Wilcox Pass Hike, Jasper National Park.

Wilcox Pass is located near the Columbia Icefields 100km south of the Jasper townsite and approximately 111k north of Lake Louise. The east end trailhead is located at the entrance to the Wilcox Creek Campground. This hike is considered moderate with an elevation gain of approximately 520m. Allow three hours for a round trip. The trail heads up through a spruce forest then enters the Alpine zone where you'll find beautiful meadows and outstanding views of the Columbia Icefields area. This trail may be one the finest hikes found in Jasper National Park. The surrounding peaks, Mount Athabasca, Mount Andromeda, Snow Dome, and Mount Kitchener are all glaciated. Along the ridge towards the summit of  Wilcox Pass you can see the full 6km length of  the Athabasca glacier. There are several creeks running through the surrounding meadows and wildflowers are growing everywhere. Big Horn Sheep can often be seen in the area, especially early morning and at dusk. One you reach the summit of Wilcox Pass the meadow here is a full 1km wide. Mount Wilcox can also be climbed from this point. Wilcox Pass can be accessed from the Climbers Tenting Campground by hiking straight up Wilcox Creek behind the Climbers Campground. This is the quickest and easiest route to open views on the pass. If you're staying at the Wilcox Creek Campground you can take a trail that is located at the top loop near an unmarked pump house. Follow this trail up until you reach the creek bed, cross the creek then work your way up the left ridge of the creek. Keep going until you're near the top of a waterfall then traverse west (left) along the scree and meadow line. Views of the surrounding area are better from this approach and you'll also be away from the crowds. Keep an eye out for Big Horn Sheep here. Keep heading west along the scree and meadow line until you're over the summit of Wilcox Pass then drop down to the cairns. This is a great spot to have your lunch. Afterwards you can hike out on the well used trail leading back to the Wilcox Creek parking lot. The west trailhead can be found at Tangle Falls which is located approximately 14km west on the Jasper highway. Trailheads to Parker Ridge, Hilda Ridge, Hilda Glacier, Boundary Lake, Nigel Pass, Weeping Wall, Mount Athabasca North Glacier, Castleguard Mountain Alpine Climb and the Saskatchewan Glacier are also located in this area. You are in bear country.