Parker Ridge Trail sits at the north edge of Banff National Park, along the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93). It is only a 5-minute drive south of the Wilcox Pass trailhead in Jasper, another incredible hike in the Icefields area.
This hike absolutely wowed me. It is short, about 5 km, with incredible mountain views for a comparatively low effort. The trail brings you up and over Parker Ridge, where you get views overlooking the Saskatchewan Glacier. We hiked this trail at the end of July, and it was filled with wildflowers including alpine forget-me-nots, western pasqueflower, white mountain heather, and moss campion.
Parker Ridge Trail Summary
- Difficulty:Â Moderate
- Distance:Â 5.4 km round trip
- Elevation:Â 305 metres
- Trail type:Â Out-and-back
- Time:Â 2-3 hours
- Trailhead:Â Parker Ridge Trailhead
The trailhead for Parker Ridge is clearly signed. If you are heading north on Highway 93 (the Icefields Parkway), it is about 30 minutes passed Saskatchewan River Crossing, shortly after the hairpin turn and signs for Nigel Creek. If you are driving south on the Icefields Parkway, you’ll see signs for Parker Ridge just after the Jasper/Banff Park Boundary signs. The parking area and trail in on the west side of the highway.
There are pit toilets and a map at the trailhead, but there is no service in the area. Stop in Saskatchewan Crossing or at the Jasper National Park Icefield Information Centre and Glacier Gallery if you need food, water, or prefer plumbing.
Detailed Trail Description
The day we hiked Parker Ridge Trail was hot and smoky. (Note: Be sure to check the air quality and consider postponing your hike if their is significant smoke to protect your lungs.) We hiked the trail in the late afternoon, starting around 4:30 pm. We were driving through from Calgary to Mount Robson, with plans to stop in Jasper for dinner, hence the late start time. The trail took us exactly 2 hours, including lots of time for photos of the wildflowers along the trail.
The trail begins through the forest, but gain elevation quickly, with short switchbacks leading you up the ridge. We broke out of the treeline pretty quickly, which left the trail exposed and very hot in the sun. Make sure to bring proper sun protection on this trail as there is no shade once you leave the trees behind.
You continue climbing for 2 km, getting increasingly beautiful views of the mountains across the Icefields Parkway to the north and southeast. I was looking back a lot through this section of the hike and appreciating the changing view with each switchback. There were many wildflowers throughout the sides of the trail.
It’s also worth noting that there are areas of the trail that have been reestablished and many signs asking hikers to avoid walking on delicate areas under restoration. Please follow these signs and stick to the main trail, avoiding these “shortcuts” (called social trails) as they can have a detrimental impact on the vegetation here and can encourage erosion.
Reaching the Top of the Ridge
The trail begins to flatten out around kilometre 2, bringing hikers across the ridge. The views here are breathtaking. I felt as if I were in a movie panning over the horizon as I rose over the crest of the ridge and views of the mountains behind grew in my field of view.
We took a slight detour here to a viewpoint overlooking Saskatchewan Glacier. Though the smoke left a bit of a haze over all our distant views, the glacier was still incredible to see. A waterfall cascaded down the adjacent mountain. It was one of those expansive views that makes you feel so tiny and insignificant in the presence of these ancient giants (in fact, I find the entirety of the Icefields Parkway makes me feel like this).
Around this point we saw a few ground squirrels, which I believe were Columbian ground squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus). Their high-pitched squeaks followed us around and we got a few glimpses of them watching us on their hind legs.
The trail continues along the west edge of the ridge a little further before you need to turn around and retrace your steps. The hike back to the car was just as beautiful. Parker Ridge continues to rise to the northwest, and the mountains across the valley rose above the ridge as we made our way back to the other side.
The descent was relatively easy, with a few sections of loose rock that demanded a bit more care. We made our way back to the parking lot after exactly 2 hours and got back on the road for Jasper.
