Pyramid Lake Overlook

Pyramid Lake Overlook
Jasper, Alberta
July 20, 2026
Distance: 6.0 km (3.7 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 232 m (761 ft)

After driving from Calgary, Dinah and I stopped in Jasper to hike up Pyramid Lake Overlook. We welcomed stretching our legs and taking in the scenery before we continued to Hinton.

The trailhead parking lot was nearly full when we pulled in. We took the trail on the left and began hiking the Overlook Loop clockwise. The trail was wet from recent rain, yet apparently drained well as we didn’t encounter muddy sections. After hiking just over a kilometre, the trail forks and we kept right. Soon we began climbing the low ridge.

The trail doesn’t reach a summit, but crosses over a ridge. Small clearings in the forest allowed far-ranging views. But low cloud and wildfire smoke created a grey wall. We couldn’t see past nearby Patricia and Pyramid Lakes, let alone peaks such as Pyramid Mountain which we climbed 20 years ago.

Our views were limited, but the trail was pleasant, and we continued down the ridge. At the bottom, we took the right fork and followed the undulating trail back to the trailhead. Small breaks in the trees allowed views of Patricia Lake, and the last kilometre to the parking lot parallels the road.

As we drove to Hinton, we grew concerned about the wildfire smoke. It completely obscured the mountains that line the highway. In Hinton, we learned the air quality index was 171, and people were advised to stay indoors. Two days earlier, the air quality was okay, but apparently there was a sudden shift. The next day, we cancelled the rest of our stay and drove back to Calgary. We’ll return someday and perhaps hike Pyramid Lake Overlook on a clear day.

KML and GPX Tracks

The loop begins and ends at the trailhead