Lower Sunwapta Falls

Lower Sunwapta Falls is a downstream series of three waterfalls on the Sunwapta River. It's reached by a moderate forest walk on Trail 125, so this is the stop to add if you want more than the upper roadside cascade. Allow about an hour for 2.6 km round trip, with 87 m of elevation change. The route drops on the way out and climbs back to the trailhead.

Start from the Sunwapta Falls parking area off the Icefields Parkway and continue downstream from the upper falls area. The path runs through forest before reaching fenced overlooks at the lower cascades. This is a worthwhile add-on, but it turns a quick viewpoint stop into a proper out-and-back.

The river tumbles through three deep rock channels, with the fractured rock mass splitting the cascades. Each overlook catches a different part of the gorge: the middle tier opens up, while foliage can partly screen the lowest. For photos, include the rock wall beside the water; it shows how tightly the river is squeezed through the canyon. The fenced overlooks give you the view without scrambling down the steep bank.