Maligne Canyon and Lake

We watched the Rocky Mountaineer depart at 8.00, early start! After Mass and a little brekkie we set off for Maligne Canyon where we stopped for a short walk down to 3rd bridge. It’s a river running deep in a limestone gorge creating shapes and colours hard to imagine.
Further up just at the start of Medicine Lake we spotted a ‘Bear jam’ so pulled over to watch mum and large cub playing in a meadow by the lake. Great fun.
A little further on we stopped for a deer by the roadside.
Maligne Lake at the end is surrounded by snow capped mountains and really picturesque.
We returned to our room for a quick lunch from the local bakery with Ribstone Creek ales from Edgerton, Alberta. Very tasty.
After a short wander round town we met Jeff from Sundog Tours for an evening wildlife trip out.
First we headed back to the Maligne Valley and almost immediately saw big horned sheep, elk and Colombian ground squirrels. Later we saw a bear where we had been earlier on Medicine Lake along with an eagle nest. Later we headed east along the 16. In total Jeff showed us a dozen examples of wildlife and brought out big sheep horns and elk antlers.
We ended an excellent evening in time to scuttle to the Jasper Brewing Co for a thoroughly enjoyed pasta and a pint as the rain fell gently down.

Sundog Wildlife Adventure
Sunday 3rd June

Mountain pine beetle
Mule deer
Female elk just given birth
Columbian ground squirrel
Osprey nest
Wild big horn Sheep live on cliffs
Grizzly bears eat 20k buffalo berries a day!!
2 brown bears
Bald eagle and chick just where we saw 2 brown bears earlier
2 more brown bears!!
White tail deer
Loon - true Waterbird not able to walk on land - takes off and lands on water (on one dollar)
Male young elk
Canada gooseRead more