Explore a Canadian National Park Featuring a Mystical Canyon Adorned with Breathtaking Frozen Waterfalls — Here’s Your Guide to Visiting

Nestled beneath the Canadian Rockies lies a deep canyon sculpted by powerful waterfalls and swift currents. Maligne Canyon, meaning clever canyon in English, is a marvel in the summer, where water dances through the canyon's depths, and bridges above offer glimpses into its stunning interior.

However, in winter, the rushing waters gradually recede, leaving the waterfalls frozen in time. This marks the beginning of a unique adventure, inviting visitors to explore Maligne Canyon by walking along the narrow riverbed. From December to March, stunning frozen waterfalls line the path, set 160 feet below the canyon's edge.

The picturesque landscape attracts ice climbers eager to ascend frozen waterfalls, along with everyday adventurers seeking a unique experience not found in other seasons. An ice walk tour with SunDog Tours allows participants to stroll along the dry canyon floor beneath the frozen waterfalls, explore hidden ice caves, and learn about karst topography. Ice cleats for enhanced grip are provided.

SunDog Tours also offers an after-dark ice walk that shifts the focus from ice and rock formations to the starry skies above the canyon, part of the world’s second-largest dark sky preserve.

Access to Maligne Canyon is free, but a Jasper National Park entry pass is necessary (approximately $10 CAD or $8 USD). While you can embark on the Maligne Canyon ice walk independently, hiring a guide is advisable due to winter hazards and the need for proper ice cleats or spikes.

Ice climbers venturing into Maligne Canyon can tackle routes rated from WI 2 to 6 on the Canadian Water Ice scale, which means they should be prepared for everything from 60-degree ice with solid protection to nearly vertical 90-degree ice that demands technical skills and offers little respite. Fortunately, climbing the frozen waterfalls here is beginner-friendly—especially with a guide. Rockaboo Mountain Adventures in Jasper provides both group and private ice climbing tours in Maligne Canyon from December to March.

For such a remarkable sight, Maligne Canyon is surprisingly easy to reach. It stands as the deepest easily accessible canyon in Jasper National Park, located just 10 minutes north of the town of Jasper by car. The national park itself is recognized as the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies and is part of UNESCO's Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.