Drive the Icefields Parkway Canada: Beautiful Stops You Can’t Miss
The Icefields Parkway, Canada, is also known to be one of the world’s most beautiful and scenic drives. It is a 232km long highway connecting Banff and Jasper through the mountains.
If you are planning a trip out to the Canadian Rockies, then you are probably wondering: what are the best stops for when I drive the Icefields Parkway, Canada?
This beautiful drive has so many features along the way, including more than 100 ancient glaciers, incredible waterfalls, massive mountains, lakes of different shades of blue, larch forests, and so much more!
You are more than likely to see wildlife on your drive between Banff and Jasper with the abundance of wildlife these parks have. Have your camera ready, and be prepared to stop.
You will definitely want to schedule extra time for this drive so you can take your time, stop for some of the hikes, and make a few stops at the lookout points to take in the breathtaking views along the way.
You won’t regret pulling over at one of these spots to enjoy the view.
Here is a guide to the best Icefields Parkway stops that you can’t miss!
Banff National Park
Banff National Park is Canada’s most well-known National Park. If you haven’t heard of Banff yet, I’d say you’ve been living under a rock!
This incredible National Park has endless things to do, amazing mountain peaks, glacial lakes, wonderful wildlife, and a stunning little town surrounded by towering mountains! All of these beautiful qualities make for some of the best stops on the Icefields Parkway, Canada!
Every year, over 3 million visitors visit this stunning National Park for very obvious reasons. It is also home to the famous Lake Louise, so if you want to see Lake Louise, you now know where to find it!
Banff National Park is at the northern end of the Icefields Parkway, Canada, so it makes for an even more amazing trip! You get 3-in-1 on this road trip through the Canadian Rockies.
Check out my complete guide to Banff National Park here! You definitely need to make Banff town site one of your Icefields Parkway stops!
Jasper National Park
Jasper is full of so many amazing things to do, incredible views, shimmering glaciers, magical turquoise lakes, divine forests, and an abundance of wildlife surrounded by massive mountains. You definitely need to add the town of Jasper to your Icefields Parkway stops as well!
It’s also much bigger than Banff, being almost double the size and also the biggest National Park in the Rockies, which is actually wild!
The Jasper townsite is more relaxed and less touristy than Banff, but I doubt it’ll be that way for long. It is also the world’s largest dark sky preserve, so it’s great for star lovers or astrophotographers!
Check out my complete guide to Jasper National Park here!
Banff may have some of the best stops on the Icefields Parkway, but my favourite ones are actually in Jasper.
My unpopular opinion is that Jasper is better than Banff, but not everyone will agree with that. You’ll just have to make sure to spend time in both, so you can make that decision for yourself!
Getting To The Icefields Parkway, Canada
If you are coming from Edmonton, you can take the Yellowhead highway (AB-16). It is 366km between Edmonton and Jasper, taking roughly 4 hours of travel time. From there, you can take the Icefields Parkway straight down to Banff, which is about a 3.5-hour drive.
If you are coming from Calgary, you can head to Banff on the Trans-Canada Highway. The distance between the two is 150km, and will likely take you less than 2 hours to drive there. You can take the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper National Park.
If you’re planning to spend time in the Canadian Rockies, pick a starting point and go from there. If you care coming from Calgary, just drive into Banff National Park, spend some time there, and then continue your journey on the Icefields Parkway, Canada, up to Jasper and spend some time there.
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Best Stops On The Icefields Parkway
Bow Lake, Banff National Park
Just a 30-minute drive north of Lake Louise, you will find Bow Lake. It is known to be one of the largest lakes located in Banff and is fed by meltwater from Bow Glacier. At Bow Lake, you will see epic views of Crowfoot Moutain, a hanging glacier, and the Wapta Icefield.
Bow lake is a beautiful place to stop for a picnic along the Icefields Parkway, and there are many terrific photo spots. You can enjoy a short, lovely hike along the turquoise waters of this stunning lake or go on a longer hike where you will spend most of your day here.
This lake is the perfect place for winter activities like skiing and snowshoeing. It is also an incredible place to spend time hiking in the summer, with options for easy hikes to hikes where you need to scramble.
This is definitely one of my favourite Icefields Parkway stops! There is a lot to do and incredible sights here!
Peyto Lake, Banff National Park
You must not miss this lake if it is open during your trip to the Canadian Rockies. This hike is a short loop trail about 2.4km long that takes you to a breathtaking overlook of Peyto Lake. It’s a very easy hike with an elevation gain of only 84 metres.
The hike is super easy and pretty busy since it is becoming more and more touristy. It is the perfect lake to watch the sunset.
