Parking
Park in the farthest large lot at the end of the paved road at Maligne Lake. Cross the paved road to the gated Bald Hills trail entrance.
Overview
About Bald Hills
Why go
- Expansive views over Maligne Lake and the surrounding ranges
- Optional shortcut and higher-summit spur let hikers tailor the ascent
- Wildflower meadows and frequent alpine wildlife sightings
Heads up
- Long, viewless climb through the forest before the alpine views
- Exposed upper ridge can be cold, windy, and hazardous in fast-changing weather
- Steep and strenuous beyond the old lookout
Bald Hills is a demanding Maligne Lake out-and-back with broad alpine views over the lake, the Queen Elizabeth Ranges, glaciers, and the Maligne Valley. The lower approach is a steady, sometimes dull climb through open lodgepole-pine forest, but the route opens into alpine meadows and exposed ridges with the best views near the higher bald.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike itMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation1,689–2,302 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
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
The 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 tourRecorded for this area
The Map to Maligne LakeListen
“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 0.2 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Maligne Lake Boat Cruise and Historic Chalet
- The Red Chairs at Maligne Lake
- Opal Hills Trailhead: A Steep Climb or a Moose Walk
- The Phantom River: Where Maligne Goes Underground
- 157 audio storiesacross Jasper’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Caribou, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 91 trails, 129 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 Bald Hills
The routeThe mapped corridor is about 5.3 km one way; allow about 10.6 km (6.
The mapped corridor is about 5.3 km one way; allow about 10.6 km (6.6 miles) round trip and 4–6 hours for the higher-bald variant. From the farthest Maligne Lake parking lot, follow the gated old fire road and signed trail network uphill. At the signed junction, hikers can choose the steeper shortcut or the gentler road; the stored line continues beyond the old lookout toward the higher bald. Return by the same corridor, following signs and avoiding the Maligne Pass or Skyline trails unless they are your intended hike.
What you’ll seeAbove treeline, the route crosses broad alpine meadows with summer wildflowers and open, rocky…
Above treeline, the route crosses broad alpine meadows with summer wildflowers and open, rocky ridges overlooking Maligne Lake. Marmots, pikas, golden-mantled ground squirrels, moose, and caribou may be seen; bears are present in the area.
Heads upThe upper ridge is exposed and can be cold and windy even in summer.
The upper ridge is exposed and can be cold and windy even in summer. Weather can change quickly, so avoid electrical storms and keep children close near steep or loose sections. Beyond the lookout, the upper route enters avalanche terrain in winter. Dogs are prohibited because this is critical woodland caribou habitat. Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
LogisticsPark at the farthest large lot at the end of the paved road at Maligne Lake.
Park at the farthest large lot at the end of the paved road at Maligne Lake. Cross the paved road to the gated trail entrance. A valid Parks Canada pass is required for the national park; there is no trail-specific day-use permit for this hike.
Worth it?Yes—expect a strenuous start, but the alpine panorama and higher-bald destination make Bald…
Yes—expect a strenuous start, but the alpine panorama and higher-bald destination make Bald Hills one of the standout day hikes from Maligne Lake.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Jasper
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.
