Mount Edith Cavell & Cavell Meadows
1. Dramatic north-facing cliffs and the Angel Glacier.2. Short hikes lead to alpine meadows with stunning floral blooms.
Mount Edith Cavell is one of Jasper National Park's most striking and beloved peaks, rising 3,363 meters and dominating the skyline southwest of Jasper townsite. Its dramatic north face is a wall of sheer rock and ice, crowned with hanging glaciers that spill into the valley below. The mountain is named after Edith Cavell, a British nurse celebrated for her heroism in World War I, and has long been a symbol of beauty and resilience in the Canadian Rockies. The approach to the mountain is along Cavell Road, a seasonal route that climbs steeply from the Athabasca Valley and offers progressively closer, more awe-inspiring views as you near the base.
At the end of the road, a short path leads to the Cavell Glacier Viewpoint, where you can see the Angel Glacier clinging to the cliffs. This glacier gets its name from the angel-wing shape of its ice formations, which cascade down toward Cavell Pond. The pond, fed by glacial meltwater, often holds floating icebergs even in midsummer, and the turquoise water reflects the towering face of the mountain above. The scene is constantly changing, with chunks of ice calving from the glacier and splashing into the pond, echoing across the valley.
From here, the Cavell Meadows Trail offers one of Jasper's finest day hikes, leading into a high alpine environment bursting with color in late summer. The trail begins in a subalpine forest, climbing steadily to open meadows filled with wildflowers such as alpine forget-me-nots, Indian paintbrush, and glacier lilies. As you gain elevation, the views expand dramatically-first of the Angel Glacier and Cavell Pond far below, then of the rugged peaks and glacial valleys beyond. Higher still, the meadows open into rolling tundra with 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains, including the serrated skyline of the Ramparts to the south.
Wildlife is abundant in this area; you may see marmots sunning on boulders, pikas carrying mouthfuls of grass, or even mountain goats navigating the cliffs above. In autumn, the meadows turn golden as the alpine vegetation changes color, making this one of the most beautiful shoulder-season hikes in the park. Because of its altitude, snow can linger here into July, and the trail is usually only accessible from late June to early October.
Together, Mount Edith Cavell and the Cavell Meadows create an experience that blends raw alpine grandeur with delicate, colorful beauty. The sheer face of the mountain, the shimmering glacial pond, and the flower-strewn meadows combine into a scene that feels both vast and intimate-an iconic Jasper experience that lingers in memory long after the hike is done.
Mount Edith Cavell is one of the most recognizable and photogenic peaks in Jasper National Park, not only for its height and prominence but for the drama of its north face. This vertical wall of rock, ice, and snow rises abruptly from the valley floor, its streaked cliffs crowned by multiple hanging glaciers. The most famous of these is the Angel Glacier, whose ice wings spread out like a celestial figure across the rock face. Below it lies Cavell Pond, a turquoise basin formed from glacial meltwater that often holds floating icebergs of varying shapes and sizes, some the size of small cars. On calm days, the pond mirrors the cliffs and glaciers above, while on breezy days, the floating ice spins and drifts against the shore, creating an ever-changing scene.
The access road to the mountain is a journey in itself. Cavell Road is a narrow, winding climb from the Athabasca Valley, open seasonally (usually late June through early October) due to snow and avalanche hazards. As you ascend, the forest parts at intervals to reveal glimpses of the peak, each view sharper and more dramatic. Near the top, the parking area sits at over 1,800 meters, providing a cool, crisp alpine climate even in the height of summer.
From here, the Cavell Meadows Trail begins with a short, easy path to the glacier viewpoint-perfect for those who want the spectacle without a longer hike. The full meadows loop, however, rewards those willing to climb higher. The trail winds through subalpine forest before emerging into vast meadows that, in July and August, explode with color. Wildflowers like moss campion, mountain avens, and purple fleabane carpet the slopes, attracting pollinators and adding vivid contrast to the stark rock and ice above. The scent of spruce and fresh mountain air is mixed with the distant sound of meltwater streams running down from the glaciers.
Continuing upward, the trail eventually reaches alpine tundra, where vegetation becomes sparse and the horizon opens completely. Here, the views extend not just to the Angel Glacier but to a sweep of surrounding peaks, including the Colin Range, the Endless Chain, and the Ramparts. To the west, you can see into remote glacial valleys, their floors braided with icy streams. In autumn, these upper slopes transform into a tapestry of reds, golds, and browns, making late September a spectacular time for photography.
