Find out the most effective Icefields Parkway stops on a Banff National Park to Jasper National Park highway journey utilizing this one-day itinerary.
There are many well-known highway journeys in North America — Highway 1 in California, the Florida Keys, Route 66, and, after all, the Icefields Parkway in Alberta, Canada. The first time I heard concerning the Icefields Parkway, I assumed somebody was referring to that Ice Truckers present on the History Channel, however as I started to plan our Canadian Rockies trip itinerary, I quickly realized extra.
While the Icefields Parkway can get fairly snowy within the winter, it’s not at all that excessive. The Icefields Parkway, formally Highway 93, stretches for 146 miles from Lake Louise in Banff National Park to the city of Jasper in Jasper National Park. While that sounds very far, it’s potential to cowl the most effective Icefields Parkway stops in simply someday, so long as you propose forward!
Traveling alongside this two-lane freeway you’ll minimize via the staggering peaks of the rugged Canadian Rockies and move by greater than 100 glaciers and quite a few glacier-fed lakes of such a surprising blue you received’t have the ability to belief your eyes. It is straightforward to see why it’s thought-about some of the stunning drives on the earth.
Getting to the Icefields Parkway
While you possibly can technically drive this Icefields Parkway highway journey in three to 4 hours, you’ll want to get an early begin and depart your self a full day to have time to benefit from the stops alongside the best way. The highway is well-kept and has large shoulders, making it potential for even giant RVs to make use of. However, you’ll want to share the highway with bicycle tour teams which are powering via these excessive passes.
The Icefields Parkway drive runs from Lake Louise and continues 232 km alongside the Continental Divide to the city of Jasper. This Icefields Parkway itinerary assumes you’re beginning in Lake Louise, as that’s the commonest route, however if you’re flying into Edmonton and beginning in Jasper, simply comply with this in reverse.
If you’re leaving from Banff, you can take the Trans-Canada Highway for the quicker route if you’re attempting to do all of it in a day journey or take the Bow Valley Parkway from Banff to Lake Louise for a extra scenic route if you’re overnighting in Lake Louise and you’re visiting in the summertime months.
Just needless to say in 2022, Parks Canada began a three-year mission the place the japanese part of Bow Valley Parkway might be closed to public site visitors from May 1 to June 25 and September 1 to 30 from Johnston Canyon to the Fireside Day Use space.
Along the best way, you’ll want to preserve your eyes peeled for black bears. A well-liked cease between Banff and Lake Louise on the Bow Valley Parkway is Johnston Canyon. Like many stops alongside the Icefields Parkway, this is without doubt one of the hottest points of interest in Banff National Park, and the car parking zone fills up early. It is a brief hike however it gives superb views of the Lower and Upper Falls. In the winter months you possibly can strive the Johnston Canyon Icewalk.
Once you get to Lake Louise, you’ll then choose up the Icefields Parkway in Lake Louise. Along the route, you’ll want to preserve your eyes peeled for wildlife. Closer to Jasper, you’re apt to see elk grazing by the highway, particularly within the night.
Tips for Driving the Icefields Parkway
Before you begin your Icefields Parkway drive, there are some issues you must know first:
- Be positive to gasoline up earlier than you permit Lake Louise as there is just one gasoline station between there and Jasper, and you’ll pay a premium if you’ll want to get gasoline there.
- Bring alongside snacks and refillable water bottles. You will move a couple of locations the place you may get one thing to eat, like The Lodge at Bow Lake (previously the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge), The Crossing Resort by Mt. Wilson, Icefields Discovery Centre, and the Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge, however these are few and much between.
- Expect little or no cell service between Lake Louise and Jasper so obtain your music and any offline maps you may want earlier than you permit. Otherwise, sit again and benefit from the surroundings alongside some of the scenic drives via the Rocky Mountains. You can connect with WiFi on the Icefields Discovery Centre.
- Keep in thoughts that lots of the widespread points of interest have small parking tons. Getting an early begin is necessary to find a spot in these tons.
- If you’re returning to Banff after visiting Jasper, you possibly can all the time break up up the stops into two separate days and hit the second half in your return journey.
- You might want to buy a National Park move earlier than driving the Icefields Parkway. These may be bought on the gate in Banff or at customer facilities in Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper. The quickest and simplest way is to buy a move on-line earlier than your journey, and for those who plan on visiting a number of National Parks is to spend money on the Parks Canada Discovery Pass.
- If you need to go to any of the paid points of interest alongside the Icefields Parkway, such because the Columbia Icefield Skywalk or the Columbia Icefield Ice Explorer Tour.
- Check highway circumstances, site visitors, and attraction closures at http://www.pc.gc.ca/.
