Sunwanta Falls
Jasper National Park
SUNWAPTA FALLS
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF SUNWAPTA FALLS
Sunwapta Falls is an absolutely stunning place to visit and photograph! The power of these falls along the glacier melt blue water, and the perfectly placed diamond shaped island, make for a magical photographic opportunity.
Located along the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park, in Alberta, Canada, Sunwapta Falls will capture your heart and then take your breath away. It is certainly, one of those places that make you ask, “How did this happen”. The Falls (this is the upper Sunwapta Falls) are fed by the Athabasca Glacier, and only drop for about 60ft. However, the volume of the converging sides produces a silky illusion for this dreamlike spot.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH SUNWAPTA FALLS SUMMARY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 3 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult).
The hike to the location of this shot is a fairly easy 200 yd hike from the parking lot. However, the spot upon which you must stand to get the shot shown above is directly next to the drop-off into the falls. A fall would be certain death. If you are afraid of heights and / or very dicey foot placements, you may want to pass on this specific spot.
There are alternative locations to shoot the Sunwapta Falls which are much safer: 1) the bridge or 2) the visitors area to the left of the falls.
AGAIN, THE PLACE YOU ARE LOCATED FOR THIS SHOT SHOWN ABOVE IS DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE DROP-OFF FOR THE FALLS. A MISSTEP WOULD BE CERTAIN DEATH!
There are nuances to this shot worth noting.
The color of the rivers water will change based on the color of the sky - meaning that if the sky is clear in late afternoon, the water will be blue. On a cloudy day or late evening / sunset the water will be a muddy grey.
There is a visitor’s viewing area on the left side of the Falls with a metal fence which you will need to deal with. If you shoot very wide angle (16mm lens), you will either have to clone it …
There are many ways to shoot the falls.
The most symmetrical shot is straight on horizontally with a moderate to wide angle lens. Shooting the Falls vertical is also very appealing as the tail of the falls looks like a bridal gown. Both of the shots below were taken with a 24mm tilt sift lens to reduce the keystone effect of pointing down.
4,570 Ft. Elevation
Other Resources Available with Membership
KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
