Forget Route 66 – for North America's most epic road trip, it's impossible to beat the scenery that whizzes by you on this drive.
Snow-dusted peaks, ancient glaciers, dramatic waterfalls, lush green gorges: Icefields Parkway (aka Highway 93) is a quintessential rural Canada experience. The 232-kilometre stretch of road may be comparatively short to other epic road trips, but you'll find yourself constantly making pit stops in order to admire the sublime scenery. Put aside a few days to do this properly. Otherwise, make it your complete Canadian Rockies trip. Plenty of accommodation options line the route.
Ideally, to make the journey from Jasper to Banff (or indeed vice versa) you'll need a hire car. If you don't drive, bus day trips do ply the route. Start out in Jasper, then head southwest down Icefields Parkway and through Jasper National Park. Make your first stop the Athabasca Falls the roaring cascade of water is not to be missed. Not much further down the route, call in at Columbia Icefield, and take a guided walk of the Athabasca Glacier.
Drive through the infamous Big Bend and Big Hill, and pause to admire Weeping Falls. Continue to the Saskatchewan River Crossing – an almighty collision of three separate rivers. Call in at the warden station to get tips for hiking around the area.
Pass Upper Waterfowl Lake and Mount Chephren before coming to Peyto Lake. One of the highlights of the Rockies, Peyto Lake deserves a decent slice of your time. Walk along the paved trail, and gaze down into the deep glacial valley below. Further south down Icefields Parkway, call in at Hector Lake, the largest in Banff National Park.
Explore the glaciers and the stunning Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise. Continue past Castle Mountain (named by James Hector), and get photos of Mount Rundle reflected in the waters of Vermillion Lakes.
In Banff, climb aboard the gondola, soar to the top of Sulphur Mountain and soak up panoramic views of Banff National Park over a well-deserved slap-up dinner.
Icefields Parkway welcomes many tourists between July and August. Check out the Icefields Parkway website for road and safety reports before you depart. Ensure that your car is equipped to deal with severely icy conditions (snow chains are sometimes required).