You won’t be right on the lake like Lake Louise or Moraine Lake, but the lookout point is mesmerizing. Be prepared for many tourists here as it is a heavily trafficked trail.
This lake is one of my favourite Icefields Parkway stops so far! It’s just such a stunning lake!
Herbert Lake, Icefields Parkway, Canada
Herbert Lake is a cute little alpine lake that you should definitely add to your Icefields Parkway, Canada bucket list! It’s no Moraine Lake or Lake Louise, but it’s still worth the quick stop to check out and explore around.
Hector Lake, Icefields Parkway, Canada
Hector Lake is another really gorgeous blue alpine lake on the Icefields Parkway, Canada that you must add to your road trip in the Canadian Rockies. It’s right off the highway so it makes it a quick and easy stop for your road trip.
Columbia Icefield, Icefields Parkway, Canada
The Columbian Icefield is on many people’s bucket lists and one of the most popular things to do in Banff, making it one of the best stops on the Icefields Parkway. The Columbian Icefield is the largest icefield in Canada’s Rocky Mountains. It covers 230 square kilometres to a depth of 365 metres and spans around 28 kilometres long!
Here you will be able to learn about the history of this ancient spot, and there are a variety of activities you can choose from, including a tour of the icefields where you can either drive or walk on the glacier, as well as feel and drink from it. You can also check out the glass-floored Skywalk. You can find more information on their website here!
Wilcox Viewpoint, Jasper National Park
Wilcox Viewpoint is one of those hikes in the Canadian Rockies that you need to add to your bucket list. It’s a fairly popular hike with insanely gorgeous views of the Columbian Icefield. If you want a more challenging hike you can scramble up Wilcox Pass to Wilcox Peak and Tangle Ridge.
The majority of this hike is a steady uphill incline through forests and along the edge. Eventually, you’ll reach some alpine meadows with some really stunning views. I saw a ton of bighorn sheep up here but there is also potential to see some bears, elk and other smaller critters.
Finally, you will finish off the rest of the hike and reach the viewpoint where you can see a view of the Athabasca Glacier and Columbian Icefield.
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Sunwapta Falls, Jasper National Park
This is another absolutely stunning waterfall close to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway. It is a short 3.2km hike, very easy, out and back trail. These gorgeous falls are definitely worth the stop and will likely take you just over an hour.
You won’t have to walk very far to get to Upper Sunwapta Falls since it is basically right beside the road, but to get to Lower Sunwapta Falls, you’ll have to continue further down the trail. Upper Sunwapta Falls is much more impressive than the lower falls, but the lower falls are still worth checking out.
The hike will lead you to the falls through a lovely forest. When you reach Sunwapta falls, a bridge will cross the canyon. From there, you will get an extraordinary view of the falls!
The backdrop behind Sunwapta Falls is also incredible, with the mountains, pine forests, and other foliage. The falls are, yet again, another popular attraction for photographers!
Athabasca Falls, Icefields Parkway, Canada
Athabasca Falls is only about a 30-minute drive down from Jasper. It’s a pretty popular spot so expect it to be a bit on the busy side. This is a very easy 1km out-and-back trail, so you’ll have absolutely no problem doing it.
You can go to take a look at the gorgeous waterfalls and also explore the canyon. The trail is paved and leads to multiple scenic lookout spots overlooking the waterfalls and parts of the canyon.
The main attraction is Athabasca Falls, where you will see the beautiful waterfall with forests and a massive mountain in the background. This is another popular spot for photographers!
This must be added to your list of Icefields Parkway stops you can’t miss!
Plain of Six Glaciers, Banff National Park
The Plain of Six Glaciers is a 14.6km out-and-back trail in Banff, near Lake Louise. It is a moderately challenging hike with an elevation gain of 588 metres.
It’s a very popular hiking trail, so you will likely see many tourists here. Starting off the trail is an incline up towards Lake Agnes. Once you are past the lake, the elevation gain starts to get steeper.
From there, you can choose between hiking to Devil’s Thumb or the Big Beehive as well. But we want to do the Plain of Six Glaciers hike! There is also a teahouse where you can relax and have a drink and a meal to get back some energy before you continue the rest of your hike to the six glaciers viewpoint.
This hike is a must for your list of Icefields Parkway stops!
Tip: bring lots of water and snacks for this hike. You'll need them!
Mount Edith Cavell, Jasper National Park
Path of the Glacier trail is a 1.8km out and back hike rated as easy. It is about 45 minutes south of the town of Jasper. Path of the Glacier Trail is a fairly short hike with a mix of natural and paved paths that lead you to a turquoise glacier-fed pond at the base of the stunning Mount Edith Cavell and a great view of Angel Glacier!
