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Finally, it's time for the beautiful road trip along Canada's Icefields Parkway . Ancient glaciers, turquoise lakes, forests teeming with wildlife, and towering peaks make this route a truly wonderful experience that you can't miss.

On our 21-day route through the Canadian Rockies , after our visit to Banff National Park we were on our way to Jasper National Park , which we ultimately could not access due to a large fire.

To get from one national park to another, the road that connects them is this one, one of the most impressive in the world and one of the must-sees in our guide to traveling to Canada.

On this occasion, as in almost all our trips, we are taking a route through Canada in a motorhome , which makes the road trip along the Icefields Parkway even more special.

TIP: If you want to do this road trip through Canada in a campervan like we did, we recommend renting one. We suggest doing so in Calgary or Vancouver with Roadsurfer , a company we would definitely use again. Roadsurfer gave us a $ 150 discount that you, as readers, can also take advantage of by applying the DISCOUNT CODE: KUCAVANAAMERICA

How to access and visit the Icefields Parkway 

The Icefields Parkway connects Lake Louise with Jasper National Park , in the province of Alberta, where along its route it is accompanied by the Bow River and its fabulous valley, as well as the Sunwapta River valley, a little further up.

To get there, if you go by private transport, it is very easy. You have to go up to Lake Louise and then go on the road and make all the stops you want and like from those I detail below.

If you don't have a rental car or your own car, or a motorhome or campervan, or you'd like to go guided, you can also take a very comprehensive 11-hour tour of the Icefields Parkway that departs from Banff and includes a visit to a glacier in an off-road vehicle and tickets to see the most interesting sights along the Icefields Parkway.

Why the Icefields Parkway is a must-see

The Icefields Parkway, Highway 93, is one of the most impressive roads in the world , with 232 kilometers of asphalt, located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies and opened in 1941.

It has been recognized as one of the ten best panoramic routes in the world.

It's a road located between the so-called ice fields, glaciers that you see all along the road. The Columbia Icefield is the one you'll see most closely. In fact, there are two major glaciers within this ice field that we'll see from just a few meters away during the road trip: the Athabasca Glacier , the only one accessible by road, and its less accessible sibling, the Saskatchewan Glacier , which is twice the size of the former.

A road with breathtaking scenery filled with towering glaciers, scenic emerald-colored glacial lakes, and fairytale mountains.

If there is one thing that stands out about this road as a tourist attraction, it is undoubtedly the natural beauty of its landscapes, where every kilometre is worthwhile. For that reason alone, it is a must-see.

Furthermore, you'll see that everything is ready for your visit . There are viewpoints with well-equipped parking at the main attractions, making this a wonderful road trip destination.

Discovery Pass to access the Icefield

To access Canada's National Parks, you need a pass, which must be displayed in your vehicle and carried with you at all times. Ticket booths where you can purchase a pass are located just inside the Icefields Parkway. This road runs through Banff National Park in the south and Jasper National Park in the north.

There are passes for a single day and national park, or if you're going to be there for more than 7 days like we were, and visiting different National Parks, the one that's worth buying is the annual pass called the Discovery Pass.

There are different Discovery Passes at different prices . If you're traveling as a single adult, there's one for $75, if you're traveling as a family or group, there's another for $151 , and if you're a senior citizen, it's $64. However, it's only valid for one vehicle. In our case, we opted for the Family/Group Discovery Pass.

With the Family Discovery Pass, we can access more than 80 destinations in Canada's National Parks and historic sites for up to 7 people in one vehicle.

Planning your road trip: tips for the Icefield Parkway

The Icefield Parkway is a beautiful road, but also one of the wildest and most dangerous there is.

Fires, such as the one that closed the road this past July, or thawing, heavy snowfall or winds can affect traffic at any time of the year. 

Furthermore, it's a road that experiences extremely heavy traffic every summer due to the large number of tourists. More than 100.000 vehicles travel along it each month in July and August. In total, more than 1,2 million visitors travel along the Icefields Parkway every year.

Finally, the major drawback of this road is that you won't have any coverage or internet connection for almost the entire 232 km of road , so be careful and disconnect.

Therefore, we recommend that you plan your route well before setting off and follow these tips:

0 The first primordial advice

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1 Check the road conditions before setting off on the Icefield Parkway

The first thing we recommend you do before embarking on this legendary road to Jasper is to check the road conditions on Alberta's official road information website.

