Jacques Lake

Jasper National Park

Easy overnight backpacking trip to a secluded lake with a comfortable backcountry campground.

Hiking Moderate

Distance: 24 km
Ascent: 474 m
Descent: 474 m
Duration: 5-6 hrs

Low Point: 1.4 km
High Point: 1.5 km
Gradient: 3˚

Jacques Lake makes a good beginner-level backpacking trip, with a relatively easy hike passing a handful of lakes, and a nice backcountry campground near Jacques Lake. It has a relatively long season for hiking, usually passable in early June and well into October because of its low elevation and mild gradient. The forests and fields surrounding the lakes are especially good for wildlife sightings––you may see moose, elk, or bears. As with other trails in the Jasper backcountry, bear safety is important.

Jasper National Park nahe Beaver Lake Photo: ansas

Description

The first 4.7 km of the trail, to the first of the two Summit Lakes, is on an old fire road, so it’s relatively wide and easy going. Beyond Summit Lakes, it’s a footpath that is more rugged and steep, but still not too difficult for hiking. The entire way remains in the forest, but emerges at each lake for a panorama of the mountain ranges.

The trail is open to mountain bikes as well, but becomes quite difficult to ride past First Summit Lake. To go to Jacques Lake and back as a day trip, you might ride a bike to Summit Lakes, then lock it up, and hike the remaining 8 km to Jacques Lake.

Sources: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/passez-stay/arrierepays-backcountry/sugg-sentierstrip-ideas/Jacques