Nigel Pass to Boulder Creek (21km) Day Hike (7/22/2017)

Day 1 (July 22): Meet at the carpool location in Edmonton and head out to Two O'clock Creek Campground on Hwy 11. Two O'clock Creek Campground is found in the Kootenay Plains Provincial Recreation Area, 67 km west of Nordegg on Hwy. 11. We should be settled in by 8:30pm.

Day 2 (July 23): Wake up early (6am) and drive to the Icefields Parkway Hwy to the Nigel Pass Trailhead for 8am. Nigel Pass to Boulder Creek is 10.7km (We will stop for lunch at the campground and make our way back to the car) Total distance is around 21.4 km. I'm expecting to arrive at the campground by 11:30am just in time for lunch.

Nigel Pass: Follow the old Banff - Jasper gravel road past an outfitters corral until you reach the wardens station. Stay left of the Wardens station on a well worn trail that leads down to Nigel Creek. Cross two wooden planked bridges over Nigel Creek then follow the right hand trail a short distance up towards old Camp Parker. Camp Parker was used by early natives and the first explorers to this area. The tree carvings found here date back to and before 1940, when the original Banff- Jasper highway was built. From camp Parker, follow the trail leading north towards Nigel Pass as it slowly climbs through an old Engelmann spruce forest. Nigel creek cascades over several short outcrops as you pass by. Once you enter the meadows you can see the Nigel Pass headwall directly in front of you. Hike 2.5kms up the headwall to the top of the pass. The trail then drops down the other side towards Brazeau River valley. The slopes with slabs of rock to the northeast should be avoided.

While Nigel Pass provides a quick scenic reward, the descent along the upper Brazeau River is very attractive as well. After hopping across the river's headwaters 400 meters beyond the park boundary, we'll make a steep descent through rockslides to the first of several lush meadows - marshy, cottongrass flats fed by a large waterfall. After crossing to the west side of the Brazeau at the lower end of the meadow, we'll arrive at Boulder Creek Campground.