Great Runs in Jasper National Park, Canada

Note: For the Full Guide to Running in Jasper, see the GR Website

Jasper National Park is the largest in a series of national parks in the Canadian Rockies, bordering Banff National Park to the south. Some 2 million people visit this geographically spectacular area every year to enjoy its soaring mountains, countless lakes, glaciers, and deep woodlands. Like Banff, the area is also an outdoor playground, popular for hiking, skiing, and cycling, among other pursuits. There are also excellent running options, using the area’s extensive system of paths and trails and extensive roadways.

Town of Jasper: A good variety of running options. The signature run is the 8.1 km Jasper Discovery Loop. The main roads in town have sidewalks, and are great for exploring on foot. The Bighorn Trail and Wapiti Trail head out from town and are good for running.

Best Roads for Running near Jasper: For those who want to hit the pavement, the best options are: roads in the town of Jasper; sections of the spectacular Icefields Parkway; Camground/Whistlers Rd; the road along Pyramid Lake and along Medicine Lake; and Snaring Rd.

Best Trails and Paths for Running near Jasper: Best bets for running are the series of trails just east of town across the river, including loops around Lake Annette and Lac Beauvert. From town, the Bighorn & Wapiti Trails are great. Another favorite is Valley of the Five Lakes, 9 km south of Jasper.

Icefields Parkway Running Highlights: The 233 km Parkway between Jasper and Lake Louise is considered one of the most scenic drives in the world. Even though it’s a highway, it is runnable, since there’s a decent shoulder. We highlight some of the best sections for running.

For the full running guide to Jasper, see greatruns.com.