Valley of the Five Lakes Emerald Loop
A varied Jasper lake circuit with turquoise water, short steep hills and mountain panoramas.
Route overview
Link the recovering Wetland Way approach with rolling terrain and viewpoints over all five lakes.
Emerald Loop extends beyond Wetland Way into rolling forest terrain and visits viewpoints over all five lakes. The route includes short steeper hills, Red Chairs and a picnic area, providing a fuller half-day product without the longer outer Valley Loop.
Trail facts
- Country
- Canada
- Region
- South of Jasper / Valley of the Five Lakes
- Distance
- 5.4 km loop
- Typical duration
- approximately 2–3 hours depending on pace and stops
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation gain
- not officially stated
- Best season
- Late spring through autumn when officially open
- Trail type
- Loop
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- National park admission normally applies; same-day conditions and construction check required.
Safety context
Expect short steep hills and shared cycling segments; obey repair-area signs and do not enter partially closed trail sections. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Short steep hills, cyclists, mud, wildfire-recovery zones, wildlife, heat and limited shade in regrowth areas.
Highlights
Canada, Jasper National Park, Valley of the Five Lakes Emerald Loop, hiking, Canadian Rockies, Parks Canada
Why find a buddy
A buddy improves pace matching on rolling terrain, cyclist awareness, bear procedures and decisions around temporary reroutes.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.