Straddling the continental divide between Jasper National Park
and Mount Robson Provincial Park
, Miette Pass is one of the most beautiful mountain passes I have ever visited, too bad the trail sucks. Ok that's not completely true, the first fourteen klicks are on good trail, it even has board walks over the swampy sections - it's the rest of the trail that sucks. Difficult though the trip may be, the scenery at the pass is phenomenal and the possibilities of further exploration are wide and varied. Meander through alpine meadows, bash your way to high country lakes, scramble minor peaks or climb a host of technical summits... oh the possibilities!
You start the trail with an easy four and a half klick stroll down the old Yellowhead Road from the Decoigne Warden Station. Just before the old Miette River bridge site turn right on a good path and begin a stiff climb up the side of the Miette Valley. Cruising along steep side slopes and plunging through old forests, the trail up to the old Rink warden cabin site is a pleasant jaunt through the woods. Back in ‘99 this section of trail was in great condition. I wonder what happened to the rest of the trail? Take a good break here as it is the only open area on the first half of the trail.
The next eight klicks grind slowly upwards on a rocky, rooty, muddy trail. Be careful, a badly sprained ankle or twisted knee here would be a real drag. If you plan it right you'll tackle this trail when the ground is frozen after a fall frost. After twenty-two klicks the forest will finally release it's grip on you but it's a mixed blessing. Ahead is over five klicks of black spruce bog, willow meadow and other equally wet places, and to start it off is a ford of a small stream issuing from the cleft between Mounts Moren and Bridgland.
There used to be big yellow markers along this boggy route but most of them are lying in pieces at the base of their respective trees. So easy is it to loose the trail, that you may as well plan on a bushwhacking the rest of the way to the Miette Lake - so as to avoid the disappointment of not finding the trail. Trail books on the area describe two fords of the Miette River and an extra campground along this section of 'trail'? We made good time over frozen ground, but added a couple of extra kilometres by backtracking around standing water and weaving around stands of trees.
The Miette Lake campground, found at the south end of Miette Lake, is a long 28 kilometres from the trailhead. A thin screen of trees provides a wind break for a pleasant little fire ring. The old bear pole was rotten through in ‘99 so take plenty of rope to hang your food.
The campground is situated above a ford of the Miette River and a ‘trail' to Miette Pass; a triple pass composed of South, Centre and North Passes. In a short two klicks from the campground the trail crests Centre Pass at the continental divide before vanishing into the expansive meadow below Salient Mountain. Thus ends this trail/route description at 30km, return the way you came. The maps you'll need are government topos "83D16 Jasper", "83D15 Lucerne" and "83E2 Resplendent Creek" all of which are available from the The Friends of Jasper. Registration required and fees apply, call the Jasper Trail office for more information 1-780-852-6177.
While the trail/route described above is an adventure in itself, it's possible to push deeper in to the wilderness. A trail/route over Grant and Colonel Passes connects the Miette to the Moose River and eventually takes explorers all the way to Mount Robson. The stretch from Moose River should only be considered by the most experienced and tenacious wilderness travellers. The numerous crossings of Moose River are glacial cold swims at most times of the year and the ford of Stepp Creek should never be underestimated. Talk to the Jasper Trail Office and a Mt Robson Ranger before tackling this journey and add "83E3 Mt Robson" to your map pouch.
Current conditions:
Submitted by 'mtncat'.
Directions:
Drive west of Jasper on Hwy 16 for 18km and turn right on the Decoigne Road just before the park entrance station. Cross the railroad and Miette River before turning left on the Old Yellowhead Road. Just past the entrance of Decoigne Warden Station the road is gated, park here but do not block the gate.
