Ever since we arrived in Jasper one week ago there has been lots of talk about the fire in Maligne Canyon and the road to Maligne Lake and Spirit Island has been closed. The first few miles of the road has now been opened and the Maligne Canyon trail has become available.
According to our personal trail guide, Tim Jensen, Maligne Canyon is the deepest and narrowest canyon in Jasper. The canyon trail follows the Maligne River as it tears through the canyon and then becomes a broad river again; it is crossed by six bridges. Most folks begin the trail from parking lots at either First or Second Bridge where the most dramatic viewing of the canyon is available from a paved path. Tim suggested that we begin at the end, so to speak, at Sixth Bridge.
Sixth Bridge with the Maligne River now broad and fast moving.
Most of the trail between Sixth Bridge and Fifth Bridge is through forested areas next to the river. It is the longest stretch of the trail, about 3 km.
It was another beautiful hiking day, in the low 70s.
Between the Fourth and Third Bridge the canyon begins to form and...
various springs begin to appear from the sides of the canyon walls. Here a spring forms a dramatic waterfall.
The Maligne River is flowing left to right at the bottom of the picture but this water source, in the center of the picture, is just coming out of the side of the canyon.
Becoming steeper and narrower.
I liked this somewhat quiet spot. Perhaps you can see the many rivulets of water falling into this pool in the upper left quadrant of the above picture.
Here's the same pool from above with the rivulets in the center of the picture.
Second Bridge
At Second Bridge, the most dramatic viewing spot, where the canyon bottom falls 164 feet below.
We had to put on the wide-angle lens to get the full drop of the river.
Around First Bridge the canyon begins to form.
Lots of interesting formations at the beginning of the canyon.
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