This is probably my second favourite view in Jasper National Park so far. Not many short hikes take you up close to a glacier as this one does. Since it is one of my favourite hikes near Jasper and is located on the Icefields Parkway, I had to add it to the list of the best stops on the Icefields Parkway!
This is one of my favourite hikes along the drive and is a must for your Icefields Parkway stops!
Edith Cavell Meadows Trail, Jasper National Park
Edith Cavell Meadows Trail is a beautiful view on the Icefields Parkway, Canada. It starts as a paved path and soon turns into a natural path. Along this hike, you can see spectacular views of Mount Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier from higher viewpoints than the Path of the Glacier Trail.
Most of the trail is on a steep incline to get to the top. There are several viewpoints along the way with incredible views of mountains. The incline can be tough, but don’t give up, I promise you will be glad you pushed on to the top of this hike. Then it’s all downhill from there.
If you decide to hike Edith Cavell Meadows Trail, make sure to end it with Path of the Glacier Trail. It won’t add too much extra time or hiking to your day. If you want even more of a challenge, hike up to East Ridge Summit.
Valley of the 5 Lakes
The Valley of 5 Lakes is a highly trafficked, 4.7km loop trail with 5 lakes, some of which you can swim in, and takes roughly 2 hours to complete.
It’s a perfect hike to do on a hot summer day, so don’t forget your swimsuit! If you don’t want to swim, then that’s fine too!
Some of the lakes are more swimmable than others; while they are all beautiful, I personally would not swim in some of them. You’ll know which ones to swim in when you go!
Parts of the path on this hike can be difficult to walk on, so be mindful of where you are stepping. Otherwise, it’s a pretty easy hike to do and perfect to do as a family adventure.
Johnston Canyon
Being one of the most popular hikes in Banff, I had to add it to the best stops on the Icefields Parkway Canada list. You will definitely see a lot of other tourists on this trail due to its popularity.
This is a short hike being 5km there and back, and it is only 1.2km to the Johnston Canyon Lower Falls and an additional 1.3km to the Johnston Canyon Upper Falls. This hike is fairly easy, however, so people do tend to struggle with it.
We are so lucky to have elevated walkways throughout Johnston Canyon. Otherwise, we would not be able to see all of the incredible views and enjoy the beauty of this trail.
Johnston Canyon features many waterfalls along the trail, but two are the main stars of this hike. Johnston Canyon Upper Falls and Johnston Canyon Lower Falls. Be sure to stop and enjoy the view of both of these stunning falls!
Larch Valley, Banff National Park
Larch Valley is one of the most breathtaking hikes in the Canadian Rockies and one of the best stops you can add to your Icefields Parkway, Canada road trip. This is one you absolutely cannot miss, especially if you are in the Canadian Rockies during the fall. You must see the golden larches.
This hike starts at Moraine Lake and is steep and you’ll be trekking up switchbacks most of the way. You’ll pass through forests and meadows with amazing views of the mountains.
Once at the top, you’ll see some beautiful larch forests, and if you keep going you will find this beautiful spot where you can take some stunning reflection photos of the mountains.
Moraine Lake is closed to personal vehicles. I took the Moraine Lake Bus Company shuttle bus to get there. You can also bike in or take another bus company. More information on that here.
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Moraine Lake, Banff National Park
Ahhh – Moraine Lake! What a beauty she is! A very popular lake along the Icefields Parkway, Canada’s most scenic drive! Undoubtedly, one of the best stops on the Icefields Parkway
If I only had so much time in Banff National Park and I only had time to see one lake, it would be Moraine Lake. Yes – I’ve said it – Moraine Lake over Lake Louise.
Moraine Lake is becoming more and more popular and just like Louise, if you want parking, go before sunrise. Otherwise, take transit to get there.
Once you’re there, you can walk up the path to the viewpoint of Moraine Lake to snap some pictures of this absolutely gorgeous lake. There are also several trailheads starting near the entrance to Moraine Lake that are worth checking out.
Renting a canoe here was the best decision I ever made, and I highly recommend it regardless of the price! I’m sure these photos are enough to convince you that you need to check out this picturesque lake!
You definitely need to see this lake during your Icefields Parkway road trip!
Moraine Lake is closed to personal vehicles. I took the Moraine Lake Bus Company shuttle bus to get there. You can also bike in or take another bus company. More information on that here.
Lake Louise, Banff National Park
Lake Louise is the most iconic and well-known lake in Banff and is located along the Icefields Parkway. If you haven’t heard of Lake Louise, now you have! Because of it’s popularity, I had to add it to the list of the best stops on the Icefields Parkway.
