PART 5 - This is six-part travelogue of my memoirs of Canadian Rockies Travel – Banff, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Yoho, Icefield Parkway, and Jasper.
Is Icefields Parkway most beautiful road in world? Official brochures of park asks this question and answers itself – Yes and braggingly raises the question that how many highways can claim 230 km of UNESCO world heritage site of scenic splendor? After visiting this spectacular road, I have no choice but agree with official brochure that it is one of the world’s great scenic highways.
The magnificent two-lane Icefields Parkway connecting Lake Louise and Jasper runs through one of the most spectacular mountain landscapes on earth and sublime beauty of immense icefields, virgin forest, pristine highlands, mighty waterfalls, wild rivers, snowcapped mountains, shimmering lakes, and absolute wilderness. This spectacular highway twists and turns through remote, rugged, high-altitude alpine terrain of Bow, Mistaya, Saskatchewan, Sunwapta, and Athabasca valleys and offers incredible views on every turn as it climbs through jagged spines of high passes from Banff NP to Jasper NP.
There are many activities on Icefield Parkway – sight seeing, biking, hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, canoeing, fishing etc. Since it’s really hard to cover vast attractions offered by Icefield Parkway in single day, I have covered whole parkway in three days with at least one major hiking trail on each day. Still I feel like I have covered only fraction of what this parkway offers.
Day 10
First day, we visited Icefield Parkway from Lake Louise to Peyto Lake and returned Banff for overnight stay.
Hector Lake – Set at the foot of the Waputik Icefield, the lake is second large in Banff NP. Viewpoint provides excellent panoramic view of lake with shimmering reflections of Waputik range.
Crowfoot Glacier – Glacier resembling a crow’s foot, with 3 large toe-like extensions in early 20th century. The lower toe of this foot has retreated so much that now you can see only two toes from the highway overlook. Most scary thing is these days the middle toe is disappearing too.
Bow Lake, Bow Glacier, Bow Falls, and Num-ti-jah Lodge – Crystal clear blue-hued lake fed by Bow Glacier, one of the eight glaciers descending from Waputik Icefield with contrasting red colored Num-ti-jah lodge. 6.8 km roundtrip hike from the lodge to the mighty Bow falls - from busy lakeshore to the wild, rugged, and tranquil world of gravel flats of delta at the end of the lake through river canyons to the thunderous waterfall.
Peyto Lake viewpoint – Near Bow Summit parking lot, viewpoint overlooking charming glacially fed turquoise-colored Peyto Lake set against high peaks and densely forested Mistaya valley. Sweeping view of Peyto Glacier, one of the tongues of Wapta Icefield feeding glacial water to the Peyto Lake.
Day 11
Second day, we drove further on Icefield Parkway from the point where we returned yesterday and stop all major attractions up to border of Banff and Jasper National Parks at Sunwapta Pass. From Sunwapta Pass continued driving up to Jasper for overnight stay without stopping anywhere.
Waterfowl Lakes – Lakeside viewpoints showcasing majestic Howse Peak and Mt.Chesphren reflecting on lake.
Mistaya Canyon – 10-minute trail on the Mistaya River where limestone gorge delicately sculptured with potholes and natural arches by forces of water.
Mistaya Valley Viewpoints – Awe-inspiring views of Mistaya valley where mighty North Saskatchewan River meets with Howse and Mistaya River at Saskatchewan River Crossing.
Saskatchewan River Crossing – One of only two service center and only gas station on Icefield Parkway. Best place to enjoy shopping, resting, refilling stomach and car tank.
Weeping Wall – On Circus Mountain, a series of waterfalls tumbles more than 300 ft resembling mountain crying in a river of tears.
Big Bend & Big Hill – Icefield Parkway’s steep climb known as Big hall, and hairpin turn known as Big Bend offering commanding panoramic views of North Saskatchewan Valley and Icefields parkway below. It is also starting point for rough trails for Bridal Veil Falls and Panther Falls.
Parkers Ridge Hike – 5.9 km roundtrip, steep trail rises about 900 ft through high alpine meadow to the crest of the Parker Ridge for an unforgettable view of valley dominated by the Saskatchewan Glacier, largest of the Columbia Icefield’s six main glaciers.
Sunwapta Pass – At 6600 ft, Sunwapta pass marks the boundary between Banff and Jasper NPs. It is also divider between North Saskatchewan River from Saskatchewan Glacier flowing south to Atlantic oceans and Sunwapta River from Athabasca Glacier flowing north to arctic oceans.
Day 12
Third day, we returned Sunwapta Pass from where we resumed our sightseeing on Icefields Parkway and drove back to Jasper stopping all major attractions along the way.
Wilcox Pass Hike – Steep trail rises through lush forest and high alpine meadow to the crest of the Wilcox Pass for panoramic view of the Icefield Center, Mt.Athabasca, Columbia Icefield, and Athabasca Glacier and Dome Glacier, two of six glaciers descending down from Columbia Icefield.
Columbia Icefield – Covering an area of about 325 sq-kms with an estimated depth of more than 1000 ft, the Columbia Icefield is reminder of last ice age. It has six glaciers – Athabasca, Dome, Kitchener, and Stutfield is visible from Icefield and Saskatchewan is visible from Parkers Ridge.
Icefield center and Athabasca Glacier – It’s one of the service center on Icefield Parkway and interpretive display to explain ice age. You can see Athabasca Glacier from the parking lot of Icefield center. You can do glacial-walk on Athabasca Glacier via either walking on 1 km trail to the toe of Glacier or riding specially designed 4-wheel Snowcoach on glacier. We opted for first option, hiked all the way to the toe of Glacier and walked on glacier.
Stanley falls on beauty creek – 6.4 km roundtrip hike along with beauty creek passing through eight waterfalls within 2 km of distance ending at impressive Stanley falls.
Stutfield Glacier – Viewpoint overlooking Stutfield Glacier, one of six glaciers descending down from Columbia Icefield.
Upper and Lower Sunwapta falls – Waters of sunwapta river crash into limestone gorge forming series of thunderous waterfalls.
Tangle Falls – Viewpoint overlooking tangle creek cascading down as beautiful tangle falls.
Mt. Fryatt and Mt. Kerkeslin – Series of viewpoints overlooking mountain ranges at the backdrop of mighty Athabasca river belt.
Athabasca Falls – Athabasca River plunges 75 ft below through narrow gorge creating spectacle of roaring water, spray, and misty waterfall.
Whirlpool Valley, Mt. Hardisty, Mt. Edith Cavell, and Athabasca Pass – series of viewpoints overlooking spectacular valley of mountain ranges dominated by Athabasca Pass.
Other Attractions
Helen Lake and Dolomite Pass Hike, Bow Summit Hike, Sarbach Lookout and Howse Pass Hike, Glacier Lake Hike, Sunset Pass Hike, Bridal Veil Falls and Panther Falls Hike, Saskatchewan Glacier Hike, Snowcoach Tours on Athabasca Glacier, Valley of five Lakes Hike