Rocky Mountains

Reef Icefield at Snowbird Pass

The prize at the end of the Snowbird Pass Trail. After an elevation gain of 700 and some metres, you reach the top of the saddle-shaped pass and look down on the massive Reef Icefield and Coleman Glacier in Jasper. No photo I've seen of the icefield really depicts the icefield the way you see it from the pass. It's massive. This panorama was the only way I could capture it all and it still doesn't give the full sense of size. Definately worth the long trip to the pass. There are several higher points than the pass which offer a slightly different view but they are very steep climbs up and then down.

The next day, we hiked to Adolphous Lake in Jasper and the map showed what looks to be another trail to see the icefield from the northern point. I don't see the trail on the backcountry map on Parks Canada's site - it may be an older and not well maintained trail. Much of that trail would be along the Moose River route and up through Moose Pass and not as interesting as the trip to Snowbird Pass.

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