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Five Things You Must Do in Jasper This Winter

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Jasper National Park is a winter playground, from skiing to exploring frozen canyons.

  • Ice walk in Maligne Canyon, the deepest in the Canadian Rockies.
  • Learn how to climb a frozen waterfall.
  • Ski or snowboard at the highest base elevation in Canada.
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Ahhh, winter in the Canadian Rockies. With snow-covered mountain peaks and wood-burning fires, Jasper National Park has a certain je ne sais quoi this time of year. Make the most of it with these five things you must do in Jasper this winter.

Step into an ice-walking adventure

What’s ice walking? It’s using special footwear to walk on a frozen surface. And Jasper National Park offers the most stunningly beautiful form of ice walking you may ever see. Maligne Canyon Icewalks takes you down the frozen Maligne River at the bottom of the beautiful smoothed-walled namesake canyon — the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park — where you will walk by a series of frozen waterfalls, ice caves and ice formations. It’s unforgettable.

A distant shot of a group touring Maligne Canyon, surrounded by cool canyon formations, while ice walking in Jasper National Park
Walk through the frozen wonderland of Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in the Canadian Rockies.

Face your fear and start climbing

Feeling adventurous? Try climbing a frozen waterfall. Rockaboo Mountain Adventures’ introduction to ice climbing course will have you going from newbie to conquering a frozen waterfall within a couple of hours. It may sound intimidating, but you’ll have crampons on your feet, an axe in your hand and a secure rope system to prevent falls.

An ice climber ascending with other climbers at the base, while ice climbing at Tangle Falls in Jasper National Park
With the help of an expert guide and some safety equipment, you’ll be climbing waterfalls in no time.

A winter wildlife safari

Many of the Jasper locals have four legs, fur and a big set of antlers. It might be more common in some areas to see elk, a moose or even a mountain goat than a real-life human. Wildlife tours run year-round, so you’ve got plenty of opportunities to spot animals in the park.

Keep your eyes peeled for four-legged residents of Jasper National Park.

Get ready to shred it

You can't come to the heart of the Canadian Rockies and not hit the slopes. Jasper's Marmot Basin is a powder haven, and it has the highest base elevation of any ski area in Canada. There's something for everyone, with close to 100 runs, almost equally divided between novice, intermediate, advanced and expert level.

Two snowboarders sit on the snow at the top of a run before snowboarding at Marmot Basin in Jasper National Park.
Don’t miss your chance to ski at the highest base elevation in the country.

Time to indulge

After a long day outdoors, it's time to refuel. Satisfy your appetite and quench your thirst at  Jasper Brewing Company, where you can find a wide range of craft beers, snacks and elevated pub food. The warm buttered soft pretzel comes highly recommended.

Note: Jasper Brewing Company will reopen in spring 2025.

Friends enjoying craft beer and food at Jasper Brewing Company
Relax with a bite and a brew after a day of exploring.