Parking
Park at the Mount Edith Cavell upper lot at the end of Cavell Road. Parking is limited. Cavell Road has tight switchbacks and does not allow trailers or vehicles longer than 7.5 m (25 ft).
Overview
About Cavell Meadows
Why go
- Glacier and alpine meadow scenery in one varied hike
- Seasonal wildflowers and chances to spot pikas and marmots
- Paved lower approach before the trail reaches steeper mountain terrain
Heads up
- Long return with roughly 500 m of climbing
- Loose, uneven upper terrain and fast-changing weather
- Limited parking and a narrow, winding access road
Cavell Meadows is a moderate but sustained high-country hike that packs glacier views, alpine meadows, and a changing mountain landscape into one outing. The route is especially rewarding if you want to see Angel Glacier from the trail while also reaching the flower-filled meadows above treeline.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike itMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation1,744–2,181 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Jasper alerts
- ClosureWildfire-impacted areas and facilities closedMentions this trailStay 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 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 tourRecorded for this area
When the Ghost Glacier FellListen
“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 near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Path of the Glacier: An Easy Walk to Angel Glacier
- Cavell Lake: A Quick Stop for a Classic View
- Mount Edith Cavell: Glaciers and Alpine Trails
- 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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Cavell Meadows
The experienceStart at the Mount Edith Cavell upper parking lot at the end of Cavell Road.
Start at the Mount Edith Cavell upper parking lot at the end of Cavell Road. Follow the paved Path of the Glacier approach, then turn onto the Cavell Meadows route near the end of the pavement. The trail climbs past bouldery moraine and through upper-subalpine forest before reaching the alpine meadow. The upper route follows the meadow's high section and descends to the lower trail before the return to the parking lot.
The complete visitor outing is about 5.2 miles (8.3 km) round trip with roughly 500 m of elevation gain and loss, and usually takes 3-5 hours. The stored line follows the physical corridor once; the return distance is included in the visitor total. Expect a moderate hike with a sustained climb, steeper upper sections, and uneven rock.
Scenery and wildlifeAngel Glacier, Cavell Glacier, Cavell Pond, and the cliffs of Mount Edith Cavell shape the…
Angel Glacier, Cavell Glacier, Cavell Pond, and the cliffs of Mount Edith Cavell shape the views from the lower and upper trail. At treeline, the scenery opens into alpine meadows with broad mountain views and seasonal wildflowers. Pikas and marmots are common possibilities among the rocks, and mountain goats may also be seen.
Preparation and accessThe access road is narrow and winding, with tight switchbacks; vehicles longer than 7.
The access road is narrow and winding, with tight switchbacks; vehicles longer than 7.5 m (25 ft), trailers, and large motorhomes are not permitted on Cavell Road. Parking is limited, so an early start helps. Bring water, food, sturdy footwear, layers, rain protection, and sun protection. Conditions can change quickly at elevation, and the upper trail may be wet or fragile early in the season.
Safety and fitStay on the marked trail to protect fragile alpine vegetation.
Stay on the marked trail to protect fragile alpine vegetation. Falling rock and ice are real hazards in this area: do not approach Angel Glacier or the edge of Cavell Pond, and stay away from cliffs. This is a good choice for hikers prepared for a long climb and variable mountain weather; if you want a shorter outing, the lower Path of the Glacier viewpoint is the easier option.
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.