This is a very touristy spot with thousands of people coming just to snap a picture of this breathtaking view every day. If you want parking, definitely come as early in the morning as possible, or take the bus to get there because parking fills up very quickly!
If you don’t have this on your list of Icefields Parkway stops, go ahead and add it now! It’s such an iconic lake!
Tip: Go before sunrise to get a parking spot, or take a bus to get there during the day. Expect to see a ton of tourists here.
Goats & Glaciers – Icefields Parkway, Canada
This is, in my opinion, one of the best stops on the Icefields Parkway that I discovered just by chance. We were driving one evening back to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway and saw a sign that said “Goats & Glaciers”.
Now, my boyfriend and I, have an inside joke where we call goats “gerts” because I accidentally called them that one day. So we had to stop to check it out just for fun.
Little did we know how amazing this view was going to be! We ended up spending over an hour there watching the sunset, and taking photos at blue hour. And, we actually did spot a little gert walking up the side of the cliff. Neither of us had any idea this place existed, and it was so worth stopping for!
This is one of my favourite Icefields Parkway stops because it’s just a magical viewpoint!
More Hikes and Sights near Icefields Parkway, Canada
How Much Time Will I Need For The Best Stops On the Icefields Parkway, Canada?
That is an excellent but tricky question to answer. You might need to ask yourself a couple of questions because the amount of time spent on the Icefields Parkway, the most scenic drive in Canada, will be different for everyone.
How long are you in the Canadian Rockies?
What are your travel plans?
Are you spending time in Banff and/or Jasper?
What places would you like to stop at?
How much time are you willing to spend on the road?
The drive time between Jasper and Banff is about 3.5 hours, so you’ll want to use that as the minimum you will be driving on the Icefields Parkway.
For example, if there is a long hike that takes 6 hours, add that time and then some to the 3.5 hours it takes to drive the parkway.
If there are 3 stops you want to hit along the way and only plan on staying for an hour at each one, add 3 hours to the original 3.5 hours it takes to drive the highway. You might even see some other spots along the way and decide to stop there.
Personally, I like to spend one day driving between Jasper and Banff and just take my time exploring. Early morning start and finish the drive in the evening arriving in either Banff or Jasper townsite.
When I was in the Rockies, there were places I wanted to see along the Icefields Parkway that were close to either Banff or Jasper, so I was able to see them during the days I spent in each townsite. So on the day I travelled between Banff and Jasper, I made sure to stop at the places that were more in the middle of the drive.
Again, the amount of time you spend on this gorgeous drive is all up to you and what sights are most important to you to see. You can either plan ahead or go with the flow and stop at any spot that catches your eye. If you want to do a hike, you might want to do a little more planning.
Icefields Parkway, Canada Map
I put together a little map for you that shows where all the the best Icefields Parkway stops are so you know what order to do them in!
Wildlife On The Icefields Parkway, Canada
If you’re visiting a National Park like Jasper or Banff, you probably want to see some wildlife while you are there; or at least expect to see some. National Parks protect their wildlife and nature, so you can only imagine the abundance of wildlife in these parks!
In these parks, there are over 53 species of mammals and 260+ bird species! These species include grizzly bears, black bears, moose, elk, deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, wolves, coyotes, lynx, pikas, and all sorts of tiny critters.
They each rely on various habitats, and some share the same. Make sure you bring your camera or phone with you to snap photos of animals. You never know when you will spot something cool! It is common to see wildlife on the side of the road or even on your hikes.
Be sure to keep a safe distance from animals as wildlife behaviour can be unpredictable, especially mothers with their young or males defending their territory during mating season.
Pin this for later to help plan your Icefields Parkway road trip!
Plan Your Meal
The Icefields Parkway, Canada’s most scenic drive, has few places to stop for food, so packing a lunch is the best way to get your meals in for the day. You can stop at a beautiful lookout point to have a picnic and enjoy the view to break up your drive a little bit.
If you prefer eating at a restaurant, there are a few options: Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, the Crossing Resort, the Glacier View Inn, and Sunwapta Falls Resort. I personally haven’t tried any of these restaurants since I always packed a lunch.
In all honesty, packing a lunch is much more worth it, plus you get to sit and enjoy a beautiful view!
Conclusion: The Icefields Parkway: Canada’s most scenic drive
And there you have it!
A guide to the Icefields Parkway, Canada’s most scenic drive!
I’m sure there are a ton of other beautiful sights to see and amazing things to do on this gorgeous drive, but this is just a list of some of my favourites to help you plan your trip!
Just keep your eyes open, and be sure to stop at spots that catch your eye. You won’t regret it!
Thank you for stopping by, and happy adventuring ♡
Krista x.
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