What visitors say
Maligne Canyon is a narrow limestone gorge cut by the Maligne River just east of Jasper, around 50 metres deep at its deepest. A trail follows the rim and crosses a series of bridges, each with a different view down into the canyon: waterfalls, potholes, wedged boulders and swirling pools. Visitors say the first bridges are the most dramatic, where the walls close in and you can barely see the water, and that the canyon widens from the fourth bridge on.
When open, it's an easy place to tailor. Families with small kids do a short loop from the upper parking lot, while others walk all the way down, which means a steep climb back. Handrails along the path got a mention from one visitor, and the tea house by the parking lot is a popular stop. In winter, people walk the frozen canyon with ice cleats.
The 2024 Jasper wildfire hit this area hard. Parks Canada has kept Maligne Canyon closed for the 2026 season, trailhead and picnic area included, because the loss of trees raises the risk of debris flows and landslides on the steep slopes. Tree removal and geotechnical work have been done, but no reopening date has been set, and a May 2026 reviewer confirmed there was no access. Maligne Road beyond it, with Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake, is open.
The Maligne River below the canyon has its own angling seasons under Jasper's national park fishing rules, but the canyon itself isn't a fishing spot. Check the Parks Canada open and closed list before you plan around this stop.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 6,804 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.
