Canada June 2014: The Icefield Parkway

ICEFIELDS PARKWAY

From Lake Louise (June 17^th) we had a long day to travel (226km -143miles) to Jasper but taking in one of the world’s ultimate drives along Icefield Parkway. With a total area of 200km² the Columbia Icefield is one of the largest masses of glacial ice outside the Arctic Circle, surrounded by some of the highest mountains in the Canadian Rockies (Athabasca, Columbia, Snow Dome); there are numerous places to stop to take in views of lakes, mountains and canyons and we took advantage of these!

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Mountains near the Icefield Centre

Our first break was on the road side at Mistaya Lake where we had a run in with, not a bear, but a very cheeky raven! We had opened the boot to retrieve something and two ravens flew down, one of which jumped onto the lip of the boot.

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Checking out the prey (i.e. us) from a high vantage point!

We shooed him away but undeterred he came back and picked up a box of kitchen foil and flew off with it to the other side of the road; Bob gave chase whilst Cyndi was doubled up with laughter! The raven then flew up the hillside and began attacking the foil with his beak; he would not have found much nourishment. It was a good job the car keys were in Bob’s pocket as trying to explain that a bird had taken them would have been embarrassing!

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Don't I look cute? Coming in stealthily for the 'kill'!

A bit further on we stopped to explore the Mistaya Canyon which was only a little way off the road. The 0.5 km trail to the canyon is located at a large parking area on the west side of the Parkway, part way up the long hill south of the North Saskatchewan River.

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Mistaya Canyon signpost

It takes about twenty minutes’ walk from the car park down a fairly rocky track, which was very slippery. Arriving at the canyon we were amazed at this beautiful spot; the scenes were stunning and the water flowed so fast it was easy to see how the rocks had been carved. The actual run of the water drops quite quickly and severely, you can access above the waterfall if you are careful and because it is mainly snow melt the colour is amazing.

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Mistaya Canyon Interpretation Board

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Mistaya Canyon

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Mistaya Canyon

Continuing on we arrived at the Saskatchewan River Crossing where it was 3˚f, although the temperature did rise to a ‘heated’ 12. 5˚f.

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Saskatchewan Crossing

From here the road climbed the "Big Bend" a huge curve in the highway that gives way to magnificent views.

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View from Big Bend

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View from Big Bend

We paused to look at Bridal Veil Falls which originates in the Huntington Glacier on the slopes of Cirrus Mountain.

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Bridal Veil Falls signpost

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Bridal Veil Falls

Its waters drain into Nigel Creek, then into the North Saskatchewan River at the Big Bend of the Icefield Parkway. It is a class 4 water fall, with a drop of 1,200 ft(370 m) and a width of 20 ft (6.1 m).

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Icefield Centre

With lunchtime approaching we stopped at the Icefield Centre to view the huge but worryingly decreasing Athabasca glacier and have some food in the visitor centre. We decided not to take the special bus onto the glacier or walk on the new skywalk but just take in the spectacular views of the Icefield and the snow covered mountains against the pure blue sky. Refreshed we carried on north surrounded by numerous stunning mountains, all in excess of 3000 metres.

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Athabasca Glacier

Our next stop was at the Sunwapta Falls. These falls have a drop of about 18.5 metres created by hanging valleys.

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Sunwapta Falls

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Sunwapta Falls

At the Athabasca Falls we saw two black bears- oh, dear, were we becoming blasé about seeing bears - no!?

Black bear at Athabasca Falls Area

Athabasca Falls is the most powerful of the falls. The full width of the Athabasca River is funnelled into a three metre gap and over the brink of the falls. The rock, Gog quartzite, in that area is as strong as steel and yet the power generated by the falls have carved huge swathes out of it!