Athabasca Falls Canada

The Athabasca Falls are among the most potent and breathtaking falls in the Rocky Mountains capture the brilliance of rainbow-hued spray or the dazzling sheets of ice suspended from jagged rock on film. Athabasca waterfall is situated in Jasper National Park on the upper Athabasca River, about 30 kilometers south of the town site of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, and just west of the Ice fields Parkway. Athabasca is a powerful waterfall, comprises unbelievable natural scenic beauty, and is not known so much for the height of the falls 23 metres.

The waterfall is recognized for its force due to the huge quantity of water falling into the gorge. Moreover in a cold morning in the fall, the river levels tend to be at their lowest, abundant amounts of water flow over the falls. The huge mountain poised over the falls is Mount Kerkeslin, which was named by Sir James Hector of the Palliser Expedition in 1859. The river falls over a layer of hard quartzite and through the softer limestone below carving the short gorge and a number of potholes. The waterfall can be safely viewed and photographed from several platforms and walking trails around the falls. The approach to fall is from the nearby parking lot, which leads off Highway 93A just northeast of the falls. Highway 93A takes off from the nearby Ice fields Parkway and crosses the falls on the way north to the town of Jasper.

White water rafting often starts below the falls to travel downstream on the Athabasca River to Jasper. Athabasca Falls is actually one of the major tourist attractions along the Ice fields Parkway and is a very busy place on a midsummer’s day. If you want to avoid the crowds it is best to visit early in the morning or after dinner time. Most of the trail system is paved but stairs limit access for people in wheelchairs. There is a perfect picnic area with ten picnic tables, kitchen shelter and washrooms are available and great cross-country skiing in winter.

The falls itself wasn't particularly mind-blowing, but it possessed enough power to carve out a bit of a gorge immediately downstream of it. The huge numbers of peoples visit Athabasca Falls but do not give it adequate time. They rush to the falls; snap a picture and they’re gone. Then why not poke around? This is ideal time to explore the area looking for signs of abandoned waterfalls and other water worn rock. Stand in the spray at the closest viewpoint, or just hang out and enjoy the view.