Great Divide (Caribou)

Statistics

Directions

Accessed from the Norman Creek/Sunset Pass trailhead 16.5 km north of Saskatchewan Crossing on the Icefields Parkway.

Details

This section of the Great Divide Trail consists of three stages:

1) Norman Creek to Poboktan Creek: climbs steeply to Sunset Pass before dropping to Pinto Lake. Some route-finding is necessary to pick up the trail along Cataract Creek. Cataract Pass and the Upper Brazeau Canyon are highlights of this route. The trail follows the north side of Nigel Pass down to the Brazeau River and Four Point Campground. The trail then climbs moderately to Jonas Pass before descending sharply to Poboktan Creek and Jonas Cutoff Campground.

2) Poboktan Creek to Maligne Lake: a more subdued, less populated trail descends gradually to Poboktan Campground before climbing to Maligne Pass. It then follows the Maligne River northwest to Maligne Lake.

3) Skyline Trail: A gradual ascent to Little Shovel Pass before traversing a meadows below Big Shovel Pass. Beyond this pass you climb beyond Curator Lake to "The Notch," perhaps the most difficult stretch of trail. The views from the top are fine compensation for your effort. You maintain this elevation along the ridge to Amber Mountain, often a very windy environment, before descending steeply to Tekarra Lake. The final stretch of trail finishes at the Maligne Lake Road.

The trail is in good condition, except through Cataract Pass, where a route leads through the scenic alpine to Nigel Pass. Wildlife may be encountered throughout the trip. Caribou can be seen especially on Amber Mountain and Jonas Pass. Between Nigel Pass and Sunset Pass are the steepest grades of the entire trail.

Photographs

GPS Waypoints

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