Explore Athabasca Falls
Jasper, Alberta
Details
Distance
0.6 miles
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Jonathan Sinclair
Explore one of the most popular and scenic locations in Jasper National Park. If you have the chance to head here in the winter, you can explore it in solitude - the icy blue river and frozen falls are an amazing sight.
Athabasca Falls is not the biggest waterfall in the area but it is one of the most powerful when it's at a full flow and attracts many visitors in the peak visiting months (late spring - early fall). In the winter, however, it's a quiet place to pull off of the Icefields Parkway and explore a bit. It's a very short walk from the parking lot and there are bathrooms, picnic tables, and plenty of vantage points with great views.
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Reviews
Weather wasn't the greatest when I visited, but still super cool. The waterfall is powerful and spectacular, but I think I like the little gorge just below the waterfall the best at this spot.
5.0
Wicked scenery, amazing powerful falls. We love these falls because you can climb around and get a little risky getting close to the falls. Worth visiting during your stay in Jasper!
5.0
This was an amazing view. A must see for any visitors of Alberta, Can
5.0
This area is breathtaking! Make sure to hike past the falls over to the canyon across the way and down to the bright blue lake at the bottom. We went early in the morning and there weren't any crowds.
4.0
A super easy detour if you're making the trek from Jasper to Banff. If you're there before 9, you'll beat the tours. We went around sunset (In mid-June), and had the place to ourselves.
4.0
We visited the falls in the winter and it was still very busy. It's worth seeing and it's a very short trail from the parking lot. Everything is sectioned off so it comes across as very touristy, but nevertheless it is extremely beautiful to see firsthand
4.0
This is an incredible place to visit year round. It can be busy with other photographers most of the summer but the crowds start to thin out in the fall.
5.0
Really cool and an iconic Alberta Waterfall. The tour buses drove me crazy though! Would love to come back at a less crowded time.
5.0
We had an excellent day of weather in mid-July, we stopped here after we finished our tour at the Columbia Icefield. This waterfall doesn't have a long dramatic drop but there is a lot of water flowing here. Leave a little time to explore around, the staircases down through the canyon are fun and a great place to get some cool shots if you are lucky enough to escape the crowds. A trail leads all the way down to where the water comes out into a large open blue portion of the river. We explored around the water's edge for a while before continuing our trip to Jasper. There are also multiple vantage points for the falls, hopefully you can find one that isn't too crowded especially in summer months.
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Swim at Jasper National Park's Horseshoe Lake
Hike to Geraldine Lakes
Hike to Edith Cavell Outlook
Hike the Path of the Angel Glacier Loop Trail
Hike the Cavell Meadows Trail
Explore Cavell Lake In Jasper National Park
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