Skyline Trail (Jasper National Park)

History

Parts of the Skyline trail around Big Shovel Pass, as well as the approximate location of the Curator access trail (#101) date to 1911. The Canadian government hired local outfitters Bruce and Jack Otto to cut a trail in preparation for Mary Schäffer Warren's survey of Maligne Lake. It was during that trip that the name Shovel Pass (as well as many mountains and other features in the area) were named.

In 1921, guide and outfitter Fred Brewster relocated one of his Rocky Mountain Camps further up the Curator trail, creating Shovel Pass Lodge. Brewster's outfit regularly guided horseback and ski trips to Maligne Lake by this route, which includes the southern half of the Skyline Trail. Looking for a more scenic and direct route to Jasper Park Lodge, Brewster began work on what is now the northern half of the Skyline Trail, completing it in 1937. Originally, only the new stretch of trail immediately north of the Notch was referred to as the "Sky Line" trail. The Parks Branch of the government began trail improvements and maintenance on the route in 1940.

Route

The trail is most commonly hiked in two or three days from Maligne Lake to the bottom of Signal Mountain, but it may be done at a slower pace, or alternatively, the entire trail can be completed in one day. It crosses three passes and includes the highest section of trail in Jasper National Park. It also forms part of Section E of the Great Divide Trail.

Hiking the trail northbound requires less elevation gain, as the south trailhead at Maligne Lake (elevation 1690 m) is higher than Signal trailhead at the north end (elevation 1160 m). There are four official trails intersecting the Skyline Trail (#100) that provide alternate access. From south to north, these are the Bald Hills Shortcut (#23a) at kilometer 4.8, Watchtower (#102) at kilometer 18, Curator (#101, but more commonly known as Wabasso) at kilometer 20.6, and Signal Downhill (#7i; unofficially called Loni's) at kilometer 39.9.

The south trailhead is located at the northwest end of Maligne Lake. The trail ascends gradually through montane forest for 4.8 km past Mona and Loraine Lakes, to Evelyn Creek Campground. The grade increases for the next 5.5 km, passing Little Shovel Campground and reaching tree line near Little Shovel Pass (2240 m). The trail descends slightly into the Snowbowl, a large cirque known for its alpine wildflowers, which bloom in the first few weeks following snow melt, usually in early July. The area contains Snowbowl Campground at kilometer 12.2 of the trail, and a winter-only ski cabin called Shangrila, built in the 1930s and now maintained by the Maligne Lake Ski Club. A 1928 publication from the Department of the Interior describes the area:

North of Snowbowl Campground, the trail ascends out of the cirque to crest Big Shovel Pass (2320 m), providing views of the Wabasso valley, Curator Lake, and the Notch. The Skyline Trail continues down to Curator; going over the col to the northeast leads to the Watchtower Trail, which exits to Maligne Lake Road just north of Medicine Lake. The Curator Trail junction, just before Curator Lake, at kilometer 19.5, provides access to Curator Campground by descending for 0.8 km to get below tree line. Continuing a short distance further down the Curator trail, hikers will reach Shovel Pass Lodge. Curator trail eventually reaches Wabasso Lake and the Icefield Parkway.

From Curator junction, the Skyline Trail ascends its steepest grade, gaining 300 m on loose footing to the Notch (2510 m). This pass often has a large cornice well into August, forcing hikers to detour slightly north and walk through snow. Once up, the trail continues northwest for nearly 3 km along a ridge just below Amber Mountain's summit. On clear days, this ridge offers views as far as Mount Robson, approximately 90 km away. The Skyline Trail switches back north off the ridge and follows a stream down the valley to Tekarra Campground, at kilometer 30.4.

Immediately north of Tekarra Campground, hikers ford the stream and contour around the shoulder of Signal Mountain, before reentering the forest near Signal Campground. The trail uses a former fire road to descend 850 m over 8.4 km to the Signal trailhead, on Maligne Lake Road. Alternately, approximately halfway down the fire road, a mountain biking and hiking trail (#7i) descends more steeply to the north to connect with the front country trail network around Lakes Edith, Mildred, Beauvert, Trefoil, and Annette to reach destinations such as the Signal Trailhead or the Town of Jasper.

