Parking
Start at P15, the Valley of the Five Lakes trailhead, about 9 km south of Jasper on Highway 93. Accessible toilets are marked at the parking area.
Overview
About Wetland Way
Why go
- A short, flat walk to a wetland boardwalk and benches.
Heads up
- It stops before the five lakes; those require one of the longer routes.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Icefields Parkway map
Full mapElevation1,081–1,097 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
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 Wetland Way, 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
Valley of the Five Lakes: The Emerald Loop0:00 / 0:26
“You're nearing the Valley of the Five Lakes trailhead, where the Emerald Loop is my choice for a walk among blue-green lakes.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Icefields Parkway Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Boulder on an Ice Pedestal
- Feet That Dent the Water
- The Porcupine’s Taste for Salt
- The Sea Lily’s Stone Stem
- 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 Wetland Way
A short walk to the wetlandWetland Way is an easy, gentle 1.
Wetland Way is an easy, gentle 1.8 km out-and-back from P15 to a boardwalk over the Wabasso Creek wetlands. It’s a good choice when you want a short walk and a place to sit; allow about half an hour for the return with a pause. If you came for the five lakes, continue on a different hike: Parks Canada lists the 5.4 km Emerald Loop and 7.7 km Valley Loop separately.
Follow the boardwalkThe wetland bridge is about 0.9 km from P15, then you return the same way.
The wetland bridge is about 0.9 km from P15, then you return the same way. Benches beside the bridge make a natural turnaround. The terrain is gentle and flat, making this a straightforward short outing. The Emerald Loop and Valley Loop continue from the same junction.
Forest regrowthThe approach passes through forest regrowth after the 2024 Jasper wildfire.
The approach passes through forest regrowth after the 2024 Jasper wildfire. The open wetland and timber boardwalk are the walk’s payoff; take a few minutes at the bridge to look across the marsh before heading back.
Parking and dogsPark at P15, about 9 km south of Jasper on Highway 93. Accessible toilets are marked at the lot.
Park at P15, about 9 km south of Jasper on Highway 93. Accessible toilets are marked at the lot. Dogs are allowed on this route on a leash no longer than 3 m.
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.
