Path of the Glacier Trail – Best Mount Edith Cavell Hike
About Edith Cavell
If you want to see one of Jasper National Park’s most spectacular and famous mountains, you must do a Mount Edith Cavell hike.
Mount Edith Cavell is worth seeing if you’re planning a trip to Jasper National Park. It is known for its diagonal rock patterns, the views of Angel Glacier, and its towering height of 3,300 metres!
The iconic mountain, Mount Edith Cavell, is named after a nurse from Britain who had been executed during the first world war.
The mountain was previously named “La Montagne de la Grande Traverse” by French-Canadian voyagers that used Athabasca Pass as a route for trading furs.
Mount Edith Cavell is located in Jasper’s Astoria and Athabasca River valleys.
The best way to see this stunning peak is to do a Mount Edith Cavell hike, such as Cavell Meadows or Path of the Glacier Trail. On these trails, you will get a spectacular view of Mount Edith Cavell, the mint green lake at the base of the mountain and Angel Glacier.
Trust me; it’s worth it to do the hike! It is one of my favourite hikes in the Canadian Rockies!
Read my blog post on the best hikes in the Canadian Rockies to add more adventures to your itinerary!
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Directions to Mount Edith Cavell
You might be wondering how to get to Mount Edith Cavell.
Getting to the Mount Edith Cavell hikes is straightforward. Just head south from Jasper for about 7km on the Icefields Parkway (highway 93) and look for signs to turn onto the Wabasso Road exit for 93A. Keep driving for just over 5km, and keep an eye out for Cavell Road.
From there, you turn onto Cavell Road and drive up a windy switchback road for another 14km. You will eventually come to the Edith Cavell Parking Lot.
There is a drop-off parking lot for large motorhomes and trailers at the start of Cavell Road. It’s not recommended or possible for these larger vehicles to get up the road as it’s very narrow and has many switchbacks.
The road is usually open from June until October, depending on the road conditions.
Make sure to check the road conditions to Mt. Edith Cavell here.
Related Posts:
Complete Guide to Jasper National Park
Complete Guide to Banff National Park
Best Hikes in the Canadian Rockies
Best Icefields Parkway Stops
Hiking Sulphur Skyline Trail, Jasper‘s Most Epic Hike
How far is Edith Cavell from Jasper
The Mount Edith Cavell hikes are about 25km from Jasper National Park. Remember, though, that you will have to drive a little slower once you turn onto Cavell Road due to all the switchbacks and narrowness of the road.
The drive to Mt. Edith Cavell takes roughly 40 minutes, but it all depends on who is driving and how fast. I don’t like to go very fast in the park because there is so much wildlife and Cavell Road is way too windy.
Hiking Trails at Mt Edith Cavell
There are two Mt. Edith Cavell hikes that you can do to get amazing views of the mint-green lake, Angel Glacier and the iconic Mount Edith Cavell peak.
Edith Cavell Meadows trail is one of them, and the other that I absolutely loved was Path of the Glacier trail.
Path of the Glacier trail is one of the best short hikes in Jasper, so it is worth the drive up Cavell Road to see Edith Cavell Mountain.
Of course, there are many other amazing hikes on the Icefields Parkway, in Banff National Park and in the Canadian Rockies in general. Click on the links to learn more about the best things to do and the best places to see in each of these areas!
How Long is the Mount Edith Cavell Hike
The length depends on which Mount Edith Cavell hike you decide to do.
Path of the Glacier trail is a shorter hike, only 1.2km roundtrip, and takes about 1 hour to complete.
Edith Cavell Meadows Trail is about 6-7km long and can take anywhere between 3-5 hours, depending on your hiking skill.
I only had time to do one of these trails, and I decided to do Path of the Glacier trail because I wanted a view of Edith Cavell Mountain from below.
Path of the Glacier Trail
As mentioned, Path of the Glacier Trail is a relatively short hike, and it’s a 1.2km out-and-back trail that takes about an hour to complete.
Of course, it took me much longer because I took a billion photos of it! – whoops!
This Mt. Edith Cavell hike is one of my favourite hikes in Jasper National Park. It really leads you to an incredible view for such a short and easy hike!
