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Rockies :: Jasper :: Poboktan Pass - Quartal Peak

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Panoramic view east across Brazeau Lake to distant eastern JNP Peaks from 3010m Quartal Peak summit

August 23 - 25,  2025

Poboktan Pass has some of most beautiful alpine meadows I've had chance to see in Canadian Rockies.  It is usually traversed as part of famous "Brazeau Loop" multi-day backpack.  I dislike carrying heavy overnight load and making/breaking camps every day, so yet again I resorted to "Basecamp" strategy that worked so well in the past elsewhere, including Banff  Sawback Trail.   Besides chance to visit this exquisite area I've never been to, additional motivation was ascent of extremely rarely climbed 3010m Quartal Peak, where fabulous view of Brazeau Lake and eastern JNP Peaks awaits - lead photo on this page.  Starting from Sunwapta Warden station 1st day I hiked ~12km to Waterfalls Campground, passing Maligne Pass junction I was familiar with from previous trips. 2nd day I continued on Poboktan Creek trail, now on GDT, to Poboktan Pass passing Jonas Cutoff / Brazeau loop junction along the way. At the pass I left trail and easily hiked up Quartal. On descent instead of going back to Poboktan Pass I followed drainage of very young Poboktan Creek intercepting Brazeau loop near Jonas Cutoff, then hiked back to Waterfalls for the night. 3rd day was hike out back to Sunwapta.

Poboktan Creek trail stays most of the time till Jonas Cutoff below treeline, but it is very peaceful with several scenic distractions including Waterfalls and Poboktan Ranger Station - see Gallery.  At Jonas Cutoff,  ~9 km from Waterfalls, trail joins Brazeau Loop (go left) and starts open ascent to Poboktan Pass ~3km away.  It Quartal Peak is sole objective, it is not necessary going all the way to the Pass, but I strongly advise against it if you have never been here as you'll miss major highlight.  From the Pass I left trail and easily hiked up meadows to base of Quartal Peak and start of standard Rockies Talus slope.  Make sure you fill water here, as there won't be any after except perhaps lingering snow patches, depending on your timing.  Ascent is straightforward; around 700m vertical from Poboktan Pass Pass, basically hiking - I didn't have to use my hands at all. Upper third had bit of shifting rock I had to be careful with on descent, but that was all. Small cairn on summit (no register) testifies peak does see some traffic.  

It is worth mentioning 2 things:

• Cycling is allowed to Poboktan Warden Station, 14km from Sunwapta (~2km up the trail from Waterfalls).   This opens the door ajar for ultra long day-trips, but you have to be a Superman.  Waterfalls "basecamp" strategy is much more realistic for most people in my opinion.
• If not feeling up to ascending Quartal, less ambitious but very pleasant option from Poboktan Pass is off trail highline to Jonas Shoulder (way is obvious), then hiking down GDT back to Jonas Cutoff.  I was considering doing this on descent if I didn't decide on "Quartal Meadows" shortcut instead.

Gallery