Summit Restaurant

Overview

About Summit Restaurant

Perched on the second floor of the Jasper SkyTram upper station, Summit Cafe is all about the scenery. You ride seven minutes up Whistlers Mountain, step into a glassy dining room, and sit down to sweeping views over six mountain ranges, the Athabasca Valley, and the town far below. Come hungry if you want, but come for the view.

Why stop

Jaw-dropping panoramic views from your table
Perfect refuel stop before or after summit hikes

Heads up

Prices feel high for food that can be hit-or-miss
Gets packed at midday with limited menu and occasional slow service

This is true mountaintop dining—not just a patio with a view. You’re eating above treeline with alpine tundra outside the door and short summit trails leaving from the station. On a clear day, cloud layers can sit below you. Even the most average coffee feels special up here.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhat Makes It Different

Map

Where it is

Loading the Jasper map

Full map

RestaurantSummit Restaurant52.83592, -118.12635

Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Local know-how

Tips for visiting Summit Restaurant

Book SkyTram tickets in advance—summit rides often sell out on clear days.
Arrive before 11 am to nab a window seat and avoid the lunch rush.
Bring an extra layer; wind and weather change fast at 2,200+ meters.
Pair your visit with the short hike toward the true summit for bigger views.
Traveling with a dog? Dogs can ride the tram, but they can’t enter the cafe.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Tip: hours and tram schedules vary seasonally; time your meal with your return trip down.

Early morning: quieter, soft light on the ranges, easy to snag a window seat.
Late afternoon: crowds thin and the light gets warmer for photos.
Midday: busiest—expect a queue and a louder room.

Logistics

Access is only via the Jasper SkyTram; there’s no road to the summit. Park at the lower station, ride up, and the cafe is upstairs in the upper terminal.
Seating near the windows is the prize; expect a wait during peak hours.
The dining room is on the second level via stairs.

8 active Jasper alerts

ClosureWildfire-impacted areas and facilities closedStay out of closed wildfire-impacted areas and facilities in Jasper National Park; closures protect public safety after the 2024 wildfire and remain in effect while recovery and safety work continues.Official details
Closure93A (Wabasso Road) no through travel during roadworkFrom mid-October to early November 2026, plan for 93A (Wabasso Road) to be accessible from the south entrance only; no through travel is expected during roadwork.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Jasper Tour Guide

Your drive to Summit Restaurant, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Jasper National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Jasper audio tour

Recorded for this area

Jasper SkyTram: Ride to the Rooftop of Jasper

Listen

“Up ahead is the road for the Jasper SkyTram, which is Canada's highest and longest aerial tramway. It’s a quick seven-minute ride that takes you right up into the alpine zone of Whistlers Mountain.”

Plays on the road 1.7 km from Summit Restaurant in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.

More about Summit Restaurant

Food & DrinkExpect casual, comfort-forward fare and hot drinks: burgers, wraps, paninis, poutine, desserts,…

Expect casual, comfort-forward fare and hot drinks: burgers, wraps, paninis, poutine, desserts, and plenty of coffee and tea. Reviews call out the breakfast bowl, bison chili, hikers’ poutine, chicken wraps, and brisket sandwich; beer, wine, and cocktails are available. Quality gets mixed feedback, but the vibe and setting usually win the day.

Wildlife & SceneryRight around the summit trails you might spot hoary marmots, pikas, ground squirrels, and…

Right around the summit trails you might spot hoary marmots, pikas, ground squirrels, and high-country birds like ravens and Clark’s nutcrackers. Keep your eyes on the slopes and rocky outcrops, especially on quieter shoulder-season days.

Pair It WithGrab a window table for a warm-up, then walk the ridgeline toward the true summit of Whistlers…

Grab a window table for a warm-up, then walk the ridgeline toward the true summit of Whistlers Mountain for even bigger views. Or do the hike first and earn your poutine after.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Jasper

All Jasper wildlife maps

174 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

43 sightingsCaribouMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

40 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

12 sightingsCanada LynxMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

315 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

1,028 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Jasper. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.