Sight · Jasper National Park
Summit vantage for sweeping views of Athabasca Glacier and Icefield
Overview
Also called Wilcox Peak, Mount Wilcox rises just east of the Columbia Icefield and looks straight across to the Athabasca Glacier. It’s the go-to summit if you want huge glacier-and-peak views without technical climbing. Expect a classic Jasper progression: forested start, broad alpine meadows, then a rocky finish with knockout scenery.
From the meadows up, you get sweeping looks at the Athabasca Glacier and the broader Columbia Icefield, with surrounding giants like Mount Athabasca, Andromeda, Snow Dome, and more. Ridge wandering near the top can extend the views and even offer a gentler descent line. You’ll also pass a set of iconic red chairs near a scenic overlook on the way up.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhat Makes It SpecialMap
Local know-how
Start early to beat the viewpoint crowds and catch cooler temps.
Bring layers and a windproof shell—gusts are common above treeline.
Use trekking poles and sturdy boots for the steep, rocky upper slopes.
If you want a gentler descent with extended views, follow the summit ridge down.
Stay on the main tread through muddy or braided sections to protect the meadows.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Jasper Tour Guide
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 tourRecorded for this area
Building the Icefields Parkway“It’s incredible to think this highway was built almost entirely by hand. During the Great Depression, the government hired over 600 unemployed men to carve this route, which started as a rough horse trail.”
Plays on the road 1.4 km from Mount Wilcox in the Parkwolf Jasper 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!!!!”
Guide
Most hikers begin on the Wilcox Pass Trail from near Wilcox Creek Campground off the Icefields Parkway. A more direct line starts behind the Icefield information centre area. The popular Wilcox Viewpoint is about 9.5 km round trip with roughly 380 m of gain and gives front-row glacier views. If you continue to the summit, plan for about 11.1 km round trip and around 920 m cumulative gain. The upper slopes are steeper with some scrambling, but no technical climbing.
The trail climbs through spruce-fir forest before breaking into open alpine. It’s well-traveled and easy to follow, but expect steep, rocky sections near the top. The Wilcox Pass area sees heavy use, and some stretches have become wide, braided, and muddy—stick to the main tread to minimize impact.
Bighorn sheep are commonly spotted in the alpine meadows around Wilcox Pass, and you might also see marmots, ground squirrels, and various birds. Bears are less commonly seen here but remain possible anywhere in the park—carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Above treeline, wind is the norm and weather flips fast; bring layers, a windproof shell, and sun protection. Sturdy footwear is a must, and trekking poles help on the steep, loose bits. Early or late season can bring lingering snow on upper sections.
Wildlife
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 mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Jasper. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateAthabasca Glacier Forefield Trail3.5 km · 1.5 hr · 3.2 km awayA flat, rocky walk across the Athabasca Glacier’s forefield to the Toe of the Glacier connection.
EasyToe of the Athabasca Glacier1.9 km · 1 hr · 3.6 km awayQuick, windswept walk to a roped viewpoint at a famous glacier toe.
ChallengingTangle Ridge Trail10.7 km · 6 hr · 4 km awaySteep, scree-to-summit day with rare Columbia Icefield panoramas
ModerateWilcox Pass Trail9.3 km · 4 hr · 4.8 km awayBig glacier views for moderate effort above the Icefields Parkway.
ModerateWilcox Ridge Trail9.3 km · 4 hr · 4.8 km awayModerate out-and-back to Wilcox Ridge with Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield views.
ModerateWilcox Pass8 km · 3 hr · 4.8 km awayGlacier views and open alpine meadows on a moderate out-and-back to Wilcox PassEasyBoundary Lake trail2.9 km · 1.5 hr · 6.5 km awayShort, quiet out-and-back to a turquoise glacial lake at the Banff–Jasper boundary
Visitor center · 2.9 km awayColumbia Icefield Discovery CentreGlacier hub with big views and tours to ice and skywalk
Sight · 2.9 km awayGlacier GalleryInteractive glacier exhibit at the Columbia Icefield hub
Lodging · 2.9 km awayGlacier View LodgeThe only stay facing Athabasca Glacier, with knockout views
Sight · 3.3 km awaySunwapta LakeQuiet glacial lake at the headwaters of the Sunwapta River
Campground · 3.7 km awayIcefield CampgroundTent-only glacier-view camping steps from Athabasca Glacier
Sight · 4 km awayTangle FallsRoadside, multi-tiered waterfall with instant wow factor
Campground · 5.2 km awayWilcox Creek CampgroundAlpine FCFS campground with big glacier views near Wilcox Pass
Scenic pullout · 5.7 km awayStutfield GlacierRoadside view of the glacier’s dramatic double icefallsParkwolf’s Jasper ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
