Eight Fun Family-Friendly Winter Activities in Jasper

Category: Local Outdoor Adventures + Plan B's

These eight fun family-friendly winter activities in Jasper are an excellent way to unplug and get outside with your family.

1. Snowshoe at Maligne Lake

Maligne Lake is where the snow is, lots of knee-deep snow.

take a hike with your children,three mountain family hikes,families closer to nature,maligne lake,jasper national park
The Maligne Lake Winter Trails, Bald Hills Parking Lot
maligne lake snowshoeing

Bald Hills Trail is in  Woodland Caribou Habitat, the Bald Hills Trail and many others in the Maligne Lake area remain closed until February 28th. A very reliable source told me that they hadn’t seen a Caribou in this area for many years…hopefully, they are there but just keeping their distance.

Upper Moose Loop – 6km loop

Chariot with skis or
Cross Country Ski Pulk Friendly

Once a tracked set cross-country ski trail it is now a designated snowshoe trail. Although no longer track set, you could comfortably ski the trail with a pair of light touring skis.

The trail meanders through a fragrant Alpine Forest of Spruce and Pine trees, most of which are hosts to Old Man’s Beard and Witches Hair lichens.

This trail also takes you past a very old rockslide.

take a hike with your children,three mountain family hikes,families closer to nature,maligne lake,jasper national park
Upper Moose Snowshoe Loop
take a hike with your children,three mountain family hikes,families closer to nature,maligne lake,jasper national park
Ancient Rock Slide, Upper Moose Lake Loop, Maligne Lake.

The Upper Moose Loop isn’t an official summer trail, but my son and I did end up on this trail last summer, and we both concur, it is best as a snowshoe trail.

take a hike with your children,three mountain family hikes,families closer to nature,maligne lake,jasper national park
Upper Moose Loop, Summer – it isn’t an official summer trail.
take a hike with your children,three mountain family hikes,families closer to nature,maligne lake,jasper national park
take a hike with your children,three mountain family hikes,families closer to nature,maligne lake,jasper national park
Scored tree along the Upper Moose Loop, Maligne Lake

Heading Down Trail, Upper Moose Loop, Maligne LakeAt one point in time, someone has scored the trees with arrows- definitely not something that Parks would have done.

Moose Lake Loop- 2.6km loop

Chariot with skis or
Cross Country Ski Pulk Friendly

Perfect for families with younger children and beginner snowshoers.

take a hike with your children,three mountain family hikes,families closer to nature,maligne lake,jasper national park

moose lake, jasper national park
Moose Lake, Jasper National Park
moose lake jasper national park
Moose Lake, Jasper National Park

If you would like to combine the Moose Lake Loop with the Upper Moose Loop, I  would suggest starting with the Moose Lake trail and connect to the Upper Moose Lake Loop, which then takes you downhill to Maligne Lake.

I, of course, did it the opposite way, and started along the Maligne Lake shoreline to the Upper Moose Snowshoe trail and went back along the portion of the Lower Moose Snowshoe trail that goes past Moose Lake.

cross country tracks at maligne lake
Following cross-country tracks along the Maligne Lake shoreline.
winter activities in jasper
We are not the only ones that follow the shoreline.
upper moose loop in jasper
The trail to the Upper Moose Loop continues behind these rocks.
best hikes in jasper
This group of three were on their way back to the Bald Hills Parking Lot.
best hikes in jasper
This is me, enjoying my “alone” time. Although I’m never truly alone on the trails and I always manage to meet some fascinating people.

Mary Schaffer Loop 3.2km loop

Chariot with skis or
Cross Country Ski Pulk Friendly

I have walked the full loop in the summertime, but on this particular winter visit I was pressed for time, so I only went to the viewpoint.

maligne lake viewpoint
The viewpoint provides an excellent view of Maligne Lake.
best hikes in jasper
In a few more months, this boathouse, built by guide Curly Phillips, will be a beehive of activity.
mary schaffer loop trail in jasper
Mary Schaffer Loop trail towards the Lookout. Snowshoes not required.

