There’s a breathtaking waterfall in an Alberta valley carved over 8,000 years ago

Wild Rose Country is rich with show-stopping sights, but few are as magical as Sunwapta Falls in Jasper, Alberta.

Located just off the Icefields Parkway, this breathtaking torrent rushes through a U-shaped valley carved over 8,000 years ago.

Chasing Waterfalls

Erupting with water from the Athabasca Glacier, adventure seekers will get an incredible view while on the platform located high above the canyon, there are—there’s more to it than meets the eye.

Not only is there an upper falls, but those who don’t mind a short hike, will see several more below.

To get to the upper falls where there is an impressive 59-foot dropoff, you won’t have to travel too far from the parking lot.

To see the lower falls, however, we’d recommend stretching your legs!

A 1.3-kilometre hike will take you down a lodgepole pine forest, where you’ll see three falls spread over the river—but tread carefully.

No matter your chosen viewpoint, mist from the rapids can make the area pretty slippery.

How to get there

Want to check it out?

Once you’ve selected your playlist, it’ll take over four hours to get there from Calgary, or five hours from Edmonton.

If leaving from Calgary, head west on the Trans Canada until you hit Highway 93 North, then turn left at the Sunwapta Falls Resort. If you’re leaving Edmonton,—head west on Highway 16 then eventually turn left on Highway 93 south, instead.

According to Travel Alberta, late spring or early summer is the best time to go, but if you don’t get around to it, don’t fret.

Sunwapta is an all-season beauty!

If you’d like to visit, please be mindful of your surroundings.

While Jasper is now open to the public, there are many sites that are still in the process of rebuilding after the wildfires.

For a map of these areas or if you have any questions you can head to their website.

Happy exploring!

Sunwapta Falls – Jasper National Park, Alberta

Where: 54 km south of Jasper, off Highway 93, Jasper, Alberta

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