Hiking through Maligne Canyon in the Canadian Rockies

Looking for more to explore in Jasper National Park?
Don’t miss the scenic drive to breathtaking Maligne Lake. Over on the Icefields Parkway, check out the beautiful Valley of the Five Lakes or breathtaking Edith Cavell Meadows. Campers will find a great home base at Whistlers Campground.

CURRENT INFO

A map and reviews for the Maligne Canyon Trail are available on the AllTrails website. Check out the Jasper National Park website with Parks Canada for more information about the canyon. When planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies, I recommend the guidebook Moon Canadian Rockies: With Banff & Jasper National Parks.

GOOD TO KNOW

• All visitors must pay the national park entrance fee or have a valid annual Parks Canada Discovery Pass to visit Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park. Passes can be purchased at visitor centres and the entrance stations for the Icefields Parkway. Check the Jasper National Park website for current information.
• Maligne Canyon is one of the most popular trails in Jasper National Park, so arrive very early or late in the day to avoid crowds.
• We hiked the 2.3-mile loop trail starting at Fifth Bridge. The Fifth Bridge Trailhead tends to be much less crowded than the main trailhead by the Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen. It also offers nice picnic area.
• For a shorter hike, park near the Maligne Wilderness Kitchen and hike to Fourth Bridge and back. This smaller loop is less than a mile, but still includes plenty of stairs steep drop-offs. It takes you through the most dramatic (and also most crowded) section of Maligne Canyon.
• The Maligne Canyon Trail is open from roughly May through October.
• Visiting in winter and looking for adventure? Try a Maligne Canyon icewalk. This guided tour takes you down to the canyon floor for a walk along the frozen river. We haven’t tried it, but it looks magical.
• Vault toilets are available at both Maligne Canyon trailheads.
• Wear shoes or boots with good traction. Trekking poles are recommended. For such a popular trail, the hike through Maligne Canyon is pretty rough at times, with loose, slippery or dirt or mud, lots of stairs, and some short but steep slopes.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

It’s easy to see why Maligne Canyon is one of the most popular sights in Jasper National Park. Every bend in the trail brings something new — a hidden waterfall, frothing rapids, and layer upon layer of water-worn cliffs. Despite the wildfire smoke on our visit, we were entranced. The highlight of the trail is the section between First and Fourth Bridges, but we enjoyed lengthening our hike to include Fifth Bridge. This portion of the trail is less traveled, and offers a welcome break from the crowds.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Maligne Canyon is a great hike for kids, but keep a close watch over little ones — there are some steep drop-offs along the trail, not to mention slippery slopes. The many stairs can also be tiring for short legs. Crowds can make the trail more difficult and less safe to navigate, so consider going very early or late in the day to avoid the worst of it.

With those warnings out of the way, kids who are a little older or experienced hikers will really get a kick out of all the waterfalls that line the canyon. These aren’t your average waterfalls — look closely and you’ll see that the water is flowing into the river from secret crevasses in the side of the cliff. Magic! It’s actually water draining from Medicine Lake through an intricate labyrinth of underground limestone passages. I have to admit I found this more fascinating than my kids did, but they agreed it was pretty cool.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There’s no limit of things to do in Jasper National Park. At Maligne Canyon, you can connect to longer hiking trails, or enjoy a relaxing meal at the Maligne Wilderness Kitchen. From the canyon, drive south to magnificent Maligne Lake for a paddle or swim. This is also where you can catch a cruise to the famed Spirit Island. Be sure to stop by Medicine Lake en route for more incredible views.

Don’t miss the sights along the Icefields Parkway, also located in Jasper National Park. This area boasts more gorgeous hiking trails, including the Valley of the Five Lakes and Edith Cavell Meadows. Many of Jasper’s campgrounds are located nearby. We stayed at Whistlers Campground, the largest campground in the Canadian Rockies. With top notch washrooms, showers, and easy access to many sights within Jasper National Park, it’s a great home base.

Head to Jasper Townsite to stock up on groceries, fill up the tank, or enjoy a nice meal. A few of our recommendations include Jasper Brewing Co., Andromeda Coffee, and BeaverTails, a Canadian chain selling fried pastries (similar to elephant ears or fry bread) with a variety of toppings. Before our hike through Maligne Canyon, we enjoyed a tasty breakfast at the Bear’s Paw Bakery, a local favorite. Below Andromeda Coffee you’ll find Coin Clean Laundry, a godsend for anyone on a long camping trip.

