Photo: Jess Wood, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
📍 Jasper Difficult
TODAY'S STATUS (OFFICIAL SOURCE)
Caution
⚠️ Poor · 2026-10-13: Wet and muddy sections; Snow covered sections Parks Canada ↗
10.4 km
Distance
+500 m
Elevation gain
4–6 h
Time
Difficult
Difficulty
An old fire road that climbs nearly 500 m through pine forest to the former lookout site at 2170 m. From there you see the whole of Maligne Lake, with triangular Samson Peak, the Queen Elizabeth Range and the Maligne Range.
A path continues south to the rounded summit of the Bald Hills at 2300 m, with alpine flowers on the stony tundra. At km 3.2, keep left, uphill.
Take the Maligne Road to Maligne Lake. Pass the first turnoff to the lake and the buildings, cross the Maligne River, go to the end of the pavement and turn left into the large parking lot. The trail is the gated track on the right.
📍 Large parking lot at the end of the pavement, Maligne Lake, Maligne Road
Midsummer to early fall. Parks Canada notes the alpine meadows are most flowery in late July and early August. In the high country snow usually lasts until mid-June.
Grizzly bear country: neighbouring Opal Hills is closed in October 2026 because of a grizzly. Dogs are not allowed on this trail. Keep at least 30 m from elk, deer and bighorn sheep, and 100 m from bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes.
User experiences, not official information. Always check the official status before you go.
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