Cavell Meadows

Overview

About Cavell Meadows

Cavell Meadows is Jasper’s classic alpine ramble beneath Mount Edith Cavell, delivering wildflower fields, turquoise meltwater at Cavell Pond, and front-row views of the hanging Angel Glacier. It starts at the Mount Edith Cavell parking area and climbs from forest into open meadows with panoramic peaks.

Why stop

Big, close-up views of Angel Glacier and Cavell Pond
Spectacular wildflowers mid-July through August

Heads up

Parking fills quickly in summer
Steep upper section and seasonal road/trail closures

Map

Where it is

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Full map

SightCavell Meadows52.68169, -118.04086

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Cavell Meadows

Arrive early; the Edith Cavell parking lot fills quickly in summer.
Check road and trail conditions—this area often opens mid-July.
Carry bear spray and make noise, especially at dawn and dusk.
Stay on marked paths to protect fragile alpine meadows.
Pair the loop with Path of the Glacier for a fuller day from the same lot.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Mid-July to early September is the sweet spot: wildflowers peak, snow is mostly gone, and the upper loop is in good shape. Go early on weekdays to beat the parking crunch and catch calm light. Sunset can be gorgeous on the glacier and surrounding peaks. Early season can be muddy or snow-covered; check current conditions before you go.

Planning & Logistics

Facilities: Signed trailhead with an interpretive display; pit toilets at the parking area; no water or food services—come prepared.
Access & crowds: This is one of the park’s most popular day hikes. The lot fills fast on summer weekends. The access road and trail commonly remain closed until mid-July and can shut again with early snow.
Trail etiquette: The alpine tundra is fragile—stay on marked paths to protect the meadows.

8 active Jasper alerts

ClosureWildfire-impacted areas and facilities closedMentions this placeStay 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 Meadows, 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 area

When the Ghost Glacier Fell

Listen

“Back in August 2012, a huge piece of the Ghost Glacier broke right off Mount Edith Cavell. It slammed into the small lake below, triggering a powerful surge wave—basically a mini-tsunami in a mountain lake.”

Plays on the road 1.2 km from Cavell Meadows in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.

More about Cavell Meadows

Trail at a GlanceDistance/Elevation: 6–7 km round trip loop with about 500 m of gain; moderate overall, with a…

Distance/Elevation: 6–7 km round trip loop with about 500 m of gain; moderate overall, with a steeper upper section.
Start: Far end of the parking lot at the kiosk/display; a short stairway leads to a section that’s paved at the beginning before turning to regular trail.
Route: An obvious loop through subalpine forest and meadows, with upper viewpoints over Angel Glacier and Cavell Glacier. Many hikers also pair it with the nearby Path of the Glacier area from the same lot.

What You’ll SeeAngel Glacier hanging over the valley, with crevasses and seracs front and center.

Angel Glacier hanging over the valley, with crevasses and seracs front and center.
Cavell Pond below the ice, often milky-turquoise and dotted with floating ice early in the season.
Meadows bursting with wildflowers in mid-summer, plus classic glacial features like moraines and a kettle lake.
Expansive summit-to-valley views that feel far bigger than the hike’s mileage suggests.

WildlifeExpect small alpine regulars—pikas, golden‑mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks—and the odd…

Expect small alpine regulars—pikas, golden‑mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks—and the odd marmot. Birds work the meadows, and occasional sightings of larger mammals do happen. This is bear country; carry bear spray and make noise.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Jasper

All Jasper wildlife maps

174 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

43 sightingsCaribouMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

40 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

12 sightingsCanada LynxMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

315 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

1,028 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

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