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Highlights
Challenge yourself backpacking through gorgeous Jasper
Hike the Jasper Highlands where the headwaters of the Brazeau River give way to huge alpine meadows.
Discover remote mountain scenery full of peaks, Jasper’s signature lakes, and dramatic ridgelines.
Challenge yourself in terrain that is truly pristine and remote with the guidance of an expert leader.
Camp each evening in the Canadian backcountry, disconnecting from it all to fully experience the mountains.
The Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure is a must-do adventure for the intermediate or strong backpacker. If you’ve tested your legs elsewhere and feel ready for a truly remote adventure, this is the one!
You’ll explore the region defined by the headwaters of one of Jasper’s rivers, hiking through flower-filled meadows, atop teetering ridgelines, and alongside the lakes that define Jasper’s beauty. After trekking all day, you’ll set up camp surrounded by rugged mountains, far away from your everyday life in the best way possible. Book your spot on the Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure before it fills up!
The Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure is a must-do adventure for the intermediate or strong backpacker. If you’ve tested your legs elsewhere and feel ready for a truly remote adventure, this is the one!
You’ll explore the region defined by the headwaters of one of Jasper’s rivers, hiking through flower-filled meadows, atop teetering ridgelines, and alongside the lakes that define Jasper’s beauty. After trekking all day, you’ll set up camp surrounded by rugged mountains, far away from your everyday life in the best way possible. Book your spot on the Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure before it fills up!
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Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure Itinerary
Day 0 Meet and Gear Check
You’ll meet the day before you begin hiking to go over the trip details and make sure your gear is all ready to go. Get a good sleep tonight!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 1 Nigel Pass to Four Points
Get picked up in the morning and head off to your trailhead at Nigel Pass, just a few kilometres south of the Columbia Icefields. The drive along the Icefields Parkway is captivating. Begin your hike by crossing the pretty limestone canyon of Nigel Creek to Camp Parker, where carefully carved tree blazes date from early European visits in the late 1800s.
Climb slide paths, forests, and meadows to reach Nigel Pass and the Jasper park boundary. Leaving spectacular views of Mt. Saskatchewan and the peaks south of the Columbia Icefields behind, you’ll drop into the upper reaches of the Brazeau River to set up camp.
Overnight Location: Camping in Jasper National Park
Distance: 14km, 335m elevation gain
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Day 2 Four Points to Brazeau Lake
Today will be a longer day, traversing lodgepole forests and lush meadows as you travel north along the Brazeau River. Reaching the junction of the Brazeau North Branch, follow it to your camp by Brazeau Lake. This turquoise marvel is one of the largest backcountry lakes in the Rockies! Enjoy relaxing on its shores with a campfire in the evening.
Overnight Location: Camping in Jasper National Park
Distance: 19km, 90m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Brazeau Lake to Jonas Cutoff
Gear up for a challenging (but rewarding!) climb along John-John Creek to Poboktan Pass (2300m) to enter the Jasper Highlands! These huge tundra-like meadows cover many square kilometres and are home to the Jonas Creek Mountain caribou herd. The view from the pass is extensive, and you might see bighorn sheep or mountain caribou grazing nearby slopes.
Views savoured and photos taken, you’ll then hike to your campsite at Jonas Cutoff.
Overnight Location: Camping in Jasper National Park
Distance: 16km, 490m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Jonas Cutoff to Four Point
Today you’ll take on one of the most impressive alpine traverses in the Canadian mountain parks, a 13-kilometre section of trail that never drops below the treeline. Admire the nearby glaciers and glaciated peaks as you drop steeply to the valley bottom.
Set up camp and spend the evening relaxing with your group.
