Going to Jasper for the first time since the wildfire? Here’s what you should know before you go 

Mount Kerkeslin, July 29, 2024. (Source: Parks Canada)

A year after a wildfire destroyed one third of the town, Jasper is open and eager to return to the normalcy of hosting summer visitors. Here’s what you should know before planning a trip.

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Quick facts

On July 22, 2024, wind pushed three wildfires to merge into one big wildfire that would breach the Jasper townsite two days later. In total, the fire burned 330 square kilometres of land in the national park and destroyed some 350 buildings in the townsite, forcing its closure for nine weeks.

The fire was classified as under control on Sept. 7 and extinguished on April 1.

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the wildfire was the second-costliest fire disaster in Canada’s history, with a total damage estimate of $1.23 billion.

Most of the park survived unscathed, but there are some accommodation and service reductions

Jasper has 20 per cent fewer visitors beds (in hotels and private rentals) than it did before the fire, and Jasper National Park’s camping inventory is down about 30 per cent. Because accommodations were in high demand before the fire, officials are stressing the importance of securing a place to stay before hitting the road.

As well, the wildfire destroyed or damaged several businesses in the townsite, plus trails, campgrounds and scenic points in the national park.

Most of the latter have been assessed and reopened, but Parks Canada expects some to remain closed for the summer, including Malign Canyon, Valley of the Five Lakes, and Cavell Road leading up to Mount Edith Cavell.

“The vast majority of the park is unaffected,” said Jasper National Park’s Jennifer Dubois. “You could almost come and in some places, you would not notice that there’s ever been a fire.”

According to Tourism Jasper, the destination has about 50 attractions and 70 food and beverage locations this year. Some of the businesses that were destroyed in the townsite have set up shop in a pop-up retail village at 635 Connaught Drive, including tour guides, bike rentals, and restaurants.

Both the municipality and park provide a list of open services online:

• What’s open in Jasper 
• What’s open in Jasper National Park

Businesses are also dealing with a smaller workforce, because the wildfire destroyed some of Jasper’s housing for seasonal workers.

The wildfire has created new tourism opportunities in the national park

Dubois said the wildfire has changed parts of Jasper National Park’s landscape in a once-in-a-lifetime way.

“There’s landscape features that have been revealed that you wouldn’t have seen before. We’ve had a fair bit of moisture here the last couple of weeks, so things have really started to green up, and I would anticipate we’ll start seeing fireweed and other really interesting, beautiful wildflowers coming out,” she told CTV News Edmonton at the end of May.

Parks Canada has prepared programming around the wildfire about fire ecology, fire-adapted species, and forest health, as are private tour operators.

Respectful curiosity about the wildfire’s impacts is welcome

Jasper’s mayor understands curiosity about wildfire damage is natural, but is asking visitors to obey closures and ask questions sensitively.

“There are still people in our town who are grieving and will be grieving for years to come,” Richard Ireland told CTV News Edmonton.

“We simply ask and we expect that (visitors) will be respectful… They’re invited to attend and learn what they can because what they learn here could help them save their own communities.”

The town and park will use signage to identify what is closed or open to only locals.

Parks Canada’s visitor experience centre has also been updated with information about the wildfire.

In the national park, it will be especially important to stay on trails in burned areas to prevent the spread of non-native vegetation, to prevent the creation of new rails, and to avoid animal encounters. Dubois said wildlife will be more visible in burned areas and should be given more space.

More information about hazards in burned wild areas are available on Parks Canada’s website.

Jasper wants and needs people to visit

Tourism is Jasper’s biggest industry and the busiest season, summer, makes the rest of the year profitable for most businesses.

As such, tourism is essential to the town’s recovery.

“I honestly believe the best thing that people can do is visit,” said Tourism Jasper’s CEO, Tyler Riopel. “The best thing that people can do is to come stay in a hotel, eat at a restaurant, buy some souvenirs. That ensures that our businesses stay healthy, which means our community stays employed.”

• Longtime driver of Jasper’s economy, tourism now key to town’s wildfire recovery