Parking
P15 parking lot about 9 km south of Jasper on the Icefields Parkway; accessible toilet at the trailhead. Bring your own water.
Overview
About Valley of the Five Lakes Loop
Why go
- Five distinct lakes, red chairs, and a picnic point make natural rest stops
- The outer Valley Loop gives the busy Five Lakes walk more breathing room
Heads up
- The full 7.7 km loop takes longer than the short Emerald Circuit
- Rolling terrain, short steep hills, and wet footing after rain can slow you down
- P15 parking fills early on busy days
The full 7.7 km loop starts at P15, follows the Wetland Way approach, and then circles the five lakes before returning to the parking lot. Allow 2½–3 hours for a moderate walk with rolling terrain and a few short, steep hills. This stored route includes the approach out and back, so the distance is the total visitor walk.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy walk itMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation1,084–1,165 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 Valley of the Five Lakes 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
Valley of the Five Lakes: A Colorful Loop HikeListen
“The parking area coming up is for the Valley of the Five Lakes hike. This is one of the park's most rewarding short trails.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Wandering Athabasca River
- Becker's Chalets and Restaurant
- Icefields Parkway: The Essential Briefing
- Wapiti Campground: Year-Round Riverside Camping
- 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 Valley of the Five Lakes Loop
What you’ll seeThe lakes are “finger lakes” carved by moving ice, and each has its own blue-green tone.
The lakes are “finger lakes” carved by moving ice, and each has its own blue-green tone. The Valley Loop gives you a quieter outer circuit and scenic views along First Lake; red chairs and a picnic point make natural pauses near the lake junctions.
Plan the walkP15 is about 9 km south of Jasper on the Icefields Parkway.
P15 is about 9 km south of Jasper on the Icefields Parkway. The lot has an accessible toilet, but no potable water, so bring your own. Expect dirt paths, wet or muddy sections after rain, and short rocky or rooty climbs. Keep dogs leashed and stay on designated trails; horses aren’t permitted on the mapped loop.
Best momentsStart early if you want a calmer walk and an easier parking spot.
Start early if you want a calmer walk and an easier parking spot. At the red chairs, frame the lake and surrounding forest for a sense of scale; still water can give you a good reflection. The shorter Emerald Circuit is the better choice when 7.7 km is more commitment than you want.
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.
