Tangle Creek Falls On The Icefields Parkway [2025 Guide]

If you’re planning a road trip through the Icefields Parkway, (and I highly recommend you do!) set aside a few moments on your Icefields Parkway journey to take in the charm of Tangle Creek Falls – it’s a detour you won’t regret!

As you make your way from Lake Louise to Jasper, the Icefields Parkway serves as your scenic conduit, guiding you past some of the most exquisite vistas in the Canadian Rockies! Tangle Creek Falls is a stunning multi-tiered waterfall with a 35 metre drop split between each level.

Tangle Creek Falls is an absolute gem, a viewpoint that you absolutely cannot afford to miss! And since it is located directly on the highway with its own designated parking lot, it’s an easy and effortless Icefields Parkway stop.

What makes Tangle Creek Falls a fantastic stop along the Icefields Parkway is that there is no hiking involved to actually get to it – when I say it is directly on the highway, I mean it! In fact you can even see the falls if you just drive past without stopping, however I think this stop is worthy of your time.

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Tangle Creek Falls – The Basics

Cost: Free, but you will need a parks pass to access the Icefields Parkway.

Is there a hike involved? No, this is one of the easiest waterfalls you can access in the Canadian Rockies.

Facilities: Pit toilets are located at the parking lot. The Columbia Icefields Centre is a 6-minute drive away and has access to WiFi, restrooms and restaurants.

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Where is Tangle Creek Falls?

You can find Tangle Creek Falls along the famous Icefields Parkway. One of the best things about this waterfall is its accessibility. It is probably the EASIEST attraction on the Icefields Parkway and therefore great for families and anyone with mobility issues.

The falls themselves are located approximately 7 km north of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre which is around a 6 minute drive. If you are driving north towards Jasper, the falls will be on your right and the parking lot on your left. You will pass by the Athabasca Glacier just before reaching the falls.

If you are driving south towards Banff, the falls will be on your left and the falls located on your right. It is easy to pull into the parking lot no matter what direction you are going, and there is a crosswalk to help you cross over towards the falls from the parking lot.

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How to get to Tangle Creek Falls?

Reaching Tangle Creek Falls requires driving the Icefields Parkway, no matter what direction you are heading in. Most visitors will be driving from either Banff or Jasper.

From Banff

From Banff the total driving time without stopping anywhere else in between is approximately 2 hours with a distance of 192km. To get to Tangle Creek Falls you need to take the Highway 1 West until you reach Lake Louise where you’ll follow signs to Jasper. Here you can merge onto the AB-93 which is the Icefields Parkway, from here it is 133km.

From Jasper

The Icefields Parkway is super accessible from Jasper and Tangle Creek Falls is actually closer to Jasper than Banff. The total driving time from Jasper to Tangle Creek Falls is just over 1 hour with a distance of 97km one-way. From Jasper make your way to the Icefields Parkway (AB-93) towards Banff and drive for another 96km.

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Climbing/Hiking Tangle Creek Falls

So I just mentioned that this waterfall requires zero hiking – and that is true! But if you are feeling adventurous or want to see a different perspective or the higher tiers, there is a short hike that takes you to the top. The trail is slightly on the steep side but easy.

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How Long to Spend at Tangle Creek Falls?

You can spend as little or as long as you like at Tangle Creek Falls. As this is a tiered waterfall, you can hike higher up to get a different perspective, which many visitors do not do. this will add around 15-20 minutes of your time here. Or you can observe the waterfall from the bases like most visitors, which is around 5-minutes.

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How Busy is Tangle Creek Falls?

Tangle Creek Falls is one of the busier stops on the Parkway due to its easy accessibility. But the easy access also means that people don’t hang around for long so cars are constantly coming and going. The parking lot was probably about a third full when I visited in July and this was around midday.

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When is the Best Time to Visit Tangle Creek Falls?

Waterfalls in general are best observed during the Spring and Fall when the water is rushing at their strongest, however Tangle Creek Falls is beautiful no matter the time of year.

Most people visit during the summer as this is the height of tourist season in the Canadian Rockies but it is just as mesmerizing in the winter months when it freezes over. I visited on a hot day in mid-July and the mist from the falls was blissful!

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Is Tangle Creek Falls Worth It?

Yes! Tangle Creek Falls will be the best 5-minute stop on the Icefields Parkway (except maybe the Starbucks at the Icefields Discovery Centre…) I think this is worth a stop whether you are spending 1 day or 3 days driving the Icefields Parkway.

During my first experience of the Icefields Parkway we skipped this as we did the Athabasca Glacier tour and were short on time, but I think you can squeeze this in even if it is a few minutes.

We recently drove part-way along the Icefields Parkway and turned around at the Tangle Creek Falls. This is a great option if you are looking for a day trip from Banff or Lake Louise.

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