Discover out the most effective Icefields Parkway stops on a Banff Nationwide Park to Jasper Nationwide Park highway journey utilizing this one-day itinerary.
There are various well-known highway journeys in North America — Freeway 1 in California, the Florida Keys, Route 66, and, after all, the Icefields Parkway in Alberta, Canada. The primary time I heard in regards to the Icefields Parkway, I assumed somebody was referring to that Ice Truckers present on the Historical past Channel, however as I started to plan our Canadian Rockies trip itinerary, I quickly discovered extra.
Whereas the Icefields Parkway can get fairly snowy within the winter, it’s certainly not that excessive. The Icefields Parkway, formally Freeway 93, stretches for 146 miles from Lake Louise in Banff Nationwide Park to the city of Jasper in Jasper Nationwide Park. Whereas that sounds very far, it’s doable to cowl the most effective Icefields Parkway stops in simply at some point, so long as you intend forward!
Touring alongside this two-lane freeway you’ll lower by way of the staggering peaks of the rugged Canadian Rockies and cross by greater than 100 glaciers and quite a few glacier-fed lakes of such a shocking blue you received’t be capable of belief your eyes. It’s straightforward to see why it’s thought-about some of the stunning drives on the earth.
Attending to the Icefields Parkway
Whilst you can technically drive this Icefields Parkway highway journey in three to 4 hours, you’ll want to get an early begin and go away your self a full day to have time to benefit from the stops alongside the best way. The highway is well-kept and has vast shoulders, making it doable for even giant RVs to make use of. Nonetheless, it is advisable share the highway with bicycle tour teams which might be powering by way of 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 path, however in case you are flying into Edmonton and beginning in Jasper, simply comply with this in reverse.
In case you are leaving from Banff, you may take the Trans-Canada Freeway for the quicker route in case you are making an attempt 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 in case you are overnighting in Lake Louise and you’re visiting in the summertime months.
Simply remember the fact that in 2022, Parks Canada began a three-year undertaking the place the japanese part of Bow Valley Parkway will likely be closed to public visitors from Could 1 to June 25 and September 1 to 30 from Johnston Canyon to the Fireplace Day Use space.
Alongside the best way, make sure you hold 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 likely one of the hottest points of interest in Banff Nationwide Park, and the car parking zone fills up early. It’s a quick hike however it provides wonderful views of the Decrease and Higher Falls. Within the winter months you’ll be able to attempt the Johnston Canyon Icewalk.
When you get to Lake Louise, you’ll then decide up the Icefields Parkway in Lake Louise. Alongside the route, make sure you hold your eyes peeled for wildlife. Nearer to Jasper, you’re apt to see elk grazing by the highway, particularly within the night.
Suggestions for Driving the Icefields Parkway
Earlier than you begin your Icefields Parkway drive, there are some issues you need to know first:
- You’ll want to gasoline up earlier than you allow Lake Louise as there is just one gasoline station between there and Jasper, and you’ll pay a premium if it is advisable get gasoline there.
- Carry alongside snacks and refillable water bottles. You’ll cross a number of locations the place you will 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.
- Count on little or no cell service between Lake Louise and Jasper so obtain your music and any offline maps you may want earlier than you allow. In any other case, sit again and benefit from the surroundings alongside some of the scenic drives by way of the Rocky Mountains. You possibly can hook up with WiFi on the Icefields Discovery Centre.
- Needless to say lots of the fashionable points of interest have small parking tons. Getting an early begin is vital to find a spot in these tons.
- In case you are returning to Banff after visiting Jasper, you’ll be able to at all times break up up the stops into two separate days and hit the second half in your return journey.
- You’ll need to buy a Nationwide Park cross earlier than driving the Icefields Parkway. These might 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 cross on-line earlier than your journey, and when you plan on visiting a number of Nationwide Parks is to spend money on the Parks Canada Discovery Go.
- If you wish 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.
- Verify highway circumstances, visitors, and attraction closures at http://www.computer.gc.ca/.
- Costume heat and in layers, put on comfy mountaineering sneakers, and produce bear spray on any hikes and even quick walks.
- Cost up your digicam and telephone batteries as a result of you’ll wish to take a LOT of images! It might additionally assist to convey a rain cowl to your digicam and a tripod when you’ve got one to take photos of the waterfalls.
Should-See Icefields Parkway Stops
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These are the most effective stops on the Icefields Parkway which you can match right into a one-day itinerary or unfold out into two days in case you are 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’ll need the additional time in case you are visiting the Columbia Icefield.
Lake Louise
You’ll start your journey on the Icefields Parkway in Lake Louise. In case you are staying in a single day, I might advocate the charming Publish Resort & Spa (a Relais & Chateaux property) or the beautiful Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
I might advocate spending no less than one night time in Lake Louise so that you’ve time to see a few of Lake Louise’s points of interest. Many individuals can pay an arm-and-a-leg to hire a type of iconic pink canoes and paddle round Lake Louise for the final word picture 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 opposite fashionable spot is Moraine Lake. It was once that when you needed to get a spot within the car parking zone, you needed to arrive earlier than 5:00 am. Beginning in 2023, Moraine Lake Street is closed to non-public autos so to get there you will want to both take a shuttle or e-book a bus reservation with Moraine Lake Bus Firm.
In case you are staying at one of many inns by Lake Louise or Lake Moraine, you’ll be able to take the Lake Connector Shuttle (reservations nonetheless wanted and proof of resort keep). In any other case, guests can e-book a spot on the Park and Experience Connector Shuttle from the Lake Louise Ski Resort. Reservations are required and can promote out very early after they open for reservations in late April, though about 60% of reservations will likely 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’ll be able to cease and take a brief stroll and comply with a steep path all the way down to the turquoise lake.
