Jasper, Alberta – Jim Eglinski, Member of Parliament for Yellowhead, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, today announced the re-opening of the Fifth Bridge at Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park.
This infrastructure investment of $825,000 is part of the Government of Canada’s record investments in visitor and other infrastructure improvements at Parks Canada locations across the country. These investments support our communities through job creation and tourism opportunities by ensuring millions of Canadians each year can connect safely with their national parks.
The newly designed, permanent Fifth Bridge replaces the bridge previously damaged by high waters. The bridge is a key access point for a network of hiking trails and provides year-round pedestrian access. Open just in time for Jasper National Park’s winter season, the bridge leads visitors across the Maligne River and up into the dramatic limestone gorge of the Maligne Canyon.
Quick Facts
• Maligne Canyon is a stunning, deep limestone gorge full of waterfalls, fossils and unexpectedly lush plant life. It can be explored from above in the summer and from below in the winter and hosts approximately 400,000 visitors each year.
• Parks Canada maintains a total of six footbridges along the Maligne Canyon Trail, and three major nodes providing access to the trail: the top of the canyon, the Fifth Bridge and the Sixth Bridge.
• Recent upgrades to both the Maligne Canyon trail and interpretive signage along the way connect Canadians to this natural wonder.
• Jasper is a four-season park that hosts a diverse and robust set of winter recreational activities, including the iconic Maligne Canyon Ice Walk, 75 kilometres of cross-country skiing and over 200 kilometres of official trails surrounding Jasper townsite which are perfect for fat biking, winter walking and snowshoeing.
• Parks Canada continues to provide visitors with enhanced winter recreational opportunities in its national parks. Recent investments in Jasper include the creation of the Decoigne winter hub in 2013 – 15 km of track-set ski trails, a warming hut and fire pit.
Quotes
“Our Government is committed to enhancing visitor experience in national parks for all seasons. Investments such as the Fifth Bridge support the National Conservation Plan by connecting Canadians to nature through exceptional and sustainable year-round opportunities. Unique recreational options like the Maligne Canyon Trail provide a variety of choice for visitor enjoyment in this extraordinary destination, while ensuring the ecological integrity of this special landscape.” – Jim Eglinski, Member of Parliament for Yellowhead
“The Jasper Trail Alliance is very pleased to see this important access to the popular Maligne Canyon Trail open and accessible again. The timing is great for winter users wanting the unique experience of exploring towering icefalls and fossils from the bottom of this deep, frozen gorge.” – Sue Cesco, Manager, Friends of Jasper National Park, Jasper Trail Alliance
Associated Links
• Jasper National Park – Winter Information & Video
• Jasper National Park – Winter Photo Gallery
Source Parks Canada