The oldest and only remaining backcountry lodge in Jasper National Park
'Shovel Pass'
The name ‘Shovel Pass’ originated in 1911.
When The Otto brothers were working as outfitters and guides for Mary Schaffer to survey Maligne Lake, they found the snow in the pass so deep that they could not get through. They carved shovels out of a spruce tree and used these to dig the trail out.
They left the shovels they made standing as trail markers on the pass, thus receiving the name 'Shovel Pass’.
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Nowadays, these shovels can be seen in the Jasper Yellowhead Museum.
Shovels on Shovel Pass, 1911
Mary Schaffer, The Whyte - Archival Fonds
V527 / PS1 - 129
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Shovel Pass 'Camp'
The original hiking trail into Maligne Lake was built in 1911 from Wabasso Lake and over Shovel Pass.
A tent camp was established along the trail that year. In 1921, a permanent camp was relocated higher up the valley below the alpine basin, making Shovel Pass Lodge Jasper National Park's oldest backcountry lodge. Originally operated as one of Fred Brewster's Rocky Mountain Camps, the facilities included a cookhouse and several tent frames for guest accommodation.
Rebuilt in 1991, the facilities now include 7 guest cabins and a main log chalet with dining room and kitchen.
994.45.24.80 | Shovel Pass Camp 1940
Doris Kensit fonds
Eleanor Broadhead scrapbook
The only way to bring supplies to the lodge
Packhorses
Shovel Pass Lodge relies on packhorses to transport supplies to and from the lodge. A packhorse is a horse used to carry goods on its back, typically secured in boxes or panniers.
Twice a week, all the necessary supplies and food for the lodge are packed into boxes. The horses take about four hours to reach the lodge, ascending over 3,000 feet of challenging terrain. The weight and size of every ingredient used in our menu is selected with horse transportation in mind.
Horses play a crucial role in operating Shovel Pass Lodge, you can thank them for carefully carrying more than 2400 fresh eggs every summer.
Trouble on Shovel Pass, 1911
Mary Schaffer, The Whyte - Archival Fonds
V527 / PS1 - 133
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Meet the Owners
Now entering their second season as owners of Shovel Pass Lodge, Sara-Jay and Ross bring a shared passion for wilderness living and mountain hospitality.
With backgrounds in remote work across Canada, they’ve found their perfect summer home nestled along the Skyline Trail.
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You’re likely to find them hiking between trailheads, hauling supplies, and doing what they can to ensure your stay at the lodge is as enjoyable and memorable as possible.
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Grateful to spend their summers immersed in the mountains, SJ and Ross are always excited to welcome guests and share the unique experience of backcountry life at Shovel Pass Lodge.
