| |
|
|
|
|
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 |
| |
|
|
|
