Mount Edith Cavell, the best area of Jasper National Park?
Mount Edith Cavell flew under my radar for quite some time and it wasn't until my third visit to Jasper National Park that I finally made it to this impressive area. When googling ‘Top Things to Do in Jasper’ - visiting this area of the National Park is not obvious and can be easy to overlook.
What does it mean to visit a mountain anyway? Do you stop and have a quick look? Are there things to do? - In this blog post we are going to share all the information you actually need to add this stop to your itinerary.
Mount Edith Cavell is the most prominent peak entirely within Alberta which is where its attention comes from. Sitting in the Astoria River valleys of Jasper National Park, it is an impressive 3,300m tall and can be seen from the town of Jasper. This mountain was a highlight of my recent trip and I can't believe I had missed this stop on my other visits!
Mount Edith Cavell was named as such in 1916 after a British nurse who saved the lives of hundreds of soldiers in World War I before being executed by a German firing squad.
This area is very fragile and is experiencing high numbers of visitors each season. It is crucial to remember the leave no trace principles when visiting and to stay on designated trails.
Where is Mount Edith Cavell?
Mount Edith Cavell is 23.8km from the town of Jasper. To visit the trailheads, you must drive 7km south of Jasper on the 93 North and then turn right onto the 93A. From here you will drive 5.4km before turning right onto Cavell Road.
This 14-km road is narrow and has tight switchbacks that are unsuitable for trailers and large motorhomes. There are vehicle size restrictions here and vehicles are not permitted to exceed 7.5m or 25 feet. There is a drop-off area at the start of Cavell Road on the 93A.
As you drive down the beautiful, windy road, there will be a range of pull-offs that offer stunning views of the Astoria Valley and the glaciers at its head.
Seasonal Road Closures
Access to the Mount Edith Cavell area is seasonal and only accessible during the warmer months. The road is typically open from late June (around the 21st) to early fall (approximately October 15th). Closures are dependent on snowfall and are always weather permitting for safety.
The area is inaccessible during the winter months.
What is there to do?
To experience the grandeur of the Edith Cavell area, some level of hiking will be required when visiting. Mount Edith Cavell is not a ‘get out of your car and have a look’ spot', it is somewhere you should allow at least half a day to enjoy.
There are two main trails in the area you can do ranging from just under 2 km to over 8 km. The first section of the trail is paved making this one of the most accessible areas to experience the impressive scenery. You can make a day of it by taking a picnic lunch with you and enjoying it with glacial views, just make sure to stay on the designated trail areas and pack out your trash when doing so.
Path of the Glacier
The first trail is the Path of the Glacier Trail. This is the most popular trail in the area and the most accessible. This trail is 1.8km round trip and only has 84m of elevation.
From the parking lot, you will enter the impressive valley and begin wandering below the towering mountains. This section of the trail is paved and you will gradually make your way uphill, crossing a small stream, until you reach the overlook point. From here you get stunning views of Cavell Pond, the Angel Glacier and Mount Edith Cavell. The pond, filled with glacial melt and small icebergs is a stunning site. The trail continues beyond the lookout and descends towards the pond where you can really marvel at the size of the mountain ahead.
When I visited we spent a significant amount of time watching and taking in the scene in front of us. With wildflowers in bloom, small icebergs floating around the lake and the serenity of our early morning visit, it was perfect. I couldn't believe I had missed such an impressive place in my recent visits and I was just in awe that a place this beautiful was so accessible.
Edith Cavell Meadows
If you have additional time and want to make the most of your visit to the area, I would recommend the Edith Cavell Meadows trail. This trail is an 8.2km return trip with 573m of elevation. The trail starts from the same trailhead as the Path of the Glacier trail and after 0.5km of the same route, turns to the left and begins climbing.
If you would like to combine both trails, continue onwards (instead of turning) to see the beautiful Cavell Ponds close up first before turning around to begin the meadows route. This will add approximately 1 km to your total hiking distance for the day but it's worth it for the different perspectives.
This trail is the perfect display of towering cliffs, alpine meadows and impressive glaciers. If you visit in summer you will also be treated with stunning wildflowers and potentially some glacial movement. When we visited we saw the glacier moving and a large chunk fell off which, although bad for glacial longevity, it is an impressive sight to see,
Mount Edith Cavell is a stunning display of the scenery the Canadian Rockies have on offer and this stop is something not to be missed. You can visit this location in as little as an hour but with more time allowed, the more you will be able to appreciate this incredible area. Enjoy your next visit and don't forget to leave no trace.
Happy hiking!