From the Mount Edith Cavell parking lot, a short set of stairs will lead you to the trail. The trail starts off as a paved path on a slight incline.
The trail goes along the edge of a valley, with views of Mt. Edith Cavell from a distance. About halfway along the trail, the paved path ends, and you will come to a fork.
Keep right and continue on Path of the Glacier trail until you get to the viewpoint of the mint-green lake and the powerful mountain view!
There are signs here that warn you not to walk down to the small, mint-green, glacier-fed Cavell pond because flash-flooding can happen at any moment.
Many people choose to walk down anyways – and so did I!
If you decide to go down, it’s at your own risk. I know many people who have.
I hiked this trail for sunset, so part of the hike back was during blue hour. Just before I left, I heard a loud crack and saw some movement on the mountain, so we decided it was time to go just in case a flash flood was about to happen.
On this Edith Cavell trail, there are plenty of fantastic views on the way to Edith Cavell Mountain and tiny creatures scurrying across the rocks.
Once you are done, head back to the parking lot the same way you came.
If you want to continue hiking, head back to the fork and head up the other way to continue hiking up Cavell Meadows trail for another incredible view.
I prefer Path of the Glacier trail because I wanted to get up close and personal with the turquoise, glacier-fed Cavell pond. And there’s just something so thrilling about being next to a towering mountain and how it makes you feel so small!
I recommend this trail and consider it one of the best short hikes in Jasper National Park.
Related Posts:
Complete Guide to Jasper National Park
Complete Guide to Banff National Park
Best Hikes in the Canadian Rockies
Best Icefields Parkway Stops
Hiking Sulphur Skyline Trail, Jasper‘s Most Epic Hike
Cavell Meadows Trail
Cavell Meadows Trail is the other Mount Edith Cavell hike worth checking out.
It’s a 6-7km, out and back trail that is moderately difficult. It has a 500-metre elevation gain, and the path starts paved and soon turns into a natural path.
It takes about 3-5 hours to complete, but is definitely worth the time.
This Mt. Edith Cavell trail is a little steeper than the Path of the Glacier trail. It takes you on a journey to an alpine meadow with spectacular views of Edith Cavell Mountain, the mint-green Cavell Pond, and Angel Glacier.
To begin this trail, you just need to start on Path of the Glacier Trail.
After half a kilometre, you will come to the fork, where you will take a left turn to begin the Cavell Meadows Trail.
From here, the elevation will start to pick up.
The views of Cavell Pond, Angel Glacier, and Mount Edith Cavell on this hike are pretty amazing since you get a view from another perspective and from above.
The trail climbs to stunning alpine meadows, takes you through a lovely forest and eventually leads you to some incredible panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
Many spots give you amazing views of the iconic mountain, Angel Glacier and the mint-green pond.
If you decide to hike Edith Cavell Meadows Trail, make sure to end it with Path of the Glacier Trail. It won’t add too much extra time or hiking to your day. If you want even more of a challenge, hike up to East Ridge Summit.
You will definitely want to add this to your Jasper National Park hike bucket list.
You can find the map for this trail here.
Things to see at Mount Edith Cavell
Mount Edith Cavell features some really stunning sights.
On these hikes, you will see alpine scenery, a turquoise/mint-green pond, an epic glacier, piles of moraine, a subalpine forest, and tons of wildflowers growing in the meadows and alongside the paths.
On your adventure to Mt. Edith Cavell, you will likely see lots of small wildlife. I saw marmots, chipmunks and pikas scurrying on the moraine.
Angel Glacier is formed over a 300m cliff and gets its iconic name from its “angel wing” shape.
Cavell Pond is the mint-green pond at the base of the spectacular mountain and is a glacier-fed pond. It gets its stunning colour from the abundant glacial silt present in the pond.
There are also some really cute, tiny icebergs floating around in Cavell Pond! I’m sure you’ll think they’re just as cute as I did!
Here are some really cool Mount Edith Cavell facts!
Best Time to Hike Mount Edith Cavell
Since Cavell Road is only open from mid-June until about mid-October, you only have so many options.
The best time to do a Mount Edith Cavell hike is during the summer months.
