Take a break from refreshing your feed and refresh your spirit in untamed wilds. Here’s our list of Alberta’s top six unexplored waterfalls.
DO Go Chasing These 6 Waterfalls
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While Alberta’s famed waterfalls receive endless attention, other beautiful, lesser-known cascades go unnoticed. Stray from the beaten path and fall in love with these wildly underrated waterfalls.
- Discover more of Alberta’s national parks.
- Stand next to waterfalls as tall as 61 m (200 ft).
- Get closer to nature and further from crowds.
Panther Falls, Banff National Park
Panther Falls rushes out of a small opening in the rockface and falls in a cloud of mist, breathtaking yet often passed by. Unlike the neighbouring Bridal Veil Falls, this waterfall can’t be seen from the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park. You’ll have to venture a little further to see it.
From the Bridal Veil Falls pullout, set off on a 0.3 km (0.1 mi) out-and-back hike and keep right when you reach the junction. The Panther Falls cascade down 61 m (200 ft) into a rugged pass, spraying anybody in its vicinity. The viewing area doesn’t have protective barriers, so watch your step—it can get slippery.
Lundbreck Falls, Crowsnest Pass
Although Lundbreck Falls sees less visitors, it is no less mighty. The two impressive, side-by-side falls are found within the quaint Crowsnest Pass area not far from Highway 3.
Approximately 12 m (39 ft) tall, you can view these roaring wonders from an observation platform or stroll down to the base of the falls in a limestone gorge. Both spots are less than 1 km (0.6 mi) from the parking lot of the Lundbreck Falls Recreation Area, so you’ll likely have time to admire the falls from both perspectives.
Ram Falls, Western Alberta
You’ll probably get views of Ram River all to yourself, except perhaps for a few bighorn sheep. Ram Falls is a little removed from our bigger cities, making it the perfect spot to escape crowds and connect with nature.
Ram Falls Provincial Park got its name from this waterfall. The river tumbles over a rocky bank, plunging down 20 m (65.6 ft) before lazily continuing its route through the coulee. Taking the stairs down from the viewing platform will give you a closer look and the chance to see sheep on the shoreline.
Stanley Falls, Jasper National Park
Stanley Falls pours off a multi-coloured cliff into a picturesque canyon. Its beauty can make a person forget all about the hotspots on their feeds. Found off the Columbia Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park, these falls will stun every time.
Many don’t stop to explore the unassuming Beauty Creek trail from the highway, but those curious enough to trek the 3.9 km (2.4 mi) path are in for a scenic treat. The route to the 12-m (40-ft) Stanley Falls boasts other smaller waterfalls and lush greenery with many opportunities to get close to the strikingly blue river for a toe-dip.
Blakiston Falls, Waterton Lakes National Park
For a waterfall running so beautifully into a mossy gorge, you’d think Blakiston Falls would be more well-known. The trailhead for these falls begins at the Red Rock Canyon parking area in Waterton Lakes National Park.
The hike through alpine forest and across a few footbridges is short and enjoyable for the entire family but will still take your breath away. When you arrive at the 20-m (65.6-ft) waterfall, you can bask in its thunderous power from a viewing platform almost directly above it.
Siffleur Falls, Western Alberta
Siffleur Falls never fails to impress the handful of travellers who come across it. The trail to the falls begins near the south end of Abraham Lake, at the Siffleur Falls Staging Area parking lot.
This moderately easy, flat 14.2-km (8.8-mi) trek includes two suspension bridges and a wooden boardwalk. After a final incline, you’ll reach a series of viewing platforms where you can watch the Siffleur River plunge 15 m (49.2 ft) into a rocky canyon below.