Hiking the Maligne Canyon Trail in Jasper National Park

By DH Wall

Maligne Canyon trail is 2.1km one way and takes less than 2 hours round-trip. Hiking boots are good for this one, but sneakers will do too. The scenery here is great – expect to make a few stops at bridges and look-out points to take it all in.

The popular and well-worn trail runs alongside the Maligne River. The Maligne Canyon hike is popular for both its beauty and its proximity to Jasper townsite. From Jasper townsite to the Maligne Canyon hike parking lot will take 10-20 minutes.

Over thousands of years, the river has formed deep canyons in many places. In some points, hikers are looking down into the canyons and in other parts hikers will have descended to the water’s edge.

The glacier-fed water is a unique green color that few visitors have experienced elsewhere on the planet outside of the surrounding area.

Several bridges cross the river during the hike and allow hikers to look directly down into the gorges.

During the summer, you’ll hear the sounds of rushing water and waterfalls and smell that clean air smell.

When the river freezes over in winter, the experience is completely different. If you are one of the brave venturing to Jasper National Park in winter, consider doing a guided ice walk in Maligne Canyon in winter. It is an out of this world experience.

Other Hikes in Jasper National Park

Don’t have much time but still want to do a good hike? Try the Jasper Discovery Trail which loops around the outskirts of Jasper townsite.

For an even easier hike, try the Lake Annette Loop (Clifford E. Lee Wheelchair Trail), a 2.4 km trail that takes between 60 to 90 minutes to complete. The Lake Annette Loop trail is paved and wheelchair accessible and also great for pushing baby strollers.