Parking
Nigel Creek parking is on the east side of Highway 93, 13 km south of the Icefields Centre. Poboktan Creek parking is 72 km south of Jasper; arrange the 44 km shuttle between the two trailheads.
Overview
About Jonas Pass-Poboktan Creek
Jonas Pass–Poboktan Creek is a 54.1 km one-way traverse from Nigel Creek to Poboktan Creek, crossing trails 130–132 through Jasper’s remote southern backcountry. Allow 3–4 days and arrange a 44 km vehicle shuttle between trailheads. The route line is traced from a generalized overview map rather than a GPS track; use the current backcountry map and trail signs for navigation. The suggested stages run north from Nigel Creek, while the published elevation profile reads in reverse, so check the stage sequence before setting out.
Why go
- Big alpine views from Nigel Pass, Jonas Pass and Jonas Shoulder
- Multi-day wilderness with established backcountry camps
- Varied creek valleys, open passes and mountain basins
Heads up
- Requires a 44 km vehicle shuttle between trailheads
- Long, strenuous stages with exposed high-country camping
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Icefields Parkway map
Full mapElevation1,539–2,445 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Icefields Parkway alerts
- ClosureWildfire-impacted area closures in JasperStay out of the closed wildfire-impacted areas in Jasper National Park; access is prohibited or restricted to protect public safety.Official details
- ClosureOpal Hills hiking area closed for grizzly bearThe Opal Hills hiking area is closed because a female grizzly bear with two offspring is in the area. - The closure took effect September 25, 2026, and remains in effect until further notice.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Icefields Parkway Tour Guide
Your drive to Jonas Pass-Poboktan Creek, narrated.
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
Nigel Pass: A Full Valley Walk0:00 / 0:26
“You're nearing Nigel Creek Trailhead, where the Nigel Pass hike leads to an open saddle on the Banff–Jasper boundary.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Icefields Parkway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Bridal Veil and Panther Falls: Choose Your Stop
- Big Bend: The Road from Above
- A Dragonfly’s Underwater Childhood
- Rain That Disappears in Midair
- 141 audio storiesacross Icefields Parkway’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, Moose, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 54 trails, 57 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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
Hiking Jonas Pass-Poboktan Creek
Before you goReserve a backcountry permit and your overnight camps.
Reserve a backcountry permit and your overnight camps. Dogs are not allowed on the route, and horses are prohibited on the Jonas Pass trail. High passes may hold snow into June; travel is not recommended before July. Jonas Cutoff campground is exposed at 2,094 m with little shelter in poor weather, so plan the long pass day around a reliable weather window. Check current trail access conditions before departure.
Nigel Pass to Four PointFrom the Nigel Creek trailhead, the path climbs beside the creek through spruce and fir, then…
From the Nigel Creek trailhead, the path climbs beside the creek through spruce and fir, then opens into shrub meadows and limestone at Nigel Pass. It descends toward the Brazeau River valley and forested Four Point campground. This first stage is 13.9 km.
Jonas Pass and ShoulderThe 18.9 km Four Point-to-Jonas Cutoff stage is the most strenuous.
The 18.9 km Four Point-to-Jonas Cutoff stage is the most strenuous. It crosses Jonas Pass at 2,320 m and climbs to Jonas Shoulder at 2,470 m before a steep 3.3 km descent to camp at 2,094 m. The ridge briefly blocks the view; from the shoulder the surrounding alpine basin and high mountain walls open into a wide panorama.
Poboktan Creek exitFrom Jonas Cutoff, follow the creek valley 9.3 km to Waterfalls campground, continue 4.
From Jonas Cutoff, follow the creek valley 9.3 km to Waterfalls campground, continue 4.5 km to forested Poboktan campground beside the creek, then walk 7.5 km to Highway 93. The campgrounds have toilets and food lockers, but there is no food service. The published stage distances total 54.1 km.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Icefields Parkway
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.
