Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), AB
Follow a forested valley to the creekside Mo5 campground.
Overview
Mosquito Creek Trail is a 10 km (6.2 mi) out-and-back from the Icefields Parkway to Mo5, a backcountry campground beside the creek. Most of the route stays in a forested valley, with occasional clearings opening toward Noseeum Mountain. Allow about three hours. It suits you if you want a moderate creekside walk; it is not the route for a high alpine panorama. Turn around at Mo5 for this hike; the longer routes beyond it toward Molar Creek and Fish Lakes are separate outings.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the walk for you?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
Park on the hostel and front-country campground side of Highway 93N, then cross the parkway to reach the trailhead on the east side. The path crosses the creek, climbs a short steep rise, then settles into a gentler forest walk beside the water. A few clearings give the best mountain views. Faint branches head toward OXO Peak and Quartzite Peak scrambles; stay on the main trail to reach Mo5.
The walk ends at the creek crossing and footbridge by Mo5. The backcountry campground has picnic tables and an outhouse, but no food service was found. An overnight stay requires a backcountry permit or reservation. Dogs are allowed on summer trails unless a restriction is posted; keep them leashed and under physical control. Turn around here for the 10 km return walk.
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.
ChallengingDevon Lakes via Fish Lakes56.1 km · 20 hr · At the trailheadA remote four-day backpack to alpine lakes over three high passes.
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.
