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Spot elk, moose, bears, and bighorn sheep on a guided wildlife tour through Jasper National Park. Choose from morning, evening, or sightseeing excursions that adapt daily to seasonal migrations and recent animal sightings.
Free Cancellation Spot elk, bears, moose, and bighorn sheep on a 3-hour bus tour through Jasper National Park’s wildlife corridors.
Free Cancellation This six-hour tour through Maligne Valley includes a 90-minute boat cruise to Spirit Island and wildlife spotting.
Free Cancellation Hike 3 km at Maligne Lake and spot wildlife from a minibus on this guided tour through Jasper's Maligne Valley.
Free Cancellation Spot elk, moose, and bighorn sheep on a small-group evening wildlife tour through Jasper National Park.
Free Cancellation Track elk, bears, and bighorn sheep across Jasper National Park on a three-hour morning minibus tour.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Jasper National Park — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Wildlife tours in Jasper National Park run for three to six hours in minibuses, tracking animals across the 11,000-square-kilometer protected area. Guides drive the Maligne Valley or lower elevation roads based on recent sightings of elk, moose, bears, and bighorn sheep. You spend most of the time scanning the tree line from the vehicle windows.
Minibuses crawl along the lower valley roads at dawn and dusk when large mammals feed. Guides communicate over radio to pinpoint recent grazing spots.
Six-hour tours drive 44 kilometers down Maligne Road to board a boat. The 90-minute cruise crosses glacial water to Spirit Island.
Black and grizzly bears forage along the highway edges in early summer. Drivers slow down for safe viewing through the windows while maintaining the required 100-meter distance.
Some itineraries stop at this receding lake for a short walk. Guides explain the local geology and the underground river system draining the water.
Tours scan the higher cliffs and rocky outcrops for mountain goats. Bighorn sheep frequently block traffic on the Icefields Parkway.
Drivers explain seasonal migration patterns and ecological changes over the vehicle's audio system. They adapt the daily route based on weather and animal movement.
Booking a wildlife tour requires choosing between early morning or evening departures. Minibuses handle the driving so you can focus on the tree line.
Morning tours leave at dawn to catch animals before midday heat drives them into the timber. Evening tours track mammals when they resume feeding. Pick the dawn departure if you want to avoid peak road traffic.
Operators report a 95 percent success rate for spotting wildlife, but specific animals are never guaranteed. The route changes daily based on recent sightings and seasonal migration patterns.
The $12.25 CAD daily adult park pass is not included in the tour price. You must buy this pass online or at the park gate before your pickup time.
You will view wildlife primarily from inside a minibus. Guides occasionally permit guests to step outside at safe viewpoints. Children under five must have a paid, allocated seat for capacity rules.
Operators pick up directly from a specific list of hotels in the Jasper townsite. If your accommodation is missing from the list, you must meet the bus at the Two Brothers Totem Pole on Connaught Drive.
Mountain weather drops to freezing temperatures even in July. Bring warm layers and a rain jacket for the boat cruise or shoreline walks.
Most operators offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. Tours run in all weather conditions.
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| Evening Wildlife Tour | Morning Wildlife Tour | Maligne Lake Tour with Cruise | Maligne Valley Sightseeing Hike | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3 hours | 3 hours | 6 hours | 6 hours |
| Focus | Tracking elk, bears, and moose | Dawn animal activity | Wildlife spotting and Spirit Island boat ride | Wildlife tracking and 3 km guided hike |
| Transport | Minibus | Minibus | Minibus and boat | Minibus |
| Price from | $71 USD | $71 USD | $173 USD | $80 USD |
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Jasper National Park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. All major travel routes stay maintained through winter, though heavy snow can cause temporary closures.
The Jasper townsite Information Centre at 500 Connaught Drive operates from 9am to 5pm between September 28 and May 13. Summer hours stretch from 9am to 7pm. The building closes on December 25.
The Parks Canada desk at the Columbia Icefield Centre opens from 10:30am to 5pm between mid-May and late September.
Driving west from Edmonton on Highway 16 takes about four hours to cover the 365 kilometers to the park's east gate. Travelers coming from Calgary drive the Trans-Canada Highway to Banff, then follow the Icefields Parkway north for a 415-kilometer trip.
VIA Rail operates regular train service to the Jasper station from Edmonton and Vancouver. The Rocky Mountaineer tourist train runs seasonal daytime trips between Vancouver, Banff, and Jasper.
SunDog Transportation runs daily shuttle buses from the Edmonton and Calgary airports directly to the Jasper townsite. Fares start around $28 CAD one-way.
June through September brings daily highs around 20°C and full access to high-elevation trails. About 80 percent of annual visitors arrive during these summer months.
Mid-July and August cause congested parking at Maligne Lake and Lake Annette. These months also carry the highest wildfire-smoke risk. Late May and September balance clear weather with lighter crowds.
Winter months drop the visitor count drastically. December through March leaves frozen canyons clear for guided ice walks and snowshoeing.
The park maintains several wheelchair-accessible trails. The newly paved Lake Annette loop covers 2.4 kilometers with zero elevation gain and features accessible toilets.
Key viewpoints at Maligne Lake, Pyramid Lake, and the Icefields Parkway pull-outs offer short, level walks from the parking lots. The Jasper SkyTram gondola provides mountain views from 2,263 meters without requiring a hike.
Whistlers and Wapiti campgrounds include accessible campsites and washrooms. Miette Hot Springs has fully accessible pool facilities.
