Icefields Parkway
Today we were going to Jasper, taking the world famous Icefields Parkway. Icefields Parkway was named one of the most scenic drives in the world and it was not without merit. The scenery was surreal and we encountered many wildlives along the way. In addition, to fully appreciate the drive, you will want to stop by some of the lakes or hiking trail along the way. On a good day, you can easily spend the whole day there. Along the way, we also encountered some heavy snowfall. It was an amazing drive.
No Internet
There is no cellular signal along the way. So, it's a good idea to download offline map before you head out. If you forget to (like us), you can stop by the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre and use their public WIFI.
Bow Lake
Bow Lake was the first lake we encountered on our drive. It was about 30 minutes north of Lake Louise. On the day we arrived, it was calm as a mirror and was a perfect spot to take a stroll and take some selfies.
Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake is famous for its unique bright, turquoise colour. To view the lake in its entirety, we stopped by Bow Summit, which is the highest point on the Icefields Parkway.
Athabasca Glacier
Athabasca Glacier was right next to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, a good place to stretch your legs and learn a thing or two about the glacier. All over the world, glaciers are retreating. Here, you can see markers showing how much the glacier has retreated over the years. The discovery center is also the only place where you can get public WIFI along the Icefields Parkway, make good use of it.
Walking up to the glacier was cold but well worth it.
Windshield Crack
Within 5 minutes of driving away from the Athabasca Glacier, my rental car got hit by a rock on the windshield. Apparently, this is very common in Alberta due to the way they managed snow during winter. So if you are renting a car, make sure your insurance covers windshield damage.
Staying at Jasper
When we reached Jasper, it was already in the evening. We booked a basement apartment called Mountain View Accommodation. It was very clean and well managed. Jasper is such a small town that I would highly recommend you to book your stay ahead of time.