Sunwapta Falls

Jasper National Park, Canada

Sunwapta Falls is a pair of waterfalls of the Sunwapta River located in Jasper National Park, Alberta. The falls is accessible via a 600-metre access road off the Icefields Parkway, which connects Jasper and Banff National Parks. The falls have a drop of about 18.5 metres. Sunwapta is a Stoney language word that means "turbulent water". The falls is most spectacular in the late spring when the spring melt is at its peak. There are two falls, a lower and an upper one. The one most people see is the upper falls, as access is easier. The lower falls are a short distance away. The water originates from the Athabasca Glacier, and volumes are higher in early summer because of glacial melting. It is a Class 6 waterfall, with a drop of 60ft and a width of 30ft.