The Jasper townsite acts as the central service hub, holding museums, restaurants, and shops. The 1913 Information Centre building sits on Connaught Drive.
Miette Hot Springs sits 61 kilometers east of town, offering 40°C mineral soaking pools. The Columbia Icefield Centre, located 103 kilometers south on Highway 93, provides glacier tours and the glass-floored Skywalk.
Washrooms and paid parking sit near the central tour pickup spot at the Two Brothers Totem Pole. Most trailheads have dry toilets but lack running water.
A daily adult pass costs $12.25 CAD. Seniors pay $10.75, and youth 17 and under enter free. A Family/Group day pass covers up to seven people in one vehicle for $24.50.
No, tour operators do not include the Parks Canada admission fee in their ticket prices. You need to purchase your pass online or at the park gate before joining the tour.
Wildlife viewing happens primarily from inside the minibus for safety. Guides may allow guests to step outside at designated viewpoints if no predators are immediately present.
Early morning and late evening offer the highest chances of seeing animals. Elk, moose, and bears feed during these cooler hours and retreat into the timber during the midday heat.
Children under five can join, but they must have a paid ticket and their own allocated seat for vehicle capacity reasons. Operators note that the three-hour vehicle-based tours lack scheduled stops, so young children might get restless.
Operators pick up from a specific list of hotels in the Jasper townsite. If your hotel is not on the list, you must meet the bus at the Two Brothers Totem Pole across from the Information Centre.
Operators track a 95 percent success rate for finding animals, but sightings are never guaranteed. The park is a wild environment and the animals move freely across 11,000 square kilometers.
Bring warm layers and a rain jacket. Mountain weather changes rapidly, and early morning or evening departures get cold. The boat ride on Maligne Lake feels chilly even in July.
Parks Canada regulations require all vehicles and pedestrians to maintain a 100-meter distance from bears. Drivers slow down or stop at safe distances—usually 100 meters—to let you watch from the windows.
No pets can board the tour vehicles. Only service dogs with valid documentation are permitted on the minibuses.
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This three-hour bus tour tracks elk, bighorn sheep, bears, and moose through Jasper National Park. Routes change daily. The driver picks the path based on that morning's sightings and the seasonal migration. You'll likely see something—guides report sightings on 95% of outings—but wildlife is unpredictable. If the weather turns or the animals stay deep in the trees, you might just get a long drive with a view. That's the risk. Keep your binoculars ready for bald eagles in the snags or mountain goats on the higher scree slopes. The bus stops frequently. You'll look for coyotes and mule deer without the engine noise. It's a small-group setup, so you can hear the guide explain how these animals survive the winters. Bring a telephoto lens; the bus stays on the road to keep a safe distance from the grizzlies.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This six-hour tour covers the 46-kilometer stretch of Maligne Road from Jasper to the lake. You'll spend 90 minutes on a boat crossing the glacial water to reach the Spirit Island viewpoint. It's the only way to see the island unless you paddle yourself for several hours. The boat gets chilly even in mid-summer, so bring a jacket. Medicine Lake is the first major stop, where you'll walk the shoreline below limestone cliffs. The lake drains through a natural sinkhole system every autumn—leaving a mudflat behind. Keep your eyes on the roadside clearings for elk, bighorn sheep, and black bears. Sightings aren't guaranteed, but the drivers know the usual haunts. Book the morning slot if you want the calmest water for photos. The afternoon wind often kicks up whitecaps on the lake. If the cruise is cancelled due to weather, the tour usually pivots to a longer canyon walk.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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A small-group minibus takes you through the Maligne Valley for a 3 km guided hike at Maligne Lake. You'll stop first at Medicine Lake to walk the shoreline. These groups are small enough that the guide can actually answer questions about local geology and ecology. It's a solid choice if you'd rather not drive the narrow roads yourself. Guides track local elk and bear activity to decide where the bus stops for photos. The guide explains how the valley's drainage system works—Medicine Lake famously drains out like a bathtub every autumn. Bring sturdy boots. The trail is mostly flat but gets muddy after June rains. If the clouds are low, you'll miss the mountain peaks, but the wildlife is often more active in the mist. Wear layers.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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These evening tours track Jasper’s largest mammals when they’re most active. Guides drive to known grazing spots to find elk, moose, and bighorn sheep across the lower valleys. Mountain goats often appear on the higher cliffs. Deer are common. Van tours keep groups small so everyone gets a window view. Guides explain the behavior of predators like foxes, wolves, and coyotes between stops. The driver pulls over for photos, though park regulations require everyone to stay near the vehicle for safety. Grizzly sightings are rare on this specific route — don't count on them. Bring a jacket, as temperatures drop fast once the sun slips behind the peaks.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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This three-hour minibus tour departs at dawn to catch Jasper’s wildlife before the midday heat drives them into the timber. Local guides change the route every morning based on where elk, moose, or bears were last spotted. You aren't guaranteed a sighting, but the tour tracks a 95% success rate. Expect to see bighorn sheep or deer at a minimum. The van moves through the Athabasca Valley or along the Maligne Lake road depending on seasonal migrations. You’ll spend most of the time scanning the meadows and treelines from your seat, with stops for photos when animals appear near the shoulder. It's often cold before the sun hits the valley floor. Bring a jacket even in August. If you're looking for bears, book between May and early July when they forage at lower elevations. By late summer, they move higher up the mountains and become harder to spot from the road. Bring a camera with a zoom lens; the guide provides binoculars, but the best shots usually require your own gear.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English