Overnight Location: Camping in Jasper National Park
Distance: 19km, 350m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Four Point to Nigel Trailhead
Pack up camp for the last time. The 14km trail over Nigel Pass to the trailhead will go by quickly with light packs and wonderful views. Meet the van and drive back to Canmore, where the group can opt to go out for dinner together to celebrate the end of this epic journey.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 14km, 280m elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure Price and Dates
This guided backpacking tour in the Canadian Rockies is run as a fixed-departure tour where you’d be joining a group, however, custom private tours can be organized for those willing to travel with their group only (please contact us with your preferred date and the number of people in your group and we will create the itinerary just for you). Please note that due to very high demand and limited availability in campgrounds it is necessary to plan your trip a long time in advance.Prices below are per person:
Start
Finish
Duration
Spaces Left
Price
Accommodation on the Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure
This tour is based in campsites. You’ll be in 2-3 person tents with no or limited facilities. Participants should be comfortable with a rustic camping experience.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
There are no single rooms available on this tour as all accommodations are communal. There may be a minimum required group size, so please contact us about joining an existing group if you are a solo traveller.
What’s Included in the Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure?
Meals
4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners are included. If you have special dietary requirements, these may incur an additional fee.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 4 nights are included on this tour. Accommodations before or after the tour are not included but can be booked as a supplement. You should arrive to Canmore one day before the tour start for a briefing.
Transportation During the Tour
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to Canmore and will be driven from Canmore to the trailhead. We recommend renting a car or booking a shuttle. Canmore is about an hour from Calgary.
Also Included
- Tents
- Guide services
Not Included
- Flights
- Meals, drinks, or snacks
- Travel insurance
- Optional excursions
- Visas if required
- Anything not mentioned as included
- GST (5%)
Optional Extras
- Special dietary requirement meals
- How hard is the Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Canada?
- Are meals included on the Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Canmore to start this tour?
- Is the Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure guided?
- Where does the Jasper Highlands Backpacking Adventure end?
- What do I need to bring?
- Boots
- Multiday pack (55-75 litres)
- Pack cover
- Daypack
- Water bottle or bladder (1-2 litres)
- Sunglasses
- Sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Pillow
- Sunscreen, SPF lip balm
- Camera
- Headlamp with fresh batteries
- Blister kit
- Earplugs
- First aid items (guides carry a first aid kit, but you may bring your own Band-Aids and anti-inflammatory medication if desired)
- Personal toiletries, including hand sanitizer
- Bug spray
- Plastic mug, bowl, and eating utensils
- Trekking poles (optional)
- Toque
- Insulated jacket
- Fleece jacket
- Hiking pants
- Light footwear for creek crossing or camping
- Hiking socks
- Long underwear
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Canada?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Canada?
- When is the best time to travel to Canada for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 4/5. This tour is not recommended for beginner hikers. You should have experience hiking and a high level of fitness to enjoy this tour, as you’ll be hiking 14-19km each day for consecutive days at high elevations and sleeping in basic conditions, as well as carrying a backpack of up to 16 kg (35 lbs). This is a good adventure to take on if you’ve already gone backpacking before or you’re a strong hiker.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners are included. If you have special dietary requirements, these may incur an additional fee.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip. Please verify that your insurance covers the included activities on this tour. Get your Travel Insurance.
Fly into the Calgary International Airport (YYC). We recommend you rent a car or book a shuttle as there is no included transportation between Calgary and the meeting point on this tour.
Yes, you will be led by an experienced guide.
The tour ends in Canmore. You will be responsible for finding your own way back to the airport after the tour.
We’ve given a basic gear list below, but please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about your gear, as you’ll need to carry it!
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to visit the Rockies for this tour is in August when the weather in the mountains is at its warmest and sunniest.
Customer Ratings
Located in Canmore, Alberta at the gates of Banff National Park, Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is one of Canada’s premier providers of mountaineering, rock & ice climbing, backcountry skiing, hiking, and trekking experiences in the Canadian Rockies. For over 40 years, we have hosted thousands of clients from Canada and all over the world. Our brand is known for quality mountain experiences, safety, and well-organized itineraries. We have some of the best mountain guides and hiking guides in the industry. All Yamnuska Mountain Adventures climbing guides are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
