Canadian Trails
The Skyline Trail, Jasper, Alta.
Pretty much the entirety of the Skyline trail’s 44 kilometres, 30 of which are above the tree line, feature out-of-this-world panoramas of the Rockies, postcard-pretty mountain meadows, expansive glaciers up-close and, if you’re lucky, glimpses of the wildest of mountain wildlife.
For these visual pleasures, the Skyline is consistently ranked one of the top 10 trails in Canada. And it’s popular. Backpackers usually take two or three nights to hike the route, and the campsites book up fast. But for experienced trail runners, the Skyline can also be a one-day training run extraordinaire.
Tackling the whole route in one day requires some organization. The Skyline runs point-to-point, from Maligne Lake to Signal Mountain. Most run the route from the south, starting at Maligne Lake, to the north, which involves slightly less elevation gain. The reverse route, however, is equally wonderful, if slightly steeper, especially in the first 10 kilometres. Either way, you’ll have to arrange transportation. Shuttles can be booked from the Jasper townsite. (There’s usually enough summer traffic to find an impromptu carpool, but at the risk of a potential 45k jog back to your vehicle.)
The run itself is not particularly difficult: the terrain is not technical, and excepting the three lung-busting mountain passes, the route is fairly f lat. But because it’s at altitude a lot can go wrong. So much of the hike is above the tree line that you’re constantly exposed to the sun and the wind. High mountain weather can transform with dizzying speed. The Skyline’s mountain valleys are also home to wolves, mountain lions, caribou, big horn sheep, hoary marmots (their teeth are not to be trifled with) and, of course, grizzlies. So bring extra clothing, emergency supplies and your backcountry smarts. Bear spray is a must for this adventure.
Because of the elevation, the Skyline is only accessible from late July to mid-September, and that’s in a good year. Expect your feet to meet snow nonetheless. Those who venture on the route should bring a good map – there are two “escape route” paths, Wabasso and Watchtower, that lead back to the Maligne highway in case of emergency.
The risks, however, are minor in comparison to the rewards. The three passes, the
Big Shovel, Little Shovel and the Notch – the latter is one of the highest trail points in the entire Canadian Rockies – offer unforgettable views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
If you’re training for an ultra, or want a destination trail “marathon” without the fuss of an actual race, running the Skyline lets you wrap the run into a sublime Rocky Mountain adventure.