First Time Visitor Guide to The Icefields Parkway
I had recently driven through pretty much the entire Icefields Parkway while exploring the Canadian Rockies and if you are seeking to go through it too, especially for your first drive, read guide beforehand because it will help answer 10 of the most common questions people have before they go.
The purpose of this Icefields Parkway driving guide is to help you:
- See and get more out of this spectacular location.
- See and get the most out of the Icefields Parkway drive itself.
- See the most amazing spots.
- And take in as many of the views as possible.
A preview of what you’ll see:
This type of scenery is very common as you drive through this region which is in my opinion one of the most beautiful scenic drives in all of North America, and possibly the world.
Icefields Parkway Map:
5 common questions about the Icefields Parkway (Alberta Highway 93):
1. How long does it take to drive the Icefields Parkway?
The Icefields Parkway is approximately 144 miles (232 km) long and connects Jasper and Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies. While the drive itself takes about 3 hours without stops, most visitors spend an entire day exploring viewpoints, waterfalls, lakes, and hiking trails along the route. To fully experience the parkway, plan for 8–12 hours or consider splitting the drive over two days.
2. What are the best stops along the Icefields Parkway?
Some of the most popular stops include Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, Mistaya Canyon, Athabasca Glacier, Sunwapta Falls, Athabasca Falls, and the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Wildlife viewing opportunities are also common, with chances to spot bears, elk, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.
3. When is the best time to visit the Icefields Parkway?
The best time to visit is from June through September when the road is fully accessible and most attractions, hiking trails, and visitor facilities are open. July and August offer the warmest weather, while September provides beautiful fall colors and fewer crowds.
4. Do I need a park pass to drive the Icefields Parkway?
Yes. The Icefields Parkway passes through both Banff and Jasper National Parks, so visitors are required to purchase a Parks Canada pass. You can buy a daily pass or a Discovery Pass, which provides access to all Parks Canada sites for a full year.
5. Is the Icefields Parkway worth it?
Absolutely. The Icefields Parkway is widely considered one of the most scenic drives in the world, featuring turquoise lakes, towering mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. It is often the highlight of a Canadian Rockies road trip and a must-see destination for first-time visitors to Alberta.
8 must see places on the Icefields Parkway:
These spots are easy to find along the Icefields Parkway and are very popular places (well most of them).
1) Athabasca Glacier:
I think out of all the locations I saw in the Canadian Rockies, this was the most popular one. It is a glacier which have tour buses you can take to walk on and get close to on foot.
But you can elect to drive to a parking lot at the base of the glacier and hike to it, which is what my buddy and I did. It is incredibly cold there and I recommend wearing a warm jacket. I wore the REI Co Op Stormhenge 850 Down Jacket and it was perfect for this weather.
So keep this in mind before you go here, but this glacier is massive! There are certain parts of it you can’t access, so walking up close to it is probably the best view you’ll get unless you choose to do one of those tour bus options. Close by to this region is a very large rest stop where these tour buses go from and this place is packed almost all year long.
2) Columbia Icefields Skywalk:
This is a bridge that overlooks the Canadian Rockies. To reach this bridge, you actually have to take a bus at the Athabasca Glacier parking lot (requires a ticket).
These buses are pretty crowded so keep this in mind, but the Columbia Icefields Skywalk is very popular, even though I personally thought it was overrated based on the fact that the views from the bridge are views you can literally see for yourself without having to take a bus to this spot and wait. Here is information on the Columbia Skywalk if you are interested in going there.
3) Town of Jasper:
It is one of the 2 main towns in the entire region (Banff being the next). The town itself is very pretty, and medium in size, but there are cool accommodations such as hotels with Jacuzzi’s on the roof you can enjoy as well as pretty good food.
I stayed one night at Jasper with my buddy and we did enjoy our stay there. There are ski areas nearby and trains that run through Jasper daily, some of which are meant for tours people take through the Canadian Rockies, and some that just deliver supplies to this town. Jasper is located at the northern end of the Icefields Parkway.
