Two years after Jasper wildfire, most attractions have reopened but major sites remain closed

Two years after the 2024 Jasper wildfire, most of the national park has reopened to visitors, though some major attractions remain inaccessible due to ongoing hazards and infrastructure rebuilds.

All backcountry campsites have reopened, along with 77 per cent of frontcountry campsites, including 80 newly reopened sites at Whistlers and Wapiti campgrounds. Earlier this summer, Parks Canada reopened Wabasso Lake, the Curator Trail and the Valley of the Five Lakes Trail. The agency rerouted the popular five-kilometre Valley of the Five Lakes loop onto some ridges for what it calls "spectacular views" and added stonework for new stairs after addressing trail erosion and invasive plants. Visitation numbers for 2026 match last year's and are within five per cent of 2023 pre-fire levels. Frontcountry camping reservations for July and August remain near capacity. To encourage travel, national park admission is free until September 7 and camping fees are discounted by 25 per cent through the Canada Strong Pass.

Two major attractions remain closed. Cavell Road is shut to all vehicles and hikers due to ongoing slope instability and risks of landslides and rockfalls. Popular hiking routes including the Path of the Glacier and Cavell Meadows trails at Mount Edith Cavell are also closed. Maligne Canyon, including its day-use area and trail, remains off-limits as recovery teams work through detailed engineering plans to address geotechnical concerns and danger trees along the canyon's steep drop-offs before guided tours can safely resume.

As for accommodations, 23 per cent of frontcountry campsites still remain closed. All of Wabasso, Whirlpool Group and Marmot Meadows Group campgrounds remain closed for full infrastructure rebuilds, and a portion of Wapiti Campground is also closed. Trail 9C, connecting Old Fort Point Trail to Valley of the Five Lakes Trail, is still shuttered for hazard tree removal. Amy Cairns, Director of Recovery for Jasper National Park, said the regrowth through fire-affected areas "has been really amazing," noting that grass is super high and wildflowers are everywhere. Last month, Ottawa announced a $520-million injection into rebuild efforts. Parks Canada is prioritizing road work this summer and into winter, and will begin work in the Mount Edith Cavell area by late summer to repave and establish permanent infrastructure.