*AllTrails Track linked below*
If you have been to the Canadian Rockies or any mountains for that matter you would know the magic that they hold and a hike into the Rockies is something that is so hard to beat. There are many hikes scattered all throughout the Canadian Rockies. Some are specific trails, others are like an ant hill with many trails and many options and variations that you can combine to make your own hike and a distance that you prefer.
The Brazeau Loop hike shares about 27km with the GDT which is Canada's most famous arguably strenuous thru hike of 1100km - 1200km, which I plan to hike in 2024! In some ways the GDT is loosely comparable to the famous thru hikes of America; The PCT, CDT and AT.
The Brazeau Loop Trail is a relatively easy hike with minimal steep climbs and only a few passes which aren't too strenuous. The campsites naturally break the hike up into very easy distances to complete with no campsites further than 19km.. even for fairly slow hikers. The hike in total is approximately 83km which can be hiked in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, which we had chosen to hike the less popular clockwise direction. Being a loop hike.. Starting from the Icefield Parkway in Banff National Park and crossing into Jasper National Park before reaching the first campsite makes it simple in the fact that you end up right back at your vehicle at the end of the hike.
Camping along Brazeau Loop requires permits and to be booked online in advance. Although the campsites were fully booked there were plenty of sites at all of the camping areas that we stayed at. We were even lucky enough to have Brazeau Lake all to ourselves which was a treat! My assumption for the lack of hikers was due to the fire taking place in the town of Jasper which was only about 100km away and the trail is usually fully booked. You can notice the smoke throughout the video growing increasingly thicker towards the end of the hike. Every campground was in close proximity to water sources, had bear lockers and designated cooking areas which all have several picnic tables. My personal favourite campsite without question was Brazeau Lake where we had a great swim, met a lovely couple, Ari and Natalia, had a warm fire, and played horseshoes to pass the time.
The terrain throughout this hike is a combination of mossy areas, rocky areas, dirt and pine covered areas, scree fields, a fair amount of river crossings all with bridges aside from the one that is broken that crosses along Brazeau Lake. The crossing is easy to find after many other hikers have made a path with nothing difficult to navigate and the water is only mid shin deep at most and crosses directly in front of the picnic tables at camp at the mouth of the river leading out of Brazeau Lake. The trail is very well marked and travelled which makes it nearly impossible to find yourself off trail which is always great.
The trail has a total elevation gain of 2864m according to my AllTrails app with the lowest point being 1718m elevation along Brazeau Lake and the highest being 2489m elevation when climbing over Jonas Shoulder.
Our Itinerary was as follows:
Day 1 - Icefield Parkway to Four Point campground - 0km to 15km - Total = 15km
Day 2 - Four Point campground to Jonas campground - 15km to 34km - Total = 19km
Day 3 - Jonas campground to Brazeau Lake campground - 34km to 50km - Total = 16km
Day 4 - Brazeau Lake camp to Boulder Creek campground - 50km to 72km - Total = 22km
Day 5 - Boulder Creek campground to Icefield Parkway - 72km to 84km - Total = 12km
I cannot recommend this trail enough and it ticks off so many boxes... Mountains, alpine lakes, wildlife, beautiful campsites and this hike being a loop trail makes it easy not requiring a shuttle back to your vehicle at the end of a long hike.
I hope that this video serves as a trail guide for some and as motivation for all to get out and enjoy some waterfalls, mountains and hiking trails wherever you may be!
Happy Hiking 🥾
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Brazeau Loop Trail | Alberta | Canadian Rockies | Thru Hike