Hiking Trails - Fryatt Valley (Day 1)

[1-Upper Fryatt Valley near glaciers - click to enlarge]









Fryatt Valley is in Jasper National Park, Alberta. This hike is best completed over 3 to 4 days or longer, because once you’re up there you won’t want to leave. The distance, one way, is 23.2km (14.4 miles). Fryatt Valley is a hanging valley, the remnant after the glacier retreated.

Elevation gain 800m (2,700ft)
Max elevation 2,040m (6,700ft)

Map: Athabasca Falls 83C/12

The trailhead can be reached by going to the Highway 93 junction at Athabasca Falls 31 km (19 miles) south of the Jasper townsite.

Follow hwy 93A north to the Geraldine Fire road slightly over 1km. this is a gravel road, where there is a small parking area and sign at the trailhead. This is also the trailhead to go to the Geraldine Lakes.

Hikers will need a ParksCanada wilderness pass.





[2-Mt Kerkeslin near Athabasca Falls]






The trail follows a relatively flat, old roadbed through the forest.




[3-Forest Arch]


At about 7km the trail comes alongside the Athabasca River.





[4-Athabasca River]




Here the hiker can see the Icefields Parkway 200m across to the other side.




[5-Icefields Parkway - click to enlarge]







[6-Bull elk]



Now the trail climbs away from the river, veering south to begin the climb into the Fryatt Valley.

It's a good idea to make noise while walking to alert any bears that may be nearby.

Viewpoint is at 8.6km.



[7- Looking up Fryatt Valley]






[8-Looking up toward Fryatt Valley]







[9-Looking down Fryatt Valley]






[10-Crossing Fryatt Creek]



Fryatt Creek is crossed to go to the east bank. Here the Lower Fryatt campground is located at a distance of about 12km, which is entered through a narrow gorge between Mt Fryatt and Mt. Christie.

At 15.9 km the trail crosses the creek and goes past gravel flats where views of the glaciated peaks can be seen at the head of the valley.



[11- Peaks across Athabasca Valley]






[12 - Looking down the lower Fryatt Valley]






[13 - Fryatt Lake and Headwall Falls]


The trail goes over a large rockslide for a kilometre.




[14-Fryatt Lake and Headwall Falls]






[15-Silt in Fryatt Lake]






The trail follows the west side of Fryatt Lake.




[16 - Fryatt Lake]






Beyond the lake, the hiker climbs through forest to the headwall and Brussels Campground.



[17 - Fryatt Lake rainforest - click to enlarge]









[18-Near Brussels campground in Fryatt Valley - click to enlarge]



At about 18km is the Brussels campground where it is warm and sunny throughout the day.








[19- Peaks visible from campground]


TO BE CONTINUED

Sources: ParksCanada - Jasper


Photo Credits: [1][18]-HandsLive CC=flickr, [2][2][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][19]-brilang CC=nc-sa-flickr, [6]-sabindle CC=nc-nd-flickr.