The hike along famous Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park begins innocuously enough from a parking lot surrounded by tall pines.
Very quickly as we intrepid hikers follow the path closer to the Maligne River, still cutting down hundreds of feet through limestone, we see stunning views.
The one-way trail crosses 4 bridges, each affording glimpses of the white water at some points about 150 feet below.
Wire fences protect us from the rushing water and chasms below, though some climb over the barriers to pose at the brink. Several miles further down the road we find the source of the water, Medicine Lake. And our first mountain goats.
What did I take away from this several hour ramble along the cliffs above Maligne Canyon?
A little history: The river was apparently named by a priest who had trouble crossing the river in 1846, dubbing it maligne (evil).
An appreciation for the sheer wilderness of Jasper.
And very sore feet.
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