Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), AB
A remote four-day backpack to alpine lakes over three high passes.
Overview
A remote out-and-back from Mosquito Creek on Highway 93, crossing North Molar Pass and Fish Lakes before reaching Devon Lakes in Clearwater Pass. The stored corridor is 28.05 km one way; the listed 56.1 km counts the same route out and back. Allow four days and about 20 hours of hiking. This is the regular Pipestone Pass line; the less distinct highline is an alternate. Published round-trip totals vary from about 56 to 61 km, so compare the mapped line with current route information before setting out.
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Icefields Parkway Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Icefields Parkway (Highway 93). As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Icefields Parkway audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Mosquito Creek: Camp, Hostel and Creekside Walk“You're approaching Mosquito Creek, a stop to consider if you're looking for a basic overnight base.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Icefields Parkway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
The first 5 km climb from the highway to Mosquito Creek backcountry campground. Beyond it, the tread roughens through roots and mud before rising into Molar Meadows and over the rocky North Molar Pass. The descent toward Fish Lakes includes a stream crossing that can be too deep to rock-hop; a bridge lies farther downstream. From Fish Lakes, the regular route drops toward Pipestone River, regains elevation over Pipestone Pass, then crosses Clearwater Pass’s broad alpine meadow to the two Devon Lakes. Retrace the same corridor.
Reserve Fish Lakes backcountry campground MO18 for the first night. There is no developed campground mapped at Devon Lakes; an overnight there requires Parks Canada authorization for random camping in a designated zone. Confirm the permitted zone and secure the permit before planning that night. An overnight trip in Banff requires a backcountry permit and advance reservation. Bear-resistant food storage is mandatory for random camping from April 1 through November 15.
Wildlife
12 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
127 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
16 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
100 sightingsElkMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
34 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
53 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Icefields Parkway. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ChallengingNorth Molar Pass Trail24 km · 7.5 hr · At the trailheadA full-day climb to alpine flowers and a high, rocky pass.
ModerateMosquito Creek Trail10 km · 3 hr · At the trailheadFollow a forested valley to the creekside Mo5 campground.
ChallengingFish Lakes via North Molar Pass30 km · 13.5 hr · 0.1 km awayCross a high pass to camp beside remote alpine lakes
ChallengingCrowfoot Pass and Balfour Viewpoint Trail15.4 km · 6 hr · 7.4 km awayA river ford leads to pass tarns and a tucked-away ridge view.
ModerateHelen Lake Trail11.8 km · 4.5 hr · 8.5 km awayA long climb opens to a high meadow beneath Dolomite Peak.
ChallengingDolomite Pass Trail17.7 km · 6.5 hr · 8.5 km awayA long alpine climb to two lakes and an unmarked pass.
ModerateBow Glacier Falls Trail9.1 km · 4 hr · 10.8 km awayBow Lake’s shore opens to a steep climb beneath the glacier.
EasyBow Lake Lakeshore Trail3.8 km · 1 hr · 10.8 km awayAn easy lakeshore walk with Bow Lake and Crowfoot Mountain in view.
Lodging · 0.2 km awayHI Mosquito Creek Wilderness HostelA no-frills base for hikes, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing.
Campground · 0.2 km awayMosquito Creek CampgroundA 38-site unserviced campground with water, shelters and food lockers.
Scenic pullout · 4.9 km awayHector Lake ViewpointA brief stop for a distant lake glimpse beneath mountain peaks.
Scenic pullout · 8.4 km awayCrowfoot Glacier ViewpointA roadside glacier view with a vanished third toe.
Picnic area · 9.7 km awayBow Lake Viewpoint and Day-use AreaA glacial lake view, with a lakeside picnic stop below.
Sight · 10.8 km awayBow LakeA short shore walk gets you to turquoise water beneath glaciers.
Lodging · 10.9 km awayThe Lodge at Bow LakeA historic red-roofed lodge with a day-visitor shop by the lake.Sight · 12 km awayBow Glacier FallsA glacier-fed cascade at the end of a half-day hike.Parkwolf’s Icefields Parkway ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
