The most spectacular mountain highway in the Canadian Rockies — 144 miles through glacier-carved valleys, past turquoise lakes and ancient icefields between Banff and Jasper National Parks.

Stops on This Tour (12)

1. 1
   Lake Louise The journey begins at one of the most iconic lakes on Earth. The turquoise water, coloured by glacial rock flour, sits beneath the Victoria Glacier and the Chateau.
2. 2
   Hector Lake Viewpoint Named for the geologist who discovered Kicking Horse Pass, this lake mirrors the Waputik Range in its glacial blue surface.
3. 3
   Bow Lake The source of the Bow River lies in the glacial blue waters beneath Crowfoot Mountain. Num-Ti-Jah Lodge has hosted travelers since 1923.
4. 4
   Peyto Lake Viewpoint The fox-head-shaped lake glows an impossible shade of turquoise far below. Named for trapper and guide Bill Peyto, who first led tourists here in the 1890s.
5. 5
   Mistaya Canyon The Mistaya River has carved a twisting limestone slot canyon over millennia. The narrow gorge channels whitewater through potholes and natural bridges.
6. 6
   Saskatchewan River Crossing A remote services stop where the North Saskatchewan River begins its journey to Hudson Bay. Fuel, food, and supplies — the only services for 150 kilometers.
7. 7
   Parker Ridge Trail A short alpine trail climbs above treeline to reveal the vast Saskatchewan Glacier below — the largest outflow of the Columbia Icefield.
8. 8
   Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre The Icefield covers 325 square kilometers and feeds rivers flowing to three oceans. The Athabasca Glacier tongue retreats visibly year by year.
9. 9
   Tangle Falls A cascade tumbling directly beside the highway. In winter, it freezes into a towering pillar of ice that draws ice climbers from around the world.
10. 10
    Sunwapta Falls The Sunwapta River drops 60 feet through a narrow gorge. In Stoney Nakoda, Sunwapta means "turbulent waters."
11. 11
    Athabasca Falls The Athabasca River thunders through a narrow quartz canyon. At 75 feet, the falls' power comes not from height but from sheer volume.
12. 12
    Jasper Townsite The journey ends in this charming mountain town. Jasper National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world.

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