Parking
Use the parking area at the end of Moab Lake Road, reached from Wabasso Road by 6.8 km of unpaved road. From the lot, the mapped walk follows the road back to the lakeshore spur.
Overview
About Moab Lake Spur
Why go
- A short spur reaches a quiet lakeshore with a west-facing mountain view.
- Fishing is possible in season with a national park permit.
Heads up
- The 6.8 km unpaved access road is a longer commitment than the walk itself.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Icefields Parkway map
Full mapElevation1,229–1,244 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 Moab Lake Spur, 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 tourMore stories near here in the app
- Chipmunk or Ground Squirrel?
- Geraldine Road: Lakes and Backcountry Hikes
- Athabasca Falls: Follow the Canyon
- The Owl That Hears Through Snow
- 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 Moab Lake Spur
A short lake walkMoab Lake Spur is an easy out-and-back of about 0.82 miles (1.
Moab Lake Spur is an easy out-and-back of about 0.82 miles (1.3 km) round trip from the parking area at the end of Moab Lake Road. Walk back along the unpaved road to the 115a foot spur, then follow it down to the shore and retrace your steps. The mapped distance includes this road approach; the connector by itself is much shorter. Allow about 45 minutes, or longer if you stay by the water.
The shoreline payoffThis is a brief lake stop, not a long hike or a circuit around the water.
This is a brief lake stop, not a long hike or a circuit around the water. The path reaches a quiet shore with a west-facing mountain view across the lake. Fishing is seasonal; a national park fishing permit is required, and a 180 m no-fishing area surrounds the lake outlet. Check current regulations for open dates before bringing a rod.
Summer walk, winter ski routeThis route covers summer foot access on the Moab Lake spur.
This route covers summer foot access on the Moab Lake spur. In winter, Moab Lake Road is groomed for cross-country skiing from Whirlpool Cross-Country Ski Hub. One ski option is 7 km return to the red chairs by the Whirlpool River; continuing to a Moab Lake viewpoint is 15.2 km return. Those are separate ski itineraries with different start points and destinations.
Access and dogsThe parking area is at the end of the 6.8 km unpaved Moab Lake Road, reached from Wabasso Road.
The parking area is at the end of the 6.8 km unpaved Moab Lake Road, reached from Wabasso Road. Vehicle access is seasonal, so check road conditions before driving in. Dogs may accompany you where no seasonal restriction applies, but they must stay under control and on leash. This is a remote corridor; carry bear spray and follow wildlife precautions.
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.
