Choose a clear sunny day for this trip.
It is a lovely drive from Jasper up Mount Cavell to the parking area at the end of the road where there are views across the morraine to the Angel and Cavell Glaciers. The road is closed during the winter and reopens usually by the end of June when the snow has melted. The bare rocky tops can be seen looming above the trees. The higher peaks maintain a snow cover throughout the year.
There are two short walking trails from the car park. The Path of the Glacier Loop is a short, easy trail across the morraine towards the lake at the foot of the Cavell glacier. There are signs warning you not to go too close to the water. Respect the signs, as large lumps of ice can fall off the glacier and cause large waveswhich wash over the shore. The rocks are unstable and there can be rock falls.
The Cavell Meadows Loop is longer and cuts up the side of the mountain along the edge of the trees to the high mountain pastures above. Marmots and Pika can be seen sunning on the rocks at the base of the trail.
The opening of the trail to the top pastures is delayed until all the snow has melted and the soil has dried out sufficiently not to be damaged by pressure of walkers' feet. This is usually early July. When we visited at the end of June the trail was only opened part way. Even so it was well worth doing as there were superb views across to the Cavell and Angel Glaciers. If you want to get close to a Glacier consider coming here rather than Athabasca Glacier on Icefields PArkway.
This is a very well worth while half day trip. The scenery is stunning and it is possible to get reasonable close up views of glaciers. Aim to be here early as the park does get very busy and there may not be space to park later in the day. There is a daily charge to enter Jasper National Park but no additional charges for parking.
We visited during a five week trip to Canada. There is an overall report of the trip here.
I have written a series of detailed reports for some of the places visited for Silver Travel.