Amenities

The Skyline Trail is designated by Jasper National Park as High Priority, which means that it should receive regular inspections and repairs as soon as issues are reported. Fires are not allowed along the trail. Camping is only permitted with reservations at the designated campgrounds, and dogs are not allowed except for the short section north of Signal Campground. The park maintains six campgrounds along the route, which provide tent pads, picnic tables, bear lockers, and open-air barrel or pit toilets:

An additional campground, Watchtower, is located a little over 3 km off-trail from Big Shovel Pass. The Watchtower trail and campground have a lower trail priority and receive less maintenance. The campground has a cable system for safely storing food, not bear lockers.

Shovel Pass Lodge is located near the mid-point of the trail, a little less than 1 km down the Curator trail. It offers meals in a shared dining room, outhouses, and seven heated cabins with beds.

Water sources along the trail consist of streams and small lakes; all campgrounds are located near a stream.

Wildlife

The general area through which the Skyline Trail passes is inhabited by a variety of animal species. These include the timber wolf, black bear, coyote, grizzly bear, moose, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, marten, pika, mountain goat, lynx, marmot, mule deer, porcupine, beaver, elk, wolverine, and cougar. Raptors that range across the area include golden eagles, great horned owls, and bald eagles.

References

References

1. (September 10, 2017). "Backpacking the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park". In a Faraway Land.
2. Copeland, Kathy. (2009). "Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies". hikingcamping.com, inc..
3. (July 23, 2023). "11 Best Hikes in the Rockies".
4. Esrock, Robin. (March 1, 2021). "The Great Canadian Bucket List: 25 One-of-a-Kind Adventures in the Great White North".
5. HikeJasper.com. "Hike Jasper – The Skyline Trail".
6. Rushby, Kevin. (May 7, 2010). "Bear with me: trekking in the Canadian Rockies". The Guardian.
7. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. (April 14, 2023). "Backcountry Guide – Skyline trail".
8. Power, Meghan. (2012). "The History of Jasper". Sumerthought Publishing.
9. "Mary Schäffer Warren".
10. Beers, Don. (1996). "Jasper-Robson: A Taste of Heaven". Highline Publishing.
11. Schäffer, Mary T. S.. (2014). "A Hunter of Peace". Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
12. "History".
13. "First Shovel Pass camp, Jasper National Park, Alberta. – Alberta on Record".
14. Gainer, Brenda. (1981). "The Human History of Jasper National Park, Alberta". [[Parks Canada]].
15. Lash, G. H.. (1939). "Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockeis". [[Canadian National Railways]].
16. Taylor, C.J.. (2007). "Culturing Wilderness in Jasper National Park: Studies in Two Centuries in the Human History of the Upper Athabasca". University of Alberta Press.
17. Beers, Don. (1996). "Jasper-Robson: A Taste of Heaven". Highline Publishing.
18. (February 25, 2022). "Into Canada's wild backcountry".
19. Patton, Brian. (April 2, 2024). "Day hiking Jasper's Skyline Trail {{!}} Canadian Rockies Trail Guide".
20. "Section E: North Saskatchewan River Crossing to Jasper – The Great Divide Trail Association".
21. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. (March 4, 2025). "Official trails and permitted uses".
22. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. (February 1, 2021). "Backcountry map – Backcountry map".
23. "Trail 7i (Loni's) Trail at Maligne Canyon and Jasper Park Lodge".
24. (October 29, 2015). "Parks considers summer use at Shangrila".
25. "Maligne Lake Ski Club".
26. Williams, M. B.. (1928). "Jasper National Park". Department of the Interior.
27. "The best of Banff and Jasper's backcountry lodges".
28. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. (October 7, 2024). "Backcountry Planning Guide".
29. "Jasper National Park Day Hiking Guide".
30. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. (March 18, 2025). "Jasper's Connector Trails".
31. "Shovel Pass Lodge {{!}} Backcountry Lodge in Jasper, AB".
32. Beers, Don. (1996). "Jasper-Robson: A Taste of Heaven". Highline Publishing.
33. Collins, Dave. (October 4, 2017). "Skyline Trail Backpacking Guide, Jasper National Park".
34. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. (December 8, 2021). "Animals".
35. (October 18, 2024). "Bird List – Jasper National Park (general), Banff, Alberta, Canada – eBird Hotspot".