Parking
Small pullout/parking area off Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway), about 25–30 km south of Jasper. The highway sign has been removed, so use GPS or your odometer; washroom facilities are at the trailhead, not at the lake.
Overview
About Horseshoe Lake Circuit
Horseshoe Lake Circuit is a short lollipop route off the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park. From the small pullout, the path reaches the lake, visits the shoreline loop and cliff-view spur, and returns to the same pullout. The complete visitor route mapped here is about 1.5 km (0.9 mi) and typically takes about 25–30 minutes, with little elevation change.
The route passes through forest before opening to clear blue water, rocky shoreline, small footbridges, and multiple viewpoints. It includes a short spur toward cliff-top views as well as a loop beside the lake. Expect uneven bedrock, slick rock near the water, and sections where the path is less obvious; use care at junctions and stay on the established route.
Horseshoe Lake is a scenic picnic and swimming stop, but the water is deep and very cold. Cliff jumping is dangerous and is not recommended by Parks Canada. The lake has no washrooms or garbage bins, so use facilities at the trailhead and pack out everything you bring. Dogs should remain on leash, and children need close supervision around exposed cliffs and slippery rocks.
The trailhead is an easy-to-miss pullout on Highway 93, roughly 25–30 km south of Jasper. The former highway sign has been removed, so use GPS or your odometer. Limited cell service is possible in this remote roadside stop.
Why go
- Short route with clear blue water and several lakeside viewpoints
- Combines a shoreline circuit with a brief cliff-view spur
Heads up
- Unmarked pullout is easy to miss because the highway sign has been removed
- Uneven bedrock, slick rock, and cliff exposure require careful footing
- No washrooms or garbage bins at the lake
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation1,243–1,258 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 Horseshoe Lake Circuit, 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
Horseshoe Lake: A Hidden GemListen
“Keep an eye out for the turnoff to Horseshoe Lake; it's a small, unsigned gravel lot right off the parkway. This spot is a local favorite, a compact lake surrounded by cliffs with shockingly clear, turquoise water.”
Plays on the road 0.4 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Beetle That's Redrawing the Forest
- Athabasca Pass: The Fur Trade’s Hidden Highway
- Athabasca Falls, Jasper's Most Powerful Waterfall
- Geraldine Lakes: A Rugged Backcountry Hike
- 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!!!!”
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.
