Icefields Parkway

The northern section of Highway 93, connecting Lake Louise and Jasper. Over 232 km, glaciers, turquoise lakes and waterfalls appear constantly, earning it a reputation as one of the world's most beautiful roads.

The Icefields Parkway (the northern section of Highway 93) was completed in 1940. It starts in the south near Lake Louise in Banff National Park and runs north along the Continental Divide through Jasper National Park. It is 232 km long, and more than 100 glaciers line the route. From south to north, the highlights are Hector Lake, the Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake and Peyto Lake (a bright blue lake shaped like a wolf's head), Saskatchewan Crossing, and Sunwapta Pass, the highest point on the road at 2,035 m. Then comes the Columbia Icefield and the Athabasca Glacier, where you can ride an Ice Explorer snowcoach onto the glacier and walk the Glacier Skywalk. Continuing north, you'll pass Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls before reaching the town of Jasper. Driving without stopping takes about 3.5 hours, but a full day is recommended, or you can spend a night in a cabin along the way. The entire route requires a Canadian national park pass. There is only one gas station along the road, at Saskatchewan Crossing, so fill up before you leave. Long stretches have no cell signal. Bighorn sheep, mountain goats and black bears are common, so do not stop in the road to watch them. In winter, the road surface is icy, all services are closed, and snow tires are required. Check Parks Canada road conditions before departure.

Icefields Parkway

Along the route