The Icefield Parkway
Alberta's Highway 93, the Icefield Parkway, is one of the world's most unforgettable and scenic mountain roadways, offering ever-changing views of waterfalls, emerald lakes, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks. For 230 kilometres from Lake Louise to Jasper, the Parkway winds along the shoulder of the Continental Divide, passes by the most spectacular mountains of the Canadian Rockies, and crosses two major mountain passes. Driving time from one end of the Parkway to the other varies from more than three to as many as five hours, depending on traffic, the time of year and road conditions.
Motorists and cyclists travelling along this one-of-a-kind alpine highway are awed by unsurpassed mountain scenery including the Columbia Icefield, Bow and Crowfoot Glaciers, Athabasca Falls and Peyto Lake. Grizzly and black bears, moose, caribou, elk, big horn sheep, wolves and mountain goats are in abundance, and indeed motorists must remain vigilant at all times as so not to collide with these creatures as they wander across the highway foraging for food.
Alberta's Highway 93, the Icefield Parkway, is one of the world's most unforgettable and scenic mountain roadways, offering ever-changing views of waterfalls, emerald lakes, alpine meadows and snow-capped peaks. For 230 kilometres from Lake Louise to Jasper, the Parkway winds along the shoulder of the Continental Divide, passes by the most spectacular mountains of the Canadian Rockies, and crosses two major mountain passes. Driving time from one end of the Parkway to the other varies from more than three to as many as five hours, depending on traffic, the time of year and road conditions.
Motorists and cyclists travelling along this one-of-a-kind alpine highway are awed by unsurpassed mountain scenery including the Columbia Icefield, Bow and Crowfoot Glaciers, Athabasca Falls and Peyto Lake. Grizzly and black bears, moose, caribou, elk, big horn sheep, wolves and mountain goats are in abundance, and indeed motorists must remain vigilant at all times as so not to collide with these creatures as they wander across the highway foraging for food.
Leaving from Banff, travellers follow the Bow, Mistaya and North Saskatchewan rivers and experience such spectacular sights as Lake Louise, Bow Lake, Peyto and Crowfoot Glaciers, Mistaya Canyon and the Weeping Wall. Towards Jasper, the route passes Sunwapta Canyon and Athabasca Falls. This is a majestic beauty like no other, an unsurpassed wilderness habitat. From Banff, the driving distance to the Columbia Icefield is 189 km. From Jasper the distance to the Icefield is 103 km. There are twelve excellent park campsites (two year-round) spaced along the Parkway at regular intervals.
Photos by Joel Schenk
Photos by Joel Schenk
Athabasca and North Saskatchewan rivers
Athabasca Falls at km 31
Sunwapta Falls at km 55
Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Glacier and the
Columbia Icefield Centre at km 103
Sunwapta Pass, (elevation 2035m) marks the
boundary between Jasper and Banff National
Parks at km 108
The Weeping Wall at km 125
Saskatchewan River Crossing km 153
Mistaya Canyon trailhead km 159
Bow Summit and Peyto Lake viewpoint at
km 190
Trans-Canada Highway (end of Icefield
Parkway) km 230
Points of Interest
Sunwapta Pass and Sunwapta Falls
Athabasca Falls
Columbia Icefield Centre
Columbia Icefield
Parker's Ridge
Saskatchewan River Crossing (only location
for groceries and gas on the Parkway)
Mistaya Canyon
Bow Summit (2088m) and Peyto Lake
Crowfoot Glacier
Photo by Joel Schenk
The Icefield Parkway is open year round. In the winter, expect temporary closures as long as three days after heavy snowfalls as crews clear the highway of snow and avalanche debris. It is a good idea to check highway conditions on the Parkway before planning to drive anywhere along the route. To reach the Columbia Icefield, you must use the Parkway, and purchase a Parks Pass of at least one day's duration before being allowed access at either end. The present highway was only completed in 1939 and opened in 1940 as part of a Depression-era public-works program.
Commercial trucks are prohibited from using the Icefield Parkway. The maximum speed limit is 90 km/h (56 mph) although the limit is reduced at Saskatchewan River Crossing and the Columbia Icefield area. In winter, chains or all-season radial tires are required by law and road closures are not uncommon. Limited services are available at Saskatchewan River Crossing and the Icefield Centre, and then only from April to October. Gasoline is only available at Saskatchewan River Crossing, so fill the tank before leaving Jasper or Lake Louise.
Center photo byAdam's Gallery
Commercial trucks are prohibited from using the Icefield Parkway. The maximum speed limit is 90 km/h (56 mph) although the limit is reduced at Saskatchewan River Crossing and the Columbia Icefield area. In winter, chains or all-season radial tires are required by law and road closures are not uncommon. Limited services are available at Saskatchewan River Crossing and the Icefield Centre, and then only from April to October. Gasoline is only available at Saskatchewan River Crossing, so fill the tank before leaving Jasper or Lake Louise.
Center photo by
The Columbia Icefield Centre
Tourism
TheColumbia Icefield Centre , located on the Icefield Parkway at the base of Mt. Andromeda and Mt. Athabasca, was built in 1996 to replace the much smaller center previously found there. There is a small coffee shop stocked with quick snacks, and a dining lounge with more sophisticated dining, for those who feel a culinary treat is in order. Both are open only during regular business hours. Modern washrooms provide the last civilized toilets many climbers will see for days. There are ATM machines and tourist shops with souvenirs of the Columbia Icefield and the Rocky Mountains. The Columbia Icefield Chalet on the top floor of the Icefield Centre is a modern, if expensive hotel for those who don't want to camp, bivy or stay in nearby hostels.
