Icefields Parkway

The Icefields Parkway, or Hwy 93, is a scenic drive between Banff and Jasper that has visitors flocking from around the world. Some people call it the Jasper Icefields, and some just refer to it as “the Parkway." Regardless, it’s where one can come to enjoy a drive-in nature, surrounded by waterfalls, rock spires, ancient glaciers, and turquoise lakes. The Icefields Parkway has been deemed one of the most beautiful road trips in the entire world, and for good reason not only are you in the Canadian Rockies, but each and every turn on this road is met with mountains, icefields, waterfalls, and tons of glorious stop-offs that will have any visitor beaming with delight. Being here for the first time, we had no time to doze off during the ride or to even blink your eyes. We were just wonderstruck at each point.

The Icefields Parkway is a 232 km stretch of double-lane highway taking you along the Continental Divide. It runs from Lake Louise in Banff to the Town of Jasper, which are both fantastic places in themselves. You can drive the parkway from Jasper to Banff, and from Banff to Jasper. In our case I have stories to tell you both ways :)

Mount Chephren and Waterfowl Lakes

Mount Chephren is a mountain located in the Mistaya River Valley of Banff National Park. Chephren was named after Chephren, the 4th dynasty Egyptian pharaoh. The mountain was originally names as a pyramid mountain but since it conflicted in name with an identical peak in Jasper, so it was renamed as its present name. Here is a beautiful view of the Waterfowl lakes with Chephren mountain. Mount Chephren and Waterfowl lakes have beautiful views from the Icefields Parkway. Fun fact is Mount Chephren is also known as the female Grizzly bear territory as they raise their cubs around in here. Did you know male grizzly is very competent with its cub, the reason being that its notable to mate with its female grizzly as she is always busy raising them and also because it is afraid that the cub may mate the female...phew! Now we are talking about the wild-home and wild-life here.

Bow Lake

Off the Icefields Parkway (Hywy 93) is this beauty in the Canadian Rockies that sits at an elevation of 6K feet and is one of the largest lakes in the Banff National Park. It's fed by the meltwater from the Bow Glacier in the Wapta Icefields

Driving down this route, I collected innumerable memories, some were from the gypsy pot of commentary, a few from the social interaction, truck load of family expressions and their conversations around the place, infinite thoughts seeing the wild animal galloping along and infinite breeze of these ineffable views all around you. Nishant and Suhana's facial expressions proved that I went delirious taking pictures and videos. Question is who wouldn't? My surroundings were all I could die for.

Lot went into the planning of this trip, months and hours of dedication. Only caveat is that regardless, my trip advisor cloud itinerary did not work. Hell! How could it? The idea of having all in one app was very thriving though! :)

Peyto Lake

A steep hike from the car park (approx. 6800 ft level) but well worth as the color of the water is amazing turquoise blue. So, the color is the reflection of light through the rock flour that seeps along with the glacial debris into the flowing water. Slit settles down and the flour particles refract the sunlight. Simple physics that went straight into my head, what failed to reside is my brain is the query of tourist to the Canadian government about painting the lake beds with blue color every season...giggles...seriously!! How? I mean how could that question be even framed!!!!!

You got to work to earn! Here we go on the hike again...

Hanging Glacier or Crowfoot Glacier

Crowfoot Glacier is located 32 km (20 mi) northwest of Lake Louise and can be viewed from the Icefields Parkway. The glacier is situated on the northeastern flank of Crowfoot Mountain. The glacier has retreated since the end of the Little Ice Age and now has lost one entire lobe; leaving behind what you see in this pic. and can be viewed from the Icefields Parkway. The glacier is situated on the northeastern flank of Crowfoot Mountain.

Snowbird Glacier

A remarkable formation of this glacier is that of a snowbird diving down.

Weeping Falls

Tangle Falls

Stutfield Glacier

Stutfield Glacier is located near the border of Banff National Park. it is named after Hugh Stutfield, this glacier falls 3000 ft in a rugged way as its ice...head falls. Due to the cragginess of the rock and the way the ice is precariously positioned on it, Stutfield Glacier is arguably the most picturesque of the glaciers to view in the Rocky Mountains of Canada

Columbia Icefields

The Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in North America's Rocky Mountains and is the source for 8 different glaciers. By this time, I had started revamping my general geographical knowledge of the glaciers, icefields and valleys. Mr. Lal did not really help here to be very candid!

We had reserved the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure tour that included the Ice Explorer Ride to the Glacier & Skywalk. Take a look at the massive Ice Explorer, the wheels as tall as 5'6" are worth a million dollars for one bus. Phew! The next exciting thing was walking on and touching the famous 25,000-year-old Athabasca Glacier.

When we routed to the Skywalk, I presumed that it would be something like the space needle in Seattle, US. Boy! I was naive to think like that. We ambled on the glass-bottomed Skywalk above the Sunwapta Valley, 918 feet (279 meters) below at our own relaxed pace. The experience is not what I ever had in my life ever. Your adrenaline kicks in when you look down...seriously! Something that cools you down is the viewing of the mountain goat family underneath who run play and scroll in the valley for your entertainment. How welcoming indeed!

Glacier Skywalks

Suhana was super excited to taste the glacier water straight from the Athabasca Glacier, however she kept remembering how much she drank when the guide mentioned something on the way back. What was it? Well,,,,the glacier water is filled with rock flour that acts as a natural laxative...hahaha...lol :) Suhana.... Now why did the guide had to tell us that on the way back? Let's keep it as an adventure. Knowledge adds on that, these glaciers currently lose depth at a rate of about 5 metres per year and has receded more than 1.5 km and lost over half of its volume in the past 125 years. Wow!

Mountain Goats

Icefields Parkway led us to the beautiful Sunwapta Rocky Mountain lodge in Jasper, that coming up in the next up...behold!