your fishing trip to the next level with Jasper Park Fishing's Catch and Cook experience on Maligne Lake. Spend the day casting for rainbow and brook trout in one of Canada's most scenic mountain lakes, then enjoy a freshly prepared shore lunch cooked by your guide against a backdrop of towering peaks and glacier-fed waters. It's a true taste of Jasper's wilderness—literally.
Rafting with your dog down the Athabasca
Why should your four-legged adventure buddy miss out on unique adventures? Bring Fido along for a special dog-friendly float down the Athabasca River with Jasper Raft Tours and experience the national park from their stable, 7 metre long rafts. Dogs must be on leash at all times and have good temperament in the presence of other pooches.
Paddle a Voyageur canoe
Embark on a guided canoe tour in a handcrafted voyageur canoe on Pyramid Lake with Wild Current Outfitters. Great for small groups who want to enjoy the incredible sights and wildlife in true Canadian fashion with baked goods and hot drinks!
Whitewater kayaking
Experience Jasper’s rapids up close in an inflatable kayak! Follow your guide through scenic river stretches and splashy Class II rapids for the perfect mix of thrills and tranquility. These easy-handling, sit-on-top kayaks put you right at the heart of the action, offering a thrilling yet beginner-friendly way to experience the river.
Unique land-based things to do in Jasper
Hiking, biking, and sightseeing are wonderful ways to experience Jasper National Park's varied landscape. But if you want to go deeper, and have the experience be as extraordinary as the mountains themselves, these unique guided tours will set your story apart.
Indigenous Plant Walk
Get to know the medicinal properties of Jasper's flora. Join Cree Knowledge Keeper, Matricia, as she takes you on a fascinating journey through the plant world of the region. This leisurely, 1.5 hour exploration looks at the medicinal, cultural and sometimes surprising ways Indigenous groups use the region's flowers, trees, shrubs and more. Finish with a half hour of hands-on making of salves or some other product, which is then yours to take home.
Wildfire Peak-nic
Swap a traditional picnic for a wild adventure with Jasper Food Tours' Wildfire Peak-nic experience. Guided by local experts, you'll explore an area that was deeply affected by the 2024 wildfire and witness a landscape in transition. Finish with a thoughtfully curated picnic featuring local flavours and panoramic views. It's the perfect blend of nature, storytelling, and great food—all set against Jasper's spectacular mountain scenery.
Tread Lightly Glacier Hike
The Athabasca Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in the world. It’s located just off the Icefields Parkway, with a trail heading up to its toe. But the only way to actually go on the glacier is with a guide, and Rockaboo Mountain Adventures’ full day tour provides the best. Equal parts adventure and discovery, you'll hike across the glacier's ancient ice, learn about the powerful forces that shaped the Rockies, and experience a side of Jasper that few visitors ever see. Depending on conditions, there will be opportunities for people to increase their connection with this landscape by taking scientific samples or using ropes to explore some of these features more intimately in a safe and controlled manner.
Alternatively, the company's rock climbing experience will get you up close and personal with Jasper's magnificent walls of rock.
Train tour
SunDog Tour Co. is known for their amazing sightseeing tours, but their combo Train Journey and Sightseeing Tour is truly unique. It starts with about 3 hours of “Train Time” in VIA Rail’s luxurious Skeena Train. Upon arrival at the historic Dunster Train Station, you will be greeted by a driver who will guide you on a sightseeing return to Jasper. Along the way stop at Mount Robson, the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, and other spots if time permits! Snap pics and learn about the rich history, geology, and ecology of the region.
Unique leisure and culture-related things to do in Jasper
With its scenic hot tubs, cozy cabins, fascinating experiences and omnipresent connection to nature, Jasper is a prime spot to relax, recharge, and rediscover a culture beyond the rat race of everyday life. Slow down and sink into a unique new experience with these one-of-a-kind offerings.
Helicopter Yoga
Take your yoga practice to new heights—literally. With Jasper Hinton Air's Heli Yoga experience, you'll soar over the Canadian Rockies before landing on a remote mountain summit for a guided yoga session surrounded by panoramic alpine views. This bucket-list experience is an unforgettable ways to link your wild heart to Jasper's wild landscapes.
Jasper Social Cycle
Part bike, part patio, and all fun, the Jasper Social Cycle lets you pedal your way through town with friends while enjoying music, drinks, and plenty of laughs. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a unique way to explore Jasper, this electric-assisted rolling patio turns sightseeing into a social event.
Glacial Plunge
Refresh your body and awaken your senses with the Glacial Plunge experience at the newly renovated Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Guided by wellness professionals, this invigorating cold-water experience combines breathwork, mindfulness, and the restorative power of nature, offering a uniquely Rocky Mountain approach to relaxation and recovery.
Mystery food tour + live theatre
A package that feeds you AND entertains you? Get to know everything about Jasper while enjoying 4 restaurants, 4 plates and 4 drinks during the Downtown Foodie Tour. Shortly afterwards, head over to the Jasper Legion to enjoy a live performance of the one-hour show From Jasper, With Love. This highly-rated cocktail of sketches and features an evolving cast of silly and lovable characters that desperately, hilariously, try to warn the audience away from Jasper. With scenes set in some of Jasper’s most popular situations, from camping to stargazing to wildlife, the performance also gives a solid overview of Jasper’s culture and highlights.
See the stars during daylight
Jasper boasts the world’s second largest dark sky preserve, but in summer you'd barely know it since darkness doesn't fall until after 11 p.m. at times. If you'd rather not keep the kids up past their bedtimes the Jasper Planetarium is the solution. With a variety of year-round experiences that feature both their 50-seat dome theatre and the largest telescope in the Canadian Rockies.
Dine on a mountain summit
Eat with a view at the Summit Café, located in the Jasper SkyTram's Upper Station. After ascending to one of the highest accessible viewpoints in the Canadian Rockies, enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner surrounded by sweeping mountain vistas. Bookend your meal in the rugged alpine environment, where other adventures await.
Unique accommodations - Stay somewhere unexpected
Why stay somewhere ordinary when Jasper offers accommodations as unique as the adventures surrounding them? Spend the night immersed in nature at a hike-in backcountry cabin, wake up steps from Patricia Lake where you can jump off the dock into refreshing mountain waters, or go glamping in one of Jasper's charming tiny-home style retreats like Peas in a Pod. These distinctive accommodations add an extra layer of adventure to every Jasper getaway.
Shovel Pass Lodge: a hike-in backcountry cabin
