Skyline

Route Description for Skyline

The Skyline is a wonderful backpacking trip, popular with families with older children. Enjoy breathtaking ridge traverses, descents to alpine lakes, and vast, awe-inspiring views along this trail.

Note that no fires are allowed along the trail, even at designated campsites, so be sure to carry any warm weather gear you will need. In addition, many sections of the trail are extremely exposed, allowing weather to swoop in quickly.

Though the Skyline can be completed in either direction, we suggest starting from Maligne Lake, as there will be a net elevation loss, with only 1,410 m elevation gain and 1,925 m elevation loss over the 44.0 km.

You must camp at designated backcountry campsites along the trail, and these must be reserved in advance. This is most easily completed through the online reservation system on the Parks Canada Website or by calling 1-877-737-3783. Since the Skyline is an extremely popular trail, campsites fill up quickly. Reservations open in January, and we suggest booking the minute reservations open for the year..

Day 1

The first day is from Maligne Lake to Snowbowl Campground, a 12.2 km hike, with 650 m of elevation gain. Average backpackers should reach Snowbowl in about 3.5-4.5 hours.

To get to the start of the Skyline Trail, we think the best option is to leave your car at the end of the trail (North Skyline Trailhead) and take the Maligne Adventures Shuttle to the South Trailhead.

Starting at Maligne Lake, you will pass Lorraine, and Mona Lakes as you head towards Evelyn Creek Campground, reaching Evelyn Creek Campground after 4.8km. This is a small campground and is a useful place to stay if you are starting very late in the day.

Continue past the campground, and you will gain elevation towards Little Shovel Pass and the Little Shovel Campground, which is 3.5 km after Evelyn Creek Campground. The views from near this campground are spectacular. This is another great campground if you’re starting late on the first day, though the elevation of 2,230 m means it’s chilly, even in summer.

You will have gained elevation and moved into the subalpine here, and you can enjoy the beginning of The Skyline’s incredible high elevation views. You will be able to see the trail cutting through the landscape ahead as you hike towards Snowbowl Campground. You may spot a small ski cabin that is not open to summer hikers here. This historic cabin was built for backcountry skiers to seek shelter.

Snowbowl Campground is the standard 1st night campground on the 3-day Skyline backpack trip, so it’s usually pretty busy. It’s 12.2 km from Maligne Lake to Snowbowl, so you should arrive here in plenty of time.

Day 2

Today’s route is a longer day, taking you to the Tekarra campground. The route is 18.7 km, and gains 750 m while dropping 300 m. Expect it to take 6-7 hours.

Following a night’s stay at popular Snowbowl Campground, you will pass through fields of wildflowers. As you hike along, you will pass junctions to other campgrounds, however for day two we like to continue to Tekarra, an 18.7 km hike.

On the Skyline Trail today you’ll hike up Big Shovel Pass, after which you’ll pass the Watchtower trail. This is a useful trail in case of extreme weather and you need to get down either to the lower Watchtower Campground (3.4 km) or you can descend all the way to Maligne Lake Road (13.2 km).

Further along, just before Curator Lake there is also a trail that goes down to the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N). The Wabasso trail goes past Wabasso Lake to the Icefields Parkway and is roughly 15.8 km. This is also a useful trail if you need to bail off of the Skyline.

After the turnoff to Wabasso Lake, you come to the very pretty Curator Lake. There is a campground nearby, which is often used by backpackers aiming to complete the Skyline trail in 2 days (it is 21.3 km from Maligne Lake trailhead). After Curator Lake you ascend towards The Notch at 2,511 m —the highest point on the trail. The views back from The Notch are spectacular, especially on clear days.

From The Notch, descend towards Tekarra Campground on a rocky trail with views of the campground’s namesake; Mount Tekarra on your left. We love Tekarra Campground and the wonderful views.

Day 3

Day 3 is the last day, and is a much easier day after the long Day 2. Today’s route is from Tekarra out to the North Skyline Trailhead (also known as the Signal trailhead). The distance is 13.2 km and the route is almost all downhill, dropping 1,000 m along the way.

The route starts with some ascent through thick forest to take you back above treeline for some more nice views. The route goes along the north side of Mt Tekarra until you are walking alongside Signal Mountain.

You soon dip back into the forest and then come to a fire road. You’ll walk out the final 8.0 km on the fire road. Along the way you’ll pass the Signal Campground (35.6 km from the Maligne Lake Trailhead, and only 8.5 km to the Signal Trailhead).

Follow the fire road down and you eventually end up at the Northern Skyline Trailhead (Signal Trailhead), which is located on Maligne Lake Road. Ideally you have left your car here (and you took the shuttle to the trailhead on day 1). If you haven’t left your car, we suggest heading over to Maligne Canyon (1.2 km away) and calling a cab.

Sample Itinerary:

Note: Total GPS distance varies from each days distance due to side trips and slight route variations each day.

Day 1: Maligne Lake to Snowball Campground (11.9 km / 584 m)

Day 2: Snowball to Tekarra Campground (17.9 km / 695 m)

Day 3: Tekarra to Signal (North Skyline) Trailhead (13.4 km / 130 m)

Insider Hints for Skyline

• Shuttles to connect the two trailheads are available. We recommend leaving your car at the Signal Trailhead then shuttling to Maligne Lake to start, as it significantly reduces frustration once you have finished the trip. It also reduces the time between you finishing the trail and biting into a celebratory burger in Jasper.
• Since the trail is so high, weather can have a serious impact on your success and happiness. For example, The Notch can be impassable with a large snowpack. Make sure your rain gear is in working order before you start the trail, and as with any trail in the Rockies, rain should be expected. You should also be careful of thunderstorms on this exposed trail.
• Consider checking out Maligne Canyon at the end of the trip. There is also a spartan hostel nearby.
• When we completed the trail, we were shocked by the number of mosquitoes. If you were planning on skipping the tent and just bringing a tarp we would strongly recommend that you reconsider. The bugs are frustrating enough during the day, and it is nice to be able to leave them behind for the night. Tenting is the only accommodation option on this trail.
• When sleeping, we were also struck by how cold it got overnight. Make sure you have a solid three season sleeping bag and a nice down jacket for the evening.
• You need to treat or boil all the water you drink, as it is likely that you could contract some degree of water-born illness such as Giardia if you drink straight from the water.