Hike Alberta
200 m N
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Athabasca Toe of the Glacier

Jasper National Park

Easy · Out and back · Official trail

The Athabasca Glacier at the end of the trail
The Athabasca Glacier at the end of the trail. Photo by Norton Ip from Hong Kong, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 81 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

250 m Open the map

About this trail

Athabasca Toe of the Glacier is a 1.9 km out and back trail in Jasper National Park. It runs 1.0 km each way. The route gains 66 m in total and tops out at 1,981 m. Hike Alberta rates it easy. Allow about 40 minutes of moving time. It meets Hike to Toe of Athabasca Glacier at 0.2 km, and passes two other mapped junctions. Along the way you pass The glacier was here in 1982, a viewpoint and Athabasca Glacier. Also used for walking.

Length
1.9km
1.0 km each way
Elevation gain
66m
Estimated time
40min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
1,981m
Lowest point
1,930m

Elevation profile

1,930 m to 1,981 m
1,9811,930 0 km1.0 km

Highest point 1,981 m, lowest 1,930 m, 66 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 22% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 100% of route

100% LTE · 0% 5G

Longest modelled gap
0.0 km
Model
2024 · Natural Resources Canada

Predicted coverage is not guaranteed. It varies by carrier, terrain, weather, device and network load, and it does not guarantee emergency service.

Along the way

  1. 0.0 kmLower Toe of the Glacier trailTrailhead
  2. 0.3 kmThe glacier was here in 1982Historic site
  3. 0.4 kmThe glacier was here in 1992Historic site
  4. 0.5 kmViewpointAt 0.5 km
  5. 0.7 kmThe glacier was here in 2006Historic site
  6. 0.8 kmAthabasca GlacierLandmark

Good for

  • Hiking, Walking
  • Dog friendly (on leash), Kid friendly
  • Views, Glacier, Historic site

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 52.2124° N, 117.2326° W.

Driving directions

Jasper National Park admission

National park admission required

Buy Discovery Pass

Pass details

Visitors spending time in a national park need valid daily admission or a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. Admission is separate from camping, reservations, parking and other service fees.

Information checked October 21, 2026.

Official details

Before you go

Carry an offline map and plan for no service in backcountry areas. Trails close for wildlife, fire, weather and construction. Check the official sources:

Nearby trails

All 273 trails in Jasper National Park

Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Parks Canada trail data, Open Government Licence Canada
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30