Has the wet and cloudy weather got you looking for things to do around the house or keeping you in your hotel room watching American re-runs? While there’s no doubt the rain has put a damper on outdoor activities of late, there are still breathtaking sights to see that the clouds can’t hide.

Maligne Canyon is a beginner hike starting at Fifth Bridge, only eight kilometres east of Jasper by way of Highway 16 and Maligne Rd. There are two ways to make the hike, which has an elevation gain of 100 metres and is 2.1 kilometres one way. Start at the bottom of Fifth Bridge or start at the top at the parking lot and teahouse, however working your way up from Fifth Bridge, facing up the canyon makes for nicer views.

Great for a hike in any kind of weather, you start the hike at Fifth Bridge by crossing the suspension bridge over the Maligne River and making your way up-stream on Trail 7. 

Be prepared for some early-trail slick mud going uphill if you are hiking in wet weather, but the trail will soon turn into rock and pavement. Follow the trail, keeping to the right at any fork in the path, and take time to follow the railings down to the edge of the canyon to view the fast flowing water spewing out of the rock into the river.

A fenced railing throughout most of the hike makes the trail great for small children, but certainly keep an eye on them.

As you gain elevation spectacular scenes come into view looking down the great limestone walls, created over time by the ice and water, until you approach the bridge over the lower falls.

At this point there is a series of concrete steps that make the trail very simple to follow and easy to maneuver during wet weather. Signs along the trail explain how the canyon came to be and note points of interest, such as sunken gardens.

Once at Second Bridge you can take a moment to view the gorge from high up on the bridge, but remain right, leaving Trail 7 and follow the un-numbered trail. (Crossing the bridge will take you to the large parking lot at which you park if starting from the top). Another 10 minutes takes you past the incredible upper falls and to the teahouse where you can enjoy refreshments.

Hiking up the Maligne Canyon trail can take a little over an hour, and returning downhill after seeing everything on the way up will likely take less time. However, depending on your time and interest you could spend anywhere between two hours to a whole day exploring the trails around the canyon, even taking a hike to Jasper Park Lodge or Old Fort Point.