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One of the best hikes in the world is the
SKYLINE TRAIL
This page describes the 44.1km (27.4mi) hike and ridgewalk in the Malign Range near Jasper, Alberta, Canada.
This is not the Sulphur Skyline Trail dayhike near Miette Hot Springs.
This is not one of many other Skyline trails: Manning Provincial Park, Wales (UK), Nova Scotia, New Mexico, Montana, California, Utah, Vermont, Washington, nor Hawaii.
Have you hiked this area recently?
This page is a stub we are researching. You can expand it by emailing suggestions in the appropriate sections below. Our editors will add your comments. Thanks!
The red dot is JASPER National Park.
 AT A GLANCE
- check first that "The Notch" is passable. It can be snowed in until the end of July.
- 3 days, 2 nights recommended
- mid-July to mid-September
Ben Gadd from Jasper calls this the "best hike in the Rockies". That's good enough for us.
WHY WE LIKE THIS HIKE
Conquering "The Notch" — a steep, challenging avalanche slope — and arriving at the Amber Mountain summit ridge. The highlight is 5km of stunning ridgewalk, if the weather cooperates.
- most of this hike is above the treeline
- fantastic views, on a clear day you can see Robson
- walk additional ridges or bag a peak, weather permitting
- good chance to see marmots, big horn sheep, mountain caribou, white-tailed ptarmigan
- visit nearby Maligne Canyon on the same trip
- hike nearby Berg Lake on the same trip
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CONSIDERATIONS
- infamous for bad weather
- a very short hiking season! Just a few weeks each year.
- muddy sections
- some creek wading likely needed
- boring fire road on the walkout
- this is the most popular backcountry hike out of Jasper
- horse trekking is very popular here
- dogs are not allowed
- biting insects can be a nuisance
- weird "throne" open air pit toilets
- hiking in the Canadian Rockies is not cheap. Be prepared to pay a series of fees, the most startling of which is an annual National Parks pass for your vehicle — C$125 / year in (2006).
- details on the Jasper National Park fees
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Before deciding to hike Skyline, first confirm "The Notch" is passable. And ask for a complete list of fees you need to pay. Jasper National Park:
Back-country Trail Reservations (780) 852-6177 <email>
- start at Malign Lake trailhead 1690m (5545ft)
- tent 2 nights en route
- decide on campsites as you go
- if you stay at Curator campground your second night, you can get an early start climbing "The Notch" 2510m (8235ft) and still make it to Jasper the same day
There are variations and escape trails, but the regular route is best.
LOGISTICS
- the closest small airport is Jasper/Hinton 64 km (38 mi) east of Jasper townsite
- the closest major airports, both about 4hrs away, are Calgary, Alberta (YYC) and Edmonton (YEG)
- the drive from Calgary via Banff is far more interesting than from Edmonton
- rent gear if needed at MEC in Calgary or MEC in Edmonton
- Via Rail train service to Jasper via Edmonton or Vancouver is expensive and does not run frequently.
- Greyhound is the most popular bus line. We prefer Brewster from the Calgary airport.
- almost every hiker passes through Jasper, the tourist centre of the northern Canadian Rockies
- we dislike HI-Jasper, the hostel. You are better off tenting at one of many Jasper campgrounds.
- if you need transport to the trailhead from Jasper, use Malign Lake Shuttle
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INDEPENDENT OR GUIDED?
Skyline should not be your first multi-day alpine trek. The Notch can be dangerous. Signing on with a guided tour is safest.
LOCAL INFORMATION
BEST TREKKING GUIDEBOOKS
There are many good hiking guidebooks. But we love Graeme Pole's innovative binders where we can remove just the relevant pages for our hike, carrying them in a protective plastic slipcover. Brilliant! Be sure to get the most recent edition.
The Copeland guide is excellent too, rating hikes from 1-4 "stars".
BEST TRAVEL GUIDEBOOKS
- Lonely Planet Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks - Miller, Derby, Lukas, 2004
- Moon Handbooks Canadian Rockies - Andrew Hempstead, 2005
- Moon Handbooks Alberta: Banff, Jasper, Northwest Territories - Andrew Hempstead, 2004
- Lonely Planet British Columbia - Andrew Hempstead, 2004
- Moon Handbooks British Colombia - Andrew Hempstead, 2005
- Frommer's Banff & Jasper National Parks - Christie Pashby, 2004
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OTHER RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Gadd is our bible in the Rockies: flowers, plants, animals, birds, fish, geology, history and much more.
BEST MAPS
BEST WEB PAGES
After this page, some of the best links are:
BEST PHOTOS & TRIP REPORTS
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