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Driving the Icefields Parkway: Lake Louise to Athabasca Glacier

May 9, 2017 by Heather 4 Comments

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How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

Thank you to the Banff and Alberta Tourism Boards for hosting me. As always, all opinions and recommendations are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

If you are taking a trip to Lake Louise in Banff National Park, you MUST take a day trip to drive the Icefields Parkway. The views and natural landscapes are some of the most gorgeous sites in the world. You don’t want to miss Driving the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to Athabasca Glacier!

About the Icefields Parkway

The Icefields Parkway actually starts in Banff and goes all the way up to Jasper in the beautiful province of Alberta, Canada. Normally a 146 mile (235 km) drive in its entirety, I drove the Parkway from Lake Louise to the Athabasca Glacier making it about an 80 mile (130 km) one-way drive.

Getting to the Parkway from Lake Louise

Follow the Trans-Canada Highway 1 going west from Lake Louise for a little over a mile. Take the exit for Highway 93N/Icefields Parkway. Watch for it closely because it’s easy to miss! Even though this particular stretch is only about 80 miles, give yourself most of the day (if not all of it) to truly be able to enjoy all the beauty that calls this Parkway home!

What To See Along The Parkway

Crowfoot Glacier

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

Located on the left about 20 miles north of Lake Louise, there is a lookout point on the south side of Bow Lake for Crowfoot Glacier. It was named by explorers because it was shaped like a crow’s foot when they discovered it. The glacier feeds Bow Lake.

Bow Lake

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

Head north on the Parkway just a little ways and stop at Bow Lake.

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

It is one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park. Make sure you get out and walk around the lake. The watercolors are beautiful and the mountains provide a very majestic backdrop!

Snow Forest

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

Not frequently mentioned, make sure you notice Snow Forest.

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

As you continue on the Parkway, make your way to Peyto Lake. After you park, you have to walk a trail to get to the lake. Snow Forest is on the way.

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

To me, it was just a really pretty place and reminded me of a winter wonderland that I’ve seen so many times on TV!

Peyto Lake

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

Perhaps the highlight of the drive for me was Peyto Lake. I had no idea of the beauty I was about to see.

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

The first time we went, it was a cloudier day and so there were shadows on the lake. Still pretty impressive right?

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

When we returned on a sunnier day, we were treated to this. Yes, the water is that turquoise. No, this photo is NOT edited!!

Saskatchewan Crossing

This is the half-way point between Banff and Jasper and where Highways 93 and 11 meet. The important thing about the Saskatchewan Crossing is there is a general store to grab snacks and get gas if you need it. This is the LAST GAS STATION until you get to Jasper!

Athabasca Glacier

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

Located in Jasper National Park, the Athabasca Glacier is part of the Columbia Icefield. It is the most-visited glacier in North America due to its easy accessibility. This photo was taken with my old camera before I got my newer camera (which I love!) so the quality isn’t as high.

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

The Icefield Interpretive Center is located across the street from the glacier. There are restrooms, a restaurant, gift shop, and picnic tables; however, there is no gas station! This is where you park and can buy tickets.  Once you have your tickets, you board regular buses to take you across the street…

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

and hop on one of these guys to take you up on the glacier! These are all-terrain snow coaches.

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

This bus on steroids manhandles the second steepest hill in North America. As our guide told us, “I can’t guarantee this is the steepest hill you might go down, but it is the steepest hill you will go down on a bus!” It is an 18-degree incline!

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

Once again, watch for wildlife along the route! These bighorn sheep were everywhere that day!

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

When you arrive up on the glacier, you can walk around. They even had a Canadian flag to hold! CAUTION: Be careful as there are crevasses and rushing waters that you can fall into. Stay in the guided areas!

How to see Icefields Parkway Athabasca Glacier Alberta Canada

They even encourage you to drink the glacier water which I’m sure is very fresh! However, the little girl who hopped into my photo trying to get said water made me a bit nervous! Thankfully, she didn’t fall in!

Waterfall on Athabasca Glacier

I could’ve watched and listened to this all day. For some reason, I was mesmerized by it!

Tips for Driving the Icefields Parkway

  1. Watch the weather to ensure the clearest day possible for driving the Icefields Parkway. For the Athabasca Glacier, later in the afternoon is sometimes better. When we started our trip up the glacier, it was very overcast. As we were coming back down it was clearing up.
  2. Allow a whole day if possible to drive this particular segment of the Parkway.
  3. Be sure to have a full gas tank and remember the *last gas station* on the way to the Columbia Icefields is at the Saskatchewan Crossing.
  4. Bring a picnic lunch or at least good snacks and plenty of water because there aren’t many options along the route.
  5. For most of the drive, there is no cell coverage. If you are driving alone, be sure to let someone know where you are going.
  6. Be on the lookout for wildlife. This is a great drive to spot bears, moose, bighorn sheep, elk, etc. Keep those cameras ready!
  7. There is a little bit of a walk/hike to Peyto Lake. It’s easy to slightly moderate.
  8. The Icefield Interpretive Center is closed during the winter which is mid-Oct through April.
  9. If it is cloudy on your way to the glacier casting shadows on Bow Lake or Peyto Lake, be sure to stop on your way back if it’s sunny. I promise (especially with Peyto Lake) it is worth it!
  10. Get ready to see some of the most spectacular scenery and amazing color that I have yet to see anywhere else!

PIN IT!

Title pin for Pinterest

I hope this information is helpful and encourages you to take this drive. It is one of the prettiest you will ever go on! If you’ve been, leave me a comment and let me know where all you stopped and which is your favorite!

‘Til next time…

Trimm Travels,

Heather
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Categorized: Destinations · Tagged: Alberta, Canada, Lake Louise, Road Trips

Leave a Reply - I Love Comments!

  1. Patti Christensen says

    September 4, 2019 at 7:05 am

    Heather,
    Can this drive be done in the fall?

    Reply
    • Heather says

      September 4, 2019 at 1:33 pm

      Hi Patti-Yes it can be! I’ve done it twice-once in earlier August and once the last week of September. So most of the photos you see in this post (not the Athabasca Glacier ones) are from the fall. On the fall drive, we didn’t go all the way to Athabasca so you would have to double-check to see if it’s open all year and when it closes if not. Thanks for reading! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jan says

    January 17, 2022 at 10:50 am

    Sounds amazing.. at the planning stage.. intend to drive on to jasper, staying at the glacier view lodge.. on the way…would you recommend two nights there.. or would one be enough.
    Travelling from UK

    Reply
    • Heather says

      January 23, 2022 at 7:28 pm

      Hi Jan, that’s awesome! It’s such a beautiful part of Canada. Just to clarify…are you asking should you spend two nights on the way from Glacier View Lodge to Jasper or two nights in Jasper? Let me know and thanks for reading! 🙂

      Reply

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Welcome to Trimm Travels!

Hi! I'm Heather and I like to say I'm a hybrid as I'm a born and bred Southern girl who lived in California for a few years and left part of her heart there! I have a passion for travel, food and photography and I am so excited to share my experiences with all of you! I hope to discover as much of God's creation as possible before I leave it and I would love to have you follow along on my journey! Read More…

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