MARKUS NICK
WEST CANADA & THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
I had four items on my list: Stanley Glacier, Marble Canyon, Paint Pots, and Juniper Trail. All hikes are easy.
The Stanley Glacier Trail leads through young forest (due to a fire in 1968) into a glacial hanging valley. From the first viewpoint you can continue to a plateau just below the glacier. This unmaintained trail leads over boulders and scree. From the scree on the left-hand side of the plateau, you get a very good view on the toe of Stanley Glacier. On the right-hand side of the valley, you see the 800m high limestone cliffs of the Guardwall.
Marble Canyon is a pretty deep and narrow canyon - like Mistaya Canyon on the Icefields Parkway. At the canyon's end is a waterfall, which cannot be overlooked completely - so twisted it is.
The Paint Pots are a place where the base for the color ocre had been "collected" by native people as well as white settlers.
Juniper Trail starts at a parking lot close to the east gate of the park. The trail switchbacks down to the green, almost damp Sinclair Canyon with Sinclair Creek. From the gully, the trail switchbacks up through dry and hot areas to a viewpoint.
© 2001-2009 Markus Nick
