232 kilometres of the most dramatic mountain scenery in North America. Here's how to drive it well — not just survive it with a full bladder and a dead phone battery.
The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North) is one of those drives that earns its reputation. Running from Lake Louise through the Columbia Icefield to the town of Jasper, it threads through a near-continuous sequence of glaciated peaks, turquoise lakes, and active icefields that feels, at points, like driving through a landscape that hasn't quite decided whether it belongs in this era. Most people do it in a single day as a through-drive. Most people who do it that way wish they'd taken two or three.
This guide assumes you're starting in Banff or Canmore and ending in Jasper (or returning). The drive itself is 232 km and takes about 3.5 hours with no stops — plan for 6 to 8 hours with reasonable stops, or two days if you want to do it properly.
All distances measured from Lake Louise junction (the start of Highway 93 North).
If you're driving the parkway, you're presumably spending meaningful time at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake before heading north. Both require shuttles from late May through early October — book through Parks Canada's reservation system months in advance. Moraine Lake's Valley of the Ten Peaks view from the Rockpile is one of the legitimately unmissable views in Canada. Don't rush this start.
Bow Lake feeds the Bow River, which flows all the way through Calgary. The lake itself sits at the base of Crowfoot Glacier and reflects the surrounding peaks on calm mornings. The Num-Ti-Jah Lodge on the north shore has been there since 1937 and serves food. A short walk to the shore is worthwhile; the longer Bow Glacier Falls trail (4.5 km one-way) is a good leg stretch if you have time.
The wolf-head-shaped lake with its unreal turquoise-green colour is one of the most-photographed views on the parkway — and it delivers in person. The main Bow Summit viewpoint is a 500 m paved walk. A lesser-known upper viewpoint adds 20 minutes and a bit of scrambling but eliminates most of the crowd. Go to the upper platform. The colour of the water comes from glacial rock flour suspended in the glacier meltwater — it really is that blue.
The only services between Lake Louise and Jasper. A hotel, gas station, and basic food service. The landscape here opens up — the North Saskatchewan River valley is broader and more arid-feeling than the southern sections of the parkway. Bighorn sheep are commonly seen on the slopes near the crossing. Fuel up whether you think you need to or not.
One of the parkway's best short hikes: 2.4 km each way, 270 m gain to a ridge that opens onto views of the Saskatchewan Glacier — one of the most accessible views of a major glacier in the Rockies. On a clear day you can see the full expanse of the Columbia Icefield's drainage. Do this hike. Most people drive past. It's significantly better than the Athabasca Glacier toe walk for perspective and doesn't cost extra.
The Athabasca Glacier is the most accessible outlet glacier in North America and one of the most visited spots on the entire parkway. You can walk to the glacier toe from the parking lot for free — markers along the path show where the glacier extended in past decades (it has retreated dramatically). The Glacier Skywalk and Ice Explorer tours run by Pursuit are expensive ($50–$130 per person). The walk to the toe is free and almost as impressive. Note: the glacier surface itself beyond marked safe zones should only be accessed with a guide — crevasse danger is real.
Both are legitimately impressive waterfall stops that most people blow past. Sunwapta is a canyon waterfall where the river pinches through narrow rock — dramatic, especially in high water. Athabasca Falls, closer to Jasper, is the most powerful waterfall on the parkway: the Athabasca River funnels through a narrow gorge and the volume is remarkable. Short walks with big payoffs at both.
Smaller and significantly less crowded than Banff, Jasper is a genuine mountain town with a real community and far less of the tourist-infrastructure feeling. Refuel, eat, and if you have another day, Maligne Lake and the Miette Hot Springs are both worth the time. See our Jasper National Park Guide for the full breakdown.
| Category | What & Why |
|---|---|
| Navigation | Offline maps downloaded before departure. No cell service for most of the route. |
| Layers | Mountain weather shifts fast. Even in July, temperatures at the Columbia Icefield can be near zero. Fleece and waterproof shell minimum. |
| Water & Food | Between Lake Louise and Jasper, the only food services are Saskatchewan River Crossing. Pack substantial snacks and water. |
| Cash | Credit cards work at Saskatchewan River Crossing, but cash is useful at some trailhead kiosks and informal stops. |
| Bear spray | If you're getting out of the car for any hike longer than the parking lot, carry bear spray and know how to use it. |
| First aid kit | Cell service is essentially non-existent. A basic first aid kit and a whistle are not overkill. |
| Camera | Phone cameras work fine, but the long distances involved (glacier face, mountain panoramas) benefit from at least a basic zoom. |