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Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park

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Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park
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where are the mergansers - Banff National Park
where are the mergansers
by zrim
Things to Do in Banff National Park: Icefields Parkway tips and photos posted by real travelers and Banff National Park locals.
Icefields Parkway
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Icefields Parkway: Icefields Parkway and Peyto Lake
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  • Updated By RACCOON1 on December 28, 2006
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  • Icefields Parkway - Banff National Park
    by RACCOON1
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    The Icefield Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper is a must drive. You need a sunny day . You really only have to drive the lake Louise to Columbia Ice Fields segment ( this is a personal opinion ). Bring a picnic lunch .

    This picture is Peyto Lake. As I grew up in Calgary and spent a lot of time in the National Parks this is how I feel all lakes should look like . I am not to impressed with the lakes in Ontario .

    Tip for Peyto Lake:
    There are two parking lots .
    The low one is for cars and you have to climb to get to this lookout.
    The upper parking lot is for buses and RVS . Drive to the upper parking lot .

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    Icefields Parkway: Icefields Parkway
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  • By Webboy on August 2, 2004
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  • A view from the Icefields Parkway - Banff National Park
    A view from the Icefields
    Parkway
    by Webboy
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    Icefields Parkway is by far the most stunning drive you will ever take in your life!

    Icefields Parkway, also officially known as Highway 93 runs from Lake Lousie, through the Rockies to Jasper - and every inch of it is breath taking.

    It is a long drive that will easily take 4-5 hours (without stopping). So plan in lots of time if you are intending to drive along it. We decided to drive from along the Parkway from Banff to Jasper, stay the night in Jasper, then return back to Banff the next day.

    We left on the Monday around 10am. We drove up through the Bow valley Parkway then went onto the Icefields Parkway - stopping at Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Lake, Athabasca Glacier and a few other smaller places - and arrived in Jasper around 6pm ...... a long day!

    There is so much to see on the Icefields Parkway from lakes and mountains to rivers and wildlife, there is no way you can see it all in one day. In fact, you probably could spend forwever going up and down it!

    There are several ways to travel it. We chose to hire a car, but we passed hikers, cyclists, motorbikes and coaches - so there really is nothing stopping you.

    The Icefields Parkway - Highway 97 is stunning and you would be a silly person not to visit it if in the area.

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  • Directions: The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) runs between Lake Louise and Jasper.
  • Website: http://www.canadianrockies.net/icepwy.html

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    Icefields Parkway: Waterfowl Lake
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  • By zrim on August 1, 2003
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  • where are the mergansers - Banff National Park
    where are the mergansers
    by zrim
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    Another galcial blue lake with snow-tipped peaks in the background. Did not see any waterfowl on this lake--I wonder where they all were hiding? Maybe somewhere up in the Yukon. There is a campgrounds at this lake for those who enjoy sleeping on the ground.

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    Icefields Parkway: Sunwapta Pass
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  • Updated By zrim on July 30, 2003
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  • looking north to Jasper from Banff - Banff National Park
    looking north to Jasper from
    Banff
    by zrim
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    Banff's northern border meets Jasper's southern border at Sunwapta Pass. This view looks north to the lush valleys of Jasper. Most visitors continue on up the road another 5km or so to the Columbia Icefields and the Icefields Visitor Center. To look at the icefields and the visitor center, please check out my Jasper page.

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    Icefields Parkway: Typical chilly view along the Icefields Parkway
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  • By zrim on July 30, 2003
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  • It was almost as cold as it looks - Banff National Park
    It was almost as cold as it
    looks
    by zrim
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    The Icefields Parkway must be the most beautiful drive in the world. I cannot imagine that anything could surpass this jaw-dropping beauty. There is no let up. No place where you dare even blink. In the end it is exhausting to view such splendor mile after mile.

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    Icefields Parkway: Mistaya Canyon
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  • By zrim on August 1, 2003
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  • Frothy Mistaya River - Banff National Park
    Frothy Mistaya River
    by zrim
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    The roaring whitewater rushes from the mounatins in a frenetic jorney to join the mighty Saskatchewan River. The pot hole gorge is a short ten to fifteen minute hike from the Icefields Parkway. After visiting the canyon and falls there are several hikes that will take you up the cliffs to get a bird's eye view of the canyon and the surrounding mountains and valleys.

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    Icefields Parkway: Sunset Pass
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  • By zrim on July 30, 2003
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  • the road goes ever upward - Banff National Park
    the road goes ever upward
    by zrim
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    The last steep climb before entering Jasper National Park. There were many more bicyclists than I would have ever guessed. I cannot imagine pumping and pedaling a bicycle up a 1000 meter climb over 5-8 kilometers. In my mind, that is nothing more than hard, even grueling, work. The distance between Lake Louise and the Columbia Ice Fields is 130 km. I don't know if anyone bikes that route in a single day (it would be no problem for Lance Armstrong or Jan Ulrich I'm sure) but there are several hostels along the route.

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    Icefields Parkway: The Mighty Saskatchewan River
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  • Updated By zrim on August 4, 2003
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  • North Saskatchewan River - Banff National Park
    North Saskatchewan River
    by zrim
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    The Saskatchewan River starts as a tiny stream in the high mountains of Banff and is already a rushing torrent by the time it reaches the Icefields Parkway. It drains vast areas of Canadain Plains across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba before emptying into Hudson Bay via Lake Winnipeg and the Nelson River.

    To learn more about Canadian geography try: www.ccge.org/ccge/english/home.htm

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    Icefields Parkway: This is one chance in a...
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  • Updated By Sharrie on September 12, 2002
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  • Icefields Parkway - Banff National Park
    by Sharrie
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    This is one chance in a lifetime & you definitely have to take the gigantic snowcoach to visit the COLUMBIA ICEFIELD! Every year thousands of visitors take the 5 km (3 miles) round trip snowcoach tour up onto the 300 m (1000 ft) (!!!) thick ATHABASCA GLACIER to experience this Ice Age landscape first hand. For more pictures, click here.

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    Icefields Parkway: Parker Ridge
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  • Updated By madamx on June 2, 2007
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  • Part of the North Saskatchewan Glacier - Banff National Park
    Part of the North
    Saskatchewan Glacier
    by madamx
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    Along Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) there is the very popular roadside pull-out for Parker Ridge. You can relax for a bit and have a washroom break (however, you will need to pinch your nose hard -- did I mention that this stop is very popular?) Or, you can stretch your legs and lungs for a couple of hours and hike to the viewpoint over the North Saskatchewan Glacier.

    The hike is uphill all the way and a bit of a lung buster, but take it slow and be patient; you will be awarded with stunning views along the trail. Don't forget water, a jacket, hat and gloves; the wind can get suprisingly very cold at the top. Plus make sure you bring your camera (like a dough head I left mine in the car). . You do not need hiking boots, the trail is doable in trainers/sneakers.

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  • Directions: About an hour and a half north from Lake Louise ( or 41 km north from the Saskatchewan River Crossing) It is well-signed.

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