Icefields Parkway, Alberta

Icefields Parkway, Between Banff and Jasper, Alberta

Location

What to See and Do

From the parking area there is a short uphill walk to the viewpoint over Peyto Lake but your efforts will be well rewarded by the marvellous scene of the lake and valley that lie below.

There is a very good chance of seeing wildlife such as moose, elk and mountain goats from this road.

The drive from Banff to Jasper (or Golden to Hinton) will take a full day. There is however a good argument for adopting a slower pace, giving you more time to explore, and taking an overnight stop along the way. Roughly half way along the Icefields Parkway lies Saskatchewan River Crossing. From there the David Thompson Highway runs east to the small town of Rocky Mountain House which would make a good choice for the overnight stop. You could then return to Saskatchewan River Crossing by the David Thompson Highway and continue on the Icefields Parkway.

There is no charge for using this Parkway, but there is an entrance fee for the National Parks through which it runs. The Icefields Parkway is a high quality paved road, mostly wide, fairly straight and fairly flat. There is a steeper section with some curves for a few miles at the Sunwapta Pass but this is most unlikely to cause any problems for normal vehicles in good weather. In winter this road would require extreme care, however.

Some Ideas for Places to Stay

South

Golden, British Columbia

Banff is not recommended as we feel that it is an expensive unpleasant tourist town.

Middle

Rocky Mountain House, Alberta reached from Saskatchewan River Crossing via the David Thompson Highway

North

Hinton, Alberta

Jasper, Alberta

Athabasca Falls, Jasper National Park

Banff National Park

David Thompson Highway

Jasper National Park

Kootenay National Park

Lake Louise, Banff National Park

Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park

Peyto Lake, Banff National Park

Yellowhead Highway

Yoho National Park

Canadian Rockies National Parks

Scenic Roads