Jasper National Park Winter Trails Guide
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Directory Trail Information Winter Wildlife Although snow can fall any time of year, optimal skiing and snowshoeing runs from Mid-December EMERGENCY Learn how to identify a few tracks and find out JASPER NATIONAL PARK Winter, the season to play in... to early April. Lower elevations in the park may be available for hiking year round. Dial 911 whose habitat you’re sharing. It is a challenge for Welcome to winter in Jasper National Park. Cell phones are not always reliable Winter Trails Guide wildlife to survive in the winter, but you can help 780-852-3100 (satellite) Whether you’re here for a family adventure, Trail Grooming Info make it easier by giving them lots of space. or a relaxing getaway, there’s no better way to Cross-country ski trails are groomed regularly Trail Etiquette JASPER INFORMATION CENTRE experience this pristine mountain landscape WINTER HOURS: and on a priority basis. than on foot. Lace up your boots, wax up • Please respect dog restrictions and closures Nov. 1 to Dec. 5: CLOSED your skis, strap on a pair of snowshoes and • Do not walk or snowshoe on groomed ski tracks Dec. 6 to Dec. 18: Friday - Sunday Dec. 19 to Mar. 21: Wednesday - Sunday enjoy one of our many winter trails. HIGH GROOMING PRIORITY: • Skiers going downhill have the right-of-way Decoigne, Whistlers, Whirlpool and 780-852-6176 • Location: 500 Connaught Drive • Keep to the right when meeting oncoming skiers Cougar Wolf Elk Squirrel Leach Lake, Pyramid Fire Road • When resting or visiting, move off the trail GENERAL • When passing say “track please” and pass LOWER GROOMING PRIORITY: Jasper weather: 780-852-3185 on left side Pipeline, Geraldine Road, Wabasso Road conditions: 780-852-3311 Photo: Nicole Gaboury Photo: Campground and Cavell Road • Pack out all your garbage pc.gc.ca/jasperroads Parks Canada website: www.pc.gc.ca/jasper Trail Report Jasper trail conditions report: Concerning dogs... Get the latest information on trail conditions by www.pc.gc.ca/jaspertrails Dogs are welcome on a number of groomed checking online and at the Information Centre. TOURISM JASPER ski trails in the park. However, to allow the The report is updated as conditions change and Hours of operation: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 780-852-3858 • www.jasper.travel track to set, please keep dogs off trails that includes a rating and a grooming report. are freshly groomed. And remember, be MAPS AND GUIDE BOOKS Check and report on trail conditions Friends of Jasper National Park: considerate and pick up after your pet. at the Information Centre: 780-852-4767 • www.friendsofjasper.com 780-852-6176 • www.pc.gc.ca/jaspertrails Également offert en français PRINTED 02•2014 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! TRAILS TRAILS TRAILS ! EASY MODERATE DIFFICULT Snowshoe, Hikes and ! ! MAP B ! (1480 m) ! ! ! ! ! other Winter Delights ! ! 13 4 6 ! ! DECOIGNE WHIRLPOOL TRAIL GERALDINE ROAD ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Meeting! ! ! ! ! of the Waters ! (MAP F) HIGH GROOMING PRIORITY (MAP B ) HIGH GROOMING PRIORITY (MAP B ) LOW GROOMING PRIORITY ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! and Athabasca Falls ! Most of the hiking and snowshoeing ! ! !!!! ! ! ! 9.0 km one way classic or skate (EASY-MODERATE) 5.9 km one way classic or skate ! ! ! Various loop options classic or skate ! ! ! trails outlined in the guide follow the ! ! ! ! 6 ! Meander through open meadows, along historic Gentle terrain brings you from the parking lot to a This winding road definitely has its ups and ! ! ! This staging area offers a network summer hiking trails. As a general rule, ! ! railway beds and highways past. These easy ski junction at km 2.0–stay right and continue along downs. You’ll build up a sweat as you climb, ! ! ! ! of over 25 km of ski trails, from level ! if there is fresh snow, conditions may be ! trails are suited for all ages and abilities. Enjoy the this easy section until km 5.8, where the terrain but don’t forget to bring an extra layer for the 3.8 ! 93 ! ! ! ! terrain to challenging hills that are ! warming hut or the group fire pit after a fine day begins to roll. Beyond this point the snow tends to ski down towards Mt. Kerkeslin, which will better suited for snowshoeing; if the snow ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! improve as you climb towards Moab Lake. have you “yipping” all the way. ! sure to get the heart racing. Pick out. Welcome to Decoigne. ! ! ! is old and well-travelled, it may be better ! ! ! ! ! ! Icefields ! one, or connect the trails and loops ! ! ! for hiking. Remember, please do not hike ! (1230 m) ! together to make a day of it! ! 1 WHISTLERS CAMPGROUND 5 LEACH LAKE TRAIL 8 PYRAMID FIRE ROAD ! ! or snowshoe on groomed ski trails. ! (MAP A ) HIGH GROOMING PRIORITY (MAP B ) HIGH GROOMING PRIORITY (MAP C ) HIGH GROOMING PRIORITY ! ! ! ! ! Parkway ! ! 