Scenic Views · Camping & Hiking · Fishing · Alberta
A powerful waterfall on the Sunwapta River just off the Icefields Parkway south of Jasper, a short walk from parking, with a trail to quieter lower falls. Worth stopping in any season.
Sunwapta Falls drops through a short limestone gorge around a small forested island, about 55 km south of Jasper on the Icefields Parkway. Visitors talk about the noise and force of the water, the blue colour, and the mist on the bridge. In winter the falls partly freeze, and reviewers still rate the visit highly.
The upper falls are only a minute or two from the lot on a short, paved path, with a bridge that lets you see both sides of the gorge. Parking is plentiful, though it can be crowded, and there are washrooms.
A trail of about 1.3 km each way continues down through pine forest to the lower falls, where reviewers found fewer people and more photo spots. There are tree roots and some inclines. The Sunwapta River is open to angling all year under Jasper's national park rules, though the glacial water here is fast and cloudy.
One visitor was surprised by the length of the lower-falls hike, so know the upper falls are the easy part. In winter, bring footwear with good grip.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 2,392 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.
