Best time to visit
Early morning or late afternoon for softer light and fewer people; weekdays beat weekends. Start here if you value tranquility, or shuttle up to the First Bridge for a scenic, mostly downhill walk back to your car.
Overview
About Fifth Bridge
Fifth Bridge is the low-key, crowd-light gateway into Maligne Canyon’s trail network. From here you can head uphill toward Bridges 1–4 for deeper slot-canyon drama, or wander downstream to the Sixth Bridge for a peaceful forest-and-river ramble. Expect classic turquoise water, mossy forest, and the white noise of the Maligne River.
Why stop
- Quieter access point for Maligne Canyon
- Parking here makes one-way hikes easy
- Unique springs between the 5th and 6th bridges
Heads up
- Canyon is less dramatic here than near the upper bridges
- Trail can be muddy and slippery after rain
- Occasional closures; check status before you go
Map
Where it is
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Full mapLocal know-how
Tips for visiting Fifth Bridge
Park at Fifth Bridge and shuttle to the First Bridge for a mostly downhill hike back.
Walk between the 5th and 6th bridges to see the canyon’s bubbling springs.
Wear sturdy shoes—sections get slick and muddy after rain.
Carry bear spray and make noise, especially near the Sixth Bridge area.
Check current closures or advisories before you go.
Plan your stop
Before you go
Best time to visit
Logistics & amenities
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
- ClosureMaligne River watercraft closureMentions Maligne River, referenced in this guideDo not use, enter or travel by watercraft on the Maligne River between Maligne Lake and Medicine Lake; the closure protects Harlequin Ducks from human disturbance.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Jasper Tour Guide
Your drive to Fifth Bridge, 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 tourRecorded for this place
Fifth Bridge: A Quieter Way into Maligne CanyonListen
“You're nearing the turnoff for Fifth Bridge, which is a quieter entrance into the Maligne Canyon trail system. While most visitors start at the busy main lot, this spot gives you a couple of great options.”
Plays as you drive up to Fifth Bridge in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Overlanders of 1862
- Mount Tekarra Viewpoint and Maligne Lookout
- Maligne Canyon's Deep Gorge and Waterfalls
- Skyline Trailhead: A World-Famous Trek and a Day Hike
- 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!!!!”
Guide
More about Fifth Bridge
Why start hereMost tour buses swarm the upper bridges; Fifth Bridge stays calmer.
Most tour buses swarm the upper bridges; Fifth Bridge stays calmer. There’s parking right at the bridge, and many smart hikers leave a car here, then shuttle up to the First Bridge and hike back down—net downhill with the best scenery saved for last. A full out-and-back from Fifth to First and back typically takes about 2–2.5 hours depending on your photo stops.
What you’ll seeBetween the 5th and 6th bridges you’ll pass numerous springs bubbling straight out of the…
Between the 5th and 6th bridges you’ll pass numerous springs bubbling straight out of the canyon walls and riverbed—one of the coolest, most unusual features of this canyon. Heading uphill toward the First Bridge, the gorge tightens and deepens with waterfalls and sculpted limestone. Benches and a few tables near the bridge make it an easy place to pause for a snack.
A bit of geologyMaligne Canyon is carved into soluble limestone.
Maligne Canyon is carved into soluble limestone. Much of its water travels underground from Medicine Lake and resurfaces through springs in and above the canyon—dye tracing has shown that water can take roughly 12–14 hours in summer and up to nine days in winter to reappear.
WildlifeKeep an eye out for canyon-loving birds like American dippers, ravens, and (with luck) black…
Keep an eye out for canyon-loving birds like American dippers, ravens, and (with luck) black swifts. Bears occasionally roam near the lower bridges, especially around the Sixth—carry bear spray and give wildlife space.
Winter notesIn winter, the canyon becomes an ice-walk wonderland.
In winter, the canyon becomes an ice-walk wonderland. If you’re exploring in the cold season, bring traction aids like cleats and follow any on-site guidance about safe routes.
Current conditionsFollowing wildfire recovery work, this area reopened in July 2025.
Following wildfire recovery work, this area reopened in July 2025. Conditions can still change—check the latest advisories from Parks Canada or on-site signage.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Jasper
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 mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Jasper. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
