The Icefields Parkway
Banff National Park & Jasper National Park
The Saskatchewan Crossing, where the Mistaya, Howse, and North Saskatchewan Rivers meet, was a vital travel route long before the Icefields Parkway and David Thompson Highway converged in these ancient lands. First Nations and fur traders alike crossed here, navigating between great river valleys. Though the notion of a “backcountry” didn’t yet exist in its contemporary meaning, the terrain’s remoteness and wild character have always evoked a spirit of adventure.
Turn North onto the Icefields Parkway and you will be venturing into a realm of Rock & Ice. The dramatic Glaciated landscape at the Columbia Icefields will mesmerize the senses as you enjoy the many hikes and sights along the Banff – Jasper Park Boundary. Continuing North, you will descend along the Sunwapta and Athabasca Rivers while traveling through a striking scene of burnt timber & thundering waters.
Turn South onto the Icefields Parkway and you will quickly find yourself climbing into the Mistaya River Valley lined with towering peaks and turquoise lakes. Cresting the Summit at Bow Lake will immerse you into one of Banff’s Crown Jewels, where Glaciers hang, Hikes abound & legendary Ski lines beckon.
Learn about Canada’s National Parks Pass