2. Ice Skate On A Mountain Lake

Lake Mildred Ice Park at Jasper Park Lodge (JPL) and Pyramid Lake offer ice skating loops, hockey rinks, curling sheets and bonfires that provide a cozy place to warm up beside.

lake mildred ice park
lake mildred ice park in jasper
Lake Mildred Ice Park, Jasper Park Lodge, is open to the public.
curling at lake mildred ice park
Curling at Lake Mildred Ice Park

Tiki Torches line the Mildred Lake Skating oval so you can skate at night. Unfortunately, these torches didn’t get lit the night I went, thankfully, I had my headlamp, so I managed to see where I was going and skated for a good 30 minutes before I left.

tiki torches on maligne lake
The street lights were on, but the tiki torches were not.
bonfire in jasper
Warm Up by the bonfire at Lake Mildred Ice Park, Jasper Park Lodge.
lake mildred ice park in jasper
Snow(?)man at Lake Mildred Ice Park, Jasper Park Lodge
pyramid lake ice rink in jasper
Pyramid Lake Ice Rink-  there is also a bonfire and a curling rink.

3. Go For A Sleigh Ride

On weekends, Jasper Stables offers Sleigh Rides to Pyramid Island.

jasper stables sleigh rides in jasper
The team from Jasper Stables, getting ready to head home after a long day.
horses on a sleigh ride in jasper
jasper riding stables

We have also enjoyed summer trail rides with Jasper Riding Stables.

4. Strap on Some Skinny Skis

There are cross-country ski options close to the town of Jasper if you’re looking for some family-friendly winter activities.

Maligne Lake isn’t a track set, but you can break trail and head to Hidden Cove. Something that is still on my “to ski list.”

skiing maligne lake
A group skiing down to Hidden Cove, Maligne Lake
pyramid island jasper national park
skiing past Pyramid Island, Pyramid Lake, Jasper National Park

You can rent skis and snowshoes from several different locations in Jasper.

5. Take A Hike With Your Children

Here are a few of my favorite hikes in Jasper to take with my children during the winter:

Overlook Trail – 6km Loop

Wide Wheeled Stroller Friendly

There isn’t a lot of snow on the bench, snowshoes are not necessary, and I made it up to the lookout without the need for Yaktrax.

best winter activities in jasper

I had the Red Chairs all to myself on this trip.

one of my favorite hikes in jasper
ughh, I don’t enjoy selfies, but I was told I need to do a few more.

From the chairs continue along the Overlook Trail for some fantastic views of the Valley.

Pyramid Island Trail

Wide Wheeled Stroller Friendly, i.e., Chariot

The Pyramid Island on this visit was well packed down, and rather than take this path back I walked back to the parking lot on the lake.

winter hikes in jasper
Bridge to the Island, Pyramid Lake, Jasper National Park
pyramid mountain winter hiking in jasper
Pyramid Mountain – the red swath are dead pine trees infested with the Pine Beetle.

Valley of The Five Lakes- 4.5 km Loop

This VERY popular summer hike is also a designated Winter Hike. I recommend Yaktrax; I’m not sure snowshoes are necessary, as there isn’t a lot of snow in the valley.

valley of the five lakes jasper national park
Red Chairs at the Valley of The Five Lakes, Jasper National Park
best winter hikes in jasper
Open Water in the middle of January. Third Lake, Valley of The Five Lakes, Jasper National Park

There are some slippery spots along the steeper sections of the trail, in the winter, I would recommend this trail for families with older children.

winter hiking in jasper
Ice, snow, rocks – a slippery slope on The Valley of Five Lakes trail.
winter hiking in jasper
exercise caution as a slip on the ice could quickly send you sliding down the slope onto the lake.
moose tracks in jasper in the winter
Moose Tracks on 4th Lake, Valley of Five Lakes, Jasper National Park

PLAN B

The weather isn’t great, or perhaps the kids are not cooperating? Here are some Plan B’s.


6. Visit The Jasper-Yellowhead Museum

Visiting the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum is absolutely a family favorite! Best of all this is one of the nice warm winter activities in Jasper you can enjoy with your family.

7. Go For A Swim

The Jasper Fitness and Aquatic Centre is a great motivational tool to keep the kids going on the trails.

8.  Play in a Park

centennial park in jasper national park

My boys loved Centennial  Park!

Download or pick up a Jasper National Park Winter Adventure Guide.

Don’t Forget Your Jasper Park Pass

For fun family-friendly activities in Jasper, you’ll need to make sure you have a Parks Canada pass.. Please feel free to reference my blog post on national Parks Passes in Canada, and how and where to get one.

Pick Up A Copy Of Take A Hike With Your Children

My sold out book, Take A Hike With Your Children, is now available on Amazon as an eBook. Pick up your copy today, and begin exploring the Rockies!

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