Cavell Lake in Jasper National Park

Sight · Jasper National Park

Cavell Lake

Quiet turquoise lake with knockout Mount Edith Cavell reflections

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Type
Sight
Nearest trail
0.5 km
Audio stories
5 nearby
  • Pullout
  • Parking
  • Scenic viewpoint
  • Trailhead

Hear the audio tour

Cavell Lake: A Quick Stop for a Classic View

Overview

About Cavell Lake

Tucked along Cavell Road beneath the north face of Mount Edith Cavell, Cavell Lake delivers big-mountain drama with almost no effort. Think turquoise, glassy water framed by conifers, with Angel Glacier hanging above—an easy, rewarding detour that many people drive right past.

Why stop

  • Short, easy walk to a serene lakeshore
  • Prime sunrise reflections of Mount Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier

Heads up

  • Tiny pullout parking that fills quickly
  • Seasonal closures and vehicle restrictions on Cavell Road
This is one of the cleanest, straight-on views of Mount Edith Cavell you can get from a lakeshore. On calm mornings, the peak reflects beautifully. The setting sits in an active glacial valley; you’ll see moraines and rocky debris, and you’re looking up toward the same basin shaped by the 2012 Ghost Glacier collapse—its scars are still visible.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy it’s special

Map

Where it is

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Full map
SightCavell Lake52.69795, -118.06144
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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Cavell Lake

  1. Aim for sunrise to score reflections and a spot in the tiny pullout.

  2. The lake is hidden from the road—walk the short path to the shore.

  3. Do not use the hostel parking; use the public pullout across the road.

  4. Check Parks Canada for seasonal road closures and current conditions.

  5. Bring your own water and snacks—there are no services at the lake.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

  • Sunrise is the money hour for calm water and warm light on the peak—arrive early for both light and a parking spot.
  • Summer to early fall offers the most reliable access and color; mid–late summer brings wildflowers. Shoulder hours (early morning or late day) help with crowds and photos.

Getting there & logistics

  • Access is via Highway 93A to Cavell Road; the road is narrow and winding. Large RVs and trailers aren’t permitted.
  • Look for a small, easy-to-miss pullout near the lake (don’t park in the hostel lot across the road). The main Mount Edith Cavell parking further up the road has toilets, but there are no facilities at the lake itself.

8 active Jasper alerts

  • ClosureWildfire-impacted areas and facilities closedStay out of closed wildfire-impacted areas and facilities in Jasper National Park; closures protect public safety after the 2024 wildfire and remain in effect while recovery and safety work continues.Official details
  • Closure93A (Wabasso Road) no through travel during roadworkFrom mid-October to early November 2026, plan for 93A (Wabasso Road) to be accessible from the south entrance only; no through travel is expected during roadwork.Official details
See all 8 alerts
A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Jasper Tour Guide

Your drive to Cavell Lake, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Jasper National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Jasper audio tour

Recorded for this place

Cavell Lake: A Quick Stop for a Classic View
Listen
“As you drive along Cavell Road, keep an eye out for a small pullout for Cavell Lake.”

Plays as you drive up to Cavell Lake in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Mount Edith Cavell: Glaciers and Alpine Trails
  • Path of the Glacier: An Easy Walk to Angel Glacier
  • When the Ghost Glacier Fell
  • Pikas and Marmots: Hay Farmers and Whistlers
  • 157 audio storiesacross Jasper’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
  • Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Caribou, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
  • Works offlinemaps, 91 trails, 129 places, and audio download before you lose signal
  • CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
★★★★★
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
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Guide

More about Cavell Lake

What to expectA short path drops from the roadside pullout to the water’s edge.
  • A short path drops from the roadside pullout to the water’s edge.
  • Big, immediate views of Mount Edith Cavell, Angel Glacier, and the surrounding moraines.
  • In mid–late summer, nearby meadows pop with wildflowers, and the lake can show that classic glacial turquoise.
WildlifeListen for pikas and marmots in the meadows above.

Listen for pikas and marmots in the meadows above. The broader area closes in winter (Nov 1–May 15) to protect caribou—plan accordingly.

Safety & etiquetteStay on marked paths—the terrain around the valley is unstable in places due to recent glacial…

Stay on marked paths—the terrain around the valley is unstable in places due to recent glacial activity. There are no services here; bring water and snacks.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Jasper

All Jasper wildlife maps

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Jasper. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Parkwolf’s Jasper ranking

Top sights in Jasper

All 129 places
  1. 1Maligne LakeSight
  2. 2Mount Edith CavellSight
  3. 3Spirit IslandSight
  4. 4Athabasca FallsSight
  5. 5Columbia IcefieldSight
  6. 6Athabasca GlacierSight

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