4) Lake Louise:
The Icefields Parkway will take you through Lake Louise (one of the most popular lakes in the whole region and it is stunning). You will have to exit the road to get to it though (it’s about a 5-10 minute drive).
People who visit the Canadian Rockies often assume Lake Louise is the most popular location in the entire region and they are probably right. This place is also packed daily, and there are restaurants right near the lake you can check out.
There are some trails to walk around the lake, but most of it is man made so you can get scenic walks in addition to scenic drives in, when you visit this spot and I highly recommend you do.
5) Moraine Lake:
If you visit Lake Louise, you have to visit Lake Moraine as it’s only 5 minutes away from it and is also very stunning. I’m of the opinion that this lake is equally as beautiful as Lake Louise, but you should judge that yourself if you.
Like Lake Louise, there is a large parking area here too and it too is very packed. From what I saw, amenities are available right by this lake, such as hotels and restaurants.
Kayaking by the way is also available here. While Lake Moraine (and Lake Louise) aren’t right of the road from the Icefields Parkway, I strongly recommend making a stop to these areas if you have the chance.
6) Town of Banff:
The town of Banff Canada from what I saw was larger than Jasper but if you are on the southern side of the Canadian Rockies, I would recommend stopping in Banff. There are many accommodations, restaurants and entertaining/outdoors things to go.
I didn’t stay there long, so I didn’t have time to take a picture. Added to that, we also hit a snowstorm while there, so I wouldn’t be able to show you much anyway.
7) Emerald Lake and Natural Bridges:
The first photo above is of Natural Bridges. This will be the first place you cross when entering the exit into Emerald Lake and it’s worth stopping at.
After that, if you keep driving down the road (about 5 minutes), you will hit Emerald Lake’s parking lot, and the lake itself is a short walk from it. I really enjoyed both of these locations when I went and Emerald Lake has very similar accommodations as Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. But here is a picture of it:
These 2 locations are close by off the Icefields Parkway road and while Natural Bridges was nice to look at (and crowded), Emerald Lake is where it’s at in my opinion. It is a very crowded and a popular spot (for good reason) to see. Now these 7 while being quite popular, it does not mean that this is all there is to see in the Canadian Rockies. Quite the contrary.
What I just gave you is a list of 7 places out of a plethora of other beautiful spots to see and you will be able to add to this list by using the Instagram strategy I mentioned, and/or just driving through the Icefields Parkway on your own and deciding on the spot where to stop and what to see.
Don’t just stop at the popular locations:
This is a mistake in my opinion. Like I said earlier, my friend and I found countless places to stop at off the road while on the Icefields Parkway. Here is one example:
There were no signs, no cars, and very often no people in these regions, yet the beauty of where this road passes through will make you want to stop and I recommend you listen to that instinct and do it, because you will find tons of undisclosed and stunning spots that were not indicated on the maps, on Instagram or any site for that matter, which you will be able to feel are your own discoveries.
Trust me when I say, that these spots will be plentiful along the road as you drive it. And sometimes just stopping along the Icefields Parkway, at random spots that catch your eye is what makes a trip through this region so satisfying.
When to Go
The best time to visit the Icefields Parkway is between June and September when the road is fully open and most hiking trails, viewpoints, and attractions are accessible. July and August offer the warmest weather, while September brings beautiful fall colors and fewer crowds. Winter can also be stunning, but travelers should be prepared for snow, ice, and changing road conditions.
Before You Go
Before driving the Icefields Parkway, be sure to fill up your gas tank and download offline maps, as fuel stations and cell service are limited along the route. Weather can change quickly in the Canadian Rockies, so bring layers and rain gear even during summer.
Most importantly, allow plenty of extra time for scenic stops, you’ll likely spend much longer on the parkway than expected.
