Another favourite spot to visit in Jasper National Park is Athabasca Falls. It’s about a 15-20 minute drive south of the town, but definitely worth it. This time of year there is a lot of water going through there and it makes for a pretty impressive display. Click on the photo to view it larger and get a sense of scale from the people in the top left section. These falls are a good size!
Keep reading below the image for my editorial rant.
Camera: Canon EOS 60D, Exposure Time: 1/10, Aperture: f/11, ISO: 100, Focal Length: 10mm
Ok, time to rant a bit. The thing that always angers us about this place is how so many people seem to think the rules don’t apply to them. There are fences and guardrails up all along the trails and around the river for quite a ways upstream from the falls. And yet, so many people climb over them to walk out on the rocks to get close to the falls.
While we were there this time, among the many people we saw doing this was a woman with her probably 8-10 year old son. They were getting pretty close, and she wasn’t even paying attention as he was jumping from rock to rock. We couldn’t believe how irresponsible she was. Not only that, but it was starting to rain a bit, which would make the rocks even more slippery than usual. People DIE every year from falling into these falls and yet idiots like her keep going over the fence. There is even a bench there dedicated to some guy who “made a bad decision” and paid for it with his life.
There are plenty of spots along the trail that you can get very close to the falls and still be behind the guardrail. I don’t understand why so many people think they have to walk out onto the rocks just to get 10 feet closer. The problem is most of them get away with it with no consequence. Do I want more people to die? No, but I sure want to go up to each and every one of them, slap them in the face and yell, “What are you thinking?”.
Alright, I’m done now.
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Steve Boer Photography 
I can remember going there a while back. Not quite as much water that day.
Yeah the time of year makes a big difference. Plus how much snow there was during the winter I suppose.
Well, I think you are right. At some point in the spring, there is a maximum flow out of the melting snow. I can remember being in the Colorado Rockies during that time. The streams were loud.
Great shot! What a waterfall… You live in an amazing place! I’ve been researching the Boreal Forest lately…and Canada sounds like a stunning place. The fact that so much of your wilderness is untouched is pretty moving…America has been all but decimated, largely in the name of nothing other than MORE FARMLAND. I’m happy to know that there are still some large, expansive, and untouched natural wildernesses left in the world.
Thanks for posting!
Thanks Jon. It is pretty amazing, although the winters can get tiresome. It’s definitely something having so much unpopulated area to explore!
Very nice photography, Steve. I will have to return to take a deeper look when I have more time. Totally agree with you on your rant…parenting isn’t what it use to be, unfortunately.
Thank you, Ken. Your support on my rant is appreciated 🙂
Hey Steve I hear your rant. I live 100 miles east of Jasper and used to bring my kids there often.
Thinking back i can still feel the trembling ground underfoot and the cautioning dread I guess I can say, knowing that death is in those waters. Several people have died there over the years I don’t know why, I guess it’s like driving while intoxicated.
Thanks for your support, Hubert.