Icefields Parkway 
Icefields Parkway
Length: 230 km (143 mi.)
Driving time: at least 4 hours
Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) crosses the northern part of Banff National Park and southern part of Jasper National Park, and forms a link between TransCanada Highway 1 and Yellowhead Highway 16. Unlike the busy TransCanada Highway, the Icefields Parkway is purely and simply a sightseeing route through magnificent high mountain scenery.
Length: 230 km (143 mi.)
Driving time: at least 4 hours
Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) crosses the northern part of Banff National Park and southern part of Jasper National Park, and forms a link between TransCanada Highway 1 and Yellowhead Highway 16. Unlike the busy TransCanada Highway, the Icefields Parkway is purely and simply a sightseeing route through magnificent high mountain scenery.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Between Lake Louise and Jasper the road follows a narrow valley running north-south for 230 km (143 mi.) between the glaciated peaks of the main range of the Rocky Mountains. Originally built as a project to create work during the Depression, the highway was extended and completed in 1960. It passes first along upper Bow Valley, and winds over Bow Pass (2068 m (6787 ft)) to the Mistaya and North Saskatchewan River valley, then over the Sunwapta Pass, only marginally lower at 2035 m (6679 ft), and close to the Columbia Icefield it reaches the Sunwapta/Athabasca River and Jasper. Frequent lay-bys and parking places provide opportunities to enjoy the breathtaking views and there are interpretive panels to fill in the background about the landscape and local history.
Bighorn sheep and mountain goats - down at the roadside or on the mountain tops - romantic waterfalls, the shimmering turquoise waters of mountain lakes, looming icefields and snowclad mountain peaks all make for a journey of infinite variety.
Bighorn sheep and mountain goats - down at the roadside or on the mountain tops - romantic waterfalls, the shimmering turquoise waters of mountain lakes, looming icefields and snowclad mountain peaks all make for a journey of infinite variety.
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Highway 93A
Highway 93A, which used to be the main road to Jasper, branches off near the waterfalls and serves as an alternative route. It can be used to reach the approach roads to Mount Edith in the Cavell district, with the Angel Glacier and the Marmot Basin, very popular for skiing in winter.
It parallels the Columbia Icefields Parkway for a short distance. Highway 93A can be used to reach the approach roads to the Mount Edith Cavell area, with the Angel Glacier and the Marmot Basin, both very popular for skiing in winter.
It parallels the Columbia Icefields Parkway for a short distance. Highway 93A can be used to reach the approach roads to the Mount Edith Cavell area, with the Angel Glacier and the Marmot Basin, both very popular for skiing in winter.
Mistaya Canyon
About 70 km (43 mi.) north of Lake Louise, a short path leads down from the car-park to the narrow, winding Mistaya Canyon ("mistaya" is Indian for "grizzly bear"), with its virtually vertical rockfaces and characteristic "pot-holes".
This canyon, like many in the Canadian Rockies is the result of erosion from the glacier-fed rivers that cut through the limestone rock. It's possible to walk to the edge of the canyon and watch the water rush by below. This is a popular photography spot.
This canyon, like many in the Canadian Rockies is the result of erosion from the glacier-fed rivers that cut through the limestone rock. It's possible to walk to the edge of the canyon and watch the water rush by below. This is a popular photography spot.
Sunwapta Falls
Just 180 km (112 mi.) north of Lake Louise, and 60 km (37 mi.) south of Jasper, a side-road leads to the Sunwapta Falls ("sunwapta" 5 rushing waters) where the Sunwapta River abruptly changes course and cascades down into a deep limestone gorge.
A walking area at the top of the falls allows for good views.
From Sunwapta Falls it's possible to hike to Fortress Lake and Hamber Provincial Park. This is about a 25km (15 mi.) hike.
A walking area at the top of the falls allows for good views.
From Sunwapta Falls it's possible to hike to Fortress Lake and Hamber Provincial Park. This is about a 25km (15 mi.) hike.
Sunwapta Pass
The Sunwapta Pass (2035 m (6679 ft)) forms the watershed between the North Saskatchewan River which flows into the Hudson Bay and the Athabasca River which flows into the Beaufort Sea. It is also the borderline between Banff and Jasper National Park.
Although the scenery here is spectacular with mountains in the not too far distance and a green pasture in the foreground, it's hard to tell that you have crested a pass.
Although the scenery here is spectacular with mountains in the not too far distance and a green pasture in the foreground, it's hard to tell that you have crested a pass.