On the main floor near the entrance is an Interpretive Center with videos and models of the Icefield, featuring the history of the area's glaciology, geology, and early mountaineering exploration and history. A huge fiberglass relief model of the Icefield, mountains and glaciers is fascinating and helps greatly in appreciating the topography and sheer size of the Columbia Icefield. There is plenty of helpfulColumbia Icefield information available at the Icefield Centre and on their various web pages, featuring movie clips and slide shows from the Athabasca Glacier, and information regarding the Icefield Parkway. A huge parking area ensures plenty of free parking for tourists, travellers, climbers and other backcountry users who happen to stop at the Icefield Centre. There are several pay phones in the parking area, available for use even during the months when the centre is closed.
Snocoach glacier tours onto the Athabasca Glacier can be arranged at the Icefield Centre. Privately led hikes are also available onto the glacier, under the supervision of local licensed guides. Veteran climber and ACC member Marcus Kellerhals leads glacier ski tours onto the Athabasca Glacier. Telescopes are mounted out on the terrace, and can be used to examine the various mountains in the area at close range. You can stand at one of the scopes, have a relaxing beverage and watch the intrepid adventures of climbers working their way up the North Face of Mt. Athabasca, or the Skyladder on Mt. Andromeda. It is not at all unusual for climbers near the Athabasca Glacier, the Icefield Centre or the Snocoach road to be the subject of photographs by hordes of awed tourists visiting the icefield for the first time. (So remember, if you are ever climbing one of the peaks close by....Smile! You're a tourist attraction!)
Photos by: Left:Brewster Transportation Center and Right: Travel Alberta
Tourism
The
On the main floor near the entrance is an Interpretive Center with videos and models of the Icefield, featuring the history of the area's glaciology, geology, and early mountaineering exploration and history. A huge fiberglass relief model of the Icefield, mountains and glaciers is fascinating and helps greatly in appreciating the topography and sheer size of the Columbia Icefield. There is plenty of helpful
Photos by: Left:
Park Wardens
In addition to Ranger Stations at Sunwapta, Pobotkan Creek and the town of Jasper, park wardens are based at the Icefield Centre. Route information, climbing conditions, weather reports, perusal of logbook entries, and a voluntary climber's check-in and check-out are among the services offered. Park Wardens, in addition to frequently climbing in the area themselves, have a full view of the two most frequently-climbed peaks, Mt. Athabasca and Mt. Andromeda. Remember, climbers: if you check in, you must remember to check out, or a costly search operation could be conducted, for which you could end up stuck with the bill. A helicopter search based out of Golden, B.C. will be expensive.
Photos by Dan Ronsky
In addition to Ranger Stations at Sunwapta, Pobotkan Creek and the town of Jasper, park wardens are based at the Icefield Centre. Route information, climbing conditions, weather reports, perusal of logbook entries, and a voluntary climber's check-in and check-out are among the services offered. Park Wardens, in addition to frequently climbing in the area themselves, have a full view of the two most frequently-climbed peaks, Mt. Athabasca and Mt. Andromeda. Remember, climbers: if you check in, you must remember to check out, or a costly search operation could be conducted, for which you could end up stuck with the bill. A helicopter search based out of Golden, B.C. will be expensive.
Photos by Dan Ronsky
Topographic Maps
All topographic maps are in 1:50000scale / distance between grid lines 1000m (1km). Clockwise from top left:
All topographic maps are in 1:50000scale / distance between grid lines 1000m (1km). Clockwise from top left:
- Map #1 - topo depicting Snow Dome, Mt. Kitchener, the Dome Glacier and Athabasca Glacier
- Map #2 - topo depicting Watchman Peak, Thompson Pass, Mt. Spring-Rice, North and South Rice Glaciers
- Map #3 - topo depicting Mt. Wilcox, Nigel Peak, Icefield Centre, Columbia Icefield Campground, Wilcox Campground, Icefield Parkway, Athabasca Glacier, Sunwapta Pass, Snocoach road, Wilcox Pass, and Sunwapta Lake
- Map #4 - topo depicting Mt. Columbia, Columbia Glacier, Alberta / B.C. boundary, Athabasca River. The Twins (unseen) are to the north of Mt. Columbia
- Map #5 - topo depicting Snow Dome, the Dome Glacier, the Stutfield Glacier, Columbia Glacier (lower left corner)
- Map #6 - topo depicting Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda, Saskatchewan Glacier, Athabasca Glacier, Snocoach road, (red line) Sunwapta Lake, Hilda Peak
- Map #7 - topo depicting Mt. Bryce, Bush River Road approach (lower left corner, red line), Bryce Creek, Castleguard Glacier
- Map #8 - depicting North Twin, Twins Tower, South Twin, Athabasca River, Stutfield Peak, Stutfield Glacier
- Map #9 - depicting the busiest area of the Columbia Icefield; the area around Mt. Athabasca, the Icefield Centre and the Icefield Parkway.
- Map # 10 - depicting major highways in the Rocky Mountains near the Columbia Icefield
Columbia Icefield Photo Gallery
