Jasper national park winter9/21/2023 Sunwapta Falls | Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge - With a hard-to-beat location when visiting Sunwapta Falls, Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge features an on-site restaurant and bar all rooms are equipped with a fridge and comfortably furnished. Staying in this lodge near Sunwapta Falls is probably your only chance to enjoy this beautiful place without the crowds (if you are an early bird, of course). However, the nearest hotel to Sunwapta Falls is Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge on the main highway. There is a large campground in Jasper that requires a reservation, and yes, the situation is very similar to the hotel's booking. You will find there a wide range of hotels.īeing said that, the accommodation is quite limited in the high season, and you might want to book your stay well in advance (many visitors book hotels even more than six months ahead in time). The nearest town to Sunwapta Falls is the small town of Jasper. The majority of the visitors decide to stay at the Upper Falls and don't hike for about one kilometer one way to the Lower Falls, which means that the Lower Trail is less congested even in the high season.įor more inspiration, read our guides on best hikes in Jasper National Park and best hikes in Banff National Park. If you decide to walk all the way to Lower Falls, don't cross the bridge and stay on the right side of the Sunwapta River (true side).Īs we arrived pretty late in the afternoon at Sunwapta Falls, we didn't make it to the Lower Falls in order to arrive at Athabasca Falls before sunset. This majestic river originates in Jasper NP, flows north-eastwards into Athabasca Lake (Athabasca joins Peace River before reaching the lake), then turns north and flows into Great Slave Lake (as Mackenzie River now) and makes its way to the Arctic Ocean. That's a pretty neat fact, as you can actually later visit stunning Athabasca Falls themselves.Īnother interesting fact about the Athabasca River we didn't know is that it doesn't flow westwards as we would have expected. Sunwapta River is a tributary of the Athabasca River. That was the name of the lake at the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier, which is considered as a source for the river (together with the Columbia Icefield). Moreover, the name 'Sunwapta' may seem familiar to you. The waters of the Sunwapta River were raging over the falls and down the river. Sunwapta means roaring or turbulent water in the Stoney language, and we found that description pretty accurate to what we saw in person. As our Canadian Rockies itinerary was built more leisurely than usual, we had time to visit both waterfalls on the same day. The next year we were passing by, we didn't make the same mistake. Our itinerary was super-packed, and the Canadian Rockies was not the only destination on our journey, as we also wanted to visit Yellowstone National Park in the US on top of that. The first time we drove along the Icefields Parkway, we skipped Sunwapta Falls as many other visitors choose to do so. Sunwapta Falls is still a top attraction along the iconic Icefields Parkway, and this place gets busy, especially in high season. Whatever the reasons are, you won't find the crowds by Sunwapta Falls that you would have otherwise met at Athabasca Falls, though don't expect to have the place just for yourself. Or perhaps the bus tours prefer Athabasca Falls more for its accessibility. One of the reasons might be that Sunwapta Falls are slightly less impressive, although this depends on each personal taste. Sunwapta Falls is less popular than the more famous Athabasca Falls, and you might wonder why. If you've already started planning your Canada itinerary, get inspired by this Sunwapta Falls travel guide, including all the practical information all together with tips we share based on our personal experience. Sunwapta Falls are worth a visit, even if it's just for a quick photo stop. But even when short on time, don't just drive by. Then consider following the trail all the way down to the Lower Falls. Start at the Upper Falls parking lot and enjoy a short walk down along the falls. One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the Canadian Rockies is hiking. It is easily accessible for all types of travelers, even for those on a packed itinerary. Sunwapta Falls is a rewarding site because the waterfall is quite close to the main road and parking lot. Whether you want to visit as many places and attractions along the Icefields Parkway as possible or just select a few, Sunwapta Falls should be on your Canadian Rockies itinerary. Sunwapta Falls is a top natural sight on one of the most scenic drives in the world, located in Jasper National Park.
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