7 Waterfalls In Alberta With Stunning Fall Colours & They Make The Perfect Road Trip
Alberta is known for its spectacular scenery and it has some of the most gorgeous waterfalls in Canada, and it's especially true in the fall.
Nestled in the mountains, there are tons of incredible waterfalls in Alberta to explore where you can take in the fall colours.
If you're looking for the ultimate fall road trip, these waterfalls surrounded by golden trees make the perfect spots to visit to get close to nature and catch those autumnal vibes.
Elbow Falls
Address: Elbow Falls Provincial Recreation Area, AB
Why You Need To Go: Elbow Falls is just a 45-minute drive from Calgary but it feels like a world away.
Reaching the falls takes no effort at all, with on a loop trail that's less than a kilometre long, according to All Trails. Once you arrive, you'll be able to see the Elbow River rushing over the waterfall, surrounded by golden trees in the fall.
The falls is so close to the adorable town of Bragg Creek, so you can make a day trip out of it.
Ram Falls
Address: Ram Falls Provincial Park, AB
Why You Need To Go: Ram Falls is one of Alberta's most impressive waterfalls and you don't even need to hike to get there as it can be found on a loop trail that's less than a kilometre long.
After a short hike, you'll reach the incredible rushing waterfall, where you'll see the water of the Ram River plunging over 20 metres into a huge blue pool below.
Sheep River Falls
Address: Sheep River Provincial Park, AB
Why You Need To Go: Just on the outskirts of Kananaskis, Sheep River Falls is so picturesque when its surrounded by the golden trees in fall.
It's just a short 0.5-kilometres to reach the waterfall where you can relax and take in the sound of rushing water and the glorious autumnal scenery.
The falls are less than two hours from Calgary so it's the perfect day trip if you want to trade in city life for a few hours.
Sunwapta Falls
Address: Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, AB
Why You Need To Go: Sunwapta Falls is one of Alberta's most iconic waterfalls and it only gets more impressive in the fall.
You can reach the falls by hiking just over three kilometres from Icefields Parkway, according to All Trails.
Sunwapta Falls is known for having two rushing rivers that make their way around an island of trees before plummeting below and it's truly picture perfect.
Siffleur Falls
Address: Clearwater County, AB.
Why You Need To Go: If you're looking to head out on a longer hike in Alberta with rewarding views of a stunning waterfall, look no further than Siffleur Falls.
This trail will take you across a suspension bridge and a boardwalk before reaching the waterfall and it's around eight kilometres long in total.
Fall is a great time to visit as you can take advantage of the cooler temperatures but still get to gaze out over the rushing falls.
Athabasca Falls
Address: Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, AB
Why You Need To Go: This gorgeous waterfall sees the Athabasca River flowing right down from the Columbia Icefield before plunging into a huge canyon below.
While it's only 23 metres tall, it's incredibly powerful and it's well worth a stop if you're driving on Icefields Parkway.
Lundbreck Falls
Address: Lundbreck Falls Provincial Recreation Area, AB
Why You Need To Go: This gorgeous waterfall is almost like a baby Niagara Falls in its appearance and its the perfect easy day trip from Calgary to make in the fall.
There are tons of spots to sit and take in the impressive falls before heading off to the nearby town of Pincher Creek for the afternoon.
This article has been updated since it was originally published on October 15, 2022.
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