There are so many beautiful stops along the way so I’ve put together this Icefields Parkway itinerary with everything you need to know, including the best photography spots and hikes. Like so many other visitor sites in the area, it’s conveniently located in Jasper National Park, which will make filling up your day with enough scenery to satisfy even the most finicky nature lover pretty easy. It’s here you can see the roaring canyon around you. The Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies and is one of the most popular stops along the Icefields Parkway. It truly is a hike for everyone. Or you can pull into Num Ti Jah Lodge to get different views of the lake. Lake Louise is less than … It makes a great place for a nice picnic, canoe, or you can hike to wonderful Bow Falls one of our favorites in Banff. There is also a lot of snow clearing and maintenance on the highway which sometimes results in temporary closures. To hike Wilcox Pass is 9.3 km, and 522 meters, and will take you between 3-5 hours to complete. If you have time, you can cross the bridge and walk along the river for a bit for some different views. The Icefields Parkway, also known as Highway 93, is an epic stretch of road connecting Jasper National Park to Banff National Park and beyond. The weather can be very unpredictable and incredibly cold so take lots of layers and make sure your car is prepared for these conditions. Your email address will not be published. View all posts by Maggie Soares . Drive carefully as you may see wildlife grazing on the side of the road or even trying to cross. Icefields Parkway Itinerary: 9 Stops You Can’t Miss Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, the Icefields Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the world. They don’t require any hiking to get to and therefore are very popular for stand up paddle boarders, canoers, and kayakers! The Peyto Lake viewpoint is about a 10-minute hike from the parking area and is a must-stop on any Icefields Parkway itinerary. If you look towards it you’ll see water cascading down the in a series of waterfalls, essentially “weeping.” The biggest one is called “Teardrop.”. Wilcox Pass is close to Parker’s Ridge but is a bit harder and longer at 9.3 km. It’s a breath-taking sight, but if you decide to venture out on the Icefields Parkway in winter make sure you are fully prepared. The drive itself is stunning, but there are so many pull-offs along the way. The hike is pretty mild up to the lake so we’ve been debating carrying our inflatable paddle boards up in backpacks to Chephren Lake, I’ll update if we make the trek with the boards! Once you leave Lake Louise and Jasper, cell service is very limited. From November to April it’s actually closed so you’ll need to get gas before you leave Lake Louise or Jasper. If you have time on your Icefields Parkway road trip, here are a few hikes you may want to try: Located just after Big Hill and Big Bend, Parker Ridge is a short hike which offers dramatic views of the valleys, mountain ranges, and the Saskatchewan Glacier to the north west. It may be easy to miss if you’re not paying attention, but I promise you it’s well worth a stop. I am always starting this road trip from Jasper, so here are the must stops if you are headed south! Both are fantastic to visit in both the summer and the winter. A good budget friendly option is HI Rampart Creek Hostel which is 90 km from Lake Louise. Answer 1 of 7: Spending 1 day driving Icefields Parkway Lake Louise-Jasper, then 5 days later from Jasper-Banff. Peyto Lake viewing platform and trails are currently closed until August 2021 for rehabilitation. The Skywalk is now closed for the 2020 season and will reopen in May 2021, weather permitting. There’s a short 2-km boardwalk loop, which allows you to take in the stunning sites and stretch your legs at the same time. The first stop on your Icefields Parkway itinerary is located only 32 kilometers from Lake Louise. From October to April, Banff and Jasper National Parks are transformed into winter wonderlands. If you’re not feeling a full-on mountaineering climb up Athabasca you can still go see the Athabasca Glacier, and even walk on the glacier with the Ice Explorer. The Icefields Parkway is a 232 km stretch of double-lane highway taking you along the Continental Divide. The lake is renowned for its brilliant aqua colour created by the meltwater from the Wapta Glacier. Make sure you bring cash as most of the campsites use an ‘honesty box’ where you pay by putting cash into a locked box. I’m not going to say this is a must-stop on the Icefields Parkway, but it’s worth mentioning the Saskatchewan River Crossing as it’s the last place you can get gas before Jasper. The Icefields Parkway is a destination in its own right, but due to time restraints most people see it as the most spectacular commute between Banff and Jasper. When I lived in the Canadian Rockies I have driven up and down this road a handful of times trying to capture its dramatic scenery. It runs from Lake Louise to Jasper, which are both fantastic places in themselves. Plus Herbert Lake is literally right off the side of the road and has a big welcoming parking area. It offers incredible views of the peaks and glaciers on the eastern side of the Columbia Icefield and is often frequented by bighorn sheep. Canadian Rockies Banff. I didn’t know what to expect when we began this hike but seeing that the top of Parker Ridge didn’t look so far from the trailhead I figured it would be relatively easy – and it was. The drive from Lake Louise to Jasper takes about 3 h 30 minutes but with all of the beautiful places to stop along the way, you’ll want to make a day of it. If you don’t want to hike to it no worries – there’s a pullover viewpoint, but it has partially obstructed views. Another longer stop off if you’re in the mood for hiking is Wilcox Pass. It’s a gradual 2.5 km incline to the ridge, all of which is pretty easy and well marked. The Icefields Parkway Itinerary From Jasper. Bow Lake has a pull off lookout point on the side of the road, with picnic benches nearby. On this hike, we saw young couples, older people, and families with young children and dogs. In Stoney native language, Sunwapta means ‘turbulent water’ which is an apt name for this rushing waterfall. This may have been my favourite view on our Icefields Parkway road trip. Mistaya Canyon is a popular stop on the Icefields Parkway. Drive to Jasper via Icefields Parkway. It’s the perfect place to come and enjoy the stellar Banff National