Mt. Edith Cavell is a Jasper Vacation must see.

But hey, no one has time to do it all, or visit all the great spots in Jasper for sight seeing. So here are three of our picks for must-sees in Jasper National Park on your vacation. Even if these are the only three things you do on your Rockies vacation, you’ll still feel like you had an awesome time.

Mount Edith Cavell

Mount Edith Cavell is 3,368 metres of beautiful mountain. Named after the selfless English nurse from the First World War, it is situated only 18 miles from Jasper Town. It can get pretty busy in summer so try and make the trip early in the morning if you are looking for a more peaceful walk.

Sunwapta Falls

These stunning waterfalls are only 55km from Jasper town and they are completely worth the trip. The Stoney Nation named these falls with the word Sunwapta meaning Turbulent River in their language. A more appropriate description is hard to think of. The waters collapse into a deep canyon below with incredible force. In winter, it is a completely different experience as the falls freeze making for one of the best photographs you are likely to take.

Miette Hot Springs

These Hot Springs are the hottest in the Canadian Rockies as 53.9 degrees Celsius. You can really spend a full day out here. There are two hot pools, two cool pools, café, hiking trail, a picnic area and even accommodation. If you need to relax, I can’t think of anywhere better in the Rockies.

If you are planning a trip to Banff and especially to the Columbia Icefields, there is no way you can miss out Jasper. There is something about this place whether during the beautiful summers or the snowy romantic winters. These are only three of the natural beauties. There are tons more in this quaint National Park.

Jasper, Alberta

By Kay Barbaro
Staff Writer

Mount Edith Cavell is one of the most historically interesting areas in Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies, and also offers a great scenic drive and some great hiking and sight seeing opportunities.

Edith Cavell Lake, one of Jasper National Park's most beautiful.

Traveling south from Jasper, follow Highway 93A for 5.2 km (3.2 mi.). Turn right onto Cavell Road shortly after crossing the Astoria River. The narrow, winding nature of this road precludes motorcoaches, trailers and large motorhomes. Trailers can be left at the parking lot at the start of Cavell Road.

The switchbacks begin immediately, and rapidly climb out of the valley bottom. During the winter months, when this road is closed to traffic, it becomes a popular cross-country ski trail. Skiers often stay overnight at the Mount Edith Cavell Hostel before venturing out into the backcountry of the Tonquin Valley. The Astoria River takes its name from American fur trader John Jacob Aster.

Two kilometres beyond the Hostel, at kilometre 15 (mile 9), the road ends at the Mount Edith Cavell Parking lot.

From here, two short interpretive trails show the two sides to life in the alpine. One, the Path of the Glacier Trail, takes you through the debris left behind by the retreat of local glaciers. In its path, it has left mounds of glacial debris (called moraines), rocks scoured and scraped by the passing ice, and two remnant glaciers, the Angel and Cavell Glaciers. The trail ends at a tiny meltwater pond littered with icebergs, and a fine view of both glaciers. The Cavell Meadows Trail takes you above the glacial debris to a subalpine meadow. This is the trail for flower lovers as it explodes into life each July.

Edith Louise Cavell (1865-1915) was a British nurse during World War I. In 1907, she went to Brussels as a nurse, but by 1914 was put in charge of a unit whose main purpose was to help soldiers trapped behind enemy lines rejoin their units. To the German army, this was treason, and she was executed by firing squad. Today she is remembered as a heroine, and to some, a martyr. In 1916, the snow-capped face of this 3,363 m. (11,033 ft.) peak was renamed in her honour.

Highlights: Astoria River, Access to Tonquin Valley, Path of the Glacier Trail, Angel and Cavell Glaciers, Cavell Meadows Trail.
Activities: Sightseeing, photography, walking, hiking.
Location: 5.2 km (3.2 mi) South of Jasper.
Time: Minimum of one half-hour at the meadows.