# Skyline Trail (Jasper National Park)

The Skyline Trail is a hiking trail in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. It is recognized as one of the best backpacking trails in the Canadian Rockies, and is one of the most popular in Jasper National Park. With nearly 25 km of the total 44.1 km being at or above the tree line, the Skyline has views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. In addition to wide vistas, the trail passes through wildflower meadows and offers opportunities for wildlife viewing.
It is normally hiked in two or three days from Maligne Lake to the bottom of Signal Mountain, but it may be completed at a more moderate pace, or alternatively, the entire trail may be completed in one day. There are three passes, and the highest section of trail in Jasper National Park.
There are six campgrounds, which provide tent pads, picnic tables, bear lockers, and open-air barrel or pit toilets. Fires are not allowed along the Skyline Trail. Camping is only permitted with reservations at the designated campgrounds.

## Route

Doing the trail northbound requires less elevation gain, as the south trailhead at Maligne Lake (elevation 1,690 metres (5,540 ft)) is higher than Signal trailhead at the north end (elevation 1,160 metres (3,810 ft)). There are two main ways to enter the Skyline Trail. The more popular, main trail: from the parking lot at Maligne Lake, the hike begins with a gentle walk through the forest past Lorraine and Mona lakes, before crossing the Evelyn Creek bridge to the campground. The second option, adding 4 km and 500 m of elevation gain, is to climb the Bald Hills by using a well-established shortcut for a view of Maligne Lake before heading down the fire road and joining the trail to the Evelyn Creek bridge.
Evelyn Creek Campground is a camping spot in the forest adjacent to the creek, but it is recommended that it be passed over for campgrounds at higher elevations. Following Evelyn Creek Campground, the trail ascends to Little Shovel Campground. From there, it breaks out of the trees into the upper subalpine, continuing its climb to Little Shovel Pass at 10 km. Entering the Snowbowl, the Skyline Trail can be seen meandering through open meadows until it enters the trees, wherein the Snowbowl Campground is sheltered.
Snowbowl contains a small cabin called Shangrila, built by Donald "Curly" Phillips in 1936 for skiing enthusiasts. The cabin, administered by the Maligne Lake Ski Club, is not available to summer hikers.
From Snowbowl Campground, the trail rises through flower-filled meadows to Little Shovel Pass at 17 km.
Crossing into Curator Basin, the trail swings right, past the junction with the Watchtower Trail. A 4 km descent into this valley leads to the Watchtower Campground.
Returning to the trail section in Curator Basin, the Skyline Trail continues to the Wabasso Creek Trail junction at 19 km. Less than 1 km further along this trail is Curator Campground. A little further still is Shovel Pass Lodge, which does allow use by hikers. Beyond the Wabasso junction, Skyline passes Curator Lake then makes a sudden, steep ascent to the Notch at 22 km, the highest point on Skyline, at 2511 m.
The next 4 km of the trail are along the crest of the Maligne Range, which is exposed to both mountain views and weather. The descent to Tekarra Campground follows a trail through rocky valley with Mount Tekarra on the left and Excelsior on the right. Centre Mountain dominates the head of the valley, lending its name to the creek and lakes below. Following Lower Centre Lake, the trail enters Tekarra Campground at 30 km. From there, the trail crosses Centre Creek and borders the shoulders of Tekarra and Signal Mountains to the junction with the Signal Mountain Fire Road, which climbs uphill for 1 km to the old Signal Mountain fire lookout site. Descending to the right, the fire road passes the junction into Signal Campground, then quickly descends further into the forest for the final leg of the trip. 800m of vertical are surrendered over the final 9 km.

## Wildlife

The Skyline Trail 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 great grey owls, golden eagles, great horned owls, and bald eagles.