Mountain Treks in Alberta by Gerry Shea

Author:Gerry Shea
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1926855-86-8
Publisher: Rocky Mountain Books
Published: 2010-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Still waters from the Athabasca River linger beside Big Bend Campground. Dragon Peak in the background.

Mount Quincy looms high over the Athabasca River looking south from Big Bend campground

14. Athabasca Pass, Whirlpool Campground

Whirlpool Campground is primitive, as it is not spacious and is barely off the trail. There are no marked campsites and no tables, with only a bear pole straddled high between two trees (bring your own rope) and a privy for a restroom. However, the serene setting of the Whirlpool River will soon put all this lack of luxury out of your mind. The trail is a 6.5 km hike to the campground with a total elevation gain of no more than 70 m.

A long day trip from this campsite will take you to the historic remains of the Old Tie Camp, which in the 1910s was used by the Otto brothers for making railway ties. Remnants of the camp include lumber from boats, cabins and the mill and scrap metal from cans and tools.

Difficulty

Distance: 6.5 km

Elevation gain: 67 m

Trailhead: GPS: N52 40 10.6 W117 57 15.9

Elevation: 1217 m

Summit of trail: GPS: N52 39 33.9 W117 57 07.4

Elevation: 1284 m

Whirlpool Campground: GPS: N52 37 36.4 W117 59 35.2

Elevation: 1242 m

Trailhead: From the intersection of Highway 16 and the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) drive south for 30 km until you reach the Athabasca Falls turnoff on the right side of the highway. This in turn will place you on Highway 93A. Stay on this roadway for 8.6 km, going past the Athabasca Falls parking lot turnoff on the left, to the Moab Lake intersection. Turn left. The remainder of the drive is now on a very dusty gravel road lasting 7.0 km, though the posted distance reads 7.5 km. The Moab Lake parking lot is the trailhead for this adventure.

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