The Maligne Canyon hike is one of the best hikes you can do in Jasper National Park. It's easy and has multiple ways to shorten or lengthen it, so you can get the hang of it in less than 15 minutes or the full experience in about three hours.
The main Maligne Canyon trek trail is just a short drive from Jasper and combines well with other half-day activities such as taking a tour Boat tour to Spirit Island in Maleny Lake. It's a great game for all ages, although there are some strenuous steps required if you climb one of the longer loops. With a little luck, you might see wildlife like bighorn sheep or elk – always exciting.
This post includes some affiliate links. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Thanks a lot for your support.
distance: 3.7 km one way to Sixth Bridge
Height gain: About 185 AD.
difficulty: easy.
Time needed: From 15 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the distance you will travel.
Dogs allowed: Yes, restricted but go early in the day when the trail is less crowded.
Bear: This isn't usually a concern as the trail is busy but you can never go wrong
Required map: There are good maps along the Maligne Canyon Trail. The paper map covering the trip is Jewel Trek Jasper and Malin Lake.
Do not forget: Always take Hiking basicsLet someone know where you are going and please practice Leave no trace principles.
In winter: The hike up Maligne Canyon gets awesome Walking on ice in winter. If the opportunity presents itself, do it.
Access to Maligne Canyon
It is an 11-minute drive from Jasper to access the Maligne Canyon Trail.
From the Jasper city site, head northeast on Connaught Drive. Turn left or east onto Highway 16 – also called the Yellowhead Highway. Turn right at the first light to cross the Athabasca River. Turn left at the crossroads and continue along Maligne Road until you reach a car park.
There are parking at the 6th Bridge (for longer hikes), the 5th Bridge (for moderate length hikes) or drive to the parking lot next to the Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen. From there you can take short hikes and experience the best that Maligne Canyon has to offer.
Book a Maligne Canyon tour with a guide
If you want to do a guided hike in Maligne Canyon – perhaps because you don't have a car to get to Maligne Canyon, you want to know something about the canyon, you are traveling alone and feel more comfortable for whatever reason is to make sure you get out This hiking tour offered by Viator. Includes transportation from your hotel in Jasper.
Hiking Options in Maligne Canyon
Most people start their Maligne Canyon hiking trip either at the 5th Bridge or at the Interpretive Plaza next to the restaurant, but you can also start at the 6th Bridge and hike back and forth from there.
Variations on how to do the Maligne Canyon hike.
- For those short on time, you can hike to the first or second bridges to learn about Maligne Canyon. You can stop it in less than 15 minutes.
- If you have an hour or more walk from the first bridge to the fourth or fifth bridge and back. You'll see some of the most beautiful sections of Maligne Canyon. To do this, it takes 2.2 km one way with an increase in altitude and a loss of about 100 meters.
- If you have two or three hours, walk all the way down to the Sixth Bridge and back.
Maligne Canyon hike description
From the interpretive exhibit near the parking lot, walk to the first bridge, and stop to look for fossils by the water near the restaurant.
Cross the first bridge and follow the path to the second bridge to the south and more scenic side of the valley. Along the hike, look for interpretive panels—some explain how Maligne Canyon was formed and others about black-throated swifts, which nest in the cliffs, fish stocks, petroglyphs and other natural phenomena you see along the hike.
One of the most dramatic locations on the Maligne Canyon hike is at The second bridge. Look down 55 meters (180 feet) to the valley floor. Enjoy the drama of water rushing through the canyon walls that are only two meters wide here.
Continue in The third bridge. For those who want to return to the car park from here, cross the bridge and walk on the other side of Maligne Canyon towards the car park. this Loop 1.6 km This will take most people between 30 and 40 minutes.
The other option is to continue walking on the north side of the valley towards the Fourth Bridge. The slope is steep, so remember that the return will be mostly uphill. By the time you get to Fourth bridge, Maligne Canyon will have widened and there will be more trees around it. Many people detour here – the journey takes about one hour in total.
If you continue past the Fourth Bridge, you'll notice that you're starting to miss the crowds. Maligne Canyon isn't as exciting after the fourth bridge, but it's still a nice hike to Fifth bridge Through the forest and next to the valley where you can see some springs that join the Malin River. The return trip from the car park to Fifth Bridge takes about two hours, less if you are a regular hiker.
The path to Sixth bridge Next to the river is clearly marked. The hiking has a few ups and downs but nothing exciting. Allow up to 3 hours for the return trip to Sixth Bridge.
How many bridges do you cross?
There are six bridges to cross if you do the full Maligne Canyon trek. The best and most dramatic parts of the trip, in my opinion, are between the first and fifth bridges.
But, if you want to leave the crowds behind and experience the full hike up and down Maligne Canyon, it's definitely worth continuing the extra mile past the Fifth Bridge to reach the Sixth Bridge.
Some cool facts about Maligne Canyon
- The water that flows through the valley only flows from May to December. In the winter, most of the water in Maligne Canyon drains like a bathtub or freezes.
- The water in Maligne Canyon travels underground from Medicine Lake, 14 km away. Using the dye, scientists discovered that it takes water 12 to 14 hours to reach the valley in the summer and 5 to 9 days in the winter.
- There are three species of birds that nest in Maligne Canyon, the endangered black swift (which also nests in a cave in Johnston Canyon) and the American black-bellied grebe and the common crow.
Where to eat after hiking?
If you are in need of refreshment after your hike, you can enjoy a drink or meal with a view Malin Canyon Wilderness Kitchen. You can book tables in advance – a good idea especially on the weekend.
Where to stay in Jasper
the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge In a beautiful location but it comes at a price. However, you can count on plenty of amenities and plenty of activities either on its grounds or nearby. The rooms are good but not as luxurious as you might expect for the price.
Another excellent option is Bear Hill Lodge. For easy access to the beautiful lake and all the activities surrounding Pyramid Lake, head to Pyramid Lake Resort.
On the strip in Jasper, check out Scarlet jasperNext to Tera Restaurant, which serves delicious food.
Looking for more trips in Jasper?
Click on the image to bookmark your Pinterest boards.
