Parking
Small roadside pullout on the east side of Highway 16, opposite a pipeline and about 3.5 km southwest of the Pocahontas/Miette Hot Springs Road junction; the approach starts via a short access road near the powerline.
Overview
About Roche Miette
Roche Miette is the hulking limestone landmark visible from Highway 16, with a broad summit and far-reaching views over the Athabasca valley, Brûlé Lake, and the surrounding ranges. This is an 8.0-mile (12.8 km) out-and-back scramble to the 2,316 m summit, with about 1,330 m of elevation gain. The route line follows the physical ascent corridor once; hike that corridor back to the pullout for the full round-trip distance.
Why go
- Full summit objective with expansive Athabasca valley and Brûlé Lake views
- Distinctive limestone ridge, cliffs, and broad summit plateau
- Bighorn sheep and wildflowers may be seen on the approach
Heads up
- Long, strenuous route with about 1,330 m of gain
- Loose scree, rockfall, exposure, and hands-on scrambling near the summit
- Unmaintained route with confusing cairned turns and no reliable water
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation996–2,307 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 Roche Miette, 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
Trumpeter Swans of Jasper Lake: A Comeback You Can HearListen
“In the spring and fall, the shallow flats of Jasper and Talbot Lakes become a critical rest stop for trumpeter swans.”
Plays on the road 0.7 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Ghost Rails of the Grand Trunk Pacific
- Pocahontas Campground: Quiet Base for the Hot Springs
- Jasper House: A Fur Trade Viewpoint
- Know Your Conifers: A Roadside ID Guide
- 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 Roche Miette
What to expectThe route begins on an overgrown road and forest trail, then climbs a long north ridge to the…
The route begins on an overgrown road and forest trail, then climbs a long north ridge to the saddle. Above the saddle, the route steepens through loose scree and hands-on scrambling before reaching the undulating summit plateau and the summit cairn. Expect roughly 5–8 hours depending on pace and conditions. The upper mountain is exposed, windy, and not a maintained Parks Canada trail.
Scenery and wildlifeLimestone cliffs, eroded rock, open ridge walking, and summit views are the rewards.
Limestone cliffs, eroded rock, open ridge walking, and summit views are the rewards. Bighorn sheep are commonly seen in the area, and black bears are present. Late spring and summer can bring wildflowers on the forested approach.
Access and navigationThe primary access is a small pullout on the east side of Highway 16, opposite a pipeline and…
The primary access is a small pullout on the east side of Highway 16, opposite a pipeline and about 3.5 km southwest of the Pocahontas/Miette Hot Springs Road junction. From the pullout, follow the short access road and the marked approach. Two cairned side trails can appear early; take the second, more northerly turn near the top of a rise, which leads to the correct ridge route.
Difficulty and safetyThis is a difficult, strenuous scramble for fit hikers with route-finding and scrambling…
This is a difficult, strenuous scramble for fit hikers with route-finding and scrambling experience. Loose rock, rockfall, steep scree, exposure, and changing mountain weather are serious hazards; a helmet is recommended for the scrambling sections. Carry all water because there are no reliable sources on the route. Start early and turn around if thunderstorms, strong wind, snow, or ice make the ridge or upper route unsafe.
TipsWear sturdy footwear, carry layers, and treat the flagging and cairns as navigation aids rather…
Wear sturdy footwear, carry layers, and treat the flagging and cairns as navigation aids rather than a maintained trail. The summit approach has multiple options through the final rock band, but do not choose a line beyond your ability.
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.