6 ! Various loop options classic or skate ! 10.5 km one way classic or skate 15 km return classic or skate ! 10 Geraldine Road ! SIGNAL FIRE ROAD ! ! This trail is ideal for beginners and families, or for (MAP D ) ! Also known as the sunny side, this trail brings As you travel along the shoulder of Pyramid 2.2 ! ! ! those looking for a conditioning track. Take a break ! you to sparkling Leach Lake. Near Athabasca Mountain, you may want to catch your breath ! Moab ! 9 km one way snowshoeing ! ! ! Lake at one of the ski-in fire sites in Marmot Meadows for Falls, you’ll be rewarded with dramatic views at one of the recommended rest stops, only to ! ! ! Higher elevation usually means better snow. ! a wiener roast or a campfire sing-along! of Mount Hardisty and Kerkeslin. have it taken away by the stunning views. ! ! ! This gradual climb, along the shoulder of Signal ! ! Contact the JNP Information Centre for potential ! ! ! ! Mountain, meanders through pine forest under ! construction in area (1640 m) ! Athabasca Falls ! MAP C ! Pyramid Lake open canopy. If you’re really keen, you can ! ! MAP A Pyramid reach the alpine! ! ! N 93A ! Fire Road ! Whistlers ! ! Campground ! 11 ! PYRAMID BENCH ! ! River 93 ! 4.1 ! (MAP D ) ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Variable distance and terrain snowshoeing ! ! ! ! 0.4 km 0.4 ! 0.5 km ! ! ! Starting from the Pyramid Riding Stables, Road ! ! 0.9 km ! ! ! ! 4 ! ! ! ! ! work your way towards the edge of the bench ! ! ! 0.9 km 1 ! ! 5 93 ! Steep 1.0 km switchbacks on the Trail 2 system. The views of the valley Leach Lake Trail Whistlers 0.6 km and the townsite are stunning. Take advantage 4.3 3.2 Marmot Meadows of the multiple trails and mix it up a bit. 0.7 km 2.2 km Gate Barrière Leach N Lake N 12 WAPITI CAMPGROUND acsabahtA (MAP D ) Variable distance and terrain hiking Photo: Parks Canada/ Nicole Gaboury 2.0 2 PIPELINE TRAIL 8 Bring the family and the dog! Nestled along (MAP D ) LOW GROOMING PRIORITY the Athabasca River, this area is packed for 4 5.5 km one way Pyramid winter hiking with a chance for Fido to hone Whirlpool Trail classic Lake his winter skills. Pyramid 3.2 ! ! 2.2 ! ! ! ! ! Island ! ! ! ! ! ! Gentle terrain, with subtle ups and downs. ! ! 3.6 ! ! ! ! ! ! Wabasso ! (1180! m) ! !! ! ! ! Legend Campground ! ! ! It is often a few degrees colder here. ! ! ! ! Pyramid! Lake Road ! ! ! ! 60 ! ! DOROTHY/CHRISTINE LAKES ! ! ! ! ! 5 ! ! SUNWAPTA TO BIG BEND 4 Groomed track: Easy Parking 9 3 Pyramid Lake CAVELL ROAD WABASSO CAMPGROUND (MAP D ) LOW GROOMING PRIORITY Skier set: Easy Telephone (MAP D ) LOW GROOMING PRIORITY Dorothy/Christine Lakes- 4 km one way Sunwapta Falls to Big Bend - 7.5 km one way 5 Groomed track: Moderate Hostel Outer loop: 3.6 km 11.6 km (to the Edith Cavell Hostel) Head into the backcountry! Dorothy and 6 Groomed track: Difficult Dogs allowed Internal loops (from west to east) classic or skate Christine Lakes (11.5 km west on Hwy 16), Trail Shelter A: 0.7 km, B: 0.6 km, C: 0.7 km, D: 0.8 km and Sunwapta Falls (54 km south on Hwy Are you ready for a workout? This winding road 4 1.2 classic or skate 93) are two out and back adventures offering Recommended rest stop No dogs brings you up along the Astoria River Valley. 1.6 The viewpoints make you feel like you’re on top snowshoers a great winter experience! 3.6 Distance marker Lake 1.0 Popular with families and dogs, this area provides of the world! Contact the Information Centre Stream, river a medley of options for all ski enthusiasts. Gentle 93 Highway terrain, with a beautiful section of classic trail for opening dates. All trail distances in kilometres. 93 Meeting of alongside the Athabasca River. the Waters 93A ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Colin ! ! Legend ! ! 2687 m ! ! ! ! ! Groomed track: Easy Information centre ! 1 ! ! ! ! ! 4 Groomed track: Moderate Parking ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Groomed track: Difficult ! 9 Telephone ! ! ! ! ! Trail RV-tent camping ! ! ! Pyramid Fire Road ! ! ! Hostel ! 10 Suggested winter trail ! ! (MAP C) ! ! ! Ski Area ! Highway ! 93 ! ! ! ! ! Local street Skating ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 8 ! Pyramid ! ! ! Campfire Loose surface road ! ! ! ! ! 2786 m ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Railway ! ! Roche Washroom ! ! ! Grisette ! ! ! ! ! Bonhomme ! ! 2620 m ! ! 16 ! ! 2620 m ! ! Stream, river No dogs ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Lake ! ! ! N ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Maligne Canyon K! m ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 00.5 1 2 3 4! 5 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 8 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Pyramid ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Lake ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !