Parking
Park in the Miette Hot Springs parking lot. Walk up the steps toward the entrance; the paved trail branches from the passenger drop-off loop by the trailhead kiosk.
Overview
About Sulphur Skyline
Why go
- Summit-scale views for a half-day effort with a clear, direct route
- Easy post-hike soak at adjacent Miette Hot Springs
Heads up
- Final 400 m is steep and loose, tough on the knees when descending
- Very popular in peak season; parking and summit can feel crowded
If you like your payoff big and your climbs straightforward, Sulphur Skyline delivers. This popular out-and-back rockets from Miette Hot Springs up switchbacks to an open, treeless summit with huge views over the Fiddle River Valley and surrounding Jasper peaks. Expect 8–8.8 km total (about 5.0–5.5 miles) and roughly 650–700 m of gain—most of it packed into a steady grind, with the final 400 m a steeper, looser push.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike itMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation1,389–2,047 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
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 Sulphur Skyline, 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
From Rain to Steam: The Plumbing of Miette Hot SpringsListen
“So where does all this hot water come from? It’s not a volcano. It’s actually rain and snow that seeps deep into the mountains through a network of cracks.”
Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Miette Hot Springs: Hottest in the Rockies
- Montane to Alpine: Reading Jasper’s Life Zones
- Sulphur Skyline: A Steep Hike to a Hot Soak
- 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 Sulphur Skyline
Trail experienceYou’ll start at the Miette Hot Springs complex on a short paved approach before the path turns…
You’ll start at the Miette Hot Springs complex on a short paved approach before the path turns to dirt and immediately begins climbing through dense forest. The grade rarely lets up. Around the ridge the trees fall away to alpine meadows and then barren, rocky slopes—great for views, not so great for wind. There’s a flat, grassy false-summit area with benches and excellent vistas; from there, the last stretch to the true summit is steep and on loose rock. The 360° panorama up top is the whole point.
Navigation notesFrom the hot springs, pick up the signed trail and settle into switchbacks.
From the hot springs, pick up the signed trail and settle into switchbacks. Early on, a horse trail joins from the left—continue straight. At Shuey Pass, take the right-hand branch signed for Sulphur Skyline/Sulphur Ridge to stay on the summit route. It’s an out-and-back the whole way, so what you slog up you’ll descend.
What to bring and knowThere’s no reliable water on trail—carry ample.
There’s no reliable water on trail—carry ample. Layers are essential; the summit is exposed and winds can howl, and storms can roll in fast. Trekking poles shine on the steep, loose final pitch and for the descent. Dogs are permitted on leash. A Parks Canada pass is required for the area. This is a hiking trail only.
Post-hike perkYour trailhead is steps from the hottest mineral springs in the Canadian Rockies.
Your trailhead is steps from the hottest mineral springs in the Canadian Rockies. A soak after that summit push feels very right.
Quick statsDistance: 8–8.8 km (return) / about 5.0–5.5 miles total
- Distance: 8–8.8 km (return) / about 5.0–5.5 miles total
- Elevation gain: ~650–700 m
- Typical time: 3–6 hours depending on pace and stops
- Difficulty: moderate to difficult; last 400 m is the crux on loose rock
Best time to hikeLate June–September for dry trail and long daylight.
Late June–September for dry trail and long daylight. Go early morning for cooler temps, calmer winds, fewer crowds, and better photography light. Watch for fast-changing weather at the summit in the afternoon.
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.
