Opal Hills Hike Jasper National Park.

Opal Hills is located on the North West end of Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park approximately 56Km East of the Jasper Town site. If you're looking for a good selection of wildflowers you will find them on this hike. As you hike higher and higher the wildflowers are in abundance and the varieties are constantly changing to the altitude and terrain. No dogs allowed here, it's a protected Caribou range. This hike is a moderate to difficult 9km loop that leads to a beautiful meadow and open ridges. Allow 3 hours return but if you want to explore the ridges above the meadow allow 5 hours. Elevation gain to the meadows is approximately 510m. Expect to see lots of hikers here during the summer months. The parking lot can fill fast so arriving before 10AM may be necessary. The trailhead is located on the North West end of Maligne Lake parking lot. Stay on this well worn trail keeping right at the return loop intersection approximately 1.5Km. From here the trail becomes very steep and will test your stamina. It's a tough uphill grind to the meadows but well worth the effort. Once you arrive at the meadow it's like walking into a flower garden, best in late June and all of July. Beware of Grizzly Bears here. This meadow is perfect bear habitat and there is not enough room in the meadow valley for both you and a bear. Keep an eye out and make lots of noise while arriving at the meadow. At this point you can take the left trail through the meadows and back down the loop or take the right trail that leads up to the ridge to your right and ends on the ridge straight ahead of you. If you've made it this far don't stop now. Keep going up the ridge to your right staying on the trail as to not disturb the fragile wildflowers. The views from the ridge are very nice. You can see Maligne Lake below and Bald Hills directly across the valley to the South. The trail now turns into rock and scree that traverses a steep slope. Keep your eye out for mountain goats and sheep. On your way down head back to the meadow entrance and follow the loop back out across the meadow and back down to the start. If you want better views of Maligne Lake and to the East do the nearby Bald Hills Hike. In 1908 Opal hills was named by Mary Shaffer after the the resemblance of wildflowers to jewels. Don't be fooled by the term 'Hills'. Opal Hills and nearby Bald Hills are mountainous. Mary named most of the peaks near Maligne Lake while exploring this area. I think if she didn't see a glacier on a peak she called it a hill. Would have loved to have met her. Trail heads to Bald Hills, Mount Edith Cavell, Sulphur Skyline, Horse Shoe Lake, Whistlers Mountain, Maligne Canyon and Athabasca Falls are also located in this area. You are in Bear country.