- Dress heat and in layers, put on snug mountain climbing sneakers, and convey bear spray on any hikes and even brief walks.
- Charge up your digicam and cellphone batteries as a result of you will need to take a LOT of images! It may additionally assist to carry a rain cowl in your digicam and a tripod when you have one to take photos of the waterfalls.
Must-See Icefields Parkway Stops
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These are the most effective stops on the Icefields Parkway you could match right into a one-day itinerary or unfold out into two days if you’re driving up and again. I’ll reiterate as soon as once more that it pays to get an early begin to beat the crowds. You will want the additional time if you’re visiting the Columbia Icefield.
Lake Louise
You will start your journey on the Icefields Parkway in Lake Louise. If you’re staying in a single day, I’d advocate the charming Post Hotel & Spa (a Relais & Chateaux property) or the beautiful Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
I’d advocate spending a minimum of one night time in Lake Louise so that you’ve got time to see a few of Lake Louise’s points of interest. Many folks pays an arm-and-a-leg to lease a kind of iconic purple canoes and paddle round Lake Louise for the last word photograph alternative. This glacial lake is the primary attraction and if you wish to save your paddling time till you get to Pyramid Lake in Jasper, you’ll save your self some money.
The different widespread spot is Moraine Lake. It was that for those who wished to get a spot within the car parking zone, you needed to arrive earlier than 5:00 am. Starting in 2023, Moraine Lake Road is closed to non-public autos so to get there you will want to both take a shuttle or guide a bus reservation with Moraine Lake Bus Company.
If you’re staying at one of many motels by Lake Louise or Lake Moraine, you possibly can take the Lake Connector Shuttle (reservations nonetheless wanted and proof of resort keep). Otherwise, guests can guide a spot on the Park and Ride Connector Shuttle from the Lake Louise Ski Resort. Reservations are required and can promote out very early once they open for reservations in late April, though about 60% of reservations might be launched at 8:00 am, 48 hours in previous to the departure date and time.
Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier
After leaving Lake Louise, drive north for roughly one hour, and on the left, you’ll quickly see your first cease, Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint and Bow Lake. There are a few small parking tons the place you possibly can cease and take a brief stroll and comply with a steep path right down to the turquoise lake.
If you need to take the hike to see Bow Glacier Falls, I’d advocate driving to the far finish of the lake and parking on the Lodge at Bow Lake. This reasonable hike is a 5.5-mile spherical journey. You also can pop into the Cafe on the Lodge.
Peyto Lake
After you head again to the freeway, proceed on for one more 10 minutes till you see the indicators for Peyto Lake on the left (when heading northbound.) Peyto Lake’s distinctive fox form is without doubt one of the most iconic websites within the Canadian Rockies. It will get its stunning coloration from the water that runs off the Peyto Glacier, a part of the Wapta Icefield.
The Government lately spent practically $3 million to develop the parking tons and enhance the amenities and Peyto Lake, Bow Summit Trail, and the point of view are actually reopened for guests.
A ten-minute uphill stroll will carry you to the viewing platform overlooking the well-known fox-shaped Peyto Lake. The viewing platform may be extraordinarily crowded, but when you may get into the nook of the decrease platform, you must have the ability to get an unobstructed view of the lake.
If that doesn’t work, you possibly can take one of many trails earlier than you attain the point of view and stroll right down to a gap with an unobstructed view, simply thoughts your step as the trail is steep and there are a variety of unfastened rocks, making it slippery. There can also be a second, unmarked viewpoint for those who proceed on previous the primary.
It is feasible to hike right down to Peyto Lake in about 30-45 minutes, which is one thing only a few folks do (this cease is widespread with bus excursions.) However, if you wish to hit all these stops in someday, you in all probability received’t have time for the round-trip hike to the lakefront. Plan to spend about an hour at this cease.
Mistaya Canyon
The car parking zone for Mistaya Canyon can also be on the southbound aspect of the freeway (on the left when driving north from Lake Louise to Jasper), about 25 minutes previous Peyto Lake. The car parking zone isn’t very giant so I feel the large busses skip this cease, which means there are fewer folks there too.
From the car parking zone, it’s a couple of one-kilometer hike right down to the canyon (which suggests again uphill on the return.) At the canyon, you’ll cross over a bridge that spans the Mistaya River. From the bridge, you possibly can see how the water has carved its means via the stone because the river flows from Peyto Lake and later meets the North Saskatchewan River.
You can then stroll left or proper alongside the rim of the canyon. Take a couple of minutes to stroll down and sit on the rocks to look at the highly effective stream of the river.
