Parking
Large, well-signed lot at the Athabasca Falls day-use area on Hwy 93A; toilets and picnic tables are on site.
Overview
About Athabasca Falls Loop
Why go
- Wheelchair and stroller access to the main viewpoints
- Multiple bridges and platforms give varied angles in minutes
Heads up
- Usually packed midday in summer with limited solitude
- Short and highly developed; little wilderness feel
Athabasca Falls is a quick, high-payoff stop in Jasper: the 23 m waterfall is less about height than the force of the Athabasca River as it drops into a narrow gorge. Paved paths, bridges, railings, and several viewpoints make the scene accessible while still delivering spray, rainbows, and sculpted river-rock geology.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy goMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation1,174–1,184 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to visit
Safety
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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Jasper Tour Guide
Your drive to Athabasca Falls Loop, 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 trailhead
Athabasca Falls, Jasper's Most Powerful WaterfallListen
“Up ahead is Athabasca Falls, one of Jasper's most impressive sights. This waterfall isn't famous for being tall, but for the incredible power of the entire Athabasca River being forced through a narrow quartzite canyon.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Geraldine Lakes: A Rugged Backcountry Hike
- HI Athabasca Falls: An Off-Grid Hostel
- The Beetle That's Redrawing the Forest
- Fire: The Forest's Reset Button
- 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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Athabasca Falls Loop
The walkStart at the Athabasca Falls day-use area and follow the paved and hard-packed path to the…
Start at the Athabasca Falls day-use area and follow the paved and hard-packed path to the gorge viewpoints, including the western Pothole/viewpoint area. The route is an out-and-back: the saved line represents the one-way corridor, while the listed distance is the roughly 0.5 mile (0.8 km) return visit. Optional viewpoint spurs can make the exact walk a little longer. The main viewpoints are accessible, but lower angles use stairs.
What to expectThis is an easy, family-friendly sightseeing walk rather than a wilderness hike.
This is an easy, family-friendly sightseeing walk rather than a wilderness hike. Parking, toilets, and picnic tables are at the day-use area off Hwy 93A. Mist can make rocks and stairs slippery, and the river is powerful; stay behind railings. Arrive early or later in the day for softer light and fewer crowds.
TipsAllow 20–45 minutes, more if you stop at every viewpoint.
- Allow 20–45 minutes, more if you stop at every viewpoint.
- Bring a layer for the mist and wear footwear with good traction.
- A valid Jasper National Park pass is required.
- Keep children close to the railings and never cross them.
If you want something similarSunwapta Falls is another short roadside waterfall stop along the same corridor.
Sunwapta Falls is another short roadside waterfall stop along the same corridor.
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.
