Bald Hills

Overview

About Bald Hills

Distance: ~14–15 km round-trip depending on route choice
Elevation gain: roughly 610–755 m
Time: 4–6 hours for most hikers
Difficulty: Moderate. A steeper shortcut gets you up faster; the fire road is longer but gentler.

Why stop

Huge 360° vistas over Maligne Lake and the Queen Elizabeth Ranges
Optional ridge walking across multiple open “balds” for wow-factor views
Summer wildflowers and frequent small-mammal sightings near the meadows

Heads up

Lower fire road can feel like a long, viewless grind
Summit ridges are exposed and often windy; weather moves fast
Dogs prohibited due to caribou habitat protection

Bald Hills is the classic Maligne Lake viewpoint hike: a steady climb that pops you above treeline onto open ridges with sweeping 360° views of the lake and surrounding peaks. It’s popular for good reason—this is big scenery with very little guesswork, and you can keep walking along the ridge for even grander panoramas.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy go

Map

Where it is

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Full map

SightBald Hills52.71979, -117.67153

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Bald Hills

Start early to have the ridge and balds mostly to yourself.
Ascend the steep shortcut and descend the longer fire road to save your knees.
Carry bear spray and layers—wind, cold, and wildlife are common here.
Dogs aren’t allowed due to caribou habitat; plan pet care accordingly.
If pairing with the Maligne Lake cruise, reserve tickets in advance.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Season: Late May–October is ideal; early season can hold lingering snow and mud.
Day/time: Start early for quieter summits and steadier weather. Midday brings more crowds. Photographers will appreciate softer light early or late in the day.
Bonus: If you’re pairing the hike with a Maligne Lake cruise, book ahead—departures are frequent but sell out.

8 active Jasper alerts

ClosureWildfire-impacted areas and facilities closedStay out of closed wildfire-impacted areas and facilities in Jasper National Park; closures protect public safety after the 2024 wildfire and remain in effect while recovery and safety work continues.Official details
Closure93A (Wabasso Road) no through travel during roadworkFrom mid-October to early November 2026, plan for 93A (Wabasso Road) to be accessible from the south entrance only; no through travel is expected during roadwork.Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Jasper Tour Guide

Your drive to Bald Hills, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Jasper National Park. 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 Jasper audio tour

Recorded for this area

The Map to Maligne Lake

Listen

“For a long time, this lake was a place known mostly to the Stoney Nakoda people, who called it Chaba Imne, or Beaver Lake.”

Plays on the road 2 km from Bald Hills in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.

More about Bald Hills

Route optionsFrom the Maligne Lake area, follow signs for Bald Hills.

From the Maligne Lake area, follow signs for Bald Hills. Many hikers take the steeper shortcut up, then descend the longer fire road to save the knees. Once you crest the first open high point, continue to the higher second bald marked by a prominent cairn for the best panoramas. If you’re feeling strong, keep traversing additional balds or loop back down via a narrow trail to rejoin the road.

What makes it specialThis is ridge-walking heaven: broad, treeless tops with that “on top of the world” feeling and…

This is ridge-walking heaven: broad, treeless tops with that “on top of the world” feeling and uninterrupted views of Maligne Lake. In summer, delicate alpine wildflowers—moss campion, stonecrop, gentian, and white mountain heather—dot the meadows. It’s one of the park’s most reliably jaw-dropping viewpoints.

WildlifeExpect to see busy little locals like golden‑mantled and Columbian ground squirrels, marmots,…

Expect to see busy little locals like golden‑mantled and Columbian ground squirrels, marmots, and pikas near the summits. Bears, moose (sometimes with calves), caribou, and deer are possible in forested approaches—carry bear spray and stay alert.

PracticalitiesTrailhead parking is at Maligne Lake, with restrooms and limited services nearby.

Trailhead parking is at Maligne Lake, with restrooms and limited services nearby. The lower fire road is wide and well marked; signage at junctions keeps navigation simple. Note: no dogs are allowed to protect sensitive caribou habitat.

Geology & feelThese “bald” ridges owe their openness to glacial shaping and harsh alpine conditions that keep…

These “bald” ridges owe their openness to glacial shaping and harsh alpine conditions that keep trees at bay, leaving rolling, grassy tops perfect for views.

Strategy tipsGo up the shortcut, descend the fire road for an easier finish.

Go up the shortcut, descend the fire road for an easier finish.
Pack layers—wind and cold are common on the ridge, even in summer.
Bring the 10 essentials and bear spray; there’s no water on the route.
If you only do one viewpoint, make it the higher second bald with the big cairn.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Jasper

All Jasper wildlife maps

174 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

43 sightingsCaribouMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

40 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

12 sightingsCanada LynxMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

315 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

1,028 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Jasper. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.