{"id":1673,"date":"2015-09-13T08:10:50","date_gmt":"2015-09-13T14:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1673"},"modified":"2019-03-16T11:20:46","modified_gmt":"2019-03-16T17:20:46","slug":"sunwapta-athabasca-falls-jasper-national-park-canada-7-28-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1673","title":{"rendered":"Sunwapta & Athabasca Falls, Jasper National Park, Canada (7-28-13)"},"content":{"rendered":"

At 6:00 AM on 7-28-13, Day 19 of Lupe’s 2013 Dingo Vacation to the Beartooths & Canadian Rockies, Lupe was back at the Icefields Centre just off the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.\u00a0 The sun was starting to shine on the snowy peaks surrounding the Athabasca Glacier.\u00a0 No one else was around.\u00a0 The Icefields Centre wouldn’t open for a quite a while yet.\u00a0 Even though it was statistically close to the very hottest time of year, the morning had the bright crisp feel of a day in late fall back home.\u00a0 It was a chilly 32\u00b0F.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP admired the magnificent mountain scene in the early morning glow.<\/p>\n

\"Dawn<\/a>
Dawn\u00a0of a new day\u00a0on\u00a0Mt. Athabasca<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (11,453 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> 7-28-13.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Snow<\/a>
Snow Dome<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (11,483 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> and the Dome Glacier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A couple of really big waterfalls were on Lupe’s agenda for the day.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP headed N on the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.\u00a0 The road steadily lost elevation at a pretty good clip.\u00a0 After a 15 minute drive admiring the towering mountains in every direction, the G6 descended into a bank of fog that lasted for miles.\u00a0 There were road signs for Caribou crossings that added to a sense of mystery and isolation.\u00a0 Lupe was farther N than she had ever been before.<\/p>\n

Eventually the fog bank ended.\u00a0 The mountains were visible again.\u00a0 The road by now was only losing elevation slowly.\u00a0 It was almost level.\u00a0 On the right (E) side of the highway, SPHP spotted a sign for the Poboktan Creek trailhead.\u00a0 SPHP turned off the highway to check it out, but had to disappoint Lupe when it turned out to be a trailhead for long distance backpacking.\u00a0 Dogs, even American Dingoes and Carolina Dogs,\u00a0were prohibited.<\/p>\n

Back on the\u00a0Icefields Parkway\u00a0Hwy 93 again,\u00a0it wasn’t long before SPHP drove past a restaurant on the left (W) side of the road.\u00a0\u00a0Going past the restaurant, SPHP saw\u00a0signs on it that said something about Sunwapta Falls.\u00a0 SPHP had been watching for road signs for the Sunwapta Falls turnoff, but SPHP had either missed them or they didn’t exist.\u00a0 No matter.\u00a0 SPHP turned around and drove back to take the paved side road heading W to the Sunwapta Falls picnic ground and trailhead.\u00a0 It wasn’t far at all to the falls and Lupe was there within just a few minutes.<\/p>\n

\"Sunwapta<\/a>
Sunwapta Falls, Jasper National Park 7-28-13<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Sunwapta River starts at the Athabasca Glacier, which wasn’t that far away back where Lupe had just started her morning only a little while ago.\u00a0 It was already a powerful river.\u00a0 Sunwapta Falls was impressive.\u00a0 The Sunwapta River is a tributary of the Athabasca River, which it would soon join not too many more miles away downstream.<\/p>\n

SPHP casually\u00a0checked the trail information and map posted\u00a0near the parking lot.\u00a0 There were 2 trails.\u00a0 One went a long distance far beyond anything SPHP had in mind.\u00a0 However,\u00a0there was another shorter one going down to Lower Sunwapta Falls.\u00a0 The information said Lower Sunwapta Falls actually consists of a series of 3 more waterfalls in close succession.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0hike to Lower Sunwapta Falls was supposed to be just a 1 hour round trip.\u00a0 It sounded like fun.\u00a0 There probably wouldn’t be that many\u00a0people going to the lower falls.\u00a0 Upper Sunwapta Falls\u00a0was the tallest of the falls,\u00a0and very conveniently right there at the parking lot.\u00a0 Lupe could probably bark at squirrels along the trail to the lower falls without annoying anyone.<\/p>\n

There was a bridge across the river just downstream of Sunwapta Falls.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP admired the falls from the bridge.\u00a0 SPHP then continued on across and followed the trail on the other side.\u00a0 The trail disappeared into the forest.\u00a0 Lupe likes being in forests and was having a good time.\u00a0 There were, indeed, a few squirrels to bark at, which she did with great enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

However, it started becoming clear that the trail was leaving the Sunwapta River far behind.\u00a0 SPHP started to suspect this was the long distance trail.\u00a0 SPHP should have paid closer attention to the map back at the falls.\u00a0 After following this trail for at least a mile, the Sunwapta River could barely be heard in the distance.\u00a0 It was time to turn around.<\/p>\n

Back at Sunwapta Falls again, SPHP looked around.\u00a0 From the high fenced viewpoint farthest downstream was a trail following the river.\u00a0 This trail was on the same side of the river as the parking lot.\u00a0 It\u00a0proved to be\u00a0the trail\u00a0that does lead down to Lower Sunwapta Falls.\u00a0 It lost elevation at a pretty good clip.\u00a0\u00a0Soon Lupe\u00a0reached the lower falls.<\/p>\n

