Four Memorable Backpacking Trips in Jasper National Park
Get ready! Reservations open up tomorrow
We’re in the midst of winter, but thanks to the timing of camping reservations, our minds are on a much different season. Summertime!
Reservations for camping have already opened for Parks Canada sites and B.C. Parks sites (find our guide on specific dates here). And with backcountry camping reservations opening tomorrow, Thursday, February 1, in Jasper National Park, we thought we’d share a few of our favourite trips in this park.
For those new (or a bit rusty) when it comes to backpacking, check out the post below.
Go Outside: The Backpacking for Beginners Edition
The first time I, Annalise, went backpacking was just over a decade ago, in 2012. My dear sister Cailynn, who lived in Edmonton at the time, took me on a trip to Maligne Pass Trail in Jasper. I’d been camping hundreds of times but had never hiked into a campsite with everything I’d need for the night on my back. Cailynn had been on a few trips with her outdoorsy friends in Edmonton and knew the ropes. I borrowed some gear I didn’t have from her friends and we were off.
Backcountry camping in Jasper National Park holds a special spot for both of us, as it’s where we got our start backpacking. We grew up camping in tents, then tent trailers, then travel trailers, and never tried backpacking until our early 20s.
Living in Edmonton at the time, Jasper was the place to go. A friend introduced us to the activity and we fell in love with it.
Jasper is a place we’ve returned to many times over the years, because there’s so many stunning trails to explore (here’s a detailed list). Plus, because of that volume of trails, it used to require significantly less forethought and planning to secure backcountry reservations in Jasper compared to other parks. That’s changing, so read on for ideas in preparation of tomorrow’s reservation launch.
Tonquin Valley, Jasper National Park
Distance: 43 kilometres
Number of Days: 2-3
Why it’s great? If you don’t mind mosquitoes and mud, Tonquin Valley offers stunning views of the Rampart Mountain Range and an interesting and beautiful hike. Famous for its varied wildlife (including elusive caribou) and two Amethyst Lakes, Tonquin is worth putting on your backpack list and is often less popular and easier to book than some of the other hikes we’ve listed.
Skyline Trail, Jasper National Park
Distance: 44 kilometres
Number of Days: 2-3
Why It’s Great?: Skyline is the highest trail in Jasper National Park and “possibly the most scenic,” according to Parks Canada. The route is aptly named — more than half of the popular trail is above treeline, which means stellar views like the photos above and below. We’ve done Skyline as a three-day backpack with girlfriends, as well as a two-day trip with the night spent at Shovel Pass Lodge, instead of in a tent. We also know some keeners who have enjoyed this route as a trail run.
Brazeau Loop
Distance: 81 kilometres
Number of Days: 5 days
Why It’s Great?: This lengthy route in the southern part of Jasper National Park features a bit of everything — a large wilderness lake, mountain passes and alpine meadows. It’s recommended for experienced hikers, as river fords are currently necessary. When Cailynn hiked this trail way back in 2014 she did it as a triangular loop, but for most of 2024 a bridge outage means you have to do it as an out-and-back. Cailynn still associates peanut butter wraps with this trip (this was before she discovered dehydrating and the variety it can bring to your backcountry meals), and it’s also the first and only time she’s seen caribou in Jasper National Park.
North Boundary Trail
Distance: 159 km one way
Number of Days: 7-10 days
Why It’s Great?: This is the longest and most remote backpacking trip Cailynn has ever done. She spent 10 days and nine nights on the trail with three friends in August 2017, and was perpetually in awe that such a lengthy and gorgeous route existed in Alberta — and that her group of four had it all to themselves. That being said, this is not a well maintained trail. It’s a remote wilderness route and involves route finding, very basic camping areas, and crossing major rivers where there are no bridges. Still, it’s the trip of a lifetime, offering a Rocky Mountain experience unlike any other.
Lovely article!
A different question for you. Thoughts on why reservations are open so early? I remember I made my reservations mid March last year.