For those who like their road trips a little on the wild side, set your GPS for the Icefields Parkway. You'll drive right into the untamed wilderness that makes up most of Canada's interior, but along the way, there are plenty of cozy lodges where you can cuddle up for the night. It winds through some of the country's prettiest scenery as it passes near several National Parks. A road trip with the word "ice" in the name might give some people pause, but we promise, once you see the pictures of this scenic route through the Canadian Rockies, you'll fall in love.
As you continue along the Parkway, you'll see that there's no lack of cozy lodges where you can crash for the night after a long day of exploring. The Lake Louise Inn is perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Ski storage, a heated indoor pool and whirlpool, an outdoor ice skating rink, and snowshoe rentals make winter stays great for those who like to get outside, and the grounds of the hotel are super fun to explore during the summer. They've got suites and rooms for all budgets and groups, and, of course, there's the incredible scenery.
As you follow the Parkway north, you'll hit another famed Canadian park: Yoho National Park. The word "Yoho" comes from the Cree word for "awe" and "wonder" and it's an incredibly fitting name for the park. It's similar to Banff, with its granite peaks, alpine forests, and lush, blue lakes, but it's a little quieter in its beauty. You can find solitude and reconnect with nature on the many glacial lakes, winding trails, and scenic viewpoints dotted throughout the park. The park also has some awesome facilities, like the visitor centers, that can really add another layer to a visit here.
Emerald Lake is one of the most famous features in Yoho. The lake takes on different shades of turquoise and aqua from different angles in the sunlight, and canoeing right out onto the water is an experience all its own. If you're visiting in the winter when the lake is frozen, it's still worth a visit: you can snowshoe right out onto the ice. There's a trail around the lake's edge that is perfect for a stroll, and the lodge set right on the shores is a great spot to stay the night, or just grab a bite to eat and enjoy the views.
While on the Icefield Parkway, you definitely can't miss out on the Columbia Icefield. This massive patch of ice and snow is over 130 square miles and it feeds several glaciers throughout the Rockies. It's pretty wild to think that the ice is hundreds to thousands of feet thick, even in the summer, and has been around for hundreds of thousands of years. You can just hope out of the car and just walk around a glacier, but bus tours are a popular way to explore the icefield. Glacier Adventure is one: their ice explorer vehicles drive right across the Athabasca Glacier, and you'll make a stop at a stream where you can fill up a water bottle with and drink fresh glacier water!
Another way to experience the icy wonder of the Canadian Rockies? The Glacier Skywalk. It's a little pricey, but it's one of those things that you should do at least once in your life because the views from the Skywalk are unlike anything anywhere else in the world. You get access to a hike along the edge of a cliff, offering sweeping views of valleys, streams, and waterfalls carved by glaciers. It all ends with a stunning glass floor platform that lets you peer down 900 feet down. It has lots of interpretive signs along the way, so you'll learn the story of the Rockies as you hike. Some glacier tours include this experience in their itineraries, so look for one that features both.
As the Parkway winds its way towards Jasper National Park, the rustic atmosphere only gets cozier. The Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge is another great hotel along the route. With cabins and lodge rooms that all are super comfy, and if you're looking for something that feels like it's a hidden gem tucked away in the woods, but doesn't sacrifice too many amenities, then this is the spot for you.
Glacial waterfalls can be found all along the Icefields Parkway, but Athabasca is an especially gorgeous one. It's not the tallest, but it's easily the most impressive because it's one of the most powerful-- the amount of water that rushes down the falls is crazy, and the sound and atmosphere of Athabasca makes quite the impression. There's no bad time to visit since the water level rarely gets low, but try and get here early in the morning, before tour buses show up, to explore the bridges and overlooks when it isn't too crowded.
You don't have to be a mountain hiker extraordinaire to take in the views from atop the Canadian Rockies... there's always the Jasper Tramway! A seven-minute ride in a gondola takes you up above the clouds to the peak of a mountain, where you can hike, enjoy the fresh air, and take in some seriously crazy 360-degree views of the landscape. The ride up and down is surprisingly quick and it really is more fun than scary... and it offers a truly unique view of the mountains and valleys.
The Icefields Parkway can easily be done in a matter of hours, but allow yourself a few days to explore all of the features of the three parks along the way. Keep in mind that there's only one gas station along the parkway and that it's pretty pricey, so come with a full tank if you can. You can actually take an RV on the route, since it's a pretty easy road, despite considering that it winds through the Rockies. And remember to grab a National Parks Pass before you hit the road! You can buy it in any of the parks along the way.
