The Icefields Parkway (HWY 93)
This stretch of road is one of the most scenic drives in the world. This highway runs through the heart of the Canadian Rockies, connecting Banff and Jasper. In this guide, we'll cover the must-see stops, how long it takes (longer than you think), and insider tips (from Craig, our resident Rockies local) to make the most of your road trip along the epic Icefields Parkway.
Here is the link to our Google Maps itinerary for this drive.
Practical Driving Info
The distance from Banff to Jasper is 288 km (179 miles) and Google Maps will tell you it takes roughy 3.5 hours to complete without any stops. For reference, we left Banff at 9am and made it to Jasper at 9pm.
Best Times of the Year
SUMMER (June-Sept): This is when you'll have the best weather conditions, along with long daylight hours, and all services open. However, this is prime season and much busier.
FALL (late Sept-Oct): Fewer crowds than summer and beautiful autumnal colors; however, once you hit mid-October, some facilities start closing.
WINTER (Nov-April): The road is open year-round BUT it is very remote with no services open in winter. Expect snow, ice, and avalanche zones and you MUST have snow tires and/or carry chains in the winter season. Only recommended if you are a confident winter weather driver.
SPRING (May-early June): Snow still lingers, even in June and some of the lakes may still be frozen. However, you'll see fewer crowds than summer but services are limited until late May.
Gas Stations
It's recommended to fuel up in Banff/Jasper before you leave; however, if you need to fill up on the route, there are two options (yes, only TWO):
LAKE LOUISE (open year-round)
SASKATCHEWAN RIVER CROSSING (open approx. May-Oct)
Cell Service
Cell service is not reliable so make sure you download your offline maps before heading out and expect a deadzone for most of the drive.
Top Stops & Attractions
I'm going to put the stops in the order you'll come across them when driving from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper since that is the direction we traveled on our recent trip. I won't be including Lake Louise or Moraine Lake in this guide since those need to done on a different day in our opinion. It would be way too much to do Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the entire Icefields Parkway in one day. However, if you want to read more about Lake Louise & Moraine Lake, check out our previous blog post here.
Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint
The first stop on our Icefields Parkway road trip stop was the Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint, which lies about 25 minutes north of Lake Louise. It gets its name because it looks like a crow's foot. It used to have 3 toes, but one toe has since melted, leaving only 2 crow toes. The glacier feeds into the Bow Lake below.
HOW LONG TO STOP
Quick Stop: 5 minutes for photos.
Bow Lake
Next up, just a short 1 minute drive from the Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint is Bow Lake. It's right off the road and is easy to pull off into the parking lot (if it’s not full). There is also a viewpoint pullout right before the parking lot entrance as well. We were there early enough to snag a parking spot but it was super windy and chilly the morning we were there so we only spent about 15 minutes.
HOW LONG TO STOP
Quick Stop: This can be a quick 30 minutes or less stop for photos and a short walk.
Longer Stop: Or you can spend 1-2 hours here to do a short hike to the Bow Glacier Falls.
Peyto Lake
This is probably my personal favorite stop, as well as one of the most famous stops, on the Icefields Parkway. Peyto Lake is a short 5 minute drive from Bow Lake and nothing prepares you for its beauty. There is a parking lot here which is only a 10-15 minute walk/hike from the Peyto Lake Lookout. Meaning, you get a lot of bang for your buck here and for very little effort, you get rewarded with one of the most stunning views on this planet.
The path from the parking lot to the lookout is paved and is a steady incline the whole way but luckily it’s only 700 meters long. It look us 10 minutes to reach the lookout from the parking lot and we spent an hour here, soaking in the majestic view. There is a newly rebuilt viewing platform but you can go down below to find your own space, away from the crowd. The lake is famous for looking like a wolf's head.
HOW LONG TO STOP
Quick Stop: 30-45 minutes for a short walk to the lookout and to take photos.
Longer Stop: 1-2 hours if you want to wander a bit father on the trails around Bow Summit.
Waterfowl Lakes Viewpoint
After Peyto Lake, drive about 10 minutes up the road to Waterfowl Lakes Viewpoint. There are two main lakes: Upper & Lower Waterfowl Lake which are both visible from pullouts. We spent a few minutes here enjoying the view.
