Skyline

Park: Jasper National Park, Maligne Valley region, Jasper

Map

Medicine Lake 83c/13, Athabasca Falls 83C/12

45.0 km point to point.

Terrain: Intermediate

Elevations (in meters)
Start:	1690	End:	1160
Minimum:	1160	Maximum:	2510
Net Gain:	1350	Cumulative Gain:	1350

Trailheads

Transportation is required at both ends.

Maligne Lake Trailhead: Located at the northwest corner of Maligne Lake. From the parking lot cross the road and continue up the trail located approximately 50m east (right) of the Bald Hills fire road.

Facilities available at the trailhead include:

Emergency phone
Shelter is available
Toilets and/or outhouses
Water is available

Maligne Lake Road Trailhead:

Uses

Backcountry skiing	Strenuous.		Best from late November thru mid April.
Backpack	Moderate to strenuous (backcountry permit required).	4 days one way.	Best from early July thru mid September.

Description

There is public transport to Jasper and a shuttle bus to the trailhead. This is a 44km trail with some elevation gain and, if the weather cooperates, lovely views. It"s a relatively popular trail (don"t expect solitude) but my experience is once you get a few km from any trailhead you drop off 98% of the people.

Quotas are in effect for this trail.

The trail begins by climbing at an easy grade to the Lorriane Lake Junction (a short side trip to a green lake, 140m down to the left). A second side trip (Mona Lake, 160m) is loacted a little further up the trail.

The trail continues past the Bald Hills junction to Evelyn Creek bride and Evelyn Creek Campground (4.9km) before begnning the bit steeper climb to Little Shovel campground. 2km further brings you to Little Shovel Pass (2225m). After the pass you enter a vast meadow and descend to Snowbowl Campground (12.2km). A further 5.3km brings you to the summit of Big Shovel Pass (2320m). A junction with the Watchtower Basin Trail provides an exit point for those who have bitten off more than they can chew.

From here the trail enters a barren, scree section to Curator Lake and then up to the Notch. A junction with the Wabasso trail, at 19km also provides an exit route. If you are camping at Curator Lake it is necessary to descend below the level of the Skyline Trail to get to the site. This adds more elevation to the climb to The Notch (22.1k/2510m). Once you have reached the summit of the Notch you may well be blasted by cold winds. They can howl in this area so be prepared! The next 5km of the trail are all exposed to the wind as you make your way along the ridge before steeply descending past Centre Lake to Tekarra Lake. Tekarra Campground is located at the far end of the lake (30.9k).

When leaving Tekarra Campground you must ford the shallow outlet creek and ascend the slopes of Signal Mountain before connecting with the fire road (36.2k). Signal Campground is just a short ways down the road (36.3k). From here it is an easy descent to Maligne Lake Road.

Features

This trail features flowers, forests, lakes, meadows, mountains, rivers and views.

Hazards

Some exposure (steep dropoffs)
some streams are crossed on footlogs
some streams/rivers must be forded (if near the beach wait for low tide; undo your hip belt when crossing; wear running shoes or sandals)
some waterways must be crossed via rock hops, these can be slippery and caution should be exercised when making such crossings
some scree slopes to negotiate

Be sure to make lots of noise in the section from Signal Campground to the Maligne Lake Road trailhead, bears are frequently encountered in this area.

Comments

Bus transportation can be arranged. Typically you drop your car off at one trailhead and meet the bus there to be transported to the other trailhead.

Campsites along the trail

Evelyn Creek	4.9 km		Pit toilet	Water is unknown.
Little Shovel	8.3 km	1930 meters	Pit toilet	Water is plentiful quality is excellent. Spring fed.
Snowbowl	12.2 km	2125 meters	Bear cache/wire Pit toilet	Water is unknown.
Curator Lake	20.4 km		Bear cache/wire Tables Tent pads Pit toilet	Water is available quality is good.
Tekarra	30.9 km	2060 meters	Bear cache/wire Tables Tent pads Pit toilet	Water is available quality is good.
Signal	36.3 km		Bear cache/wire Tables Composting toilet	Water is limited quality is poor.

Service-providers

Trailhead Transportation
Maligne Lake shuttle	(780) 582-3370

Last hiked:August 9, 2003

Other trails in Jasper National Park

Athabasca Falls
Athabasca Pass
Bald Hills
Beauty Creek
Brazeau loop
Buck and Osprey Lakes
Cavell Meadows
Cavell Road
Columbia Icefield - Ice Walk
Fiddle River
Fortress Lake
Fryatt Valley
Geraldine Lakes
Horseshoe Lake
Jacques Lake
Jonas Shoulder
Lake Annette
Maligne Canyon
Maligne Lake
Maligne Pass
Mosquito Creek - Molar Pass - Fish Lakes.
Old Fort Point
Patricia Lake
Poboktan Creek
Pocahontas Mine Interpretive Trail
Pyramid Bench
Pyramid Lake
Saturday Night Lake Loop
South Boundary Trail
Sulphur Skyline
Sunwapta Falls
Tonquin Valley
Valley of Five Lakes
Verdant Pass
Wabasso Lake
Watchtower Basin
Wilcox Pass

Trail-conditions

View trail condition reports for this trail.