Pyramid Mountain Trail (28.2 km, Challenging) – Jasper National Park

Overview

About Pyramid Mountain

Start at the P7 parking lot at the end of Pyramid Lake Road. Follow the short Pyramid Mountain Fire Road connector, then ride or hike the long fire road toward the mountain. At the fork, stay on the Pyramid Mountain route and leave the road near the meadow. The route then climbs a clear but occasionally faint path through forest and open alpine terrain before reaching the summit ridge.

Why go

Bikeable fire-road approach saves time on a very long summit day
Big views over Pyramid and Patricia lakes from Jasper’s local summit
Alpine meadows and Rockies geology above the treeline

Heads up

17.5-mile out-and-back with substantial elevation gain
Loose rock, route-finding, and a hands-on scramble near the summit
Rapidly changing mountain weather and unreliable cell service

Pyramid Mountain is Jasper’s big hometown summit day: a long approach, high elevation gain, and a final hands-on scramble rewarded by wide views over Pyramid and Patricia lakes and the surrounding Rockies. Plan on roughly 17.5 miles (28 km) round trip and 10–12 hours for the full out-and-back.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy this hike

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation1,181–2,715 m

TrailheadP7 parking lot (Pyramid Lake)52.92574, -118.09381

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Use the P7 parking lot at the end of Pyramid Lake Road, past Pyramid Lake Resort and Pyramid Island. From the lot, follow the short Pyramid Mountain Fire Road connector toward the gated fire road; bicycles are useful for the long lower approach.

Best time to go

This is an all-day route even with a bicycle for the fire-road approach. Start early, allow margin for the descent, and expect poor or intermittent cell service. The summit is best attempted after upper-slope snow has melted, generally in July through early September, but mountain weather can change quickly.

Safety

This is a remote, very long day with roughly 1,550 m of climbing. Expect loose rock, steep upper terrain, route-finding, exposure, rapidly changing mountain weather, and lingering snow early in the season. Carry layers, navigation, ample food and water, and manage spacing to reduce rockfall risk. Keep pets on leash and under control.

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 Pyramid Mountain, 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

Jasper Red Chair Pyramid Overlook Trail

Listen

“You're approaching a great option for a quick hike with a big payoff. The trail to the Pyramid Overlook is a short, steady climb up through a dense Douglas fir forest.”

Plays on the road 0.2 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.

Hiking Pyramid Mountain

The scrambleThe upper route becomes steep and rocky, with loose boulders and a short hands-on section near…

The upper route becomes steep and rocky, with loose boulders and a short hands-on section near the summit. It is a serious, non-technical scramble rather than a maintained day-hiking trail. The mapped line ends at the summit approach; do not confuse nearby Pyramid Lake and Pyramid Bench trails with this summit route.

What you’ll seeThe lower approach passes through forest and follows an old fire road.

The lower approach passes through forest and follows an old fire road. Higher up, the route opens to alpine meadows, layered Rockies geology, Pyramid and Patricia lakes below, and views toward Mount Cairngorm, Mt. Zengel, and other Jasper peaks. A small alpine tarn below the summit ridge is an optional side trip, not part of the mapped main route.

Who it’s forExperienced hikers and scramblers who are comfortable with a very long day, substantial…

Experienced hikers and scramblers who are comfortable with a very long day, substantial climbing, route-finding, loose rock, and exposed mountain terrain. Pets should remain on leash and under control in Jasper National Park; the upper scramble is not an appropriate casual dog walk.

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.

Pyramid Mountain