Park views in both winter and summer. The pullout area for parking here is on the west side of the parkway, there’s limited parking so it may be busy peak summer. The Icefields Parkway is a 232 km stretch of double-lane highway taking you along the Continental Divide. At the River Crossing, there’s a convenience store/souvenir shop and a small cafe. Alternatively, you can drive to the foot of the glacier for a closer view. If you’re looking for places to stay in Jasper National … Since you have to hike 7.7 km and 241 meters not many people venture out to it, meaning it is super quiet. That’s 181 miles filled with massive mountain peaks, incredible blue lakes, caribou crossings, and glaciers that you can walk right up to. The highway stretches 233 km from Lake Louise to Jasper, winding through sweeping valleys and rugged mountain ranges, past pine forests, towering glaciers, and turquoise lakes. The Columbia Icefield Skywalk has views of wildlife, waterfalls, and fossils. If you’re not paying attention for the lookout or the trail access this one is very easy to miss! It is a fast road so make sure you have good vision of cars coming in both directions, and move quickly. If you have an extra 2-3 hours on your Icefields Parkway journey I highly suggest hiking up to Parker Ridge. I’ve included the top photography spots that should be on your Icefields Parkway itinerary, along with a few hikes that offer incredible views over the highway and surrounding peaks. Let’s face it, this Canadian Rockies trip will most likely be starting in … When we drove the Parkway on our 5-day road trip, we ended up pulling over several times to take photos so the journey took closer to 7 hours! Banff – Icefields Parkway. If you’re looking for more resources about the Canadian Rockies, I have lots of guides you may find helpful: Some of the links in these posts are affiliate links, which means if you book something using one of my links, I’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is just a quick viewpoint stop where from a small pull-off bay on the side of the highway you will see beautiful mountains and of course, Crowfoot Glacier! It’s always very sad to hear about bears that have been put down because they have had human interactions. Day 1 of a 2-day Jasper Itinerary: Icefields Parkway, Valley of the Five Lakes, Athabasca Falls, Athabasca Glacier. Without making any stops the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper drive takes around 3 hours one way. The first kilometre is quite steep, but it does level out. If you want to visit the lower falls, there is a short trail (1.3 km) which takes you through the forest and down to the falls. The Icefields Parkway is, without question, one of the most incredible drives in the world. This guide also includes practical information and tips to help you plan your own Icefields Parkway road trip. As far as scenery goes, the Icefields Parkway is the most spectacular road I’ve ever experienced. For 144 miles (232 km), this highway travels through the heart of the Canadian Rockies. A few highlights include Hector Lake, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Bow Summit.All of these are located between Lake Louise and the Athabasca Glacier … The first stop on this Icefields Parkway itinerary is the beautiful Bow Lake. The Icefields Parkway is one of the most beautiful road trips you can take in the entire world. If you’re already at Athabasca Glacier you may as well continue a couple of kilometers down the road to the Glacier Skywalk. For your safety, stay behind the barriers and don’t walk on the glacier yourself. You’ll know when you arrive at the Big Hill and Big Bend as you’ll ascend steeply as the road bends through the valley. Once you arrive at the lake you’ll be met with yet another picture-perfect glacial lake. If you enjoyed reading this post, make sure you pin it to Pinterest so you can read it again later as there’s a lot of information here! If you start in Jasper here are the order of the MUST STOPS on the Icefields Parkway: Athabasca Falls. That same river serves as a notable feature throughout much of the park moving through Banff and onto Calgary before ending in Southern Alberta as it joins the Saskatchewan River. For something a bit more luxurious, I’d recommend Num-Ti-Jah Lodge near Bow Lake if you’re heading from Jasper to Lake Louise, or Sunwapta Falls Resort if you’re driving towards Jasper. As you begin to descend, you’ll see a pullover on the right-hand side where you can stop to take in one of the best views of the Icefields Parkway. How to spend 4 days in Banff National Park, The Best Photo Spots in Banff National Park, 3 Days in Jasper: The Ultimate Jasper Itinerary. It’s one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park and offers stunning views of the Crowfoot and Bow glaciers. The scale of the lake is impressive as it’s one of the largest in the park and the giant mountains that surround the lake humble visitors with scale. There is nothing technical involved and absolutely no scrambling. Snow tires are mandatory from November until April. The Waterfowl Lakes are two relaxed lakes in the park that see a fraction of the visitors you’ll see the other lakes on this list. The final stop on this Icefields Parkway itinerary takes you to a spectacular waterfall. The park’s length of one hundred and forty-four miles will astonish you with over one hundred glaciers, exotic blue lakes, jaw dropping waterfalls and stunning canyons. It’s a nice quick stop and a good photo op, but it’s very easy to miss so keep your eyes open for the pull off. The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North) connects Lake Louise with Jasper in Jasper National Park . However, in my opinion you can get the same experience by going on a beautiful hike in Banff National Park for free! Sunwapta Falls consists of upper and lower falls that are fed by the Athabasca Glacier. We have composed some great summer and winter itineraries for you to make the most of your sightseeing visit to Icefields Parkway. These are both long scrambles that require a full day. It’s not the most impressive waterfall on the Icefields Parkway, but worth a quick stop! The upper falls are more easily accessible and therefore much busier, but a 1.3 km hike will take you to to the lower falls. Comments below next time I comment clear day when the mountains really encompasses what drive... ’ which is an easy stop off on the highway which sometimes results temporary! 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