Maligne Canyon trail is located near the town of Jasper – it’s only a 15-minute drive from downtown Jasper. While you can access some hiking trails right from town it’s worth it to get out of town and drive (or bike) the Maligne Lake Road for some spectacular views in the Canadian Rockies.
Maligne Canyon is one of the most popular attractions in Jasper National Park – and almost 2.5 million people visited the park last year.
Maligne is a slot canyon – over 50 meters deep and features beautiful waterfalls as you hike along the Maligne River. I’ve included Maligne Canyon in my roundup of waterfall hikes in Alberta – complete with video. There are lots of other cool things to do in Jasper too.
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Maligne Canyon Hike Jasper
In case you are wondering the pronunciation for Maligne is Muh-LEEN and not Muh-LINE :)
Interesting fact – more water flows OUT of Maligne Canyon than flows in via the river.
How is that possible? Underground caves carry water from Medicine Lake area (about 14 km away) to the springs at Maligne Canyon.
LEARN MORE: Mistaya Canyon Hike Icefields Parkway Banff
Getting to Maligne Canyon from Jasper
- From downtown Jasper take Connaught Drive/AB-16A north for 2.5 km
- Turn left onto Hwy AB-16 (signs for Edmonton) and drive 2 km
- Turn right onto Maligne Lake Road and continue for 3 km and turn left (signs for 5th Bridge) OR continue another 3 km to the main parking lot (on the left) for Maligne Canyon
Maligne Canyon is more narrow at the top of the canyon – you’ll see the two chockstones shaped like hearts suspended near the top of the canyon.
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During my recent solo trip to Jasper I choose to spend one day exploring the Maligne Valley – including Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake, and Maligne Lake.
I started my day with a hike in Maligne Canyon in the morning. Perfect choice!
Maligne Canyon hiking trail is beautiful and it’s a well marked trail so it’s a good choice for solo hikers.
The trail gets busy but when I arrived at 8:30 in the morning there were only 2 other cars at the 5th bridge parking lot. I expected to see the parking lot full.
And that’s one reason I parked at 5th bridge instead of at the main parking for Maligne Canyon by the restaurant, close to Bridge 1 on the trail.
Because most people park at the main parking lot and (I think) all the tour buses use that lot as well, the parking at 5th bridge or 6th bridge is a good choice especially during high season in Jasper during July and August.
Summer is high season pretty much everywhere in Canada, so the popular places get extra busy.
If you’ve visited Banff in summer, you know it’s crowded with tourists and tons of tour buses. Jasper is now my favorite place to visit in Alberta in summertime.
I found there’s some beautiful kayaking spots in Jasper.
Because it’s a longer drive from Calgary to Jasper (5 hours) compared to Banff (1.5 hours) and Lake Louise, you’ll find fewer tourists.
And the hiking in Jasper is just as incredible as Banff. Not to mention the drive from Banff to Jasper – the Icefields Parkway – is pretty freaking amazing!
In 2019 the most popular campground in Jasper, Whistlers Campground, closed for renovations so that brought the number of visitors down a lot – there are 781 campsites at Whistlers.
Whistlers campground is open again with new modernized and improved facilities.
The campground now has 18 washroom and shower buildings along with wider roads to accommodate two-way RV traffic.
Some sites now have 50-amp service and there is a separate entrance for guests who have already registered.
Hotels in Jasper
When I booked my trip to Jasper it was kind of last minute – I booked it just 6 days in advance.
Luckily, I found a room at the Athabasca Hotel in downtown Jasper. It’s an older hotel with no elevator and no A/C – but location, location, location!!! Book the Athabasca Hotel now
So, I paid $129 (CAD) per night for a great hotel room in Jasper and walked all around town and to the hiking trails. Jasper is small so it’s the perfect place to walk or bike.
Check the latest hotels prices and availability in Jasper and book now!
Map of Maligne Canyon Hike
Let’s get back to the hike at Maligne Canyon now!
Maligne Canyon Hike Info
Type of hike: Loop
Distance: 4.4 km (2.75 miles)
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: 100 m (328 ft)
I have read that some people think the Maligne Canyon hike is only worth doing the first to fourth bridge – they claim there is nothing to see after those. Well, that’s just not good advice.
While the hiking beyond 4th bridge at Maligne is not as dramatic, there are lots of beautiful views along the Maligne River.
Of course, if you are short on time then you may want to do a shorter hike at Maligne Canyon. Even if you only go as far as Bridge 1 and Bridge 2 you will get some beautiful views of the canyon.
I started at Bridge 5 and you have 2 trails to choose from – one along the river and one higher up. I did the hike along the river because I love the sound of the water.
When I started the hike at 8:30 in the morning there was nobody else at this section of the trail.
Within about 20 minutes I started seeing hikers coming the opposite direction. Another good reason to park at Bridge number 5 or 6 is that the heavy hiking traffic will be going the opposite direction.
Bridge 5 and Bridge 6 are also the most interesting in appearance.
Beyond Bridged 6 you can see the confluence of the Maligne River and the Athabasca River. There weren’t many people around when I visited the area.
I’m happy that I spent a day in the Maligne Valley and starting the day trip from Jasper with a lovely hike at Maligne Canyon was a good choice.
Tips and what to bring hiking in Jasper
Always check the weather report before you plan your hiking trip. And check the Jasper National Park bulletins for important updates.
Bring a refillable water bottle and extra water. I always bring two stainless steel water bottles, one is 18 oz and I keep a reserve 40 oz Klean Kanteen water bottle in my backpack.
Snacks or picnic lunch to eat during or after your hike. You can burn a lot of calories on a hike so make sure you bring enough food to keep you going.
Wear layers and be prepared for a variety of weather. Bring cold weather clothing (even in summer) when hiking in the mountains because the weather changes rapidly and it can snow any month of the year.
In bear country always bring bear spray and always keep it in reach (I keep mine clipped to my backpack waist strap). To learn how to use bear spray watch this informative video.
Wear hiking shoes with good grip on the soles (such as Vibram) for better traction on various trail surfaces.
Wool socks are the best for hiking because they absorb moisture, insulate even when wet, and also dry quickly.
In winter use crampons or microspikes on your hiking footwear to get traction on snow and ice.
Waterproof jacket (or rain poncho if you’re on a tight budget). A waterproof jacket will also be windproof to help keep you warm in windy weather.
Bring a small backpack to carry your water, food, and other supplies for the hike. It’s best to buy a waterproof backpack or one that has a built-in cover. But you can also just bring a large plastic bag to cover your day pack if it starts raining during your hike.
Wide brimmed hat or a toque (knit cap) in cooler weather for protection from the sun, cold, rain, and ticks.
Sunscreen: especially on sunny days but also for overcast days to protect your skin from UV rays. For my face I like Elta-MD sunscreen and have used it ever since my dermatologist recommended it.
A lot of people like to use trekking poles especially on rocky or uneven terrain.
Insect repellent: I have tried the non-DEET stuff and it didn’t work at all. So, I went back to using the DEET insect repellent. Remember that using DEET insect spray also protects against ticks.
It’s always a good idea to pack the 10 Essentials on every hike (most of the items can fit into a small ziplock bag). You don’t want to get caught off guard lacking the basic supplies like waterproof matches or a compass when you really need them. Most emergency rescues are for day hikers who get lost or injured. You should always bring the basic gear and supplies to survive overnight if necessary. Learn more about wilderness survival skills.
Tip: If you are staying at a hotel in Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper ask at the front desk if they have any extra bear spray. A lot of travelers will leave theirs behind since they can’t take it on a plane.
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