Parking
Signed P16 Wabasso Lake trailhead parking area on the Icefields Parkway, 14.6 km south of Jasper; use the trailhead access rather than entering the campground.
Overview
About Wabasso Lake
Trail 9 from the signed P16 Wabasso Lake trailhead is a moderate out-and-back through forest to Wabasso Lake. The physical corridor is about 2.3 mi one way; plan for about 4.2 mi (6.8 km) round trip and 2–3 hours, returning on the same route.
Scenery and vibe
The route is mostly wooded and generally gentle, with occasional openings before the marsh-edged lake. Wabasso Lake is the destination, with beaver habitat and a quiet, wild feel. The marshy shoreline can be wet and offers few dry places to linger.
Route notes
Start at P16, about 14.6 km south of Jasper on the Icefields Parkway. Follow Trail 9 to the lake; this record stores the outbound corridor once and does not include the separate continuation toward Valley of the Five Lakes. Bikes and dogs are permitted on the Parks Canada day-hiking listing, but yield appropriately and follow posted rules.
Know before you go
Check Parks Canada’s trail conditions before setting out. Expect mud near the lake after rain and carry bear spray; give wildlife plenty of space. There are no facilities at the lake.
Why go
- Mostly gentle, forested walk to a quiet lake
- Marshy shoreline and beaver habitat add character
Heads up
- Wet or muddy ground is possible around the lake
- Shared Trail 9 sections can have bicycle traffic; the shoreline has limited dry seating
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation1,119–1,178 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Jasper alerts
- ClosureWildfire-impacted areas and facilities closedMentions this trailStay 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 Wabasso Lake, 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
Wabasso Lake Trail: A Peaceful Forest HikeListen
“The parking spot coming up gives you access to the Wabasso Lake trail. It’s a great choice for a relaxed, family-friendly hike mostly through shady forest.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Wabasso Campground: A Quiet Riverside Basecamp
- Wabasso: The Hare and the Lynx
- Who Was Edith Cavell? The Woman Behind the Mountain
- The Wandering Athabasca River
- 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!!!!”
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.
