Last updated on June 13th, 2021
In an area with more than its share of geological oddities, lovely Maligne Canyon in Canada’s Jasper National Park is a standout.
A short walk along the top of the canyon allows visitors a peek into the floor of the canyon 160 feet below.
(Although perhaps calling this a canyon is an error, as this canyon seems to have been a cave before the glaciers ripped off the top during the previous ice age.)
Walking along the canyon rewarded us with views of odd rock walls, exposed caverns, and deeply carved potholes; leaping cascades and rushing waterfalls; lush plants and lichens; and even a few fossils.
It’s the perfect spot to wander in any sort of weather.
Maligne Canyon is located along the Maligne River near its confluence with the Athabasca River in Canada’s Jasper National Park. A short walking trail winds along the top of the canyon across a series of bridges that provide views straight down into the canyon. The trail continues along the Athabasca River for those looking for a longer hike. (We were only able to walk along the top of the canyon, and not along the Athabasca River, because the 5th Bridge was out when we visited in 2014.) Trail Peak has a good description of the Maligne Canyon trail. There are a number of services, including a restaurant near the canyon.