Then also check Canada's official Alertable website to make sure there are no emergency alerts for fire, storm, tornado, etc.

Don't rely on your feeling and check the web first. Roads are often closed due to fires, snow or other reasons. Check and take the necessary precautions.

2 Fill up with gas before entering the Icefields Parkway

Fill up with gas in Jasper or Lake Louise before heading out onto the Icefields Highway. There's only one gas station along the route, located at Saskatchewan River Crossing Resort , and it 's more expensive than in Jasper or Lake Louise, plus you might find yourself in line.

3 Disconnect from your mobile phone on Icefields Parkway

There is no mobile coverage along the Icefields Highway , just as there is no cell phone coverage in Jasper and Banff National Parks outside of population centers.

So enjoy the break and exchange it for the views.

4 Plan your visits, meals and accommodations on the Icefields Parkway carefully

Just like there's only one gas station, there are very few options for food and lodging along the Icefields Parkway. Therefore, if you plan to eat or sleep along the route, plan ahead and book well in advance.

In total, there are 13 campsites, 6 hostels and 3 tourist resorts along the 232 km route.

What to do and see on the Icefields Parkway

In the next section I will try to list all the attractions you will be able to visit and see on the Icefields Parkway route.

The order is the one you will find there when accessing from Lake Louise towards Jasper.

Bow Lake

At the headwaters of the Bow River, which flows south through its valley to Banff and the city of Calgary, we find the glacially formed Bow Lake.

This lake is the first stop you can make as you head out on the road and is a perfect place to see the Crowfoot Glacier (shaped like a rooster's foot), Bow Glacier, Crowfoot Mountain and Mount Thompson.

Peyto Lake 

This lake is undoubtedly the most visited and photographed lake in the Canadian Rockies. Its brilliant emerald color is breathtaking. For us, it was one of our favorites on our entire trip. It completely mesmerized us.

The color is the result of the detachment, during the summer, of significant quantities of glacial rock sandstone that flows into the lake, and these suspended rock particles give the lake its impressive turquoise color.

To get the best photo, you have to park in the Bow Summit parking lot at 2088 meters, which is also the highest point on this road and all of Canada's roads.

From this parking lot to the viewpoint is about a 400-meter walk that's well worth it. And if you'd like an even better viewpoint, there's another one 3 km away.

Waterfowl Lake

Another incomparable lake, with waters ranging from turquoise, green and emerald depending on the light that reaches it.

The car park is small, but it is right next to the road and you don't have to walk to get to the edge of Waterfowl Lake. Just go down a step and you can touch the spectacular water.

A beautiful lake, not as crowded as the other two above.

Mistaya Canyon

An impressive canyon with turquoise waters where the Bow River flows. From the parking lot on the road, in 1 km you can see the viewpoint from a wooden bridge.

It is a beautiful canyon, with thick rocks and a narrow path for the water, very curious.

Saskatchewan River Crossing

This intersection and location on the Icefields Parkway is the ideal spot to stop for restroom breaks, gas, and a meal at the restaurant. In fact, it's the only service area along the highway.

In addition, three impressive rivers intersect at this point : the North Saskatwhewan, the Howse, and the Mistaya.

Finally, you should know that routes to the Columbia Icefield depart from here.

Weeping Wall

The direct translation of Weeping Wall is Wall of Tears . From this location and stopping point, you can see a famous wall of tears. A mountain with a river and waterfalls that appears to be weeping. The mountain is Cirrus , and from this vantage point, you can see water cascading from a height of 100 meters.

Parker Ridge 

The Parker Ridge Trail parking lot in northern Banff National Park is a must-see for those looking for a short hike to gain elevation and enjoy the views. The trail 's objective is to climb to a point where you can admire a multitude of mountain ranges and the Saskatchewan Glacier (the longest in the Rockies). There's a 3-km (2.2 mi) round-trip hike that takes approximately two hours and ascends 250 meters (820 feet) for a good view of the glacier and mountains. However, if you visit during the summer, this trail is closed to preserve the fragile landscape . So, if you're there in the summer, you'll have to be content with parking and enjoying the views from the parking lot.

Columbia Icefield

The next stop on the Icefields Parkways route is the Columbia Icefield parking lot.

The Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in the Rockies, extending across both sides of Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, and is one of the largest south of the Arctic Circle.

At this point we find the tongue of the Athabasca glacier , the closest and most accessible from the road.

