Emerald Loop at the Valley of the Five Lakes

The Emerald Loop is the 5.4 km circuit from P15 through the wetland approach and around all five lakes. The official map calls the lake circuit Emerald Circuit; the current trail list calls it Emerald Loop. Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours with pauses. Parks Canada rates it moderate, and a 2026 route guide estimates 80 m of gain. It is a short outing, but not a flat lakeside stroll: expect rocky footing, rolling ground, and a few short, steep rises.

This is the all-five-lakes option. Wetland Way alone is an easier 1.8 km return. Valley Loop is a separate 7.7 km circuit with a different shoreline route, so keep its distance separate. The Emerald route gives you the most complete version of the famous turquoise-water walk.

Start at P15, about 9 km south of Jasper on the Icefields Parkway. The shared Wetland Way approach is gentle and mostly flat. It crosses the Wabasso Creek wetlands on a pedestrian boardwalk or bridge, with benches nearby. Beyond that, the trail climbs a grassy slope and crosses a meadow to a four-way junction. Stay on the built path through the slope; cutting across it has caused erosion.

From the junction, follow the Emerald markers. The circuit threads past the lakes rather than simply following one continuous shore. Some sections are stony and uneven, with short climbs and descents between them. The loop returns to the junction and retraces the Wetland Way to P15, so the total distance includes that shared approach in both directions.

The red chairs and picnic tables between lakes three and four are the best place to stop for a while. From there, Mount Edith Cavell is visible to the south when the view is clear. For a photo, use the red chairs as foreground and include the water and mountain behind them; it gives the picture a sense of scale and shows exactly where you are on the circuit.

The fifth lake is still part of the route, but its small dock is gone. Expect a lakeshore stop rather than the old dockside view. Early starts can be especially rewarding for reflections and a quieter walk; visitor reports and the 2026 trail guide both point to the morning as a good time to be there.

The 2024 Jasper wildfire changed the look of this walk. Burned trunks remain in places, while grasses and new forest growth are coming back; the more open sections also reveal wider mountain views than the old canopy did. Yellow arnica and fresh grasses are noticeable in summer. Some visitors find the burn scar stark, while others like the new sightlines and the lakes’ color. If uninterrupted forest shade is the main reason you hike, this version may disappoint; the lakes and open mountain views still make a strong short circuit.

P15 has a parking area, a trail map board, and an outhouse. The lot can fill during busy summer hours. Picnic tables are on the circuit between lakes three and four; food service and potable water on the route were not found. Dogs are allowed on this route, but Parks Canada requires them to stay on a leash no longer than 3 m.