Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Athabasca Pass National Historic Site adventure.
Discover the historic trails of Athabasca Pass amid the Canadian Rockies.
Establishing transportation corridors to the Pacific Coast was vital to the fur trade. Guided through the Athabasca Pass by Thomas the Iroquois, David Thompson was instrumental in surveying many routes through the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The first northerly route through Howse Pass was quickly blocked by the Pikani Tribe in 1810 forcing Thompson to trek through a more challenging route through Athabasca Pass near Jasper, Alberta. It was used for nearly half a century as part of the main fur trade routes from Canada to the coast.
The best time to visit Athabasca Pass National Historic Site is during the summer months when the trails are clear and the weather is favourable for exploration. Winter visits can be challenging due to snow, making the site less accessible.