Avion Ridge Route
Waterton Lakes National Park
Trail score 60 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Avion Ridge Route is a 12.0 km out and back trail in Waterton Lakes National Park. It runs 6.0 km each way. The route gains 703 m in total and tops out at 2,425 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 5 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Lost Lake Route at 1.1 km, and passes two other mapped junctions. At 2.9 km the trail forks. This route keeps right; the left fork is a 50 m side branch with the same name. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass the summit of Avion Ridge, a campground and a backcountry campground. Also used for backpacking.
- Length
- 12.0km
- 6.0 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 703m
- Estimated time
- 5h15min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 2,425m
- Lowest point
- 1,743m
Elevation profile
1,743 m to 2,425 mHighest point 2,425 m, lowest 1,743 m, 703 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 31% over 100 m.
Predicted coverage: 2% of route
2% LTE · 0% 5G
- Longest modelled gap
- 5.9 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
- 0.0 kmCampground
- 0.0 kmSnowshoeBackcountry campground
- 5.9 kmAvion RidgeSummit · 2,437 m
Good for
- Hiking, Backpacking
- Dog friendly (on leash)
- Summit, Views, Camping, Alpine
Rankings
Trailhead
The trail starts at 49.1445° N, 114.1239° W.
Waterton Lakes National Park admission
National park admission required
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.
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
- Twin Lakes TrailModerate · 6.5 km · 243 m gain · 0.0 km away
- Lost Lake RouteEasy · 2.2 km · 89 m gain · 0.8 km away
- Cameron Lake to Sage Pass TrailEasy · 2.7 km · 157 m gain · 2.3 km away
- Tamarack TrailExpert · 27.8 km · 1,724 m gain · 2.5 km away
- South Kootenay Pass trailEasy · 3.5 km · 195 m gain · 3.3 km away
- Newman Peak TrailHard · 14.1 km · 1,035 m gain · 3.6 km away
All 63 trails in Waterton Lakes National Park
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30