Parking
Parking area on the left side of the Wilcox Creek Campground entrance road, 3.1 km south of the Icefield Centre; use the signed access and do not rely on highway shoulder parking.
Overview
About Wilcox Pass
Why go
- Red chairs at the first viewpoint provide an early glacier-view turnaround
- Open alpine meadows and glacier views continue to Wilcox Pass
Heads up
- Small trailhead lot fills early
- Exposed above treeline and potentially snowy into late July
Wilcox Pass is a moderate out-and-back that climbs from the Icefields Parkway into wide-open alpine meadows with views toward the Athabasca Glacier and surrounding peaks. The route reaches the pass itself, with a shorter red-chair viewpoint along the way.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike Wilcox PassMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation2,018–2,346 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 Wilcox Pass, 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
Wilcox Pass Trail and Glacier ViewsListen
“You're nearing the trailhead for Wilcox Pass. If you do just one hike in the Icefields area, many people would say this is the one.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Wilcox Creek Campground: Views and Trails
- The Tree That Needs a Bird to Plant It
- Wilcox Ridge Viewpoint
- Icefield Campground: Tents-Only Near the Glacier
- 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 Wilcox Pass
The route and distanceStart at the parking area on the left side of the Wilcox Creek Campground entrance road, just…
Start at the parking area on the left side of the Wilcox Creek Campground entrance road, just south of the Icefield Centre. The first kilometre climbs fairly steeply through forest, then the trail opens above treeline and continues across alpine meadows to Wilcox Pass. The first viewpoint and Parks Canada red chairs are about 2.4 km round trip; continuing to the pass makes the visitor route about 8 km round trip (roughly 4 km each way) with about 390 m of elevation gain. Allow 2–3 hours for the pass and return. The mapped route ends at the pass; any travel beyond it is a separate extension.
What you’ll seeColumbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier views, with large surrounding peaks.
- Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier views, with large surrounding peaks.
- Open alpine meadows and wildflowers in summer.
- Bighorn sheep and ground squirrels in the meadows and nearby slopes.
Conditions and accessThe pass area can hold snow until late July.
The pass area can hold snow until late July. Above treeline the route is exposed and windy, and mountain weather can change quickly. Expect a steep opening section and rocky or muddy footing in places; stay on the established tread to protect the meadows.
Practical notesDogs are allowed on leash; keep them close around wildlife.
- Dogs are allowed on leash; keep them close around wildlife.
- A pit toilet is available near the trailhead.
- A Parks Canada entry pass is required to access Jasper National Park and the Icefields Parkway.
- The small trailhead parking area fills early during busy summer periods; use the signed access and do not rely on highway shoulder parking.
Bottom lineWilcox Pass is a high-reward, moderate alpine out-and-back with glacier views, a short route to…
Wilcox Pass is a high-reward, moderate alpine out-and-back with glacier views, a short route to the red chairs, and an 8 km round trip to the pass. Start early, carry layers, and be prepared for lingering snow and exposed weather.
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.
