Parking
Use the designated Cabin Creek Drive trailhead near the southwest end of Jasper, following the signed access from town. Do not use Cottonwood Slough or Pyramid Bench parking as the trailhead for this route; those are different access points.
Overview
About Saturday Night Lake Loop
Why go
- Starts near Jasper with straightforward Cabin Creek Drive access
- Links Marjorie, Caledonia, Minnow, High, and Saturday Night lake areas
- Multi-use route for hiking, mountain biking, and horse travel where permitted
Heads up
- Long 24.6 km loop with about 540 m of cumulative climbing
- Remote backcountry sections can be muddy and confusing without navigation
- Overnight travel requires a backcountry permit and campground planning
This is a long, scenic backcountry loop that starts close to Jasper and links a chain of small lakes and quiet forest. It is a good choice for a full-day push or a relaxed overnight, with the route’s distance and elevation making it a substantial outing rather than a short town walk.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy this loopMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation1,091–1,622 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 Saturday Night Lake Loop, 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 trailhead
Cottonwood Slough: A Peaceful Wetland WalkListen
“You're approaching the turnoff for Cottonwood Slough. This is an excellent choice for a quick, flat walk around a wetland, and it's known for having some of the best birdwatching so close to town.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- HI Jasper and Closed Services
- Shell Gas Station and Historic Anglican Church
- Jasper's History at the Yellowhead Museum
- Jasper Townsite Overview and Highlights
- 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 Saturday Night Lake Loop
Route and sceneryFrom the Cabin Creek Drive trailhead, Trail 3 climbs through the Marjorie and Caledonia Lake…
From the Cabin Creek Drive trailhead, Trail 3 climbs through the Marjorie and Caledonia Lake area toward Minnow Lake and High Lakes. The loop then turns back through the Saturday Night Lake section before returning toward town on the Trail 3 branch. Expect montane forest, open benchlands, lakeshore views, and some muddy or wet footing. The line follows the mapped Trail 3 family and includes the short signed access spur to Saturday Night Lake.
Access and overnight planningThis is a multi-use route open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horse users where permitted.
This is a multi-use route open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horse users where permitted. Day hikers should carry water, navigation, and food for a long outing. Overnight use requires the appropriate Jasper backcountry permit and campground reservation; check Parks Canada before setting out.
Know before you goAllow about 7–9 hours of moving/travel time for the complete 24.6 km (15.
Allow about 7–9 hours of moving/travel time for the complete 24.6 km (15.3 mile) loop, or plan on 2–3 days if camping. Expect about 540 m of cumulative elevation gain, with steepening climbing toward the lake section. Trail conditions and wayfinding can be variable, so carry a current map/GPS, prepare for bears and other wildlife, and be considerate around bikes and horses. Dogs are not permitted on this backcountry route.
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.
