The Icefields Parkway at a glance
The Icefields Parkway is Highway 93N between Lake Louise and Jasper. It is 232 km long and one of the main scenic drives in the Canadian Rockies. The first part lies inside Banff National Park. Most stops are short viewpoints and lakes beside the road, plus a few walks that take from half an hour to half a day.
Plan a full day for one direction if you want to stop. The road is remote, mobile coverage is not reliable, and services are few. Check 511 Alberta for road conditions before you leave.
A park pass is required for the drive, even if you do not stop. The usual exception for through traffic does not apply to Highway 93N and Highway 1A. Details and prices are on the park pass page.
Main stops and walks
Distances are one way unless stated. Each walk starts at its own parking area or lookout.
| Stop | What you get | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Bow Lake | Lake beside the road, picnic stop | – |
| Bow Glacier Falls Trail | Longer walk from Bow Lake | 3.8 km one way, about 3 hours return |
| Peyto Lake lookout | The classic view of the lake | 0.6 km one way, about 30 minutes return |
| Peyto Lake shore | Steep, rough path down to the water | 1.3 km one way, about 2 hours return |
| The Crossing | Fuel and services at the junction of Highways 93 and 11 | – |
| Columbia Icefield | Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Discovery Centre | – |
Our picks: Icefields Parkway tours
Day trips along the parkway; icefield admission and the park pass are marked per tour.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Icefields Parkway small-group day tour with lunch
A group of up to 12, a vehicle with panoramic windows, a guide and a lunch are included. Tips and the national park pass are not.
Check availability →
Icefields Parkway day trip with Peyto and Bow Lake
Pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, GST and free ice cleats are included. Meals and tips are not. Check whether the park pass is included before you book.
Check availability →Guided Icefields Parkway day trip
A guide, van transport, the park fee, water, soft drinks and extra sightseeing stops are included. Lunch and admission to the Columbia Icefield Adventure and the Skywalk are extra.
Check availability →Icefields Parkway tours from Banff
Day trips along the parkway and to the Columbia Icefield, with current prices and availability.
Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake is the stop most visitors plan for. The lookout is a short walk of 0.6 km one way, about 30 minutes for the return trip including time at the railing.
The walk to the lakeshore is a different trip. It is 1.3 km one way, steep and rough, and takes about 2 hours return. Do not treat the two as the same walk.
Bow Lake
Bow Lake is a picnic stop right by the road. If you want more, the Bow Glacier Falls Trail is 3.8 km one way and takes about 3 hours return. Snow can stay on higher ground into June, so check conditions first.
Columbia Icefield
The Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Discovery Centre lie at the northern end of the parkway, on the Jasper side. The park pass does not include a glacier tour.
The Columbia Icefield Adventure combines an Ice Explorer vehicle ride on the Athabasca Glacier with the Skywalk. The operator lists 2.5 to 3 hours, starting and ending at the Glacier Discovery Centre, with transfers between the parts included. It depends on the weather. The 2026 season ran from 1 May to 12 October, so check the operator's dates for 2027.
Treat the glacier as a guided-tour destination. This page does not describe routes onto the ice.
Fuel, season and winter rules
What changes the plan most.
Fuel at The Crossing
The Crossing Resort sits at the junction of Highways 93 and 11, about 85 km north of Lake Louise. It has petrol, diesel, propane and limited electric vehicle charging. All services are closed for the winter, with a return planned for April 2027. Fill up before you start.
Winter, October to May
In these months the road is not maintained between 3:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. There is no fuel on the way, winter tires are required, and closures can come without notice. Look at the forecast and the road report on the day.
Spring and early summer
Higher ground can hold deep snow until mid-June. The lakes are usually thawed by the end of June, and alpine trails are mostly free of snow by mid-July. Treat these as rough guides, not dates.
Phone and safety
Do not count on mobile coverage. Tell someone your route, carry water and food, and keep to the signed pull-outs. For wildlife by the road, read the wildlife rules before you stop.
Self-drive or a day tour
Both work. They are not the same trip.
Drive yourself
You choose the stops and the pace. You also handle fuel, weather and the return. Because the road is remote, start with a full tank and a plan for where you will end the day.
One-way day tour
One 2026 day tour with sightseeing runs from Banff to Jasper and does not return to Banff. It left at 8 a.m. between 1 May and 12 October 2026 and took 10.5 hours. The price was CAD 382 for adults and CAD 249 for children aged 6 to 15, children up to 5 free, plus taxes and fees. It includes the Columbia Icefield Adventure and Skywalk, weather permitting. This is the price of that product, not of every tour.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that fit this drive.
Lake Louise
Shuttle, parking and walks at the south end of the parkway.
Banff park pass
Daily and annual prices, and what the pass does not cover.
Best time to visit
Which months suit lakes, snow and quiet roads.
Calgary to Banff
Drive, shuttle and bus options before the parkway.
Icefields Parkway: frequently asked questions
How long does the Icefields Parkway take?
The road is 232 km long. If you stop at lakes, lookouts and the Columbia Icefield, plan a full day for one direction.
Do I need a park pass to drive it?
Yes. A park pass is required for the parkway, even without stops. Highway 93N and Highway 1A are not covered by the through-traffic exception.
Where can I buy fuel?
The Crossing, about 85 km north of Lake Louise, sells petrol and diesel in season. Its services are closed for winter, with a return planned for April 2027. Start with a full tank.
Is the parkway open in winter?
It stays a winter route with limits. From October to May the road is not maintained from 3:30 p.m. to 7 a.m., winter tires are required, and unannounced closures are possible. Check 511 Alberta before you go.
Is the Peyto Lake view a hike?
The lookout is a short walk, 0.6 km one way. The path down to the shore is separate, 1.3 km one way, steep and rough.
Does the park pass include the glacier tour?
No. The park pass covers park entry. The Columbia Icefield Adventure is a separate operator product with its own ticket.