# 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 kilometres (16 mi) of the total 44.1 kilometres (27.4 mi) above tree line, the Skyline has views of the surrounding mountain ranges and valleys. In addition to wide vistas, the trail passes through wildflower meadows and offers opportunities for wildlife viewing.
The trail is most commonly hiked in two or three days from Maligne Lake to the bottom of Signal Mountain, but it may be done at a slower pace, or alternatively, the entire trail can be completed in one day. It crosses three passes, and includes the highest section of trail in Jasper National Park. It forms part of Section E of the Great Divide Trail.
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, and dogs are not allowed except for the short section north of Signal Campground.

## 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 four official trails intersecting the Skyline Trail (#100) that provide alternate access. From south to north, these are the Bald Hills Shortcut (#23a) at kilometer 4.8, Watchtower (#102) at kilometer 18, Curator (#101, but more commonly known as Wabasso) at kilometer 20.6, and Signal Downhill (#7i; unofficially called Loni's) at kilometer 39.9.
The south trailhead is located at the northwest end of Maligne Lake. The trail ascends gradually through montane forest for 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) past Mona and Loraine Lakes, to Evelyn Creek Campground. The grade increases for the next 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi), passing Little Shovel Campground and reaching tree line near Little Shovel Pass (2,240 metres (7,350 ft)). The trail descends slightly into the Snowbowl, a large cirque known for its alpine wildflowers, which bloom in the first few weeks following snow melt, usually in early July. The area contains Snowbowl campground at kilometer 12.2 of the trail, and a winter-only ski cabin called Shangrila built in the 1930s and now maintained by the Maligne Lake Ski Club.
North of Snowbowl Campground, the trail ascends out of the cirque to crest Big Shovel Pass (2,320 metres (7,610 ft)), providing views of the Wabasso valley, Curator Lake, and The Notch. The Skyline trail continues down to Curator; going over the col to the northeast leads to the Watchtower trail, which exits to Maligne Lake Road just north of Medicine Lake. The Curator trail junction, just before Curator Lake, at kilometer 19.5 provides access to Curator Campground by descending for 0.8 kilometres (0.50 mi) to get below treeline. Continuing a short distance further down the Curator trail, hikers will reach Shovel Pass Lodge, established and privately operated since 1921. Curator trail eventually reaches Wabasso Lake and the Icefield Parkway.
From Curator junction, the Skyline Trail ascends its steepest grade, gaining 300 metres (980 ft) up scree, loose rocks, and often snow to The Notch (2,510 metres (8,230 ft)). This pass often has a large cornice well into August, forcing hikers to detour slightly north and kick steps in snow. Once up, the trail continues northwest for nearly 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) along a ridge just below Amber Mountain's summit. On clear days, this ridge offers views as far as Mount Robson, approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) away, however its exposed nature means that hikers should avoid being caught by bad weather. The Skyline Trail switchbacks north off the ridge and follows a stream down the valley to Tekarra Campground, kilometer 30.4.
Immediately north of Tekarra Campground, hikers ford the stream and contour around the shoulder of Signal Mountain before reentering the forest near Signal Campground. The trail uses a former fire road to descend 850 metres (2,790 ft) over 8.4 kilometres (5.2 mi) to the Signal trailhead, on Maligne Lake Road. Alternately, approximately halfway down the fire road, a mountain biking and hiking trail (#7i) descends more steeply to the north to connect with the front country trail network near Lakes Edith and Annette.

## 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.