ATHABASCA ISLAND Photo: N
BACKCOUNTRY GUIDE
ATHABASCA ISLAND Photo: N. Gaboury
Fires are permitted at SEMI-PRIMITIVE Athabasca Island. There is no • 3.5 km paddle from 12 mile bridge firewood at the campsite. If you would like to have a fire, OR 22.3 km paddle from Old Fort Point please bring your own fire • 4 km paddle to takeout at Highway 16 and Jasper Lake wood. In summary
This is a charming campsite on a small island along a beautiful Grade I stretch of the Athabasca River, accessible by paddling 3.5 km from the nearest road access. The details What you need to know
During periods of low water, the island The water of the Athabasca River is is attached to the mainland, and one can very cold, even in mid-summer. The explore the dry channels surrounding water temperature is generally below the island. Wildlife, including deer, elk, 10 degrees C. While this section of moose, coyotes, wolves and bears, are the river is graded as Grade 1, there often seen in the area. The island is sandy are some tight curves with potential Photo: N. Gaboury and boast a wide beach, especially during sweepers and strainers. Moreover, low water. Jasper Lake is often very shallow with Paddlers can launch from Old Fort many sandbars. It can be difficult to Point near Jasper, the launch just before navigate across, as the main channel Sixth Bridge on the Maligne Road, or zig-zags across the lake, and is often the Highway 16 bridge (12-Mile bridge) difficult to see, especially from a canoe. Many canoeists have capsized across the Athabasca River north of on the lake when they ran aground Jasper. From the latter bridge, it is on sandbars. Paddlers should have 3.5 km to the campground. intermediate paddling skills and be One km below the campground, the river familiar with river travel. This trip is opens up into Jasper Lake. Paddlers not recommended for novice paddlers. can take out along Jasper Lake where Highway 16 parallels the lake. Maligne River Pyramid Lake
el e ile ri e
elestine
orro Peak
Athabasca River Lake Edith
Lake Snaring River Annette
Lac Beauvert Jasper o nsite
Athabasca River l ort Miette River Point
narin oa
Athabasca River
istlers
apiti Legend i h ay oad oose sur ace road arkin Icefields Parkway In or ation centre
ele hone ca in a in
Boat launch
P t
0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1 Kilometers Kilometers Maligne River
Talbot Lake
Miette Road
Athabasca River
Jasper Lake
Athabasca River
Snake Indian River
Campground Access
Athabasca The campgroundIsland is currently marked with a large
brown camping sign. The best place to land is on
the beach at the downstream end of the island. r
elestine ve Ri ky Drag your canoes or kayaks well off the beach, in oc R case the river rises during the night. 0 0.5 1 Kilometers 0 0.5 1 Kilometers Campground information Photo: N. Gaboury elestine
CAMPGROUND DESCRIPTION # OF SITES FIRE PIT PICNIC TABLE UTM
11U A beautiful campsite on a small island Athabasca Island 2 yes yes 427733- in the Athabasca River. 5879954
SAFETY
You are responsible for your own safety. Be prepared for extreme weather inton Snake Indian River onton and mountainous terrain. Cell phone coverage is unavailable in most areas. Miette Road TRAIL REPORT Before leaving, check the Jasper R oc National Park trail report for up-to-date ky Ri ve r conditions at www.pc.gc.ca/JasperTrails. Talbot Jasper Lake Lake
TRAIL INFORMATION 780-852-6177 pc.gc.ca/JasperBackcountry RESERVATIONS Athabasca River 1 877-737-3783 pc.gc.ca/BookJasperBackcountry
EMERGENCY call 780-852-3100 or 877-852-3100
Maligne Road
o nt o son Jasper a loops o nsite
Med icin e L ak e
Icefields Parkway
Maps, GPS data and elevations are provided for reference purposes only. Maps are not meant for navigation. Parks Canada Agency (PCA) makes no guarantees, representations or warranties respecting these data, either expressed or implied. PCA assumes no responsibility for damages or other liabilities due to the accuracy, availability, use or misuse of the information herein provided. Jasper National Park Athabasca Island Backcountry Guide 2 Maligne River Pyramid Lake
el e ile ri e
elestine
orro Peak
Athabasca River Lake Edith
Lake Snaring River Annette
Lac Beauvert Jasper o nsite
Athabasca River l ort Miette River Point
narin oa
Athabasca River
istlers
apiti Legend i h ay oad oose sur ace road arkin Icefields Parkway In or ation centre
ele hone ca in a in
Boat launch
P t
0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1 Kilometers Kilometers Maligne River
Jasper National Park Athabasca Island Backcountry Guide 3
Talbot Lake
Miette Road
Athabasca River
Jasper Lake
Athabasca River
Snake Indian River
