Maligne Canyon
Hike narrow gorge canyon trails; in winter, guided ice walks are available.Maligne Canyon is one of Jasper National Park's most dramatic and accessible natural features-a narrow limestone gorge carved by the powerful flow of the Maligne River. Located just 11 kilometers from Jasper's townsite, the canyon stretches for more than 3 kilometers and plunges to depths of over 50 meters in some sections, making it the deepest accessible canyon in the park. Its walls are sheer and often overhanging, with water cascading through a series of waterfalls and rapids far below.
The canyon's formation is tied to the region's unique geology. Much of the Maligne River's water flows underground through a karst system from Medicine Lake, resurfacing at the canyon's upper end. Over thousands of years, the river's force has cut deep into the soft limestone, creating narrow corridors, smooth potholes, and sculpted rock formations. The constant sound of rushing water echoes through the gorge, and in some places, the canyon is so tight that you can stand on a bridge and look almost straight down to see the whitewater wedged between the walls.
A network of six pedestrian bridges spans different parts of the canyon, each offering a unique vantage point. The upper section near the First and Second Bridges is the most dramatic and popular, with the river roaring through a narrow slot. As you move downstream toward the Fifth and Sixth Bridges, the canyon widens and the river becomes calmer, bordered by mossy forest and gentler slopes. The full trail from the upper to lower bridges can be walked as a one-way or round-trip route, with viewpoints and interpretive signs explaining the geology, hydrology, and local wildlife.
In summer, Maligne Canyon is lush and green, with waterfalls in full flow from snowmelt and glacial runoff. In winter, the scene transforms into an otherworldly frozen wonderland-ice curtains, frozen waterfalls, and translucent blue pillars form along the canyon walls. Guided ice walks allow visitors to explore the frozen riverbed itself, walking between towering ice formations and seeing features hidden during the summer's high flow.
Wildlife is sometimes spotted along the trails-American dippers bobbing in the rapids, ravens circling overhead, or mule deer in the surrounding forest. The area is also rich in mosses, lichens, and ferns that thrive in the cool, moist microclimate created by the canyon's shade and spray.
Maligne Canyon offers an easy way to experience Jasper's rugged beauty up close. Whether you're peering into its deepest, narrowest sections in summer or walking on its frozen floor in winter, the combination of geological drama, year-round accessibility, and multiple viewpoints makes it one of the park's signature attractions.
Maligne Canyon is a showcase of Jasper's hidden geology and the raw carving power of water over thousands of years. The gorge exists because the Maligne River disappears underground at Medicine Lake and travels through a vast network of subterranean limestone passages before re-emerging at the canyon's head. This underground journey concentrates the river's flow, so by the time it surfaces, the water is forceful enough to have sculpted a gorge more than 50 meters deep in places, despite the relatively small width of the canyon-sometimes so narrow you could toss a stone from one rim to the other.
Maligne Canyon
Bridges and Viewpoints
The canyon's network of six bridges makes it easy to explore in sections or as a continuous hike.First Bridge – The most visited spot, directly above a roaring chute where the river squeezes between sheer walls. From here you can look straight down into the swirling water.
Second Bridge – Offers one of the deepest views into the gorge and a great perspective of its twisting shape.
Third and Fourth Bridges – Located farther downstream, with viewpoints over waterfalls and sections where the canyon walls are sculpted into smooth, wave-like patterns.
Fifth and Sixth Bridges – Lower and wider sections where the river slows, flowing past moss-covered boulders under a canopy of spruce and pine. These are quieter, more peaceful areas, great for spotting wildlife or enjoying a picnic.
Maligne Canyon's Seasonal Experiences
Summer – The canyon is lush and green, with ferns, moss, and wildflowers growing in the cool mist. The waterfalls are at full volume in late spring and early summer, when glacial meltwater surges through the system.Autumn – The surrounding forest takes on warm gold and orange hues, contrasting beautifully with the pale limestone walls.
Winter – The river's surface freezes in sections, creating enormous ice formations. Guided ice walks allow visitors to venture down to the frozen canyon floor, where you can walk among blue-tinged ice pillars, frozen waterfalls, and sculpted snow. This experience reveals features hidden by rushing water in summer, such as undercut alcoves and narrow rock passages.
Flora and Fauna
The canyon's cool, shaded microclimate supports mosses, lichens, and shade-loving plants that are rare in the drier valley floors. The constant moisture and shelter also attract wildlife-American dippers can often be seen feeding in the rapids, and ravens frequently patrol the cliffs. Mule deer sometimes browse along the forested edges, and in winter, the snow records tracks of foxes, coyotes, and martens.Maligne Canyon Trail Options
Many visitors explore only the upper section near the First and Second Bridges, but walking the full route from the upper parking area to the Sixth Bridge (about 3.7 kilometers one way) gives a more complete sense of the canyon's changing character-from roaring slot gorge to open, meandering river. This can be done as a one-way trip with a vehicle shuttle or as a return hike.Maligne Canyon's appeal lies in its accessibility-just minutes from Jasper-combined with the kind of geological drama usually found deep in the backcountry. In a single visit, you can witness powerful waterfalls, intricate rock formations, thriving moss gardens, and, in winter, surreal ice cathedrals, all shaped by the same underground river that begins high in the Maligne Valley.
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