We started out early on day ten so that we could spend a leisurely day driving the 144 miles of Icefield Parkway (Hwy 96) from Lake Louise to the town of Jasper. We downloaded the GuideAlong app which was absolutely worth the $20 to hear stories and information along the drive and know which spots were worth the stop.
We started with a quick stop (10 min) at Bow Lake where we took just a quick little walk to take in the view. Then we stopped in at Peyto Lake which was so fun to see, the lake is shaped like a wolf’s head. From the car you can get to the viewing point with a short 5 minute walk. We spent a little longer here walking around and taking in the views. Plan for 30 minutes.
We spent more time at the Columbia Icefields, where we had reservations for both the Icefield Adventure and the Skywalk. This was one of the kids’ favorite stops! We boarded a massive Ice Explorer vehicle that took us to the Athabasca Glacier. Once there, we got to walk on the glacier itself and even collect some of the pristine, ice-cold water. Be sure to bundle up—hats, gloves, and winter jackets are a must, as the area is quite chilly! The cost was around $100 a person, but we thought it was well worth it.
Our final stop was Athabasca Falls. This one was a bit more challenging, as three out of the four of us were napping when we arrived. But it was definitely worth waking up for! We stretched our legs and took in the views.
As we rolled into the town of Jasper, we were greeted by an elk right at the entrance! We made our way to the Mount Robson Inn where we had a great little suite room with kitchen, seating area, two beds and a bathroom. It was a welcome change to have more space to relax and stretch out.
After some rest, we headed to Jasper Brewing Company for dinner. On our way back to the inn, we were treated to the sight of another elk casually strutting down the middle of the road, like he owned the place!
With a good night’s sleep behind us, we woke up ready for the drive back to Kalispell to catch our flight home.
Wanderlust Travel Diary 