The breathtaking stretch of road between Jasper and Lake Louise serves up many of the most rewarding travel experiences in the Canadian Rockies.
Linking Lake Louise with Jasper, Alberta is one of the most beautiful journeys on the planet – the Icefields Parkway.
Unlike any other, the stretch of road from Jasper to Lake Louise known as the Icefields Parkway is dotted with more than 100 ancient glaciers, cascading waterfalls, dramatic rock spires, and emerald lakes set in sweeping valleys of thick pine and larch forests. RIGHT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. It was truly spectacular. If you go to that area you HAVE to drive it. It will blow your mind!
The abundance of wildlife in Jasper National Park and Banff National Park will have you peering around every turn. So take your time, stop for a hike to a breath-taking view point, capture that stunning photo to share with friends and enjoy a roadside picnic amidst the splendour of the Canadian Rockies pristine wilderness.
Rated as one of the top drives in the world!
LENGTH:
The Icefield Parkway is 144 miles (232km)…yes, 144 MILE stretch of highway winding along the Continental Divide through soaring rocky mountain peaks, icefields and vast sweeping valleys.
In our Itinerary we give you 2 days to drive this road. Once going up and once going down. There is still no way to do all the sites so it will always leave you wanting more. Choose your favorites, or just simply drive. It is a minimum of 3 hours drive with no stops along the way.
THINGS TO DO:
THE BEST HIKES: Ranging from short walks on wide paths to four-hour half day excursions, some of the best hikes along the Icefields Parkway are just off the highway:
- MT. EDITH CAVELL
- PARKER RIDGE TRAIL
- BOW SUMMIT LOOKOUT
- BOW GLACIER FALLS
- HELEN LAKE
- PLAIN OF SIZ GLACIERS
- VALLEY OF THE TEN PEAKS
POINT OF INTEREST
- ATHABASCA FALLS
- SUNWAPTA FALLS
- GLACIER SKY WALK
- COLUMBIA ICEFIELD
- PARKER RIDGE
- BIG HILL & BIG BEND
- WEEPING WALL
- SASKATCHEWAN RIVER CROSSING
- PEYTO LAKE AND BOW SUMMIT
- BOW LAKE
VIEW WILDLIFE: Grizzly bear, Black bear, Woodland Caribou, Bighorn sheep, Mountain goats, Elk, Lynx and Bobcats, Marmots, Pika, and Ptarmigan
PHOTOGRAPHY POINTS:
- MORAINE LAKE
- THE COLUMBIA ICEFIELD
- PEYTO LAKE
- WATERFOWL LAKES
- BRIDAL VEIL FALLS
- PARKERS RIDGE
- TANGLE FALLS
- SUNWAPTA FALLS
MAPS
GALLERY
BACK TO:
Click here to return to our Complete Guide to Banff and Jasper National Park