Late spring and early summer is the best time to see the wildflowers blooming through the meadows.
You will get the warmest weather in the summer months, especially during late July and early August. I went in early August, and it was absolutely stunning.
I’m sure it would be spectacular during September when the trees start changing colour, and it’s a bit cooler out. You’ll just have to remember to dress a little warmer. Remember, you are in the mountains and getting pretty close to a glacier.
Also, note that the road is completely closed from November to February 15 due to caribou conservation.
Otherwise, the road is open for anyone who loves cross-country skiing.
What to wear to Edith Cavell
Since you gain quite a bit of elevation on your travels from Jasper to the trailhead to Mt. Edith Cavell, you can expect it to be a bit colder up there. If you’re going during the summer months, make sure to at least bring a sweater or a small jacket just in case it gets cold.
I was okay with a sweater, but since I was hiking back during the blue hour, I definitely had to put on my shacket.
I wore a pair of Blundstones on this hike, but again, I only did the short Mount Edith Cavell Hike – Path of the Glacier Trail -and it was an easy hike. But for Cavell Meadows, I recommend an actual hiking shoe or boot for your adventure. I love these ones from Columbia.
The weather can also be unpredictable in the mountains, so a small raincoat or poncho is a good idea to keep you nice and dry. Being wet and cold is miserable, at least for me.
If you’re going during colder months, you’ll definitely want some warmer gear!
A puffer jacket will keep you nice and warm. A hat, gloves or mitts, spikes for your boots if there is snow, and fleece or base layers to keep you extra toasty and warm.
Tips and Things to Know when Hiking Mount Edith Cavell
I recommend bringing a snack or lunch on the Cavell Meadows Trail. I always bring a lunch on a longer hike like this and enjoy it once I get to the best view.
Us hikers love to eat food at beautiful viewpoints for some strange reason.
As mentioned, wear proper clothing and shoes depending on the time of year you are hiking Mt. Edith Cavell.
Consider bringing some extra gear, like hiking poles, especially for Cavell Meadows, to reduce strain on the knees during your hike back down.
Layers can also be important if you are going when it’s a bit colder out and even during the summer.
In the Mount Edith Cavell parking lot, you can find outhouses, but there are no others on either of the hikes.
On a similar note, the closest gas station is in Jasper, which is approximately 40 minutes away. So make sure you have enough gas in your vehicle.
As mentioned earlier, large trailers and motorhomes will not be able to make it up, so make sure to park it at the drop-off parking lot and take a smaller vehicle up.
To avoid the crowds, either go early or go in the evening for sunset.
I went during the high season in August and was the only person on the trail. I met a few others on my hike in, but they were all on their way back.
Be safe on the trail. It’s important to keep your distance from the cliffs since boulders and avalanches can occur at any given moment.
The sign at the viewpoint on Path of the Glacier trail mentions that flash-flooding can also happen at any time and advises you not to walk down to the pond or near Angel Glacier.
Of course, I was terrible and didn’t listen, and many of my friends did the same when they went recently. I know many people still do.
Now – I’m not encouraging you to go down to the pond; I’m just saying, proceed at your own risk.
Final Thoughts on Mount Edith Cavell Hikes
I only had the time to do the Path of the Glacier Trail Mount Edith Cavell hike, and I absolutely recommend it.
I have hiked quite a few trails in the area, and I consider it one of the best short hikes in Jasper National Park and one of my favourite hikes in the Canadian Rockies. Check out my list of the best hikes in the Canadian Rockies to help plan your trip.
The fact that the hike is so short and you get such a spectacular view is absolutely wild!
Not many short hikes give you such an epic view of an iconic mountain, glacier-fed mint-green pond, and stunning glacier!
Not many hikes give you an epic view at all!
If you are heading to Jasper, you definitely have to add one or both of these hikes to your Jasper National Park itinerary!
Next time I’m in the area, I will definitely go back and do both of the hikes!
Thank you for stopping by, and happy adventuring ♡
Krista x.
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Your out there enjoying life! Amazing !♡
♡ ♡ ♡
Love!! 💕💕💕
Thank you!!!
Love It! Can’t wait to go back and check out some of these places in your blog! ♥️
Definitely need to go back!