A Guide to Sunwapta Falls and Canyon
Sunwapta Falls, one of the best and most beautiful waterfalls on the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park, is a must-visit place in the Canadian Rockies. Take a short hike from the parking lot to Upper Falls and enjoy the views or follow the trail and walk to the Lower Falls. Read our Sunwapta Falls travel guide, including tips on how to get, what to expect, and where to stay.
Sunwapta Falls is a top natural sight on one of the most scenic drives in the world, located in Jasper National Park.
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 rewarding site because the waterfall is quite close to the main road and parking lot. It is easily accessible for all types of travelers, even for those on a packed itinerary.
One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the Canadian Rockies is hiking. Start at the Upper Falls parking lot and enjoy a short walk down along the falls.
Then consider following the trail all the way down to the Lower Falls. But even when short on time, don't just drive by.
Sunwapta Falls are worth a visit, even if it's just for a quick photo stop.
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.
VISITING SUNWAPTA FALLS
Sunwapta Falls is less popular than the more famous Athabasca Falls, and you might wonder why.
One of the reasons might be that Sunwapta Falls are slightly less impressive, although this depends on each personal taste. Or perhaps the bus tours prefer Athabasca Falls more for its accessibility.
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.
Sunwapta Falls is still a top attraction along the iconic Icefields Parkway, and this place gets busy, especially in high season.
The first time we drove along the Icefields Parkway, we skipped Sunwapta Falls as many other visitors choose to do so.
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 next year we were passing by, we didn't make the same mistake. As our Canadian Rockies itinerary was built more leisurely than usual, we had time to visit both waterfalls on the same day.
Continuing the trip from Athabasca Glacier, we eventually made our way to beautiful Sunwapta Falls.
This part of the Icefields Parkway is very scenic, and we stopped along the way several times.
If there is one thing we learned from our (now) multiple trips to Icefields Parkway, it is that there are some things that are just not worth rushing.
This should be your trip of a lifetime, so take your time and soak up the incredible views and scenery along the way.
Finally, we parked the car at the nearly empty parking lot (we arrived there pretty late, though), put on our trusty hiking boots, and walked to the trailhead.
If you don't want to hike to Lower Falls, closed shoes should be just fine. At least in summer.
And by the way, you can visit Sunwapta Falls in winter as well, as this is a popular year-round stop though you might need snowshoes.
Sunwapta means roaring or turbulent water in the Stoney language, and we found that description pretty accurate to what we saw in person. The waters of the Sunwapta River were raging over the falls and down the river.
Moreover, the name 'Sunwapta' may seem familiar to you. 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).
Sunwapta River is a tributary of the Athabasca River. That's a pretty neat fact, as you can actually later visit stunning Athabasca Falls themselves.
Another interesting fact about the Athabasca River we didn't know is that it doesn't flow westwards as we would have expected.
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.
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).
As 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.
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.
For more inspiration, read our guides on best hikes in Jasper National Park and best hikes in Banff National Park.
WHAT TO PACK
There are a few places where you can feel the spray, especially in the spring, when the glacial snow is melting and the falls are in full force.
Put a rain jacket in your day pack just in case.
The force of these falls is very impressive, and Sunwapta Falls is definitely worth a visit.
The trail along the canyon offers plenty of photo opportunities.
If you want to make the silky water effect, bring a ND filter to achieve a longer exposure times and sturdy tripod to keep your travel camera still.
HOW TO GET TO SUNWAPTA FALLS
From Jasper, take the southbound Icefields Parkway (AB-93) for about 55 kilometers. Follow signs all the way to Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge.
Turn right and exit the highway, then follow the road for about one kilometer to reach the falls viewing area. Athabasca Glacier is another 50 kilometers south of Sunwapta Falls.
When traveling north, the distance between Lake Louise and Sunwapta Falls is 180 kilometers (or 230 kilometers from Banff).
Parking is free at the designated lot near the trailhead. If traveling across the Canadian Rockies, consider renting a car for your holiday as visiting sites such as Sunwapta Falls would be almost impossible because of the lack of public transport and accommodation in the vicinity.
If you do not have your own transport or look for a more adrenaline activity, check out this popular Sunwapta Whitewater Rafting Tour that starts in Jasper.
SAFETY
When it comes to safety, use common sense, and stay on the trail.
When hiking to the Lower Falls, you might want to carry a bear spray with you, as you should for all your hikes in the Canadian Rockies or at least travel in a group of people.
In summer 2019, a black bear was spotted crossing the wooden bridge at Sunwapta Falls with several people still on that bridge.
As you can clearly see, even places that seem perfectly safe in the Canadian Rockies might have a few surprises in the sleeve, and you shouldn't forget that you are still in a bear country.
The trail to Lower Falls itself can be muddy and slippery; wear proper hiking boots.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHERE TO STAY
The nearest town to Sunwapta Falls is the small town of Jasper. You will find there a wide range of hotels.
Being 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).
There is a large campground in Jasper that requires a reservation, and yes, the situation is very similar to the hotel's booking.
However, the nearest hotel to Sunwapta Falls is Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge on the main highway.
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).
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. You can also organize here some tours such as whitewater rafting or other outdoor adventures.
Jasper | Jasper Inn and Suites - When traveling north, Jasper is the best place to end your Icefields Parkway road trip. Jasper Inn & Suites offers good value for money. The hotel has a convenient location, indoor pool, onsite restaurant, and clean and tidy rooms to convince you to stay here.
Icefields Parkway | The Crossing - Located in Saskatchewan River Crossing on the Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Banff, The Crossing is one of the few hotels along this stunning road. The hotel offers an excellent location, basic rooms, and facilities. Rooms are adequate, however, this is one of the finest examples of paying extra for the location. Is it worth it? Only you can answer this question.
Lake Louise | Lake Louise Inn - Newly renovated rooms, onsite restaurants, fitness center, and a heated indoor pool, this hotel is a perfect place to stay either during the summer and in the winter as well (they even provide a free shuttle service to the Lake Louise Ski Resort). Free WiFi is provided.
CAMPGROUNDS
There are quite a few campgrounds along the Icefields Parkway. However, don't get excited too soon.
These campgrounds are all first-come, first-served, pretty basic (some have washrooms, some only pit toilets), and fill up pretty fast too.
You need to make a reservation for the big campgrounds in Banff or Jasper well in advance or arrive there around check-out time and hope that they will have availability.
Don't forget to read our guide on Camping in the Canadian Rockies.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
