Athabasca Pass

Athabasca Pass is a mountain passage in the Canadian Rockies that crosses the Continental Divide between Mount Brown and McGillivray Ridge. The route spans about 18 kilometers from Kane Meadows to Wood River, running partly through Jasper National Park and partly into British Columbia.

David Thompson was the first documented European to cross this pass in 1811, guided by an Iroquois man named Thomas through snow-covered terrain. The route later became an important trading corridor for fur traders traveling between eastern and western Canada.

The Committee's Punch Bowl, a glacial lake at the summit, represents a significant landmark in the historical fur trade network connecting eastern and western Canada.

The best time to visit is from summer through early autumn when snow has melted and trails are accessible. The pass requires good physical fitness and proper mountain hiking equipment.

A lake at this pass called Committee's Punch Bowl has a rare feature where water from the same body flows in two directions, partly eastward toward Hudson Bay and partly westward toward the Pacific Ocean. This natural phenomenon makes the location a notable geographic feature.

Location: Jasper

Location: Columbia-Shuswap Regional District

Location: British Columbia

Elevation above the sea: 1,753 m

GPS coordinates: 52.37639,-118.18333

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:21