Tonquin Valley trail

Near Jasper · Jasper National Park

Hard · Point to point

The Ramparts at sunrise in the Tonquin Valley. Photo by Robert Berdan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 74 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

About this trail

Tonquin Valley trail is a 40.6 km point to point trail near Jasper in Jasper National Park. The route gains 1,234 m in total and tops out at 2,203 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 13 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It passes 17 mapped trail junctions. Two side branches with the same name split off the route, at 16.1 km and 24.0 km. The map also shows eight separate sections with the same name that are not part of this route. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Amethyst Lakes and Cavell Lake, a campground and a backcountry campground. Much of the route follows Portal Creek. Also used for backpacking.

Length: 40.6km
Elevation gain: 1,234m
Estimated time: 13h15min; Moving time
Route: Point to point
Highest point: 2,203m
Lowest point: 1,483m

Elevation profile

1,483 m to 2,203 m

Highest point 2,203 m, lowest 1,483 m, 1,234 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 23% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 32% of route

5% LTE · 27% 5G

Longest modelled gap: 27.5 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

8.8 kmPortal CampgroundCampground · 1,979 m
8.8 kmPortalBackcountry campground
12.2 kmMaccarib PassPass or saddle
19.3 kmAmethyst LakesLake
33.6 kmAstoria CampgroundCampground · 1,690 m
33.6 kmAstoriaBackcountry campground
40.4 kmCavell LakeLake
40.6 kmAstoria TrailheadTrailhead

Good for

Hiking, Backpacking
Lake, Views, River or creek, Camping, Alpine

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 52.7811° N, 118.0766° 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
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30