Jasper National Park

Scenic viewpoints in Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park’s landscape is defined by dramatic elevation changes and significant glacial activity. This collection highlights accessible overlooks and hiking summits across the Icefields Parkway and Maligne Valley. Key sites include the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield, and the unique hydrological system of Medicine Lake. From the 360-degree panoramas atop Old Fort Point to the iconic Spirit Island on Maligne Lake, these locations showcase the region's limestone peaks and turquoise glacial waters.

Scenic Viewpoints — Map

A

Patricia Lake

A glacial lake known for the underwater remains of Project Habakkuk, a WWII-era experiment to build an aircraft carrier from a frozen mixture of wood pulp and ice.

Jack Borno / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Medicine Lake

A seasonal lake that drains every autumn through one of the world's largest inaccessible underground cave systems, leaving behind a mudflat landscape.

Carlos Delgado / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Athabasca Glacier

One of the six principal toes of the Columbia Icefield. This receding glacier is visible from the Icefields Parkway, with markers indicating its historical reach since 1890.

Rickymgb / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Athabasca falls - Viewpoint

Overlooks a 23-meter waterfall where the Athabasca River is forced through a narrow quartzite gorge, creating powerful spray and deep potholes in the rock.

E

Old Fort Point

A prominent bedrock hill near the Jasper townsite. A short, steep hike leads to a 360-degree panorama of the Athabasca Valley and the Victoria Cross Ranges.

F

Lower Sunwapta Falls

Located two kilometers downstream from the upper falls, this site features a series of smaller drops and limestone canyons along the Sunwapta River.

G

Old Fort Point

A high-altitude vantage point providing views of the town of Jasper, the Athabasca River, and the surrounding mountain ranges including Mount Edith Cavell.

H

Sulphur Skyline Trail Viewpoint

Reached via a steep 4-kilometer trail starting at Miette Hot Springs, this summit offers clear views of the Ashlar Ridge and the Fiddle River Valley.

Jamie-Lee Earl / CC-BY-SA

I

Goat Lick Viewpoint

A roadside observation point on the Icefields Parkway where mountain goats frequently descend to lick mineral deposits from the silt cliffs.

J

Edith Cavell Pond

A meltwater pond at the base of Mount Edith Cavell, often filled with icebergs that have calved from the hanging Cavell Glacier.

K

Spirit Island Lookout

A famous vantage point overlooking a small, tree-covered peninsula in Maligne Lake, framed by the peaks of the Hall of the Gods.

L

Stutfield

A roadside viewpoint on the Icefields Parkway facing the Stutfield Glacier, notable for its two distinct icefalls cascading down the face of Mount Stutfield.

M

Spirit island

A small tied island on Maligne Lake, accessible only by boat, and one of the most recognized landmarks in the Canadian Rockies.

N

Mona Lake

A quiet alpine lake located near the Mary Schäffer Loop trail, surrounded by dense subalpine forest.

O

Lorraine Lake

A small, secluded lake situated between Maligne Lake and the Skyline Trail trailhead.

P

Viewpoint

A roadside stop along Maligne Lake Road providing views of the Maligne Range and the lower Athabasca Valley.

Q

Maligne Lake Viewpoint

Offers perspectives of the 22-kilometer long glacial lake, the largest in the Canadian Rockies, and the surrounding mountain peaks.

R

Wilcox Viewpoint

Located along the Wilcox Pass trail, this viewpoint provides a direct line of sight across the valley to the Athabasca Glacier and Snow Dome.

S

East-ridge Summit

A high-altitude ridge near the Jasper SkyTram upper station, offering views extending toward the townsite and Mount Robson on clear days.

T

Geraldine Lookout

A lookout point providing views of the Geraldine Lakes valley and the rugged peaks of the Fryatt Range.

U

Punch Bowl Falls

A waterfall where Mountain Creek has carved a distinct circular bowl into the limestone rock layers.

V

Ashlar ridge viewpoint

A pull-off on Highway 16 showcasing the vertical limestone strata and sharp peaks of the Ashlar Ridge.

Other Lists

Jasper National Park's Absolute Essentials Majestic Mountain Peaks Majestic Glaciers and Icefields Camping Adventures Lakes and Waterfalls