Parking
Park in the signed Sunwapta Falls Parking Area off the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93), about 54 km south of Jasper. The lower-falls route begins from the day-use area near the upper viewpoints.
Overview
About Sunwapta Canyon Trail
Why go
- Three lower waterfalls in a quieter canyon setting
- Short drive-up trailhead with a clear out-and-back destination
- River and canyon viewpoints make the route rewarding for photography
Heads up
- The return climb is steeper than the short distance suggests
- Canyon edges, fast water, and slick rock require care
- Shaded sections can be icy or slippery in cold or wet weather
Lower Sunwapta Falls is the quieter extension of the famous Sunwapta Falls stop. From the day-use parking area, Trail 125 follows the forested Sunwapta River canyon to a series of three lower waterfalls carved into deep rock channels. It adds a worthwhile destination beyond the busy upper viewpoints.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy goMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Jasper map
Full mapElevation1,319–1,403 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
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 Sunwapta Canyon Trail, 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
Sunwapta Falls and the Lower Falls TrailListen
“Just ahead is Sunwapta Falls, which means 'turbulent water' in the Stoney language. The classic view is from the footbridge, where you can see a small, tree-topped island right at the brink of the main drop.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Sunwapta Falls Lodge: A Riverside Retreat
- Harlequin Ducks: Whitewater Surfers
- The Secret to Turquoise Water
- Honeymoon Lake: A Quiet, Reflective Stop
- 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 Sunwapta Canyon Trail
Route and distanceThis is a moderate out-and-back with a downhill walk to the lower falls and the same climb back.
This is a moderate out-and-back with a downhill walk to the lower falls and the same climb back. The mapped outbound corridor is about 1.42 km; plan on roughly 2.8 km (1.8 mi) round trip and about 1 hour. Parks Canada lists the trail as 2.6 km return with an 87 m elevation change, so the published figure is rounded relative to the source-track reconstruction. Follow the signed lower-falls route from the parking area and stay on the intended side of the river rather than taking the longer backcountry route across the main bridge.
What you’ll seeThe walk starts near the upper Sunwapta Falls viewpoints, then settles into a forested canyon…
The walk starts near the upper Sunwapta Falls viewpoints, then settles into a forested canyon route with views toward the river and lower falls. The lower destination is a series of drops in narrow rock channels, and the quieter setting makes this a good short photography walk when the upper platforms are crowded.
Trail feel and accessThe route is short but not flat: the return climb and an approximately 87 m elevation change…
The route is short but not flat: the return climb and an approximately 87 m elevation change are why Parks Canada rates it moderate. Expect an established forest path with some uneven or slick sections near the canyon and water. The signed trailhead is the Sunwapta Falls Parking Area off the Icefields Parkway, about 54 km south of Jasper.
Safety and tipsStay behind railings and away from canyon edges and fast water.
Stay behind railings and away from canyon edges and fast water. Wet rock, mist, ice, and shaded sections can be slippery; use extra care on the descent and return climb. Check current Parks Canada trail conditions before setting out. This is bear and moose habitat: make noise and carry bear spray. Parks Canada does not allow dogs on Jasper trails.
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.