There’s no denying it; the smoky skies that shrouded Jasper National Park on our first morning at Whistlers Campground were a real bummer. Originally, I had hoped to drive out to Maligne Lake and spend the day kayaking across its clear blue waters. But I just couldn’t imagine my first experience of Jasper’s most famous lake under the current circumstances. Maligne Lake would have to wait.

Maligne Canyon, on the other hand, was a real possibility. Sure, no hike is at its best when clouded by wildfire smoke, but one benefit to Maligne Canyon is that it doesn’t focus on distant views. The canyon is best enjoyed at close range.

After breakfast at the Bear’s Paw in Jasper, we drove to the trailhead located at Fifth Bridge in Maligne Canyon. A few other cars were already parked, but it was far from crowded. We crossed the graceful arc of Fifth Bridge, then turned right and headed up the trail along the canyon.

A short but steep climb up a slippery dirt trail took us to a high ridge above the river. The trail was fairly level at this point, but noticeably eroded. On our visit, it was quite dry, and loose dirt underfoot makes it easy to lose your footing. After a rainstorm, I imagine the muddy trail provides a different sort of challenge. So enjoy those canyon views, but watch your step!

Further along, the river began to narrow and the trail led down through the woods until we were almost level with the rushing stream. The trail can be quite rocky and rough throughout this section, but in many places there are handrails to ease the way. Down in the canyon, a lacy waterfall gave us a taste of the wonders yet to come.

At this point, I forgot all about those smoky skies. Instead, I was entranced by the water as it frothed and flowed around countless boulders below towering limestone cliffs. More water gushed from caverns at the base of the cliffs, joining the… wait, water gushed from the caverns? Where exactly was this water coming from?

Sure enough, the river is indeed fed by underground sources, but it might not be exactly what you expect. Sixteen kilometers upstream from Maligne Canyon lies Medicine Lake, a beautiful body of water with one distinct weakness — it leaks. After melting snow causes the water level to rise each spring, Medicine Lake slowly drains throughout the summer season, as water seeps through a series of underground chambers before emerging at — you guessed it — Maligne Canyon.

It’s not just water from Medicine Lake that feeds Maligne Canyon. Underground springs also contribute their share. Keep an eye out for all kinds of watery delights as you walk the trail. This “weeping wall” especially caught my eye.

Now that we were in the heart of Maligne Canyon, the trail grew more and more crowded. With so many side trails, it could also be a bit confusing. Fortunately, the signage here is great, and if you wander off on a short spur trail, you’ll never be more than a few minutes from the main trail.

The main downside was that the crowds made it a little difficult to fully enjoy some of the viewpoints. A few spots in particular seemed to attract selfie-takers and parents trying to get their kids into just the right family vacation pose. It’s inevitable, I suppose, but I wished we had made the effort to arrive earlier and avoid the crush. These photos don’t show the worst of it, but believe me, we were far from alone in Maligne Canyon.

Regardless, it was beautiful. As we approached the remaining four bridges, the canyon narrowed dramatically. Following Fourth Bridge across the river, we found ourselves winding our way up a series of switchback staircases. The cliffs grew so tall and narrow that the river could barely be seen in the depths below.

Near the end of the canyon (or, more accurately, near the start), slender waterfalls cascade through twisted chasms, until finally we were left standing by a nearly dry riverbed. Gnarled limestone formations prove that, despite its calm appearance, this area has also been shaped by the forces of water.

Now that our trek through the canyon was done, we paused for a restroom break near the Maligne Wilderness Kitchen before continuing the hike back to Fifth Bridge. We found a trail running along the opposite side of the parking lot, which connected back to the main trails through the canyon. This time, instead of following the crowds across the bridge, we stayed right, following Trail 7h back to the Fifth Bridge trailhead.

Although Trail 7h strays away from the canyon and into the woods, it offers a blessed relief form the crowds. Occasionally, the trees open to reveal a mountain view, which, despite the smoky haze, had their own kind of ethereal beauty.

Compared with our hike through Maligne Canyon, it didn’t take long before we came to a sign directing us toward Fifth Bridge. At this point, those interested in a longer hike can continue to the sixth and final bridge. For us, the hike was coming to an end, as we carefully made our way down the steep, sandy trail that led to the Fifth Bridge. Ultimately, our hike through Maligne Canyon was a hit, and a wonderful way to turn a less than stellar morning into something truly special.