By 4×4 bus and from the Glacier Skywalk viewpoint 

During the summer months, you can travel to the glacier in the comfort of large " snow buses " that depart from this parking lot, or simply admire them from here or from the Glacier Skywalk . This pay-to-enter observation deck, 280 meters above the Sunwapta Valley, features a beautiful glass walkway and is located at the Columbia Icefields Centre , which also houses a natural history museum offering an in-depth look at glaciers. There, you can learn how they form, grow, and retreat.

On foot to the glacier tongue

Just in front of the Visitor Center, there's a trail leading to the Athabasca Glacier's tongue. Along the way, you can see evidence of the glaciers' rapid retreat over the last century, marked by various signs. In 2023, the Athabasca Glacier was measured to have melted more ice than in any of the previous 10 years.

In this regard, Parks Canada works to foster understanding and appreciation of glaciers and their ecological integrity for present and future generations.

The trail is marked as number 52 (moderate) of 1,8 km round trip and 60 m of elevation gain.

Bring a jacket, gloves and a warm hat to protect yourself from the bitter cold wind. Once you cross the bridge over a stream of meltwater from the glacier, you will walk at times on ice-smoothed limestone surfaces that were under the ice in the 1950s. The trail becomes steeper and reaches the top of a rock bench, where you can see the edge of the glacier just ahead.

Finally, be careful: the glacier is dangerous!

For your safety, do not cross the barriers. People have died after falling into deep, hidden crevasses called crevasses in the glacier.

Tangle Falls

Tangle Falls is a waterfall located right next to the Icefields Parkway. To visit it, park in the roadside parking lot and cross the road at the crosswalk; you'll see it right there.

The waterfall is popular with ice climbers in winter and a spectacle in summer that takes up little downtime.

Sunwapta Falls

A little further on we found a parking lot to visit another waterfall 100 meters away, very close to Jasper town.

The waterfall has a drop of approximately 18 meters . The falls are particularly impressive in late spring and early summer, when snowmelt is high. These falls are fed by the Athabasca Glacier and its meltwater.

Athabasca Falls

Finally, here we find the last point of interest where we can park on the Icefields Parkway before reaching Jasper town. More waterfalls.

The most impressive and powerful waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies . Athabasca Falls is located 30 kilometers south of the city of Jasper, practically on its doorstep.

The waterfalls are impressive for the volume and force of the water, less so for their height. They can be safely visited and observed from several viewing platforms and well-marked walking trails.

What walking routes can you take on the Icefields Parkway?

Below are the 5 most popular walks you can take along Icefields Parkway.

• Valley of the Five Lakes:  Trails 9, 9a, and 9b (moderate); 4,5 km loop; 66 m elevation gain; 2 hours. Trailhead: 9 km south on the Icefields Parkway.
• Wilcox Pass –  Trail 50 (moderate); 3,4 km return to red chairs, 1 hour; 8 km return to pass, elevation gain/loss 390 m, 2-3 hours. Trailhead: Parking area on the left side of the entrance road to Wilcox Creek Campground, 3,1 km south of the Icefield Centre.
• Nigel Step –  Trail 130 (moderate); 14,4 km return; 365 m elevation gain/loss; 5 hours return. Trailhead: 13 km south of the Icefield Centre, park at the beginning of a closed road on the east (left) side of the Icefields Parkway. Do not block the gate.
• Parker Ridge –  Trail 51 (moderate); 5,4 km return; 250 m elevation gain/loss; 3 hours return. Trailhead: 9 km south of the Icefield Centre on the Icefields Parkway, past the Hilda Creek Lodge. Now closed in summer with more people.
• Toe of the Glacier      Trail 52 (moderate); 1,8 km round trip; 60 m elevation gain; 1 hour. Trailhead: Across from the Icefield Centre, at the end of Toes of the Glacier Road.

Icefields Parkway map what to see

Below is the Icefield map with everything you can do and see on the Icefield Parkway. It's a map we made to plan our route. Not only does it have the walking routes you can take and the points of interest on the Icefield Parkway, but it also has parking lots and campsites. I hope you find it useful.

Conclusions and final tips on the Icefields Parkway

Without a doubt, this road is a must-see on any Canadian road trip . It was one of the places where the scenery captivated us the most. It was a shame it was closed from the Columbia Glacier due to the Jasper fires. We couldn't see all of it.

We will definitely be back, we will finish seeing it and we will visit Jasper on another route to Alaska.

We hope you found the post useful. Remember to comment below the post.

Good route!