The Icefields Parkway is infamous. Every few miles you just have to stop to soak in the raw beauty of it all. This drive is not for the faint of heart. The road is winding and full of stop-and-go cars elbowing to get a shot of the closest wildlife. We are going to share our favorite stops along this 144 mile stretch of road, so buckle in!

The Icefields Parkway begins in Lake Louise in Banff National Park and ends in Jasper National Park (or vice versa depending on your starting point) with glaciers and emerald lakes at every turn. Be sure to fill up your gas tank before you begin this drive! The only gas station between Jasper and Lake Louise is at the Saskatchewan River Crossing.

We recommend devoting at least a full day to do this drive, and it would be best if you can devote a full day going in each direction. We started our drive in Lake Louise and stayed in Jasper for three nights before turning around and doing the drive in the opposite direction. If you are planning to start in Jasper, just read this guide starting at the bottom! Pack snacks, get an early start, and you’ll be on your way.

Lake Louise

We began our journey in Banff and sped through Lake Louise to get an early start on the road. We recommend visiting on a separate day so you can devote plenty of time to this picture-perfect place. Parking can be incredibly challenging here and you want to get going pretty quickly if you are planning to get to Jasper in one day.

Crowfoot Glacier

Catch a glimpse of this magnificent glacier about 20 miles up the road via the pull-off. You get a wide view of the glacier from the road and this really sets the stage for what is to come. Snap a few photos and consider this quick stop a success.

Bow Lake

Bow Lake is fed by glacier water coming off the Bow Glacier via the Bow River and offers a chance to stretch your legs a bit. You can check out the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge for a quick bite and walk along the edge of the lake. We stopped here to eat our packed lunch and completed the Bow Glacier Falls hike, one of our absolute favorites of the trip. If you have time, it is nice to add a hike to your journey along the Parkway to break up the time spent sitting in your car.

Peyto Lake

A quintessential stop on the Parkway is Peyto Lake. The lake that spiked our initial interest in this region! Be prepared for some crowds at this stop and give yourself enough time to park and make the short walk to the viewpoint. If you are in a rental, consider parking along the side of the road as the parking lot is filled with potholes just waiting to dent your car. We read that this viewpoint would be closed in Summer 2019, but found the area still open upon arrival. If you are traveling in 2020, check the Parks Canada website to see when they are beginning the construction on the parking lot.

Mistaya Canyon

We visited this canyon on our return trip down the Parkway and had some light rain while here. The short hike to the canyon from the pull-off is a bit rocky, so be prepared with the proper footwear. The river is incredibly powerful as it flows through this canyon, so please be careful on the wet rock! We saw lots of kids jumping around on the rocks and my heart just couldn’t take the stress. Stick to the fenced bridge and the river’s edge if you are a wuss like me.

Panther Falls and Bridal Veil Falls

Just beyond the big hairpin pin, you will see a pull-off on the right for Bridal Veil Falls. Here you will have the opportunity to get a stunning view of the road you just came in on as well as jump on a short trail to see TWO waterfalls. We actually had some trouble finding the trail on our return trip, but read that it is located to the south side of the parking lot. We were tired and it was foggy, so I will blame it on that… Either way, we found our way to a nice viewpoint of the top of Panther Falls and Bridal Veil Falls out in the distance. A nice, quick stop with a big payoff!

Parker Ridge

Parker Ridge is one of my only regrets of this trip. My regret being that we did not complete this hike. We were tired from our hike to Bow Glacier Falls and planned to complete it on our return trip back from Jasper. Unfortunately, the weather was foggy and rainy on our return and the hike would not offer any views, so we kept on going. If you have a sunny day on your drive past here, immediately pull off and do it. Push through the pain! And if you do get here, pack lots of layers. We read that it can be very chilly up top!

Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier

Consider what you want to get out of this stop before you get here. There are A LOT of people stopping here and A LOT of tour options offered here. We decided to skip any formal tour options and just make the short walk to the toe of the glacier and read a bit of history about it. This was sufficient for us and we had no interest in stepping out onto the ice. If that is your thing, do it! They offer lots of tours out onto the glacier and you can relive Catherine and Sean’s first date from the Bachelor all day long. If you are like us and just want to make this a quick stop, pull onto the road leading right up the toe and not the huge parking lot on the right. Be prepared to get schooled on climate change while here. The rate at which this glacier is melting is fear-inducing!

Sunwapta Falls

We set our home base in Jasper at the Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge right here along the Icefields Parkway. This allowed us to visit these falls without all the crowds, so I can’t speak to what it is like during the daytime. The view of the falls from the bridge is quite spectacular and you can stop in the lodge for snacks and a bathroom break if this is just one stop on your journey to Jasper. At this point, you are getting pretty closer!

Honeymoon Lake

While not originally on our Icefields Parkway itinerary, this stop is worth it if you are traveling through this area at dusk. The lake is on the right side of the parkway and accessible via the campground. We were in awe of the glassy water and perfect reflection of the mountain range.

Athabasca Falls

You are almost to the end! We visited these falls on the morning of our first day in Jasper and finished this last bit of the Parkway on our way into town. We loved walking through the well-paved trails here and seeing the falls from many different viewpoints. Be sure to walk all the way down and check out where the falls meet the river. You may catch some folks heading out for a rafting trip from here.

Valley of the Five Lakes

This short (or long) hike is a great place to stretch your legs as you near downtown Jasper. We completed this hike during our stay in Jasper and loved the varying shades of emerald greens and blues in the different lakes. Check out our hiking guide for more info.

Downtown Jasper

You did it! You made it to the end of the Icefields Parkway! If this is your destination for a few days, be sure to check out Jasper Brewing Company for some great beer and food. There are plenty of things to do in Jasper and you can read our full guide to this National Park here. If you are able to travel back down the Parkway in the direction you came from, I highly recommend it as you will get brand new views and different perspectives. You also have more time to stop and complete various hikes along the way.

Let us know what your favorite stops are on the Icefields Parkway! This area is rich with hikes and beautiful vistas.

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