Icefields Parkway Overview

Icefields Parkway Travel Tips

• Most people venture out on the Icefields in the high season, from May to October, when cyclists and RVs flock to the road. In wintertime, the road and its panoramas are transformed into a quiet expanse of snow-capped summits, crystalline lakes, and waterfalls frozen in place. If you're a fan of winter, it's arguably the best time to visit.
• Since the highway is enveloped by national parks, a park pass is required for everyone traveling the Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper. They can be purchased at information centers inside the parks, or at visitor centers in Banff, Jasper, and Lake Louise.
• Pull-offs are plentiful along the Icefields, many marking trailheads that offer a chance to get off the road and penetrate this remote landscape. At mile-marker 99, the ten-minute walk to Mistaya Canyon, a deep, narrow slot carved into the rock, is a must-do; don't miss the natural arch that spans the canyon. Or hoof it up to the crest of Parker Ridge (trailhead at Mile 70) and take in panoramas of the Saskatchewan Glacier and surrounding peaks.
• From late April to mid October, the Icefield Centre (adjacent to the Columbia Icefield pull-off at Mile 64) is open. Parks Canada's interactive Glacier Gallery Exhibit shows the past, present, and future of this ice mass straddling the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Brewster Tours runs Ice Explorer excursions every 15 to 30 minutes. The 90-minute tour includes driving onto the Athabasca Glacier and stepping out on the ice for a close-up.
• There are no services, food, or fuel open anywhere on the Icefields Parkway from mid-November until mid-March. Frequent snowfall is plowed regularly (though avalanches can close the road for days) but much of the road is covered with packed snow and ice. Proper tires, food, water, and emergency gear are essential. There is no maintenance or highway patrol after 4:30 p.m. in winter. Check with the Alberta Motor Association for frequently updated reports on road conditions.