Athabaska Pass

Day Use Area

Contact

Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Alberta

pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/ab/athabasca

Description

Athabasca Pass is a high mountain pass in the Canadian Rockies. It is the headwaters of the Whirlpool River, a tributary of the Athabasca River. Establishing transportation corridors to the Pacific Coast was vital to the fur trade. Guided through the Athabasca Pass by Thomas the Iroquois, David Thompson was instrumental in surveying many routes through the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The first northerly route through Howse Pass was quickly blocked by the Pikani Tribe in 1810 forcing Thompson to trek through a more challenging route through Athabasca Pass near Jasper, Alberta. It was used for nearly half a century as part of the main fur trade routes from Canada to the coast. This remote historic trail follows the Whirlpool River valley, the traditional route of early fur traders crossing the Rocky Mountains. Large gravel flats and glaciers dominate the scenery in sections. No bridge at Simon Creek. Expert hikers only

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Features

Location

Lat: 52.638302 Lng: -117.935589