There are some road trips you can close your eyes and imagine, like Route 66 — it’s been mentioned in movies and popular culture since its heyday. Other journeys can’t be explained in words and must be driven to truly appreciate. One of these such road trips is the epic thoroughfare through Canada’s Rockies, beginning in Banff National Park and ending at Jasper National Park.
The road, Icefields Parkway, is about 145 miles long, links Lake Louise with Jasper, and it’s one of the world’s most beautiful stretches of open road. The mountains soar against the sky above endless icefields and a patchwork of expansive valleys.
If you drove non-stop from one end to the other, it would take a little less than three hours. But this isn’t a place to tear up your tires — it’s something to approach from an adventure standpoint; a road to experience, not merely to drive. Along the way, you’ll pass glaciers as old as 10,000 years, such as Angel Glacier in the Alberta stretch. Stunning waterfalls, aquamarine alpine lakes, and deep forests point the way into Canada’s most remote regions. It’s an entirely different road trip than most may be used to — you’ll be able to use your phone to take some fabulous photos, but don’t expect to be able to make any calls.
The just-out-of-range feeling butts up against a natural beauty that swallows you whole. Let it overcome you. There’s nothing like having the entire day to meander your way, stopping off at marked viewpoints and taking in the wonder of Canada’s Rockies. Just make sure you:
- Fill your gas tank before setting out — there’s only one fueling station in those 145 miles, so it’s best to be prepared.
- Bring a picnic meal, some snacks, and water.
- Have a map of the area.
Either before or after this scenic road trip (or both!), exploring the alpine landscape of Lake Louise is a must, and it makes for the perfect base camp, too. We hope you enjoy this epic road trip through Canada’s Rockies as much as we do.
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