Athabasca Island
r
elestine ve Ri ky oc R
0 0.5 1 Kilometers 0 0.5 1 Kilometers
elestine
inton Snake Indian River onton
Miette Road
R oc ky Ri ve r
Talbot Jasper Lake Lake
Athabasca River
Maligne Road
o nt o son Jasper a loops o nsite
Med icin e L ak e
Icefields Parkway
Maligne River Pyramid Lake
el e ile ri e
elestine
orro Peak
Athabasca River Lake Edith
Lake Snaring River Annette
Lac Beauvert Jasper o nsite
Athabasca River l ort Miette River Point
narin oa
Athabasca River
istlers
apiti Legend i h ay oad oose sur ace road arkin Icefields Parkway In or ation centre
ele hone ca in a in
Boat launch
P t
0 0.5 1 0 0.5 1 Kilometers Kilometers Maligne River
Talbot Lake
Miette Road
Athabasca River
Jasper Lake
Athabasca River
Snake Indian River
Athabasca Island
r
elestine ve Ri ky oc R
0 0.5 1 Kilometers 0 0.5 1 Kilometers
elestine
Jasper National Park Athabasca Island Backcountry Guide 4
inton Snake Indian River onton
Miette Road
R oc ky Ri ve r
Talbot Jasper Lake Lake
Athabasca River
Maligne Road
o nt o son Jasper a loops o nsite
Med icin e L ak e
Icefields Parkway
LEAVE NO TRACE Photo: R. Gruys
FOOD STORAGE HUMAN WASTE
To reduce your campsite’s attractiveness to bears, Use the pit toilet provided. When there are no facilities all food, garbage, toiletries must be stored in the nearby, select a spot away from trails, campsites and provided food lockers. Please clean your locker and at least 70 m from water sources. Dig a hole 12 to take everything with you before you leave. Lockers are 16 cm into the dark-coloured, biologically active soil not cleaned by staff. layer. Loosely fill the hole with soil afterward. Use as little toilet paper as possible.
Privy There is a pit toilet at this campground.
WATER
Boil or treat all drinking water.
GARBAGE CAMPING SHORTCUTTING TRAILS
Please–Pack it in and pack it out! Do not camp on the beach, as river Shortcutting between trail You are responsible for everything levels can suddenly rise during the switchbacks damages both the soil you take into the backcountry night, flooding the entire beach. and plant life. This not only ruins and this includes garbage. Do not the look of an area, but makes it dispose of garbage in pit toilets—it susceptible to further damage by may attract animals. erosion.
WASHING CAMPFIRES COLLECTING NATURAL OR CULTURAL OBJECTS To wash yourself or your dishes, If fires are allowed, use the metal carry water 70 m away from fireboxes provided, keep your fire Rocks, fossils, horns, antlers, streams or lakes and use small small and use only deadfall. Tend to wildflowers, nests and all other amounts of biodegradable soap. your fire at all times and extinguish it natural or historical objects in a Strain out those last bits of food completely before you move on. Gas national park are protected by law. waste and pack them out. Disperse stoves are cleaner and more efficient Leave them as you found them for strained water on land. for cooking. We recommend you use others to enjoy. one. Jasper National Park Athabasca Island Backcountry Guide 5 SHARE YOUR EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST EXPERIENCE
Have you got it?
This is a list of suggested equipment, for Jasper's backcountry trails. Visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/jasperbackcountry for a comprehensive list. 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.
OTHER CLOTHING SHELTER OPTIONAL ESSENTIALS
Long underwear Tent with waterproof fly Wilderness pass Binoculars
Wool sweater, down Food should include Bear spray and the Altimeter vest or fleece jacket enough for an extra day knowledge to use it Field guide(s) Raingear - pants and Water filter, purification Topographic map jacket, gaiters tablets or extra fuel for GPS boiling your water Compass Hat and gloves / SPOT™ Device or mittens Waterproof bag to store Waterproof matches satellite phone food at campgrounds and/or lighter Boots with ankle support and good Insect repellent soles Flashlight and extra Sandals or runners for batteries fording streams and at First Aid kit camp Signaling device (whistle or mirror) Photo: N. Gaboury
Toilet paper facebook.com/JasperNP Rope - approx. 8m A throw bag works well twitter.com/JasperNP #jasperNP
CARRY A TOPO MAP Backcountry camping permits NTS Jasper 83D/16, A backcountry camping permit is mandatory for all overnight trips and Snaring River 83E/1 can be obtained online at reservations.pc.gc.ca or by calling Miette 83F/4 1877-737-3783. National Geographic Jasper North
For more information on low impact travel in the backcountry contact: leavenotrace.ca 1-877-238-9343
Printed April 2016 Également offert en français 6