\"Lower<\/a>
Lower Sunwapta Falls<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sunwapta<\/a>
Sunwapta River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lower falls were pretty impressive and worth seeing.\u00a0 The trail continued along the Sunwapta River for some distance downstream beyond the lower falls.\u00a0 Lupe was having such a good time,\u00a0that SPHP followed it\u00a0a while longer\u00a0before turning around.\u00a0 The Sunwapta River became a gentler stream as it continued on its way.<\/p>\n

\"Sunwapta<\/a>
Sunwapta River<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Sunwapta<\/a>When\u00a0Lupe and SPHP\u00a0finally got back to the G6, it was after 10:00 AM, but still only 36\u00b0F.\u00a0\u00a0Things had gotten busy again.\u00a0 The parking lot isn’t all that large, but cars and people were coming and going.<\/p>\n

Leaving Sunwapta Falls behind, Lupe and SPHP got back on the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 again still going N.\u00a0 Very soon SPHP saw another turnout for a trail on the right (E) side of the highway.\u00a0 Only one other car was\u00a0at the trailhead\u00a0when Lupe arrived.\u00a0 A sign said the trail went to Buck and Osprey Lakes, but there were no maps or distances given.\u00a0 SPHP had no idea what to expect, but it\u00a0looked like an opportunity\u00a0for some exploration with\u00a0Lupe where there wouldn’t be too many people around.<\/p>\n

The forest was leafy and damp.\u00a0 Lupe was soon quite a soggy doggie, but she was perfectly happy with that.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t have to look long to find the first lake.\u00a0 A short trek led to a sign at a trail intersection.\u00a0 Buck Lake was just 0.1 km straight ahead, and Osprey Lake was only 1.2 km to the left.\u00a0 Lupe checked out Buck Lake first. \u00a0Buck Lake was shallow and weedy, but looked like it might be a great quiet place for ducks or other waterfowl.\u00a0 Lupe went back to the intersection and took the trail to Osprey Lake.<\/p>\n

Osprey Lake\u00a0was bigger, more open, deeper and cleaner looking.\u00a0 There were a couple of kayakers on it.\u00a0 It appeared\u00a0as though there was better access to Osprey Lake from the other side.\u00a0 There were more people and kayaks over there.\u00a0 There was no continuation of the trails\u00a0Lupe was on along the shores of either Buck or Osprey Lake, so\u00a0Lupe and SPHP\u00a0just went to each lake, took a look, and headed back.\u00a0 Lupe still had a great time in the wet, leafy, mossy forest.<\/p>\n

\"Osprey<\/a>
Osprey Lake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was a bit past 11 AM when Lupe returned to the G6.\u00a0 She had already been on 3 trails this morning.\u00a0 SPHP found a picnic ground on the W side of the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93\u00a0just a short drive N from the Buck & Osprey Lakes trailhead.\u00a0 This little picnic ground is now a favorite spot.\u00a0 It is just off the highway, so access is super easy.\u00a0 Its great attraction, though, is that\u00a0it is right next to the Athabasca River with some\u00a0excellent\u00a0views.\u00a0 Several of the picnic tables are\u00a0just a few feet\u00a0away from the\u00a0edge of the riverbank.<\/p>\n

After lunch, it was only 5 or 6 miles farther N on the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 to a left turn onto Hwy 93A, which very shortly leads to parking lots for the mighty Athabasca Falls.\u00a0 By this point, the Sunwapta River has joined the Athabasca.\u00a0 The flow of water over Athabasca Falls is tremendous and powerful.\"Athabasca<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Athabasca River has carved a narrow channel right through the rock below the falls.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Athabasca<\/a>\"Athabasca<\/a>\"Athabasca<\/a>Athabasca Falls is\u00a0a huge tourist attraction.\u00a0\u00a0SPHP was very glad Lupe got to see it.\u00a0 The falls are gorgeous and amazing.<\/p>\n

Athabasca Falls\u00a0was justifiably\u00a0a very busy place.\u00a0 Lupe spent a good 30 or 45 minutes there, during which time she made\u00a0a few\u00a0friends among the throng.\u00a0 In truth, though, she probably far preferred the less dramatic and much more ordinary forest trail to Buck and Osprey Lakes.\u00a0 One good chattering squirrel makes her happier than a crowd of strangers.\u00a0 SPHP often feels the same way.<\/p>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada (7-25-13)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Athabasca Falls & Miette Hot Springs, Jasper National Park, Canada (7-30-14)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s 2013 Beartooths & Canadian Rockies Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span> or Master Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At 6:00 AM on 7-28-13, Day 19 of Lupe’s 2013 Dingo Vacation to the Beartooths & Canadian Rockies, Lupe was back at the Icefields Centre just off the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.\u00a0 The sun was starting to shine on the snowy peaks surrounding the Athabasca Glacier.\u00a0 No one else was around.\u00a0 The Icefields Centre wouldn’t … Continue reading Sunwapta & Athabasca Falls, Jasper National Park, Canada (7-28-13)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[105,167,262,30,31,106,26,33,104,261],"class_list":["post-1673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2013-beartoothscanadian-rockies","tag-american-dingo","tag-athabasca-falls","tag-buck-osprey-lakes","tag-canada","tag-canadian-rockies","tag-carolina-dog","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-jasper-national-park","tag-lupe","tag-sunwapta-falls"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/P1050197.jpg?fit=1650%2C2200&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1673"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20797,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1673\/revisions\/20797"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}