5 things to know before camping in Jasper National Park this summer

Reservations for summer camping in Jasper National Park open next week.

Frontcountry campground bookings open at 8 a.m. MT on Tuesday, while backcountry bookings open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

Sites will be available for dates from early May to late September, which is a longer timeline than usual.

But camping will look different in the park this year, as forests and the Jasper townsite recover from a devastating wildfire last July.

With more than 32,500 hectares burned, the wildfire was the most devastating to hit the national park in more than a century and about one-third of buildings in the townsite were destroyed.

Here’s what you need to know before going camping in Jasper National Park this summer.

WATCH | Jasper’s summer camping season will look different this year:

Are all campsites open?

Sections of Jasper National Park are closed due to impacts from the wildfire, which includes multiple campsites.

Some of the sites that are reopening will be accepting fewer campers than in previous years, as wildfire cleanup and repair efforts are underway.

“There’s lots of debris on the ground. There’s lots of trees that have come down,” said Graham Wylde, a Parks Canada visitor experience manager.

“We’ll be removing trees from the campgrounds, as well as repairing a lot of the utilities infrastructure in the campgrounds. The fire didn’t just impact everything on the surface. It did impact utilities that were buried underground, too.”

When it comes to frontcountry sites, Parks Canada says Whistlers, Miette and Overflow campgrounds will be fully open. Wapiti Campground will operate at reduced capacity, while Wabasso and Whirlpool Group campgrounds will be closed.

All backcountry camping sites will be open for the season.

Space at some campsites near the townsite will not be available, as it is being held as a potential area for future interim housing for Jasper residents who lost their homes in the wildfire.

How long will the repairs take?

Some campsites will remain closed for the foreseeable future, Wylde said.

“They’re going through a planning process, which will lead to a design and construction phase in the coming years to get those campgrounds back and open as soon as possible,” he said.

As for the sites that will be open for reservations, preparation work is underway to have them ready for campers in May.

Marco Espinosa Alvarez, Parks Canada visitor services team lead, said sites have to meet rigorous reopening standards.

“Our main concern is safety,” said Espinosa Alvarez. “Every area that we open for the public, we do it after an exhaustive assessment and exhaustive remediation work, all in regards to safety.”

Can I go hiking or biking on trails?

The majority of public trails will be open. Officials say areas to steer clear of will be clearly marked with signs.

There are fallen trees blocking some paths, but that is not the only concern. Flames have weakened soil and some trees or branches can more easily topple over or break.

Wylde advises people not to linger in fire-impacted areas and to “be very cautious when travelling on the trails in high wind events or rain events and things like that, where the environment can change quite quickly.”

How can you book a prime spot?

As any seasoned camper knows, not all camping spots are equal.

“Some spots are so in demand. People have been trying for years. It’s like winning the lottery when you get it,” said Jean-François Bussières. He’s the owner of Pure Outdoors, a camping and ski gear rental store in Jasper.

Graham Wylde from Parks Canada suggests pre-planning to not be disappointed.

“When you are going online, have a set idea of what you’re looking for, but also be prepared, if you can, to be flexible with your travel dates,” he said. “Plan to camp mid-week, or plan to camp in the shoulder season. Arrive in early May or plan to camp later in September. We’ve had beautiful trails here and amazing camping seasons right up until Thanksgiving.”

Bussières said it hopes to be open-minded.

“If you wait for the perfect spot or the most prime spot, it might take you years to get. But there’s always availability somewhere. And every hike, every paddle has something special.”

Is the town of Jasper open to visit?

The short answer is, yes. There is fencing around the townsite blocking off areas that burned, but the areas that survived the fire are up and running as usual.

Paul Butler, executive director of the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce, said visitation is the foundation of Jasper’s economy.

“We need tourists to survive. And the economic recovery of our community will be founded on visitation. It’s really important that people understand that we do want people to visit,” said Butler.

A full list created by the municipality of what’s open in Jasper can be found here.