Jura Canyon Ice walk is a part of the Jura Creek trail. The trail is frequented by many visitors and usually heavily trafficked. It is a 6.9 km trail located near Canmore, Alberta in Canada. It offers numerous activities along the way and features picturesque views. We recently travelled to this trail and decided to give our readers an overview of this trip and best practices to follow for a memorable journey.

Things to Know before You Come Here

Juna Creek Trail features plunge pools in the canyon with up to 1 meter depth. Before moving here you should consult the local authorities and make sure the plunge pools are frozen. You can also learn how to identify plunge pools along the way and ways to avoid them. Falling into any of these pools may lead to serious consequences due to their extremely freezing water. The canyon also features icy paths and you will need traction devices to help you walk on the ice. You should also keep other protective gears with you to help in case of any emergency.

About the Jura Canyon Ice Walk

Jura Canyon can be accessed by following the sign on the west of the Jura Creek Parking lot. You will find a canyon between Exshaw mountain and Loder Peak after reaching the creekbed and heading north. You will need to use traction devices here as the ice on the path is thick and slick. The 150-200 metres long icy path is referred to as slot canyon. It offers beautiful views of limestone carved by water over thousands of years. Many geologists and geology students also visit this place for their research work. The canyon has tall walls of Palliser formation limestone, false fault upstream overseeing the meeting of limestone with the Exshaw formation (darker rock; siltstone, limestone, and layers of shale), and plunge pools. The route has some slushy spots as you head upstream on the canyon. You should be wary of them as the water could be deep. Use a protective stick to verify the firmness of the path ahead of you and try going around these spots wherever possible.

Other Features of the Jura Canyon

Jura Canyon ice walk is a round trip of three kilometres with little to no elevation gain along the way. The trail is an easy one and ideal for a weekend getaway trip with children and pets. It is easily accessible from the west of Calgary and is 15 minutes away in the east of Canmore on Highway 1A. You can venture 2-3 km further after completing the path at slot canyon through the valley. You can also visit the two peaks to the east of the canyon named Loder Peak and Door Jamb and come back using Jura Creek to make a fun round trip. The place is perfect for children for fossil searching or organising small picnics.

Jura Creek trail offers an easy way to get connected with nature and have a fun trip on the weekend. If you follow all the safety norms then this will be a memorable experience. Kids will love this place and it will help get them interested in geology and fossils. It is easily accessible from personal vehicle and won’t take much time of your day. Just pack your safety gears and come to this place with your family for a fun experience.