Awesome Alberta: Panther Falls is Banff's best secret treasure (PHOTOS)

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Banff National Park is an endless treasure box of scenic sights, and Panther Falls is a definite testament to that fact.

The roaring crystalline falls drops 218 feet in an exquisitely explosive display of aqua power, and it is located along the famous Columbia Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park.

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The 1.6 km round-trip trail to the waterfalls can be dangerous, though, so be sure to bring adequate footwear and maybe leave the kids at home for this one.

The majority of visitors checking out the Icefields Parkway are completely unaware of Panther Falls and only stumble upon this hidden gem by accident when stopping at the nearby lookout for Bridal Veil Falls.

For your own safety, please make sure you are prepared before heading out on your next adventure. Information on how to prepare for your trip and stay safe while on your hike is available from Albertaparks.ca and AdventureSmart. Parks Canada visitor guidelines are available here. Always remember to leave no trace, pack out what you pack in, stick to designated trails, and refrain from feeding wildlife — and please note that irresponsibly taken selfies (even if they look great for the ‘gram) can be fatal.

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Where is it?

Panther Falls is Bridal Veil Falls’ mysterious neighbour, both of which are located in Banff National Park, around 128 kilometres west of the city of Calgary.

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How do you get there?

Panther Falls can be found along the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park and shares the same parking lot as Bridal Veil Falls along Highway 93.

You can hear the rumbling roar of Panther Falls from the north side of the parking lot, even though the trail begins from the south end of the lot parallel to the Bridal Veil Falls trail.

At the trail junction, take the trail straight ahead and walk a short distance through a forested area until you come to a cliffside viewpoint where you can see the majestic Panther Falls. The total distance, in and out, is approximately a kilometre and a half.

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What’s there?

The breathtaking falls are an end goal in themselves and also lead up to a small alcove behind the falls where you can channel your inner photographer. You can also just sit down and take in its mesmerizing beauty.

For those of you ice climbing aficionados out there, the falls also double as a popular destination for this winter sport.

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With files from Lakshmi Sadhu