JASPER, ALBERTA—Canada—The Cavell Meadows hike is one of vacationers’ most preferred trails in Jasper National Park. Featuring floral meadows, huge glaciers and towering cliffs, Edith Cavell Meadows showcases a variety of natural wonders for which the Canadian Rockies have always been known.

Vital Numbers for Edith Cavell Meadow—Jasper, Alberta

Hiking Distance: It is about 8.5 km to complete the circuit that includes the path of the Cavell Glacier.
Hiking Time: The highest point in the hike (most people do not do this), is a very stiff climb. It will take anywhere from 2.5 to 5.5 hours to complete this hiking circuit.(depending on conditioning, and where you choose to hike to).

Finding the Edith Cavell Meadow Trailhead

From Jasper, take the Icefields Parkway south about seven km to the 93A Junction, which will turn to your right. Follow 93A another 5.2 km, eventually turning onto Mount Edith Cavell Road. From here, a steep drive will take you the rest of the way to the parking area at the end of the road, about a 14 km drive.

Navigating Through The Canadian Rockies in Edith Cavell Meadow

Once reaching the trailhead for Edith Cavell Meadow, hikers have several options. They can take a loop through the floral meadows, hike the Path of the Glacier, go on to a viewpoint cairn, or combine all three into one hike.

The hike to the viewpoint cairn is the most difficult. This trail is not for the faint of heart. Hikers who wish to reach the summit must take a very faint, steep route up the rocky moraines. Once you’ve reached the summit, you can carry on hiking down to the Edith Cavell Glacier, or turn left to explore the Cavell Meadows, a path which winds through the subalpine forest. For those wishing to explore the Cavell Meadows, take the left switchback and climb to the tree line. Make sure to keep to the main path, which will take you above and parallel to the lower part of the
Angel Glacier. If you wish to get a closer look, you may consider taking the short hiking path leading to the right, which will deposit interested hikers at the nearby lookout. If you want to continue to the main trail, keep going left. This path leads you on through the floral meadows.

Things to Keep in Mind While Hiking Edith Cavell Meadow

Terrain in the Canadian Rockies can be rough, so hikers should make sure their vehicle is in good condition when driving in Jasper. Roads leading to the trailhead have been known to be filled with potholes, making the loopy switchbacks dangerous for unprepared drivers.

Weather is also another concern. Edith Cavell Meadows can be deceptive as it is much cooler than the rest of the valleys in Jasper, Alberta. Those on vacation may want to pack some warm clothes. You can also take a look at current weather conditions for yourself using our live streaming camera of downtown Jasper. The beauty of choosing the Edith Cavell Meadows hike is that it can be tailored to match the skill and experience of any hiker. Whether your tastes are for glaciers, floral meadows or tough physical challenges, you’re sure to find it all in this area of Jasper National Park.

When hiking and looking for things to do in Banff and Jasper, book all of your Canadian Rockies activities at Jasper Vacations, the official activities provider for Jasper National Park. Or Call Toll Free (888) 659-3394 or local 403-774-7219.