Jonas Pass trail
Jonas Pass trail (#131) is a long, rugged point-to-point backcountry route in Jasper National Park, built from fir-forest climbing, creek-valley travel, and an extended traverse through treeless alpine meadows. The trail gains from the start in forest, crosses a series of side creeks, then opens into meadows dotted with firs as it approaches Jonas Pass.
In the approach section, Four Point Creek stays to the right while the route climbs gradually up the valley. Multiple creeks feeding Four Point Creek require rock-hopping crossings, and the landscape transitions from forest to alpine meadows as the climb continues toward the pass.
Jonas Pass is marked by a large cairn with caribou antlers. The pass itself is long (about 2–3 miles) across alpine meadows, with the route gradually climbing to the cairn and then gradually descending.
From the pass, the trail drops into the Jonas Creek headwaters area, then veers right to climb a ridge known as Jonas Shoulder. Jonas Shoulder is where the route tops out before it begins descending again.
After leaving the shoulder, the trail descends into meadows and then returns to fir forest. Late in the descent it passes two side trails that lead to the Jonas Cutoff Camp access path ends, then crosses Poboktan Creek to connect with Poboktan Pass trail.
Overnight stays are limited to designated trail camps at the ends of Jonas Pass trail—Four Point Trail Camp on the south end and Jonas Cutoff Trail Camp on the north end—and reservations/permits are required for those camps. Snow can linger in the high alpine meadows and passes until mid-July.