Backpacking/Canada/Alberta/Jasper National Park

Fiddle River Backpacking Trail

Difficulty
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Hard
Duration
This reflects the estimated time the majority of users will take on this trail. If you are slower, add time to the top-end figure. If you are fast, then you may complete this route faster than this time range.
3-4 days
Distance
This reflects the return distance of this route as measured by the GPS file.
38.6 km
Elevation
This reflects the total elevation gained throughout this route as measured by the GPS file. This includes all ascents and descents, and is higher than what is quoted in most route guides, which simply measure the distance between the starting-point and high-point of the route.
1,085 m
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The Fiddle River trail starts outside of Jasper National Park in the Whitehorse Wilderness Area. This rough wilderness route is the perfect adventure for those looking to escape the crowds and immerse themselves in nature. The trail follows an incredible valley and leads hikers over high passes before descending to the popular Miette Hot Springs.

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Route Description for Fiddle River Backpacking Trail

The Fiddle River trail is a 3-4 day hike that travels through the stunning Fiddle River Valley northwest to Miette Hot Springs. You will need two vehicles to make this trip work, so consider dropping a vehicle at Miette Hot Springs and spending a night at Pocahontas campground before departing for Whitehorse Creek.

You will begin in the Whitehorse Creek Wilderness, which has different backcountry guidelines than the National Park. There are no reservation fees here, and you may camp in random areas. This does require proper leave-no-trace practices, including hanging all your food and establishing your own cook areas. You will find various established camp areas along the route before crossing into Jasper National Park at Fiddle Pass (13.0 km).

Know that you will need to ford the Fiddle River multiple times after crossing the park boundary. We recommend camping at Whitehorse Campground, which is at 17.2 km, followed by Utopia Campground at 32.1 km before heading to Miette Hot Springs to finish the trail with a soak in the mineral waters.

Getting to the Fiddle River Backpacking Trail Trailhead

To get to the Fiddle River trailhead, you will need to make your way into the Whitehorse wilderness Area. From Jasper, merge onto Highway 16 eastbound and travel this road for 70.0 km, making a right onto Highway 40 towards Cadomin. Stay on Highway 40 for 48.0 km, where you will come to a junction. Take a right hand turn here towards Cadomin, where you will join a gravel road for 8.5 km. Look for signs that lead to Whitehorse Creek Campground, which is where the trail starts. Drive to the far end of the campground to find the trailhead and a kiosk sign.

Route Information

  • When to do

    August-September

  • Backcountry Campsites

    Whitehorse Creek, Whitehorse, Slide, Utopia

  • Pets allowed

    Yes - On Leash

  • Family friendly

    Older Children only

  • Route Signage

    Poor

  • Crowd Levels

    Moderate

  • Route Type

    One Way

Fiddle River Backpacking Trail Elevation Graph

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