The Crossing
The Crossing resort at Saskatchewan River Crossing is positioned about midway between Banff and Jasper, on the junction of Highway 93 and 11. This is the place you’ll find a gasoline service station, a common retailer, a restaurant, and a restaurant, in addition to clear bogs. This is certainly one of your few probabilities to get a chunk to eat, refill on gasoline, and seize some souvenirs.
On your method to the Columbia Icefield, you’ll journey alongside a hairpin curve referred to as Big Bend alongside Big Hill. If you need to cease right here and take a photograph of the highway beneath, be very cautious and ensure your automotive is totally off the highway. There is restricted house for turnouts right here for a fast photograph cease.
Columbia Icefield
Not lengthy after The Crossing, you’ll enter Jasper National Park. Just 45 minutes north of the Crossing you’ll come to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. This is the house base for exploring the Athabasca Glacier and the assorted associated actions.
The customer middle gives a restaurant, cafe, bogs, and a small exhibit/customer middle with a film about glaciers. It can also be the place you possibly can join a number of the excursions supplied by Pursuit Banff. They supply two varieties of experiences, the Glacier Ice Explorer and the Glacier Skywalk, which may be mixed right into a Glacier Adventure ticket.
If you have an interest in both of those actions, I’d extremely advocate you guide a timed ticket upfront or you could arrive to search out them offered out for the day, or you could want to attend two hours earlier than the following availability.
The Glacier Ice Explorer tour makes use of giant glacier vans to take you up onto the Athabasca Glacier. You will then have half-hour to stroll on ice that’s over 1,000 ft thick! Just be sure you put on the suitable footgear and that you simply keep inside the designated boundary. It is extraordinarily harmful to stroll on a glacier and not using a licensed information.
From the glacier or Discovery Centre, it’s a brief shuttle journey to the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored statement platform with floats 919 ft over the Sunwapta Valley. From right here you possibly can view the glaciers and rugged mountain peaks within the distance.
The solely draw back is that it is just accessible by way of a bus from the glacier or the Icefields Discovery Centre. So ready in your timed ticket after which ready for the following return bus can actually eat into your day for a cease the place you’ll doubtless solely spend quarter-hour on web site.
Tangle Creek Falls
After the Icefields Discovery Centre, you could be drained or operating out of time and need to proceed straight to Jasper. You can definitely do that and hit the remaining stops alongside the Icefields Parkway in your return journey. However, for those who solely have a day, attempt to squeeze in some fast stops at a couple of extra waterfalls.
Five minutes additional up the highway from the Discovery Centre, you’ll come to Tangle Creek Falls. When touring north, the falls are in your proper (northbound aspect) however the car parking zone is throughout the road on the left (southbound aspect) so watch out crossing the road.
This tiered waterfall is kind of near the highway however if you wish to climb as much as the higher falls, you will want to scramble over some rocks so take care and watch your ft.
Sunwapta Falls
Another 35 minutes north will carry you to the turn-off for Sunwapta Falls, which is midway between the Columbia Icefield and Jasper. The Upper Falls are only a five-minute stroll from the car parking zone. The Lower Falls are just a little additional (about 10 minutes) and definitely worth the stroll.
Be positive to carry your bear spray, even if you’re simply taking a brief stroll. I visited Sunwapta Falls with an area photographer and he advised me that he as soon as noticed a bear stroll alongside the trail very near the car parking zone. Also, watch out the place you search for these photograph ops. The rocks get very slippery within the mist from the falls and also you shouldn’t step past the boundaries and take any dangers simply to get an excellent photograph.
If you’re hungry, you possibly can all the time gasoline up on the deli on the Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge.
Athabasca Falls
Twenty minutes previous Sunwapta Falls will carry you to your subsequent cease, Athabasca Falls. This can also be a preferred cease for all of the bus excursions as properly so anticipate crowds! These highly effective falls have carved via the rock, much like what you discover at Mistaya Canyon.
There are totally different viewing platforms the place you possibly can seize some nice photos of the falls. If these are too crowded, you may as well comply with the indicators to view the Lower Canyon. This stroll offers you an incredible view of the Athabasca River and you could even get to see a scenic float tour going by.
Jasper
After Athabasca Falls, the scenic mountain city of Jasper is barely 25 minutes away. You can have fun reaching your vacation spot with an incredible meal at one of many eating places on the town.
There are many locations to remain on the town however we loved a cushty and inexpensive keep at Jasper House Bungalows.
Plan to remain a couple of days as a result of there are such a lot of issues to do in Jasper. Be positive to a minimum of hit the highlights like a ship cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island, a hike in Maligne Canyon, and canoeing on Pyramid Lake.
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