Icefields Parkway

It could be called the land of Lakes, Rivers, Waterfalls and Glaciers! Here in the Canadian Rockies on the first week of July, traveling from the town of Jasper 233 km to the community of Lake Louise along the spectacular Icefields Parkway (93N), the high peaks are still covered in a blanket of snow. As the summer sun thaws it, the runoff creates cascading waterfalls and refills the glacial blue and green Lakes and rivers.

The Parkway is like a thin ribbon of asphalt surrounded by high peaks and pine trees, connecting Jasper National Park with Banff National Parks. It also gives access to Yoho NP and Kootenay NP.

Jasper National Park

We spent several days in a campground called Whistlers just outside of the town of Jasper. The campground was well designed with 781 campsites laid out in loops surrounding natural areas. Our site was fairly well screened off from our neighbors by trees and shrubs, but we still had views of meadows and mountains. In fact We saw an elk walk through the campsites adjacent to us to graze in the meadow in the center of our loop on a couple of occasions! 

The location of the campground gave us access to some of the sights of Jasper National Park. One popular destination was Maligne Canyon, where a walk along the canyon’s edge offers incredible Birds Eye views from bridges revealing the rushing river far below. The walls of the canyon are deep and narrow forcing the river to flow rapidly and in several places creates waterfalls as the canyon drops down the mountain.

Annette Lake and Beauvert Lake 

We have come across plenty of shattered tree stumps like this one and not thought too much about what it would be like to have a tree fall nearby while we hike. Until we were walking around peaceful, serene Annette Lake and heard what sounded like an incredibly loud gunshot, followed by a tree crashing through the canopy to make a loud thud on the forest floor. Believe me the adrenaline kicked in and we were frantically trying to see which tree might be crashing down and would it fall on us! Fortunately it fell away from the trail, but it was a shock for sure.

Icefield Parkway 

After enjoying the area of Jasper National Park we packed up and headed down the Icefield Parkway enjoying the stops where we could find parking for our truck and trailer!

Athabasca Falls is a very popular site for a very good reason. (Steve found a place to park!) A short walk down the bank of the Athabasca River led to viewing areas on both sides of the river via a pedestrian bridge just downstream from the falls. 

A trail took us down several flights of stairs through a canyon that was an older route of the river giving us a window into what the river bed is like.  Very Cool!

Just upstream from the turbulent falls the river is wide and  quite peaceful! After passing through the narrow canyon waterfall the river once again is very calm.

Glacier Views

As we neared the Columbia Icefield we were stunned with a view point of the dramatic Stutfield Glacier rising high above a valley. This was North of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center, which was as far as we had traveled two years ago, so this stunning glacier was new to us!

Peyto Lake

A short hike from the parking lot along Icefield Parkway leads to decking on the side of the mountain overlooking the incredible blue waters of Peyto Lake stretched across the valley below. 

Banff National Park

Just as the American National Parks, the Canadian Parks are having to evaluate how to accommodate the surge in tourism that is happening over the past couple of years. Since we were in some of these areas two years ago during the same time of year we can really see the impact of the increasing popularity of travel to these parks. 

To help with overcrowding, two of our favorite destinations, (and every one else’s) Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in Banff National Park are limiting or eliminating onsite parking, as their lots are just too small. Shuttle passes must be purchased online prior to the date you want to visit. The parking lot for the area ski lifts is used as a “park and ride” lot, and buses shuttle visitors out to the lakes. Once at the lakes the crowds were unbelievable as the shuttles were completely sold out for the day.

Moraine Lake

Ascending the Rockpile for elevated views of the Lake is a first look for most visitors. When the Lake first comes into view everyone is wowed by the aquamarine blue of the glacial lake with the snow covered peaks beyond! 

The Rockpile offers several different

levels and many places to sit and enjoy the views and to people watch; all are interested in instagram worthy selfies and it’s fun to watch them posing!

Once filled with the sights from up high, a Lakeside hike to the end of one length of the lake offers water level views back to the front end of the Lake. Canoes can be rented here, but because it was a windy day all the canoes were tied up at the dock.

Lake Louise

Home to the iconic Fairview  Lake Louise, this destination was super crowded along the Lakeshore, where once again everyone is jockeying for a good spot for a group photo or selfie! The winds had died down so a lot of people were renting canoes for a paddle out on the crystal blue waters.

We chose to hike a 1.8 km trail, (a lot of incline but we made it) to the Fairview Lookout for some fabulous views of the Chateau, with the mountains beyond. The canoes on the lake looked like toys and the people were so small from our high perch on the hillside. We had only seen the lake from the shoreline so this was a treat to see it from these heights!

Psalms 135:1, 3

Praise the LORD!

Praise the name of the LORD;

Praise Him,  O you servants of the LORD!

Praise the LORD,  for the LORD is good;

Sing praises to His name,  for it is pleasant.