Chaba Trail

With the Chaba Trail, you explore a former forest road that takes you through fragrant pine forest, always close to the impressive Athabasca River. Since there are two campsites along the route, you can also spend a night in the wilderness.

You start at the impressive Sunwapta Falls, which plunge dramatically into a gorge. From here, you cross the Sunwapta River over a bridge and shortly afterwards cycle into the quiet pine forest. In between, you catch glimpses of rugged peaks and the shimmering Athabasca River. The trail is largely flat, with short climbs that offer you variety.

You follow the Athabasca River upstream and pass the Big Bend Campground with a perfect view of Dragon Peak. A short side path takes you to the Chaba Warden Shelter, a hut that was used by rangers. You cross small streams over sturdy wooden bridges and roll to the mouth of the Chaba River at the Athabasca Crossing Trail Camp. A little further on you can admire the remains of an old bridge over the river. From here you return to the starting point via the same path.