알버타‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪20‬개의 폭포

Situated just minutes from the town of Banff, Cascade Ponds is a popular picnic and walking area at the base of Cascade Mountain. A network of small bridges connects several ponds, creating easy loops with stunning reflections of the surrounding peaks. It’s a favourite spot for families and photographers, especially in early morning or evening light when the water is calm and mirror-like.

A bit crowded but still a nice stop

Aug 11/2025 - Trail is currently closed and has been since June 19/25. Do not attempt this trail without checking with Parks Canada for a trail update.

I have done this at the end of July. While it is as everybody describes, easy to the lower falls and not super hard to the upper falls, it was extremely crowded and it felt more like cattle drive up there. I suggest do this very early in the morning or evening there is probably less traffic.

Just off the Icefields Parkway, the Sunwapta River rushes through a gorge forming the impressive Sunwapta Falls. The river is a tributary to the mighty Athabasca River. If you are in for a ride, you can take your bike and ride along the Chaba Trail that leads along the Athasbasca River and to two backcountry campsites.

The Maligne River, about 80 km long, flows into the Athabasca River near Jasper at 1,000 meters elevation. Its main reservoir is Maligne Lake, with Medicine Lake located 16 km from its mouth at 1,392 meters. Much of the river’s water disappears into an underground drainage system, re-emerging downstream through springs and underground channels. Below Medicine Lake, the river gains volume from surface runoff and springs. At Maligne Canyon, it carves a deep gorge through erosion, forming potholes and curved surfaces. The canyon drops 120 meters over 1.5 km, with underground water sources significantly increasing the river's volume at the bottom. (Visit June 1. 2018) https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Maligne-Canyon-Falls-2626 Some information on geology of Maligne Canyon at page 53 of: http://parkscanadahistory.com/geology/misc-report-6-1963.pdf

Athabasca Falls is located on the Icefields Parkway, Alberta's Highway 93, at km 203 (towards Lake Louise to Jasper) at the junction with Highway 93A (which is normally closed from November to April). The mighty Athabasca River originates from the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield. At the foot of Mount Kerkeslin, the Athabasca River plunges over a jagged cliff of Precambrian quartzites into a narrow canyon of its own making. https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Athabasca-Falls-2576 Some information on geology at page 102 of: http://parkscanadahistory.com/geology/misc-report-6-1963.pdf

At Sunwapta Falls, the higher Chaba Valley with the Sunwapta River and the large Athabasca Valley with the river of the same name merge to form a spectacular waterfall that falls several meters into the limestone gorge. After two and a half kilometres of turbulent flow, it joins the main stream of the Athabasca River on the valley floor. (Visit May 31, 2018) https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Sunwapta-Falls-2652 Some information on geology at page 95 of: http://parkscanadahistory.com/geology/misc-report-6-1963.pdf