Best time to visit
- Time of day: Early morning or late afternoon for softer light and fewer people.
- Day of week: Weekdays are calmer than weekends in summer.
- Season: Beautiful year‑round; summer is busiest, winter is serene but cold.
Overview
About The Red Chairs
Why stop
- Big, classic views of Maligne Lake from an easy, quick stop
- Steps from parking, restrooms, and picnic tables
Heads up
- Only two chairs, so you may have to wait for a photo
- Gets busy midday and parking can be tight
You’re here for the postcard view: turquoise water framed by forest and big mountain backdrops. It’s a quick, low‑effort reward and a fun photo op—ideal between a cruise or a stroll on the Mary Schäffer Loop.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy goMap
Where it is
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Full mapLocal know-how
Tips for visiting The Red Chairs
Go early or late for better light and a shorter wait for the chairs.
If the chairs are taken, follow the Mary Schäffer Loop for quieter viewpoints.
Pack a picnic—tables are plentiful but views are better nearer the shore.
Check Parks Canada’s Red Chairs page for current locations and updates.
Plan your stop
Before you go
Best time to visit
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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Jasper Tour Guide
Your drive to The Red Chairs, 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 tourRecorded for this place
The Red Chairs at Maligne LakeListen
“When you're at the Maligne Lake day-use area, look for a pair of bright red chairs near the picnic tables. Parks Canada places these in scenic spots throughout the park to encourage people to sit and take in the view.”
Plays as you drive up to The Red Chairs in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Maligne Lake Boat Cruise and Historic Chalet
- Opal Hills Trailhead: A Steep Climb or a Moose Walk
- The Map to Maligne Lake
- The Phantom River: Where Maligne Goes Underground
- 157 audio storiesacross Jasper’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Caribou, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 91 trails, 129 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
More about The Red Chairs
What it isParks Canada’s bright red Adirondack chairs are planted at choice viewpoints to nudge you to…
Parks Canada’s bright red Adirondack chairs are planted at choice viewpoints to nudge you to slow down and savor the scene. This pair sits beside the Maligne Lake picnic area, near the Mary Schäffer Loop and the lake cruise docks.
What to expectTwo red chairs facing Maligne Lake with easy access from the main day‑use area.
- Two red chairs facing Maligne Lake with easy access from the main day‑use area.
- Nearby facilities: parking, a restroom, and plenty of picnic tables in the trees.
- A lively vibe in peak season; tranquil early and late in the day.
WildlifeAround the picnic area you’re most likely to see birds and small mammals.
Around the picnic area you’re most likely to see birds and small mammals. Elk are seen in the area at times, and bear sightings do occur along the Maligne Lake road—always give wildlife space and secure any food.
Photography tipsThe chairs face the lake; morning and late‑day light is kinder and less crowded.
The chairs face the lake; morning and late‑day light is kinder and less crowded. If the chairs are occupied, walk a little farther along the shore or continue on the Mary Schäffer Loop for equally pretty angles.
Good to knowThis is one of multiple red‑chair spots spread around the park.
This is one of multiple red‑chair spots spread around the park. Locations can shift over the years; for the latest list, check Parks Canada before you go.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Jasper
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 mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Jasper. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
