Palisades Canyon

Palisades Canyon Canyoneering Canyoning Caving descenso de barrancos Barranquismo

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‌	Difficulty:‌3C III (v4a3 III) Swift water Raps:‌max ↨167ft Metric Overall: 3.5-6.5h Approach: 45min-1.5h  ⟷3.4mi  ↑656ft Descent: 1.5-3h Exit: 1-2h No Red Tape:‌No permit required Shuttle:‌None Vehicle:Passenger
Start:	52.9564, -118.0898
Parking:	52.9257, -118.0938
Condition Reports:	13 Jun 2026 "Too high to run! We were fearful it might be dry, but it was actually surging! With heavy rain (and snow in the surrounding peaks) for the previous we
Weather:
Best season:	May-Oct winter spring summer fall Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
Regions:	North America Canada Canadian Rockies

52.9564, -118.089852.9257, -118.0938https://ropewiki.com/images/d/d6/Palisades_Canyon.kmltopo

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Reference photos

13 Jun 2026: Extreme. Extremely dangerous high water, may be unsafe even for experts (class C4 = a7). Too high! This photo is the streamflow at the start of the slot. If in doubt, you can easily rimwalk down the sides of the slot before committing.

These reference pictures are used in the Waterflow analysis to predict current conditions. More reference pictures will produce a more reliable prediction.

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Introduction

Palisades Canyon is a decent slot canyon in Jasper National Park. Rarely descended despite being quite accessible, until anchors are upgrades, canyoners should go prepared with plenty of webbing. If bolting is permitted in Jasper National Park, it could use new bolts. It may be too-high flows in early summer, and then completely dry by late summer. It's possible to check the flow of the stream from the Yellowhead Highway down below at 52.96779444462317, -118.05534484600325.

The stream at the Yellowhead Highway, on June 13 2026 during unrunnable high flows.

Approach

Hike or bike 5.5km up the excellent approach road to the canyon.

Biking the easy approach road

Descent

There are around 6 rappels up to 51 meters. The most recented known decent, in 2023, suggests that anchors are in poor conditions, and teams should bring webbing and, if permitted by Parks Canada, a bolt kit.

Exit

As of 2026, the forest immediately south of the canyon, that would provide the easiest exit, is closed to entry. Instead, canyoners can exit on canyon left (north) and bushwhack up this slope for perhaps an hour to arrive at the start of the route. If you've done the approach on bicycle, it's a very easy mostly downhill ride back to your vehicle.

Red tape

The forest immediately south of the canyon is closed as of 2026. Exit to the north, or follow the stream down to a shuttle vehicle.

The closed area as of 2026. The suggested route is the red line drawn near the center of this photo.

Background

First descent unknown. Maybe in the 2000's?

Incidents

Credits

Palisades Canyon

Information provided by automated processes. KML map by (unknown). Main photo by (unknown). Authors are listed in chronological order.

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