The township of Jasper in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada has re-opened following the devasting wildfires.
Below are the facts shared to date:
- The Municipality of Jasper has lifted restrictions on visitors into Jasper.
- Tour operators and wholesalers are recommended to contact their regular supplier/operator for room bookings, which are currently focused on relocating existing bookings to hotels open for business, mainly Pursuit properties over the remaining summer period. The iconic Jasper Park Lodge remains closed, with Jonview noting till 30 September, 2024.
- All current new bookings are focused on winter 2024-2025 November to April. Or year round 2025.
- Winter 2024-2025 November to April, will be a major focus to play an important role in the community’s economic and social recovery and Tourism Jasper request this be a focus area for all trade partners.
- Via Rail is aiming for their schedule to resume with a 15 Sept departure from Toronto arriving in Jasper on 18 Sept as well as a 16 September departure from Vancouver arriving in Jasper on 17 September. This is still pending Parks approving for Via Rail to stop.
- The current ‘State of Emergency’ does remain in place as certain areas do have restricted access for a number of reasons; the chief one being safety. Any guests coming into this area should be are made aware that services remain limited although more businesses and services are coming on-line each day.
- For dining, restaurants open now include the Legion, Papa George’s, The Kimchee House, Lou Lous, The Crazy Elk Cafe, as well as the KFC outlet. Evil Dave’s restaurant anticipated to open the second week of September and can also assist with group dining reservations. As restaurants open they will be listed here https://www.jasper-alberta.ca/p/what-s-open-
- Tourism Jasper request to all travel advisors who have guests visiting that they be made aware to be sensitive to Jasper residents in terms of not stopping to take pictures of destroyed homes in respect of the many locals still grieving personal losses.
For the Park outside of the Townsite, Parks Canada has announced that effective this coming Friday, Sept 06th, a number of trails and day use areas will reopen. These will include:
- Along Miette Road
- All pullouts and viewpoints
- Miette Mine and the Sulfur Skyline Trails
- Along Highway 16
- Talbot Lake and Jasper Lake pullouts
- Morro Slabs climbing area
- All pullouts and viewpoints both east and west of town
- Dorothy Lake and Christine Lake Trails
- Along Highway 93
- Some pullouts have reopened with more to come
- Others though remain closed off and are marked accordingly
Further information will be shared as information comes to hand.
