Athabasca Falls | World Waterfall Database

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This waterfall has been surveyed, mapped and measured in person by the World Waterfall Database.

Athabasca Falls is a high volume waterfall dropping approximately 80 feet into a narrow gorge along the Athabasca River within Jasper National Park, and is among the most popular tourist attractions in the Canadian Rocky Mountain national parks. The falls vary in appearance depending on the volume of water in the river, ranging from an almost solid wall of water funneling into the narrow canyon in the summer to a pair of more delicate stair-step drops in the late autumn. Because of the many glaciers feeding the Athabasca River, the volume of water flowing over the falls can vary by as much as 100 times from the coldest to warmest periods of the year.

HISTORY AND NAMES

Athabasca Falls is the Official name of this waterfall

Our thoughts

As mentioned above Athabasca Falls is a tourist trap. Any time between May and October, one would be hard pressed to come to this waterfall and not be inundated by shutter-happy tourists wielding camera phones and camcorders. Tour buses regularly belch out dozens of wandering foreigners or elderly groups because of the ease of access to this waterfall. People constantly cling to the railings, staring down into the river, taking up all the good real estate for the photographers who actually plan on spending some proper time and energy here, and as a result, the whole experience is somewhat tarnished. So why would one put up with all that? Because this is a great waterfall. The Athabasca River splits around a gnarly island and thunders 82 feet into a swirly chasm carved out of sedimentary rocks, framed by Mount Kerkeslin looming overhead across the valley. Chances are if you’ve seen any wall calendar published in the last decade, you’ve seen a picture of this waterfall. Bite the bullet, put up with the crowds and be a tourist for half an hour.

Location and directions

Athabasca Falls is located along the Icefields Parkway about 28 kilometers south of the Yellowhead Highway in Jasper National Park and is well signed from all directions. The viewpoint is handicap accessible.

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Athabasca Falls is shown in the center. The 10 closest waterfalls within a 8km radius are shown as well (if any). Click any icon or see the list below for more information.

Additional Nearby Waterfalls

Name of Waterfall	Distance
Kerkeslin Falls	1.4 mi / 2.24 km
Lower Geraldine Falls	4.23 mi / 6.77 km
Geraldine Falls	5 mi / 8 km

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Athabasca Falls Alberta, Canada