Wilcox Pass: Is It Worth the Hike?

You can stop at the first viewpoint

This is important if you are trying to fit Wilcox into an Icefields Parkway day: you do not have to complete the longer hike to make it worthwhile. The first viewpoint gives you a spectacular look across at the Athabasca Glacier. If that is all you have time for, go anyway.

But we thought continuing was worth it

Once you continue beyond the viewpoint and get into the big open alpine area, the hike feels completely different. The views become enormous—mountains in every direction, the glacier behind you and wide-open alpine terrain around you. It somehow felt remote even though we were only a few miles from the Icefields Parkway.

What the hike actually feels like

We would call the longer version moderately hard. There are real climbs and enough distance that it feels like a substantial hike rather than a quick scenic walk. The trail was also fairly crowded when we went, particularly around the more accessible sections, but the landscape opens up enough that it did not ruin the experience.

Look at the rocks—and look for sheep

The alpine landscape is full of evidence of the glaciers that shaped this valley. Glaciers can transport rocks and sediment and leave them behind as the ice retreats; larger transported rocks are known as glacial erratics, while mixed material deposited directly by ice is called glacial till. It is worth paying attention to the terrain rather than only looking toward the glacier.

We also saw lots of bighorn sheep right along the trail. That was one of the highlights of the hike and made the open alpine section even better.

Our verdict

Do not skip Wilcox because you cannot do the whole thing. The first viewpoint alone gives you an excellent Athabasca Glacier view. But if you have a few hours, keep going. The 360-degree alpine scenery, wildlife and feeling of being out in the mountains made the longer version one of our favorite Icefields Parkway hikes.