Watchtower Canyon Snowshoeing, Jasper

You do have to watch for open water
You do have to watch for open water

I have succumbed to the charms of winter in Jasper. Apart from the mountain studded blue skies, sunshine and warm temperatures – even in February, it’s the sheer number of adventures available within minutes of town that has me hooked. I could live here.

When it comes to snowshoeing, if you can walk, you can snowshoe. And for snowshoeing with world-class views, you can’t beat Jasper National Park. With a size almost twice that of Banff National Park, there’s a lot of territory to explore. And one of the top things to do in winter in Jasper is the Watchtower Canyon snowshoeing tour via Medicine Lake. 

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A beautiful scene at the parking lot beside Medicine Lake
A beautiful scene at the parking lot beside Medicine Lake

Where is Medicine Lake?

Medicine Lake, about a 25 minute drive from the town of Jasper, is a popular snowshoeing destination. Accessible via the plowed Maligne Canyon Road, the area gets loads of snow. Part of the reason is a function of altitude, as it’s almost 325 m higher than the town of Jasper.

Although you can certainly snowshoe without a guide, there are times when they can add a whole lot to the experience. My Watchtower Canyon snowshoeing trip via Medicine Lake is a case in point.

Anybody can drive up Maligne Canyon Road and find the big parking lot at Medicine Lake. And it’s pretty darned easy to follow the trail onto Medicine Lake. But not many people know about Watchtower Canyon.

It’s easy to miss and judging from the tracks, no one has visited since Christian, my guide and co-owner of Canadian Skyline Adventures had last been here, about three weeks ago.

Snowshoeing through a jumble of boulders on the way to Medicine Lake
Snowshoeing in Jasper through a jumble of boulders on the way to Medicine Lake

Snowshoeing Watchtower Canyon via Medicine Lake

From the parking lot, we take off through the snow-covered boulders. A pole comes in handy for checking for holes – large gaps between the boulders you want to avoid – and for balance.

After a short stretch along Medicine Lake, we head for the woods. There is some uphill snowshoeing involved but nothing too strenuous. And the mountains views framed by the trees are worth the effort.

Snowshoeing alongside Medicine Lake
Snowshoeing alongside Medicine Lake
More glorious mountain views
More glorious mountain views

One of the benefits of using a guide is that you learn a thing or two. The black lichen you see hanging from the trees is a major food source of the caribou. I had no idea! There’s also bright green lichen you sometimes see as a small clump. Although very pretty and eye catching, it is poison to the caribou.

Horsetail lichen - one of the food sources for caribou - as pointed out by my guide Christian from Canadian Skyline Adventures
Horsetail lichen – one of the food sources for caribou – as pointed out by my guide Christian from Canadian Skyline Adventures

Description of the Watchtower Canyon snowshoeing experience

Watchtower Canyon is the highlight of this snowshoeing trip – and it’s easy to miss unless you’re looking for it. It’s got a narrow opening bisected by a stream, located on the west side of Medicine Lake about a kilometre from the parking lot.

As you head into Watchtower Canyon, listen for the water running in the stream. Although it’s not deep, you definitely do not want to be falling in. (Bring an extra pair of socks just in case.) The pole comes in handy for probing the edges of the stream as well.

Snowshoe up Watchtower Canyon by following the stream for about a kilometre from Medicine Lake. Stop when you reach the large waterfall. The trail is obvious in most places, even though it hasn’t been used for weeks. Look for a slight depression in the snow.

Watchtower Canyon snowshoeing
Making our way up Watchtower Canyon

After 20 minutes of gentle climbing, the canyon walls start to close and the unfolding scene is one of great beauty.

Colourful, striated rock walls and large boulders scattered helter-skelter transport you to another world. You can’t believe you’re so close to civilization. But as it turns out, we weren’t the only ones there.

The loud pecking of a three-toed woodpecker stopped us in our tracks. It took a while to find him but we did. We were also serenaded by the American dipper, a bird that loves the edges of mountain streams, even in cold Rocky Mountain winters.

Snowshoeing in Jasper and the canyon walls start closing in
The canyon walls start closing in
You do have to watch for open water
When you’re snowshoeing Watchtower Canyon, you do have to watch for open water

Our turn-around point was at the waterfall pictured below. In summer, climbers make their way here to test their skills on some hair-raising rock faces.

Such beauty and yet so few people ever venture here. From the car, it’s only about a two kilometre hike.

Looking up out of Watchtower Canyon
Looking up out of Watchtower Canyon
A whole different view on the return 
A whole different view on the return
And a trees only view
And a trees only view

The descent is speedy and in no time we’re back at Medicine Lake. As we emerge onto the lake at about noon on Sunday, we see two other people bringing the count for the day to four. I ask – where is everybody?

The weather is superb, unseasonably warm with amazing snow and dazzling blue skies. I don’t know why the place isn’t crawling with people though I do enjoy the silence.

Leaving Watchtower Canyon
Leaving Watchtower Canyon
 What a view snowshoeing in Jasper National Park!
What a view snowshoeing in Jasper National Park!
You could make a long day of it just snowshoeing on Medicine Lake
You could make a long day of it just snowshoeing on Medicine Lake
Heading back to the car
Heading back to the car
One last view of Medicine Lake
One last view of Medicine Lake

So now you know where you can find Watchtower Canyon. All told it took us three hours at a leisurely pace to explore the area. And don’t worry about snowshoeing on Medicine Lake. In the winter, most of the water has drained – like a bathtub – so there’s only a ribbon of flowing water that you can’t miss. Avoid it.

Watchtower Canyon snowshoeing location map (approximate)

                                           

Gear I’d recommend for any snowshoe outings

Weather can be fickle and change on a dime in the mountains so it pays to be prepared, even on an easy outing like snowshoeing Watchtower Canyon.

Dress in layers. You don’t want to get so hot that you sweat. I like a merino wool base layer on top (love this company) and bottom, and a mid-layer on top. On top of all of that I usually start with the Patagonia down sweater. Then I add a wind-proof, waterproof shell

Take mittens, perhaps with a liner so you can just use the liner if it’s a warm day. Don’t forget a warm hat and a buff or neck warmer. It’s always a good idea to throw in a few handwarmers

As for snowshoes, there are lots of variations across three categories – trail running, trail walking and mountain snowshoes. In the mountain category you can count on spending about $200 and up. The good news is that snowshoes last a long time. Many of the MSR snowshoes for women get lots of five star ratings like these ones that are lightweight

Further reading about things to do in winter in Alberta

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Snowshoeing Medicine Lake & Watchtower Canyon in Jasper National Park

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