 Hike Wabasso Lake to Skyline Trail (Big Shovel Pass) The hiking trail for Wabasso Lake to the Skyline Trail is a fairly fast route of historical significgance.
Hiking Distance: It is just over 12km to the Skyline Trail junction, with a distance of 2.7 km to Wabasso Lake.
Hiking Time: It can take from 4-6 hours to reach the end of the hiking trail, with a little less time return. The shorter hike just to Lake Wabasso and back can be done in just a couple of hours or less.
 Winter Fun! - Wabasso Hike in Jasper with Family after first snowfall 2006.
The hiking trailhead that starts at Wabasso lake is about 14km south on the Icefields parkway. The parking area is marked well indicating the lake and the trail sign indicates distance to both Wabasso Lake and the Skyline trail junction.
Your hike to the Skyline trail starts from the parking area and crosses several low hills. To avoid a ford, the hiking trail routes up to a scenic hillside (watch for the switchback to the left, signed "lake") and then turns down towards a beaver pond. When hiking just to Wabasso Lake, we suggest going at least to the far side of the lake.
Hiking past Wabasso Lake, you will cross a creek towards the Valley of Five Lakes junction, keeping straight ahead to Big Shovel Pass. Climb gradually through aspens and cottonwood grove to a creakbed. Hike up the rocky gully for a short distance past the small stream on the right.
The Skyline trail hiking grade starts to increase as you hike towards a pine forest. After passing a horse gate, you will hike past the old campground and where the forest thins, you can see the peaks above Astoria River Valley.
As you hike towards Big Shovel Pass Lodge, the grade eases slightly. From there to the Skyline Trail, the hiking path gets steep.
*In addition to many Black Bears, we encountered two Grizzlies between Wabasso lake and the Valley of Five Lakes Hiking Trail (Fall 2005).
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 Bear Encounters in Jasper
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