If you wish to take the hike to see Bow Glacier Falls, I might 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 may as well 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 likely 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 Authorities lately spent practically $3 million to broaden the parking tons and enhance the services and Peyto Lake, Bow Summit Path, and the point of view are actually reopened for guests.
A ten-minute uphill stroll will convey you to the viewing platform overlooking the well-known fox-shaped Peyto Lake. The viewing platform might be extraordinarily crowded, but when you will get into the nook of the decrease platform, you need to be capable of get an unobstructed view of the lake.
If that doesn’t work, you’ll be able to take one of many trails earlier than you attain the point of view and stroll all the way down to a gap with an unobstructed view, simply thoughts your step as the trail is steep and there are a number of free rocks, making it slippery. There’s additionally a second, unmarked viewpoint when you proceed on previous the primary.
It’s doable to hike all the way down to Peyto Lake in about 30-45 minutes, which is one thing only a few individuals do (this cease is fashionable with bus excursions.) Nonetheless, if you wish to hit all these stops in at some point, you most likely 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 be on the southbound facet 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 believe the massive busses skip this cease, that means there are fewer individuals there too.
From the car parking zone, it’s a few one-kilometer hike all the way down to the canyon (which implies again uphill on the return.) On the canyon, you’ll cross over a bridge that spans the Mistaya River. From the bridge, you’ll be able to see how the water has carved its manner by way of the stone because the river flows from Peyto Lake and later meets the North Saskatchewan River.
You possibly 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 movement of the river.
The Crossing
The Crossing resort at Saskatchewan River Crossing is positioned about midway between Banff and Jasper, on the junction of Freeway 93 and 11. That is the place you can see a gasoline service station, a basic retailer, a restaurant, and a restaurant, in addition to clear loos. That is one in all your few possibilities to get a chunk to eat, refill on gasoline, and seize some souvenirs.
In your strategy to the Columbia Icefield, you’ll journey alongside a hairpin curve referred to as Large Bend alongside Large Hill. If you wish to cease right here and take a photograph of the highway beneath, be very cautious and ensure your automobile is totally off the highway. There’s restricted house for turnouts right here for a fast picture cease.
Columbia Icefield
Not lengthy after The Crossing, you’ll enter Jasper Nationwide Park. Simply 45 minutes north of the Crossing you’ll come to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. That is the house base for exploring the Athabasca Glacier and the varied associated actions.
The customer heart provides a restaurant, cafe, loos, and a small exhibit/customer heart with a film about glaciers. It is usually the place you’ll be able to join among the excursions provided by Pursuit Banff. They provide two forms of experiences, the Glacier Ice Explorer and the Glacier Skywalk, which might be mixed right into a Glacier Journey ticket.
In case you are curious about both of those actions, I might extremely advocate you e-book a timed ticket prematurely or you could arrive to seek out them bought 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’ll then have half-hour to stroll on ice that’s over 1,000 ft thick! Simply be sure to put on the suitable footgear and that you simply keep inside the designated boundary. This can be very harmful to stroll on a glacier with out a licensed information.
From the glacier or Discovery Centre, it’s a quick shuttle journey to the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored remark platform with floats 919 ft over the Sunwapta Valley. From right here you’ll be able to view the glaciers and rugged mountain peaks within the distance.
The one draw back is that it is just accessible through a bus from the glacier or the Icefields Discovery Centre. So ready to 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 website.
Tangle Creek Falls
After the Icefields Discovery Centre, you could be drained or operating out of time and wish to proceed straight to Jasper. You possibly can definitely do that and hit the remaining stops alongside the Icefields Parkway in your return journey. Nonetheless, when you solely have a day, attempt to squeeze in some fast stops at a number of extra waterfalls.
5 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 facet) however the car parking zone is throughout the road on the left (southbound facet) so watch out crossing the road.
This tiered waterfall is sort 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
One other 35 minutes north will convey you to the turn-off for Sunwapta Falls, which is midway between the Columbia Icefield and Jasper. The Higher Falls are only a five-minute stroll from the car parking zone. The Decrease Falls are slightly additional (about 10 minutes) and well worth the stroll.
You’ll want to convey your bear spray, even in case you are simply taking a brief stroll. I visited Sunwapta Falls with an area photographer and he instructed me that he as soon as noticed a bear stroll alongside the trail very near the car parking zone. Additionally, watch out the place you search for these picture ops. The rocks get very slippery within the mist from the falls and also you shouldn’t step past the obstacles and take any dangers simply to get a very good picture.
In case you are hungry, you’ll be able to at all times gas up on the deli on the Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge.
Athabasca Falls
Twenty minutes previous Sunwapta Falls will convey you to your subsequent cease, Athabasca Falls. That is additionally a preferred cease for all of the bus excursions as nicely so anticipate crowds! These highly effective falls have carved by way of the rock, just like what you discover at Mistaya Canyon.
There are completely different viewing platforms the place you’ll be able to seize some nice photos of the falls. If these are too crowded, you may also comply with the indicators to view the Decrease Canyon. This stroll will provide you with an awesome 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 simply 25 minutes away. You possibly can have fun reaching your vacation spot with an awesome meal at one of many eating places on the town.
There are various locations to remain on the town however we loved a cushty and inexpensive keep at Jasper Home Bungalows.
Plan to remain a number of days as a result of there are such a lot of issues to do in Jasper. You’ll want to no less than hit the highlights like a ship cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island, a hike in Maligne Canyon, and canoeing on Pyramid Lake.
Visiting the Canadian Rockies? Learn extra
In case you are planning on driving the Icefields Parkway, you might also wish to take a look at these different associated articles for Jasper and Banff:
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