HOW LONG TO STOP
Quick Stop: 5-10 minutes for photos and to enjoy the view.
Longer Stop: 30-45 minutes if you want to walk along the lakeshore or explore the nearby trail.
Big Bend Viewpoint
About 35 minutes from Waterfowl Lakes, is this big bend in the highway where you'll come across a pullout with an amazing view. I don't see it listed anywhere on Google Maps but I'll link to the bend in the road so just keep your eyes peeled for a signposted pullout around this area. The parking area is small but sufficient for a few cars.
HOW LONG TO STOP
Quick Stop: 5-10 minutes for photos and to enjoy the view.
Columbia Icefield Adventure and Skywalk
Soon after Big Bend, you'll be leaving Banff National Park and entering Jasper National Park. Just 15 minutes from Big Bend is the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure Center. Now if you decide to do the glacier experience and skywalk, you'll need to allot yourself 2-4 hours. We had the glacier experience tickets booked for 1:45pm and got there TWO minutes late and we couldn't get on the bus and had to go to the ticket counter and reschedule our tickets for the next available bus to the glacier, which luckily was at 2:30pm. Moral of the story, best to get there early.
Now this is a pricey activity around $126 per adult/$82 per child (prices in $CAD) but they have options like the Pursuit Pass which can save you money if you bundle additional activities; additionally, Alberta residents can get certain activities discounted, which is what we used since Craig lives in Alberta.
Although this is expensive, it's worth every penny. We thought it was such a fun experience riding the Ice Explorer out on to the Athabasca Glacier and drinking some of the freshest water you'll ever drink right from the running glacial stream. The experience consists of first taking a short shuttle bus to the Ice Explorer, which will then take you to the glacier. You only get about 20 minutes on the glacier but we found that to be enough. Then you get back on the Ice Explorer which takes you back to the shuttle bus which then takes you to the Skywalk.
HOW LONG TO STOP
Quick Stop: 1-2 hours if you just walk around the Icefield Center and viewpoint platforms.
Longer Stop: 2-4 hours if you add on the Glacier Adventure Experience of walking on the glacier and skywalk. Additionally, you can walk the glacier trail to the toe of the glacier which takes about 1-2 hours (note: you cannot walk on the glacier from this trail, the only way to walk on the glacier is by booking the guided tour).
Overnight stop: To break up your Icefields Parkway drive, you can choose to spend a night at the Glacier View Lodge. This would probably be the best option for driving the Icefields Parkway but it is pretty pricey so we decided against it plus, I believe they were fully booked for the night we were there.
Once the shuttle bus drops you off that the Skywalk, you can spend as much time there as you like and hop on a shuttle bus back to the Icefield Center whenever you are ready. The Skywalk is a glass-floored observation platform that overlooks the Sunwapta Valley. Most people only spend 15-20 minutes here but we spent about 45 minutes because there was a family of mountain goats directly below the skywalk which were adorable and we couldn't get enough of them! You can choose to forgo the glacier experience and only do the Skywalk which costs $45 per adult and $30 per child. Note: there is no parking at the Skywalk so you will have to park at the Icefield Adventure Center and take a shuttle bus to the Skywalk.
Tangle Creek Falls
About 5 minutes after leaving the Columbia Glacier Center, you come across Tangle Falls. This was much more impressive than I thought it would be and deserves a stop. This is one of the easiest and most rewarding waterfall stops on the parkway. It's a multi-tiered cascading waterfall which spills down the cliffs right next to the road. We spent about 10 minutes here taking photos.
HOW LONG TO STOP
Quick Stop: 10-15 minutes to view and take photos.
Sunwapta Falls
30 minutes from Tangle Falls is Sunwapta Falls. This impressive waterfall is easy to access and is just a short drive off the highway. The upper falls is the main attraction here where you'll witness this powerful waterfall plunge deep into a canyon and has a pedestrian bridge offering dramatic views. The upper falls can be reached in an easy, less than 5 minute, walk from the parking lot. The lower falls require a short hike (1.3 km) and is downstream with additional cascades and fewer crowds. We spent 20 minutes here enjoying the incredible views of the upper falls.
HOW LONG TO STOP
Quick Stop: 20-30 minutes to see the upper falls from the bridge and viewpoints.
