city guide
A hand-picked guide to 2 of the most stunning waterfalls in Jasper National Park. Each entry below has our personal notes, photos, driving directions and the practical detail you need to plan a visit — from parking and hike lengths to swimming rules and the best time of year to go.
#1 · 24 m drop
Jasper National Park · Alberta · Canada
Athabasca Falls in Jasper National Park.
Some places don’t need filters, and they don’t need many words either.
Standing beside the waterfall, listening to the roaring sound of glacial meltwater rushing down, feeling the raw power of the river cutting through the canyon, you realize that no photo can truly capture that level of impact.
#2 · 18 m drop
Jasper National Park · Alberta · Canada
We reached Sunwapta Falls on a grey, drizzly afternoon, somewhere in the middle of a long drive through Jasper National Park. Rain was not really part of the plan, but it turned out to suit the place. The rock looked darker, the spray hung in the air a little longer, and the whole scene felt heavier than the photos we'd seen beforehand.
That's the thing about Sunwapta Falls. It doesn't ask much of you. The parking lot sits just off the Icefields Parkway, and from there it's only a few minutes on foot before the river comes into view, squeezed through a narrow gap in the rock and dropping hard into the gorge below. For something so close to the road, it hits harder than you'd expect.
Where It Is and Why It's on the Icefields Parkway
Wet rocks, hidden currents and fast-changing weather catch out experienced hikers every year. Read our quick safety guide before you head out.