The Icefields Parkway links Jasper and Lake Louise in a north-south route of 230 km. It was developed in the 1930's as a Depression project to create work, as north-south commerce was never important in the Rockies (everything focussed on east-west links - road and rail). So, it was developed for tourists and it remains a tourist road; commercial traffic isn't allowed.
We armed ourselves with a parks pass, an electronic route guidance device (called GyPSy) and picnic provisions.
Simply put, the Icefields Parkway is claimed to be one of the most attractive roads in the world - it certainly is. It's a very good road and the 90 km/h speed limit encourages you to take your time.
There are some many places to pull over or to call in to see another site - falls, views, lakes, glaciers, stunning peaks and much more. Chains of high peaks flank both sides of the road, with many of those on the left (western) side hosting glaciers.
We stopped at the Icefields Centre to take a tour on the Athabasca Glacier, which is fed by the massive Columbia Icefield that
you can see coating peaks like icing. A transport bus takes you up the side of the glacier and you transfer to a large 4WD bus designed to take you out onto the glacier itself. So, you exit the bus and spend about 20 minutes walking around a large section of the glacier surface that has been graded flat and is considered safe. It isn't quite the natural glacier, but you are there, you see the melt-water flowing about and you and look further up the glacier area. It's one of those experiences that you have to do and, realistically, it is worthwhile.
Following a picnic lunch at a nice spot by the river, we continued on. More glaciers, more peaks and more lakes followed. This is not to dismiss the views lightly - the whole experience is superb. In some cases, such as Lake Peyto, you walk into a brilliant lake and distant views down the valley.
The whole experience was a great day, enhanced by simply magical weather with cloudless skies and temperatures in the low 20's.
We rolled into Lake Louise village, which is quite small, and found our hotel.
We armed ourselves with a parks pass, an electronic route guidance device (called GyPSy) and picnic provisions.
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| Athabasca Falls |
There are some many places to pull over or to call in to see another site - falls, views, lakes, glaciers, stunning peaks and much more. Chains of high peaks flank both sides of the road, with many of those on the left (western) side hosting glaciers.
We stopped at the Icefields Centre to take a tour on the Athabasca Glacier, which is fed by the massive Columbia Icefield that
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| On Athabasca Glacier |
Following a picnic lunch at a nice spot by the river, we continued on. More glaciers, more peaks and more lakes followed. This is not to dismiss the views lightly - the whole experience is superb. In some cases, such as Lake Peyto, you walk into a brilliant lake and distant views down the valley.
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| Lake Peyto |
We rolled into Lake Louise village, which is quite small, and found our hotel.
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