Parking
Trailhead near Nigel Creek along the Icefields Parkway; start on the historic Wonder Road corridor.
Overview
About Nigel Pass Trail
Why go
- Historic start on the old Wonder Road with Camp Parker en route
- Clear Nigel Creek vs. glacial Hilda Creek contrast is a fun teachable moment
- Often less crowded than other Parkway hikes with similar views
Heads up
- Braided sections can be confusing if you’re not paying attention
- Notable highway noise near the trailhead before the meadows
The full hike is 14.4 km (8.9 mi) return, an out-and-back from Nigel Creek Trailhead to Nigel Pass. Allow about 5 hours. It gains 365 m through forest and subalpine meadows to the Banff–Jasper boundary.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation1,865–2,202 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 Nigel Pass Trail, 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
Sea Creatures in the RockiesListen
“It’s hard to imagine, but all these mountains were once the floor of a warm, tropical sea. Because of that, the rocks here are full of fossils. You don't have to be a geologist to find them, either.”
Plays on the road 1.1 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Reading the Avalanche Paths
- Sunwapta Pass: The Border Between Parks
- The Tree That Needs a Bird to Plant It
- Wilcox Creek Campground: Views and Trails
- 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 Nigel Pass Trail
Follow the valleyThe first 1.8 km follows historic Wonder Road, the original Icefields Parkway alignment.
The first 1.8 km follows historic Wonder Road, the original Icefields Parkway alignment. The trail stays with the valley, passing Camp Parker and crossing Nigel and Hilda Creeks on bridges. When the meadows open, look toward Parker Ridge.
At the passThe final kilometre is steeper and can be eroded.
The final kilometre is steeper and can be eroded. Nigel Pass opens the view toward the Brazeau River valley. Keep a little trail in the foreground for photos so the valley reads clearly. Turn around here; beyond it is unmaintained backcountry toward Cataract Pass and the Brazeau Loop.
Plan for the settingThis is grizzly habitat: travel in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray.
This is grizzly habitat: travel in a group, make noise, and carry bear spray. Dogs are allowed on leash. Park at the Nigel Creek Trailhead beside the Icefields Parkway. Expect early snow or higher creek levels, and a Parks Canada pass.
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.
