Icefields Parkway - Jasper to Banff

We left out cosy B&B in Jasper on a day with the promise of better weather, though it was still raining on and off. Such a pity as we had little opportunity to see some of the beautiful views on offer locally. 

Try as we may we had not been successful seeing any elk around town during our stay, but we did come across a group of females grazing just out of town on out way south.

Mountain views were still shrouded in cloud, but we took what pictures we could.

Most of the traffic seemed to be coming from the opposite direction so the driving was not arduous. Ian has done a fabulous job of the driving.

Our first stop was at Sunwapta Falls. Yes, yet another set of falls!!!! But they all offer something different. It was very cold and I was thankful for my warm jacket. Once again the flood waters were causing huge volumes of water to career into the canyon below.

Sunwapta Falls

Around every turn, another view another waterfall. We are spoilt for choice on this iconic drive between Jasper and Lake Louise. Despite there still being plenty of snow it is clear to see why these are named the Rocky Mountains.

Our morning coffee stop provided some entertainment. We stopped at a viewpoint (above), there was a large parking area but only one other car at the time we pulled in. The view was stunning – Stutfield Glacier. Sitting in the car admiring the view (we were parked straight on to it), Ian declared “Oh no! A coachload of Koreans”. The coach parked and disgorged it’s load of passengers who promptly surrounded our car – because we were where the view was.

Seconds later another coach arrived and another!!! They too carrying Korean passengers. Our quiet and solitude had been shattered. But we were in hysterics, because it was such a funny sight. They all disappeared before we took off again. But not before I took a pic of them all!!

We called in at the Icefield Centre and had a look around – crowds of people awaiting their trip on the Ice Explorer. Not us. Having done a glacier hike in NZ, we didn’t fancy being bundled into the coach and hearing all about glaciers again even if it is such a spectacularly huge one. We had other plans.

The Information and Exhibits were very interesting but we needed to move on. We wanted to look down on the glacier from a trail we thought we would take. The trail head for Wilcox Pass was three kilometres up the road. We hiked up as far as the meadow, where there were some lovely wildflowers, but decided not to go further along the trail as we could get a lovely view from there. I took a video of the view down into the valley – such a wonderful sight.

Continuing on our way we called in to Mistaya Canyon. Yes, yet another canyon!!! Again, as with waterfalls each has its own characteristics. This one had more than its fair share of that – there were visitors ignoring the signage which tells them they visit at their own risk and hopping right along the very edge of the canyon (agreed it was not fenced, but all the same one slip..). Maybe we are too cautious, but it was quite worrying seeing young children gambolling from ledge to ledge.

Further along the road again was the turn off to Bow Summit and Peyto Lake. This was always going to be busy and it certainly was.

Again there were different wildflowers in bloom. There were plenty of this Eastern Anemone which is apparently hard to catch in flower.

By this time the sun was shining and when we reached Peyto Lake the spectacular colour was laid out before us. Pressing through the throngs, we were able to get to the rail to get the view – the first of many such lakes.

Calling in to Num-ti-Jah Lodge turn off afforded us the opportunity to see Bow Lake from two vantage points, as well as a close up look at this old timber lodge.

Bow Lake from Num-ti-Jah Lodge

Num-ti-Jah

Num-ti-Jah from around Bow Lake

After settling in to another lovely B&B on the fringes of town, but close enough to walk to everything in town, we headed out for something to eat. Another pub meal went down very nicely. We then went in search of elk as the evening was drawing in, but no luck down near the golf course where we had been advised they usually graze in the evening. However, we did manage to take in Bow Falls and the Banff Springs Hotel photo ops. So they were ticked off the list of things to do in Banff.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Another day rounded off. Tomorrow, Lake Louise.