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Athabasca Falls

Jasper, Alberta

4.4/5
based on 11 reviews

Details

Distance

0.44 miles

Elevation Gain

33 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Jonathan Sinclair

Explore one of the most popular and scenic locations in Jasper National Park, Athabasca Falls. 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 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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Features

Photography
Hiking
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Picnic Area
Waterfall

Athabasca Falls Reviews

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

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.

Really cool and an iconic Alberta Waterfall. The tour buses drove me crazy though! Would love to come back at a less crowded time.

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.

I love this waterfall in the winter and the summer. If you get the chance you should check it out in both seasons! Well worth it.

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 Cavell Meadows Trail

Hike the Path of the Angel Glacier Loop Trail

Explore Cavell Lake In Jasper National Park