Maligne Canyon

Scenic Maligne Lake is a good destination for a day out, reached by taking the Maligne Road, which branches off from the Yellowhead Highway 3 km (2 mi.) beyond Jasper. The Maligne Canyon, 11 km (7 mi.) east of Jasper, is one of the most beautiful canyons in the Rockies. It has several waterfalls and a 4 km (21/2 mi.) nature trail, starting at the lodge (open in summer) and leading along the Maligne Canyon, its chalky sandstone walls as high as 50 m (164 ft), with interpretive panels explaining the geomorphological features. The canyon is very narrow in places and spanned by several bridges. Its lower section carries far more water than the upper part since water from Medicine Lake enters the canyon at various places, flowing through subterranean clefts and gushing out of karst hollows.