Geraldine Lakes

Jasper National Park

Long day hike or backpacking trip in one of Jasper's lesser-visited valleys.

Hiking Difficult

Distance: 12 km
Ascent: 591 m
Descent: 591 m
Duration: 3-4 hrs

Low Point: 1.5 km
High Point: 1.9 km
Gradient: 14˚

Geraldine Lakes is an often-overlooked hike, despite its proximity to the Icefields Parkway and Athabasca Falls. This narrow and steep valley has a string of four lakes. The first is fairly easy to reach, on a good trail, but the second is more scenic, and getting there requires more work. You must navigate a boulder field where the trail all but disappears, then climb a steep section past a large waterfall.

Looking back over first Geraldine Lake and a lesser lake above it Photo: Erik Lizee

Description

Once at the second lake, you’ll be midway up the valley, in a particularly steep-sided basin. Avalanche paths sweep right down to the water, leaving open slopes of rubble instead of trees, and you can see quite far down the valley, where the moraine drops away. If doing this trail as a day hike, you’ll probably want to explore only a short distance along the lakeshore before turning around.

There is a backcountry campground at the far end of the lake, however, which is the extent of the route mapped here. If you want to hike farther into the valley, to the third and fourth lakes, camping there and day hiking to the higher lakes is the way to go. You can stay there with an appropriate backcountry permit.

Source: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/passez-stay/arrierepays-backcountry

Difficulty

Difficult

Hiking trails where obstacles such as rocks or roots are prevalent. Some obstacles can require care to step over or around. At times, the trail can be worn and eroded. The grade of the trail is generally quite steep, and can often lead to strenuous hiking.