The Icefields Parkway in Alberta, Canada: On our trip to western Canada we explored the Canadian Rockies. Between the national parks of Banff and Jasper, a mythical road crosses the “Rockies”, the highway 93. Nicknamed the Icefields Parkway, this scenic route is a real invitation to a road trip. A dazzling journey between pristine glaciers and turquoise lakes. So what are the most beautiful points of interest on the Icefields Parkway? What hikes to do along highway 93? What are the spots to photograph?Discover the must-see places to visit on the Icefields Parkway and our most beautiful photographs of Peyto Lake, Mistaya Canyon, the Columbia Icefield and the Rockies.
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| Icefields Parkway Alberta Canada |
The Icefields Parkway is a road connecting Jasper and Banff, the two most famous national parks in the Canadian Rockies. This "Icefields Parkway" or route 93 promises a getaway rich in grandiose and incomparable landscapes. It brings together the most beautiful things the Rocky Mountains have to offer: ancestral glaciers, turquoise rivers, sharp mountains or even waterfalls that sparkle like diamonds in the sun.
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| Icefields Parkway Alberta Canada |
In a nutshell, get ready for a trip that is sure to melt your mind! Whether your final destination is Jasper or Banff, the expression “it's not the goal that counts, but the road traveled” will make sense!
Before departure for the Icefields Parkway
You can either choose to start your route from Banff or Jasper. The landscapes remain majestic on both sides, rest assured. But to be sure not to miss anything, many take the pleasure of going back and forth.
Anyway, it is infinitely better to plan this excursion in summer or, at the limit, in spring. In winter, the Icefields Parkway is often impractical or simply closed due to the extreme weather conditions in the Rocky Mountains. Therefore, tourists take advantage of July and August to browse it. Result: more than 200,000 vehicles cross it during these two months. So do not expect to find yourself alone in front of these masterpieces of Mother Nature as in "Into the wild"!
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| Icefields Parkway Alberta Canada |
The different options for exploring the Icefields Parkway
First of all, you can rent a car, if you don't already have one on hand. This is perhaps the best solution for those who want to see the most things while going at their own pace.
On the other hand, absolutely remember to fill up with gasoline before leaving: only one station is on the course, at the junction with the Saskatchewan River, and prices are soaring there! Certainly, running out of gas would be the perfect excuse to linger in these enchanting settings, but the convenience store may be desired for a long time.
Otherwise, guided tours are organized every summer day and will allow you to discover the most important tourist spots of the Icefields Parkway. Many companies organize excursions aboard their "Snowcoach", a kind of bus specially designed for mountainous and snowy regions.
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| Icefields Parkway Alberta Canada |
Finally, it is not uncommon to see, all along the Icefields Parkway, cyclists who want to earn the right to see these landscapes with the sweat of their brow! By bike, the 230 km that make up the walk are usually done in 3 days. Note that the road is dotted with equipped campsites that will allow you to enjoy a well-deserved rest.
For those in the car, be careful and remember that cyclists can spring out of a bend at any time (although switchbacks have been intentionally avoided to limit accidents). Likewise, taking the Icefields Parkway will certainly give you the opportunity to spot some animals in their natural habitat. Caribou, foxes, bears, elks, etc. It's official, you are in Canada! Watch out for these wild animals, they do not know how to read the “DANGER” signs and have no other choice but to accept you on their territory. So be sure to be vigilant for them.