Wildlife encounters in the Cavell area are common. Hoary marmots are often spotted perched on rocks, emitting their whistling calls. Pikas scurry through talus fields, carrying mouthfuls of grasses to store for winter. Occasionally, mountain goats can be seen on the cliffs, and golden eagles or ravens soar above the ridges.
Because of its elevation and exposure, weather here changes rapidly. Even in midsummer, it's not unusual to encounter strong winds, sudden rain, or even snow flurries. The trail can be closed temporarily for grizzly bear activity, especially in late summer when the meadows are rich with food. Visitors are advised to carry extra layers, stay on marked trails to protect the fragile alpine ecosystem, and be mindful of their surroundings.
Mount Edith Cavell and Cavell Meadows together offer one of Jasper's most complete alpine experiences-sheer rock walls, active glaciers, a shimmering glacial pond, vast wildflower meadows, panoramic ridges, and abundant wildlife. The Cavell Meadows setting captures the essence of the Canadian Rockies at their most dramatic and beautiful.
Mount Edith Cavell & Cavell Meadows
Mount Edith Cavell rises to 3,363 meters and dominates the skyline southwest of Jasper, its rugged north face one of the most striking alpine scenes in the park. The mountain is named in honor of Edith Cavell, a British nurse executed during World War I for aiding Allied soldiers-her legacy of courage and compassion is memorialized in this dramatic peak. From the valley floor, the mountain appears as a massive fortress of dark cliff bands and pale snowfields, its upper slopes carved by ice into sheer walls and jagged ridges.The approach along Cavell Road is a 14-kilometer seasonal route that climbs steadily from the Athabasca Valley. This narrow, winding road is closed in winter and spring due to avalanche risk, typically opening in late June or early July and closing again by early October. Along the way, openings in the trees reveal increasing glimpses of the mountain until you arrive at the parking area, already in a cool, alpine setting with panoramic views of surrounding peaks.
From the parking area, a short, well-graded path leads to the Cavell Glacier Viewpoint. Here you can look directly onto the Angel Glacier, so named because its outspread ice formations resemble wings, with a central "body" of thicker ice descending toward the base. Beneath it lies Cavell Pond, an emerald-blue pool fed by glacial meltwater. Even in mid-summer, chunks of ice-sometimes massive-float on its surface, calved from the glacier above. The pond is rimmed with moraine rock and fed by meltwater streams that braid across the gravel shore before plunging into the valley below. The sound of trickling and rushing water is constant, punctuated by the deep cracks and occasional crashes of icefall from the glacier.
The Cavell Meadows Trail begins here, offering one of the finest half-day hikes in Jasper. The lower section ascends gently through subalpine forest of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir, where you may see Clark's nutcrackers or hear the whistles of marmots. Within about 20–30 minutes, the trail opens into sweeping meadows. In mid-summer, these meadows are an explosion of alpine wildflowers-Indian paintbrush, glacier lilies, moss campion, and mountain avens blanket the slopes in red, yellow, pink, and white. Streams from snowmelt cross the trail, adding freshness to the air.
As you climb higher, the views back toward the Angel Glacier become more dramatic, revealing its full sweep and the layers of crevassed ice clinging to the rock wall. Beyond the meadows, the trail reaches true alpine tundra-open ridges and rocky outcrops with little vegetation but commanding 360-degree views. Here, you can look south to the serrated peaks of the Ramparts, east across the Athabasca Valley, and west into hidden glacial basins. The colors of the landscape change with the light, from soft morning pastels to sharp midday contrasts and the warm glow of late afternoon.
Wildlife is common throughout the hike. Hoary marmots often bask on sunlit boulders, pikas dart between rocks carrying grass for winter storage, and on the highest ridges, you may spot mountain goats or bighorn sheep. Raptors such as golden eagles and red-tailed hawks soar overhead, using the thermals that rise from the valley.
Because of its high elevation and exposure, weather in the Cavell area can shift in minutes. Even on warm summer days, clouds can roll in quickly, bringing wind, rain, or even brief snow flurries. Autumn brings cooler air and a different beauty-the meadows turn gold and red, and fresh snow may dust the peaks. Trail closures sometimes occur in late summer due to grizzly bear activity, when bears feed on berries in the meadows.
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