Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful drives on the planet, the Icefields Parkway is a 144 mile stretch through Canada’s Rocky Mountains. Connecting Banff and Jasper National Parks, the scenic drive can be done in a day and passes stunning glaciers, pristine lakes, raging waterfalls, and colossal mountains. Any trip to Banff or Jasper should include a drive down the Icefields Parkway, and that’s exactly what I did on my first trip to Alberta’s top destinations.
My friend and I were staying in Banff for our first two nights, so we decided to leave from Banff the morning of our third day, and spend the night in Jasper. The drive can easily be done in one day, but you will want to stop so often that you should not try to drive there and back in the same day. Therefore I suggest driving all the way to Jasper (or Banff is coming from Jasper), and returning the next day. That way, you can stop at more destinations on the way back that you didn’t have time for the first day. These are not ranked in order of how much I enjoyed them, but rather in order of how you would see them starting from Banff. Here are the 10 Best Stops on the Icefields Parkway.
Banff Highlights
1. CROWFOOT GLACIER VIEWPOINT
Starting your journey from Banff, one of your first stops will be the Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint. Here you can see an expansive view of the mountains, highlighted by a real life glacier. It might be the first glacier you see on the Icefields Parkway, but it won’t be the last. The glacier hangs between the massive mountains of the Rockies, suspended over the pristine Bow Lake, which is your next stop.
2. BOW LAKE
One of the first breathtaking sights you will see on the drive in Bow Lake. The deep turquoise of the water contrasts beautifully with the mountains jutting up from the shores. Bow Lake is about a one hour drive from Banff town center. It is right off the side of the road, it’s impossible to miss. There will most likely be a decent crowd pulled over admiring the pristine alpine lake. Make this one of your first stops on the Icefield Parkway. And visit it again on the way back as the weather and sunlight are always providing new perspectives.
3. PEYTO LAKE
One of the Best Lakes in Banff National Park, Peyto Lake is a must stop visit for anyone driving the Icefields Parkway. About a 5 minute drive from Bow Lake, the trail to the lake takes about 30 minutes round trip from the parking lot, with a few steep moments. The pavement is nice and easy but there are some elevation changes.
Once you reach the viewpoint you won’t regret leaving your car for this view. The lake looks fake, with wildly blue-green water still as can be, morphing into the trees. Spend some time admiring the view before trekking back up to the car.
4. WATERFOWL LAKE
Waterfowl Lake is another insanely beautiful lake just perched off to the side of the highway. For the best views, stop off after the lake entrance. There is also a campground at this lake, which I imagine would be an incredible spot to spend the night.
5. MISTAYA CANYON
Another 20 minutes down the road is the scenic Mistaya Canyon. There is a parking lot that will lead you to the trailhead. About 1.5 hours drive from Banff town center, Mistaya Canyon can be seen by walking down a boardwalk trail. The trail is relatively easy, depending on how far you want to venture, and you only need to walk about 10 minutes downhill to see the most impressive parts of the canyon. The stunning slot canyons are fun to explore and take in the wildness of nature.
Jasper Highlights
6. ATHABASCA GLACIER / COLUMBIA ICEFIELDS DISCOVERY CENTER
I promised you’d see more glaciers, and here’s one where you can get up close and personal with. About halfway through your Icefields drive, the Athabasca Glacier is a great spot to stop and break up the drive. It has bathrooms, accommodations, and food options - one of the rare places to stay or get food on the highway.
For adventure seekers, the Columbia Icefield Adventure center offers an “Ice Explorer” tour on the Athabasca Glacier, and admission to the famous Skywalk, where you can marvel at the Sunwapta valley from the glass-floored viewing platform. This is a very popular destination along the Icefields Parkway and worth the stop.
7. TANGLE CREEK FALLS
Just off the side of the road are the fascinating Tangle Creek Falls. A waterfall cascading down rocks, popping out in many different directions, this is a great stop over and easy for the whole family to enjoy. Be careful while driving past this area as many people are slowing down and crossing the street to see the falls up close. A visit here is quick but worth making to see more of the unique features of the Icefield Parkway.
8. SUNWAPTA FALLS
Possibly my favorite waterfall on the Icefields Parkway, Sunwapta Falls are a required stop on the trek through the Canadian Rockies. With an extra scenic backdrop, the falls wrap around a little tree island before plunging down into the slot canyons on the other side. You can explore the canyons and river through boardwalks, but a visit here won’t take too long.
9. ATHABASCA FALLS
Another thundering waterfall, Athabasca Falls is about 20 minutes down the road from Sunwapta Falls. These roaring falls are intense, loud, and, as practically everything on this drive, very picturesque. You can gaze into the falls from both sides of this waterfall, and a series of boardwalks and paths take you to different vistas of the waterfall and slot canyons.
10. EDITH CAVELL GLACIER
One of my favorite things to do in all of Jasper National Park was hike the trail to Edith Cavell Glacier. It’s about a 30 minutes detour off the Icefields Parkway, but you won’t believe your eyes when you reach the glacier. Hike in about 30 minutes across boardwalks over streams and turn the corner to see the massive glacier feeding waterfalls into a nearly fluorescent turquoise pool with icebergs. You will feel the chill of the glacier as you approach. Soak in the views of this once in a lifetime visit.
The Icefields Parkway is not to be missed if you are visiting the Canadian Rockies. You will get to see the best of both Banff and Jasper National Parks while admiring wild views the entire drive. In addition to these ten stops, some of the best views I experienced were when we just randomly pulled off the side of the road. If a trip down the Icefields Parkway is in store for you, make sure you stop at these ten incredible places.
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