Maligne Canyon offers the best of both worlds. Though it feels like you're out in the wilderness here, it's only a stone's throw from Jasper. Explore the waterfalls and rock formations on an easygoing day trip.
Maligne Canyon heralds the most dramatically carved point of Maligne Lake. Due to the soft nature of its limestone walls, the gorge here has been effortlessly carved out by rushing water. The result is smooth, precipitous walls measuring up to 50 metres deep.
Getting around Maligne Canyon is simple enough. Take the well-marked interpretive trail. Stop off at the bridges dotted along the route. The third of these gives you particularly good angles looking down into the canyon. You'll also feel the spray of the mighty Maligne River as it rushes beneath you.
The river itself is of great interest and some mystery – at points along its journey it disappears into underground passages, and in Autumn, it disappears altogether, something which has mystified people for hundreds of years.
Continuing along the trail, notice how Maligne Canyon becomes deeper at points, with trees and shrubbery close to toppling over the edge. Although most visitors turn back after the third bridge, it is worth pushing onwards, especially as there will be less people around. The fifth and sixth bridges can be accessed by car along Maligne Road.
Back near the entrance, call in at the Maligne Canyon Restaurant. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, all of which you can tuck into while gazing out of the oversized windows overlooking the canyon. The restaurant is also home to a surprising collection of Native American and Inuit art. Norval Morrisseau's paintings and sculptures are a highlight – some call him the Picasso of the North Country. Visit the gift shop for arty presents and souvenirs. Prices range from a few to many thousands of dollars.
Maligne Canyon is in Jasper National Park, a short drive away from Jasper itself. The restaurant and facilities are only open during the summer season.
