Thursday June 29th
km total km elev. (m)  
0 397 1100 Whistler's Campground, Jasper
Brilliant sunshine for our first day on the Icefields Parkway.
2 399   Wapiti Campground
4 401   Park Toll Gate
The group pass that we purchased as we entered Jasper National Park yesterday is still valid.
The scenery starts to become spectacular.
5 402   Junction with Highway 93A
Some members of the group cycled this way and reported that the road was in good condition, the traffic was light and the views were excellent. It would appear that either route is wonderful.
6 403 1085 Athabaska River bridge
Excellent views in whichever direction you look.
23 420 1279 Lookout
The views get better all the time.
28 425   Athabaska Falls & Junction with Hwy.93A
Lots of tourists, but the falls are impressive nevertheless.
33 430 1219 Mt. Kerkeslin Campground
A small, but delightful, campground on the Athabaska River with no hot water or electricity. We bathed in the river and appreciated the beach.

today's total = 33 km

  Rob & Monique at Athabaska Falls

 Friday June 30th
km total km elev. (m)  
0 430 1219 Mt. Kerkeslin Campground
The sky was clear overnight and it was a mere 3 ºC when we awoke at 6 AM! Since the mountains were blocking the sun, it was not much warmer when we started riding a couple of hours later. However, things quickly warmed up when the sun broke though.
16 446 1415 Honeymoon Lake Campground
Another small site devoid of electricity and hot water.
19 449 1415 Sunwapta Falls Resort
Expensive accommodations, but good, reasonably-priced, food.
20 450 1415 Sunwapta Falls
Another tourist mecca!
42 472 1600 Jonas Creek Campground
Another small, pleasant, site with neither electricity nor hot water. The walk-in sites appear to be very nice and there is bathing in the river.
51 481   Beauty Creek Hostel
Nice looking hostel in a great location.
58 488 1630 The highway now turns away from the Athabaska River and you commence a difficult, steep, climb (300 m vertical in 4 km!).
62 492 1920 Lookout
The worse of the climbing is now over. Relax and enjoy the views.
68 498 1981 Columbia Icefields Centre
The Icefields Centre houses a restaurant and a cafeteria, but they are both expensive.
70 500 2010 Columbia Icefields Campground
This is a delightful little campground with no electricity or hot water. The walk-in sites are particularly nice as they are beside a small mountain stream.
today's total = 70 km   Wayne at the Columbia Icefields

 Saturday July 1st (Happy Canada Day!)
km total km elev. (m)  
0 500 2010 Columbia Icefields Campground
It was cold (3 ºC) overnight, but that is hardly surprising when you are camped at over 2000 m! We awoke to another gorgeous day with not a cloud in the sky and elected to start the day by hiking the trail immediately behind our walk-in sites. This 90-min (round trip) hike took us up above the tree-line and into an extensive alpine meadow with stunning views of the mountains and glaciers.
1 501 2020 Wilcox Creek Campground
This site is larger than the Columbia Icefields Campground and is more suited to the RV crowd.
3 503 2065 Banff / Jasper National Park Boundary
4 504 2080 Sunwapta Pass
You now have a wonderful descent ahead of you. It is steep, and with several switchbacks, for the first 10 km.
35 535 1454 Rampart Creek Campground
36 536 1454 Rampart Creek Hostel
Easy riding between here and Saskatchewan River Crossing.
48 548   Saskatchewan River Crossing
The cafeteria and gift shop were overrun with tourists. However, we discovered a very nice pub, "The Crossings", in the motel behind the 'tourist trap'. Here, we cooked our own buffalo burgers and drank a beer or two.
50 550 1400 Bridge over the North Saskatchewan River
Start climbing!
54 554 1520 Mistaya Canyon
68 568 1670 Waterfowl Lakes Campground
This campsite is quite large and the walk-in sites are excellent. Although there are no showers, the bathing in the river that connects the two lakes is excellent. Be sure to take the short (500 m) hike upstream to the southern lake as it is absolutely gorgeous.
today's total = 68 km Sunset at Waterfowl Lake

 Sunday July 2nd
km total km elev. (m)  
0 568 1670 Waterfowl Lakes Campground
Although it was cold (2 ºC) again during the night, we awoke to a perfectly blue sky.
8 576 1759 There is a good source of drinking water coming from a pipe on your left.
17 585 2067 Bow Pass
Thankfully, the Bow Pass climb is less steep and, consequently, less difficult than the Sunwapta Pass climb. It is definitely worth the 1 km detour to the (upper) Bow Summit parking area. The lower parking area is for cars, whereas the upper area is for buses and affords the best views of Peyto Lake and the surrounding mountains.
18 586 2146 Upper Parking Area (for buses only)
It is but a short walk to the viewing platform that affords the magnificent views of the emerald-green Peyto Lake and surrounding glaciers and mountains.
19 587 2067 Back on the Icefields Parkway.
24 592   Num-Ti-Jah Lodge
A gorgeous wooden lodge with magnificent views of Bow Lake, Bow Glacier and the surrounding peaks. The food is excellent, but not cheap. If you could afford it, this would be a wonderful place to stay for the night.
37 605 1840 Mosquito Creek Campground (and Hostel)
A beautiful, small, campground with some sites beside the river.
It is essentially downhill for the next 20 km.
62 630 1594 Junction with Hwy.1 (the Trans Canada Highway).
64 632 1582 Lake Louise turnoff.
65 633   Lake Louise Village (shopping area)
66 634 1545 Lake Louise (Tent) Campground
A large campground with hot showers.
today's total = 66 km   Bow Lake at Num-Ti-Jah Lodge

 Monday July 3rd
km total km elev. (m)  
0 634 1545 Lake Louise (Tent) Campground
A cool morning with not a cloud in sight.
Although our destination for the day was Banff, we decided that we would first visit Lake Louise, even though that meant climbing for 200 m (vertical).
5 639 1740 Château Lake Louise
In hindsight, it would have made sense to leave our bags at the village rather than lugging them up the road to Lake Louise.
After "morning coffee" at the château, we embarked on the obligatory hike around the lake. In spite of being overrun with tourists, this area really is beautiful. It is no wonder that the Canadian Pacific Railway decided to build a lodge here in 1890.
9 643 1550 Lake Louise Village
A quick lunch before setting off for Banff.
10 644 1570 The Bow Valley Parkway, Highway 1A
Be sure to take this route, and not the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) to Banff.
11 645 1620 Bow Valley Parkway Route Map
22 656 1515 Baker Creek
Restaurant, chalets and picnic tables.
25 659 1500 Protection Mountain Campground
28 662 1545 Lookout
34 668 1480 Storm Mountain Picnic Area
36 670 1460 Castle Mountain
Lodge & small store.
Junction with Highway 93.
37 671 1460 Castle Mountain Campground
43 677 1450 Johnston Canyon
Restaurant & lodge.
44 678 1440 Johnston Canyon Campground
57 691 1400 Banff
The last 6 km were along the busy four-lane Trans Canada Highway. Thankfully, there was an excellent wide shoulder to ride along. Watch out for the "Texas gates" as you enter and exit this highway as they can be quite dangerous for cyclists.
62 696 1450 Tunnel Mountain Campground
A large campground with hot showers.
today's total = 62 km   Gerry, Sue & Leanne at Lake Louise
       

 page updated on May 08, 2010

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