Backcountry Guide

Skyline

Semi-Primitive 

Download a printable PDF version (3.1 MB)

An exceptionally beautiful backpacking route: the highest trail in Jasper National Park.

• Suggested itineraries
• Directions to trailhead
• Safety in the backcountry
• Leave No Trace
• Backcountry equipment checklist
• Share Your Experience

	No fires permitted.
	No bikes permitted between Maligne Lake and Signal fire road.
	Caribou range. Dogs are not allowed.

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The Details

With almost 25 km of this trail hiked above treeline, the Skyline is Jasper’s highest and possibly most scenic trail. The high elevation allows for amazing views that extend over much of the park, encompassing vast meadows, windswept ridges and the chance to spot wildlife in the distance. Crossing three mountain passes, the Skyline trail offers a variety of flora, fauna and scenery unique to Jasper National Park. Be prepared for all weather conditions, and always check current conditions before setting off. Snow can fall any time of the year, and the section of trail called “the Notch” can be impassable early in the season.

What you need to know

The Skyline trail is Jasper’s most popular backcountry hiking trail, so we recommend booking in advance. This trail can only be hiked in the summer months, typically between July 15 and October 1.

Special considerations

The Skyline trail has two trails which can be used as escape routes during poor weather. The Wabasso trail is a long, rough 15-km trail with a steep descent of 1100 m, which ends on the Icefields Parkway, 14 km south of Jasper. The Watchtower trail is a 13.2-km trail which descends 985 m to the Maligne Lake Road. This trail is typically quite muddy throughout the season. and in high water for the Maligne river can be an issue.
Be prepared for all weather conditions when hiking the Skyline trail, as sudden weather changes can occur.

The skyline trail has one outfitter lodge:

• The Skyline Trail - Shovel Pass Lodge (250) 838-0972

Suggested itineraries

The recommended direction to hike the Skyline is from south (Maligne Lake) to north. Most hikers walk the Skyline trail in 2-3 days, although one can spend an extra day to explore the alpine areas along the way. Hikers need to consider weather conditions and high altitudes when planning their length of stay.

• 44.1 km, 2-3 day hike
• Elevation from Maligne Lake: 1410 m gain, 1928 m loss
• Maximum elevation: 2510 m

Option one: 2 days
Start at Maligne Lake and hike 20 km to Curator campground. The following day, hike the 24 km out to the north trailhead on Maligne Lake Road.

Option two: 3 days
Start at Maligne Lake and hike 12 km to Snowbowl campground. The following day hike 18 km to Tekarra campground. The third day will be a 14-km hike out.

Trail distances (in km)

Elevation Profile

Campground information

Campground	Description	# of sites	Fire pit	UTM
Evelyn Creek (Elevation: 1824 m)	A small, quiet campground by a creek, good for hikers getting a late start in the day.	4		452481-5843006
Little Shovel (Elevation: 2233 m)	A campground with beautiful views over Maligne Lake and the Bald Hills, situated below Little Shovel Pass. This campground is great for campers who want to avoid the busier Snowbowl campground.	7		450097-5843025
Snowbowl (Elevation: 2094 m)	Popular campground located in a spectacular meadow, sheltered by trees, with easy access to water.	7		447313-5844782
Curator (Elevation: 2070 m)	Popular with hikers taking 2 days to hike the Skyline trail. This campground is situated 0.8 km off trail and 1.2 km from spectacular Curator Lake.	7		442215-5849105
Tekarra (Elevation: 2062 m)	A beautiful campground with great views, located next to a fast moving creek.	7		437992-5855673
Signal (Elevation: 2014 m)	A quiet campground at the top of the Signal fire road. There are great views over Jasper and surroundings from the hills above the campground.	7		434058-5858562

Directions to trailhead

Maligne Trailhead (south)
Take Highway 16 East towards Edmonton. Two km from Jasper, turn right across the bridge onto Maligne Road. Continue for 46 km south on the Maligne Road to Maligne Lake. Continue on the road past the chalet and across the bridge to the parking lot on the west side of the lake. The trailhead is on the right-hand side of the road, just before you reach the parking lot.

Signal Trailhead (north)
Drive 8 km south on the Maligne Lake Road. Parking area is on the right.

Safety in the Backcountry

You are responsible for your own safety. Be prepared for extreme weather and mountainous terrain. Cell phone coverage is unavailable in most areas.

Trail report
Before leaving, check the Jasper National Park trail report for up-to-date conditions at www.pc.gc.ca/jaspertrails

Trail offices
Trail Information, 780-852-6177

General information
Jasper Information Centre, 780-852-6176
www.pc.gc.ca/jasper
EMERGENCY: call 780-852-3100
877-852-3100

Carry a topo map
NTS
Medicine Lake 83C/13
Athabasca Falls 83C/12

Gemtrek
Jasper and Maligne Lake

National Geographic
Jasper South.

Leave no Trace

Food Storage
To reduce your campsite’s attractiveness to bears, all food, garbage, toiletries and cooking equipment must be hung from the food storage cables provided at designated campsites. In wildland camping areas, bear-resistant containers are strongly recommended to store food. All campgrounds are equipped with a bear pole for food storage. There are picnic tables present.

Human Waste
There are barrel toilets at all campgrounds. When there are no facilities nearby, select a spot away from trails, campsites and at least 70 m from water sources. Dig a hole 12 to 16 cm into the dark-coloured, biologically active soil layer. Loosely fill the hole with soil afterward. Use as little toilet paper as possible.

Garbage
Please—Pack it in and pack it out! You are responsible for everything you take into the backcountry and this includes garbage. Do not dispose of garbage in pit toilets—it may attract animals.

Washing
To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 70 m away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Strain out those last bits of food waste and pack them out. Disperse strained water on land.

Shortcutting trails
Shortcutting between trail switchbacks damages both the soil and plant life. This not only ruins the look of an area, but makes it susceptible to further damage by erosion.

Collecting natural or cultural objects
Rocks, fossils, horns, antlers, wildflowers, nests and all other natural or historical objects in a national park are protected by law. Leave them as you found them for others to enjoy.

Backcountry equipment checklist

Have you got it?

This is a list of suggested equipment for Jasper's backcountry trails.

Mountain weather is unpredictable; be prepared for winter conditions at any time of the year. Snow may persist in high mountain regions into the summer and avalanche danger may occur in any season. This equipment list does not account for the special knowledge and equipment required to travel in avalanche terrain.

Backcountry camping permits

A backcountry camping permit is mandatory for all overnight trips and can be obtained online at reservations.pc.gc.ca or by calling 1877-737-3783.

Share your Experience

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