Longer Stop: 1-2 hours if you include the lower falls.
Goats & Glacier Lookout
15 minutes from Sunwapta Falls is the Goats & Glacier Lookout, where we actually saw...wait for it...goats AND glaciers (well one goat anyway lol). This is a lesser-known but super easy pullout directly off the parkway. This lookout offers panoramic views of several glaciers clinging to the peaks above the Bow Valley and if you're lucky, you may even see goats which are often spotted grazing on the rocky slopes just across rom the viewpoint. This was probably one of my favorite lookouts along the parkway.
HOW LONG TO STOP
Quick Stop: 5-10 minutes for photos and a scan for goats.
Athabasca Falls
A short 5 minute drive from goats & glaciers is the stunning Athabasca Falls. This powerful waterfall funnels water from the Athabasca River through a narrow gorge. One of the coolest features at Athabasca is the potholes. These are circular holes and smooth depressions in the canyon walls and bedrock formed over thousands of years from the rushing water, sand, and rocks from the river drilling into the soft limestone canyon. We spent about 20 minutes here. Note: a small section of the trail is currently closed due to fire damage from the 2024 Jasper fire.
HOW LONG TO STOP
Quick Stop: 20-30 minutes to stroll through the main viewpoints and appreciate the power of the falls.
Longer stop: 1 hour if you want to soak in the surrounding views and reflect on the changing landscape.
30 minutes from Athabasca Falls is the town of Jasper and marks the end of the Icefield Parkway.
Stops we didn’t have time for but are still worth a visit:
Tips
Fuel Up Before You Go
Expect Limited Cell Service
Start Early
Bring Food & Snacks
Check Road Conditions (Check 511 Alberta before heading out)
Allow More Time Than You Think
Watch for Wildlife
Pack Layers
Take Your Time at Viewpoints
Tour Operators
If you don't have a car to drive the Icefields Parkway on your own or don't feel comfortable driving it on your own, you can always book a tour to take you. Here are a few tour companies that do Icefields Parkway tours.
Conclusion
Driving the Icefields Parkway isn't just about getting from Banff to Jasper-it's about immersing yourself in some of the most breathtaking landscapes on this planet. Every stop along the way, from turquoise lakes and thundering waterfalls to ancient glaciers and wildlife lookouts, tells its own story of the Rockies' power and beauty.
Whether you dedicate a full day or take your time over several, this stretch of road offers countless moments that will stick with you long after the trip ends. So fuel up, pack your camera, and give yourself the freedom to stop often-because on the Icefields Parkway, the journey truly is the destination.
Let us know in the comments if this drive is on your bucket list or if you've already been, what your favorite stop was.
For more inspiration, check out our other Canadian Rockies travel guides:
The Ultimate Jasper National Park Guide: What to See and Do (post 2024 wildfires)
Ultimate 1-Day Lake Adventure in Banff (+Yoho)
Things to do in Banff: No Car Required
Don't forget to follow along with our Alberta adventures over on our YouTube channel ↓
If you got this far, thanks for reading and remember to STAY CLASSLESS 😉
Will do this trip in September… thank you for the info
You’re welcome! Glad it was helpful 🙂
Thanks for your info and video. We are also going in September.
You’re welcome! Have the best time! September is a great time to visit 🙂
Doing this in couple of weeks in end of May. Thanks for the detail iternary!
Love the detail Are all these stops available travelling from Banff north to Jasper!? Are they on Right side of road with signs posted? What about going South from Jasper for return – same stops or different ones. We plan to drive up and stay two nights in Jasper?
Yes, all the stops were made on the way from Banff to Jasper. They will be on both sides of the road with signs and pullouts/parking areas. You can split them up and do some on the way to Jasper and others on the way back. Jasper is amazing and definitely worth it! I’d recommend downloading offline Google Maps when you drive the Icefields parkway so you don’t miss anything you really want to see. The scenery is breathtaking and it’s easy to get distracted by such beauty 🙂
Doing this in couple of weeks in end of May. Thanks for the detail iternary! How many days to spend in jasper?
So glad it was helpful! We’d recommend spending 2 days in Jasper if you have the time. Hinton is a great affordable alternative to staying in Jasper…we have a post on that as well 🙂