Icefields Parkway

I had thought that there couldn't be a road trip more impressive than the drive down the west coast of Scotland that we did in April 2010. I might have to put two roads on the list. The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) from Jasper to Lake Louise in Alberta is incredible.

Jasper

We had intended to drive down a section of road that runs parallel to Hwy 93, the less busy and apparently pretty 93A, but it was closed for roadworks. Setback No. 1. So we set off down Hwy 93 to the first stop, the fabulous Athabasca Falls. Foiled again because of roadworks - closed for half an hour to an hour. We didn't wait. Setback No. 2.

After the disappointing start the road trip just got better and better.  About week ago the Rockies and Calgary were deep in snow after a record snowfall for October. Most of it has since melted but as we climbed higher in the mountains there was a lot of snow and ice, particularly in the shady areas.

Sunwapta Falls. The river has carved a canyon through the rock.

The top of Sunwapta Falls

Phil negotiating the icy path to a viewing platform at Sunwapta Falls.

Even the roadworks are attractive.

Glacier and frozen waterfalls

Columbia Icefield.
The tourist buses from Banff and Lake Louise drive out on to the glacier.
There are two buses in the left of this photo, on the brown smudge line.
The glacier is gradually retreating.

Mountain Goat statue at the glacier site.

Wild goats at the glacier site.

Goats on the highway.
We think they were licking salty water (salt is used to clear snow off highways.)

Road to Jasper

North Thompson River valley

From Kamloops we turned north and followed the wide North Thompson River valley for several hundred kilometres. The railway line also follows the valley and there were several very very long freight trains moving north as well. (This is also one of the routes of the Rocky Mountaineer train.)

Rapids on the North Thompson River

Lake at Clearwater

As we moved north the snow-capped mountains started to appear.

We were doing the speed limit but large trucks passed us.
There were a lot of trucks on the road.

Clearwater

At Tete Jaune Cache we turned east onto the Yellowhead Highway and started to climb. Almost immediately Mt Robson filled the windscreen view. It is the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies (3954 m) and looks splendid from the highway.
At the border of British Columbia and Alberta we discovered (without warning) we had to pay a National Park fee to proceed to Jasper. We also lost an hour because we moved into another time zone.
At every corner there were amazing views and we were very lucky with the weather. It's 104 km to Jasper from Tete Jaune Cache and it would be fantastic to be able to do the drive from east to west as well.

Mt Robson

Moose Lake

Jasper, Alberta