The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at Athabasca Falls
August 1, 2015 and August 26, 2009

NOTE: Most of the photos below are from 2009 (the smaller photos), but more have been added from 2015 (the larger photos) - Karen Duquette did not want to take a lot of duplicate photos.

The Athabasca River has been carving a gorge through the Rocky Mountains for many thousands of years. The 23-metre Athabasca Falls are located 19 miles south of Jasper. Athabasca Falls has breathtaking views of jagged cliffs and brilliant flashes of spray.
sign - to Athabasca Falls
They were not very tall falls, but there were an amazing number of places to view the falls from different angles. First there is the Athabasca River and a great picnic area, followed by the Athabasca Falls viewpoint, then there is the Lower Canyon, the giant pothole, and the lower canyon viewpoint with rafters ...............
sign - Athabasca Falls Viewpoint
sing - lower canyon
sign - giant pothole
sign - lower canyon viewpoint
Now that you have seen the signs giving a hint of what to expect, scroll down for the real thing.

Below: The two RV Gypsies enjoyed a picnic beside the Athabasca River in 2009. They wanted to picnic here again in 2015, but this portion of the river was closed to the public with no access.
the two RV Gypsies and Athabasca River
the two RV Gypsies and Athabasca River at top of the falls
The Athabasca River
picnic table
Athabasca River
Athabasca River
Athabasca River
Athabasca River

history clipart bookAthabasca Falls is a waterfall in Jasper National Park on the upper Athabasca River, approximately 30 kilometres south of the townsite of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, and just west of the Icefield Parkway. A powerful, picturesque waterfall, Athabasca Falls is not known so much for the height of the falls (23 metres), as it is known for its force due to the large quantity of water falling into the gorge. Even on a cold morning in the fall, when river levels tend to be at their lowest, copious amounts of water flow over the falls. The river 'falls' over a layer of hard quartzite and through the softer limestone below, carving the short gorge and a number of potholes. The falls can be safely viewed and photographed from various viewing platforms and walking trails around the falls. Access is from the nearby parking lot, which leads off Highway 93A just northeast of the falls. Highway 93A takes off from the nearby Icefield Parkway, and crosses the falls on the way north to the town of Jasper. White water rafting often starts below the falls to travel downstream on the Athabasca River to Jasper.

It is a Class 5 waterfall, with a drop of 80 feet and a width of 60 feet.
sign -a river journey through time
sign - water colours
the river just before the falls
the Athabasca Falls
the Athabasca Falls
steam from the waterfall
sign - abandoned channel
abandoned channel
abandoned chanel
sign - fish mystery
the Athabasca Falls
sign - the Athabasca Falls kills
the Athabasca Falls
the Athabasca Falls
the Athabasca Falls
sign - alpine gardens

Below: The two RV Gypsies at Athabasca Falls in 2015.
The two RV Gypsies at Athabasca Falls in 2015
The two RV Gypsies at Athabasca Falls in 2015
POTHOLE - looks like good chocolate candy, according to Lee Duquette.
pothole
pothole
another pothole
rushing water
sign - sound and spray
sign - water versus rock
the falls
sign - rocks retreat
sign - why is there a waterfall here - explanation
the gorge
the Athabasca Falls
sign - whittling rock
sign - explore the lower canyon
sign - time tunnel
time tunnel
Below: Going to the lower canyon (small photo is 2009) (big photo is 2015)
to the lower canyon
Lee Duquette
looking up at the tall rocks

Below: Lee Duquette on the path in 2009 and Karen Duquette on the same path in 2015.
Lee on the path to the lower canyon
Karen Duquette 2015
Lee Duquette on the steps to the lower canyon
The lower Canyon viewpoint and the river below
sign - the falls calm down into the river
the calmer river
the calmer river
Karen Duquette at the Athabasca River
Karen Duquette at the Athabasca River
Karen Duquette at the Athabasca River
Karen Duquette at the Athabasca River
the calm Athabasca River
the calm Athabasca River
the calm Athabasca River
rafters

Below: 2009

Below: 2015
rafters on the Athabasca River
Athabasca River
Athabasca River Athabasca River

Below: Karen Duquette felt the glacier-fed waters which were icy cold, of course. (2015 photo)
Karen's feet dangling over the Athabasca River
Karen touches the Athabasca River
Karen touches the Athabasca River
Karen touches the Athabasca River
Below: Looking from lower viewpoint upwards towards the falls in 2009 and in 2015
Looking from lower viewpoint uowards towards the falls
Looking from lower viewpoint uowards towards the falls
Looking from lower viewpoint uowards towards the falls
Looking from lower viewpoint uowards towards the falls
look below

This is not a linear website, so visitors always have options of where to navigate next. Below are three of those options.

please continue on to travel adventures of the two RV Gypsies Visit sites in the order they happened and continue on to Horseshoe Lake and the cliff jumpers.

OR

go back to the British Columbia menu RETURN to the Alberta main menu

OR

please continue on to travel adventures of the two RV Gypsies Go to the main Canada menu for British Columbia, Saskatchewan, The Yukon Territory, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, PEI, Nova Scotia, Campobello Island, and New Brunswick.