Jasper National Park of Canada

Horse Users Guide Jasper National Park

Horses have been used to explore the mountains of Jasper National Park for a long time. Early outfitters and explorers established many of the trails in the park's 1200-kilometer network. Today, these same trails sit within one of Canada's most spectacular national parks and a world heritage site.

Horse travel is welcome in many areas of the park. This guide will assist you in planning your horse trip and help limit your impact on the parks important (and fragile) wilderness.

Where Can You Ride?

Horse travel is permitted throughout the park EXCEPT for the following trails and areas:

Frontcountry:

• Old Fort Point, Wilcox Pass, Sulphur Skyline, Self-guided trails at Mt. Edith Cavell (Meadows, Path of the Glacier Trails), Lee Foundation Trail at Lake Annette, Whistlers Summit Trail, Maligne Canyon Trail, Mary Schäffer Loop (Maligne Lakeshore) and Miette Hot Springs Nature Trail (Sulphur Pass via Fiddle River Trail).
• All park picnic sites, campgrounds or camping facilities accessible by motorized vehicle and public use areas within Jasper townsite.
• The old mining and former townsite area at Pocahontas.
• All designated public beach areas.

Backcountry:

• Fryatt Valley
• Geraldine Lakes
• Merlin/Jacques Pass
• Jonas Pass
• Skyline Trail from Big Shovel Pass to Maligne Lake and on the lower part of the Watchtower Trail
• Eremite Valley

Party Size

Day use

There is no restriction on party size for day use in Jasper National Park. However, trail conditions will be monitored and restrictions applied where necessary to protect trails and natural features.
A maximum group size of ten people and twenty horses is permitted for private horse groups using backcountry camping facilities.

Overnight

Maximum group size for licensed commercial operators is twenty people and thirty-eight horses.

Backcountry Horse Trips

Horse camping is permitted at designated backcountry horse or horse/hiker campsites. Campfires are a luxury in the mountains and are not permitted in all areas. Fires are permitted only in the grates or established fire circles and only fallen, dead wood may be used for firewood.

Special Note : Fires are not allowed in high-use areas like the Tonquin Valley because of the scarcity of wood.

Fees

Before going on an overnight horse trip in the park, you must purchase a Grazing Permit and a Wilderness Camping Permit from the Information Centre. Ph: 780-852-6177. These permits must be carried at all times and produced upon request by a Park Warden. You must also purchase a National Park Pass upon arrival in Jasper National Park.

• Grazing Permit (per horse, per night) $1.90
• Wilderness Permit (per night, per adult age 17 +) $9.80
• Annual Wilderness Pass (per adult, valid 1 year from purchase) $68.70
• Reservation Fee (per trip) $11.70

Reservations

Private horse groups may reserve campsites up to 3 months prior to departure date on a first-come, first-serve basis. Horse groups will be required to submit a daily campsite trip schedule when they apply for a reservation. A trip schedule prevents conflicts with other parties. Please call 780-852-6177, or fax 780-852-1865 for a horse-grazing permit.

Length of Stay

The maximum length of stay per trip at each campsite will be three nights except at waterfalls, Blue Creek, Oatmeal, Chown and Timothy Slides campsites, where stays are limited to two nights.

Unattended Camps

No permanent or semi-permanent camps may be established in the park. Camps may normally be left unattended overnight for only one night. Outfitter's camps may be left unattended for two nights on back-to-back return trips at Miette Lake, Willow Creek, Middle Forks, Grizzly, Rocky Forks, Cline, Waterfalls, and Trapper Creek.

Grazing Quotas

All backcountry horse campsites in the park have established graze quotas. These quotas are based on the amount of available graze in each area.

Once a graze quota for a campsite has been reached, parties will be directed to other areas.

Horses kept in the backcountry must graze at random. To minimize environmental damage, tying of horses to trees is not recommended. If overnight tying is necessary, stretch a rope between two trees (high line).

A Pitch for Weed Free Hay

Weeds are the bullies of the plant world. Once they move in, even the hardiest native vegetation can't compete. The effects on native habitat are disastrous. Non-native plants (weeds) eventually dominate the native plant communities that are an important source of food, shelter, and habitat for the insect and animal species in Jasper National Park.

The spread of noxious weeds through hay is widespread. Many agencies are working to convince horse owners to use certified weed free hay. Parks Canada has adopted the Weed free hay program for it's own backcountry horse patrol program. Only commercial lodge operations may transport hay (certified weed free) into the backcountry. For more information on the province of Alberta's certified weed free hay program go to: www.agric.gov.ab.ca/crops/forage/hayprogram.html
A starting point for weed free hay purchases is at: www.agric.gov.ab.ca/store/haylist.html

More Information

If you have question regarding horse use in Jasper National Park, contact the Information Centre at 780-852-6177 or fax your questions to 780-852-1865. You can visit the Jasper National Park website at www.pc.gc.ca/jasper

Be sure to check Jasper National Park's Backcountry Visitors' Guide for general information on backcountry use.

Horse Stabling

If you wish to hold your horses overnight in the park, at the start or end of an overnight backcountry trip, you must use an approved corral space or holding facility (see list below). If you are staying in the frontcountry areas of the park or are passing through the park and need to board your horses, commercial holding facilities are available through the Cottonwood Corral Association at Pyramid Riding Stables. Please note that proof of a negative Coggins test is required to board your horses here. Contact Linda Patry at 780-852-3121 for information.

Holding Corrals

Horses may be kept for a maximum of 48 hours at any public holding corral in the park. The exception is with commercial operations at Portal Creek and Cavell Lake trailheads where stays of up to 72 hours are permitted. Grazing is not permitted at Trailheads - horses must be fed inside the corrals. Temporary primitive camps are permitted at holding corrals while stock is being held. Two herds-people and one tent/camper are permitted, but no fires are allowed.

Holding Corral Locations In Jasper National Park

• Portal Creek Trailhead Marmot Basin Road
• Poboktan Trailhead near Sunwapta Warden Station, 77 km. south of Jasper
• Beaver Lake Trailhead south end of Medicine Lake
• Maligne Pass Trailhead Maligne Lake
• Whirlpool River Trailhead (Athabasca Pass) near Moab Lake parking lot
• Camp Parker (Nigel Creek Trailhead) 114 km south of Jasper
• Dorothy Lake Trailhead at Geikie Siding
• Miette Lake Trailhead at Decoigne Warden Station
• Miette Hotsprings Corral

Special Restrictions - At the Miette Hotsprings Corral

• Horses may be kept at the Hot Springs corral for a maximum of 24 hours.
• This corral is for private use only. No commercial use is allowed. It holds approximately eight horses.
• Camping is not permitted at this corral
• Horses must be fed inside the corral. Grazing is not permitted in the surrounding area. The nearest water source can be found at Sulphur Creek, 250 meters away.