From Jasper to Banff is about 180 miles, most of which is on the Icefields Parkway. Universally considered to be one of the most scenic roads in the world, it is certainly the most beautiful highway I've ever driven. With mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and wildlife, the beauty of this drive is just about indescribable. I've gone in one direction or the other some six or seven times, and I still get awestruck on each visit. Which reminds me, it has been eleven years since I was there, time to think about a return trip.
Because of forest fires in 2004, I did not get as many photos as I would have liked. In fact, the smoke was so bad around Banff, we did not even stop there.
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| Sunwapta Falls |
While there are more than 100 glaciers visible along the parkway, the most accessible and most visited is Athabasca Glacier. Visitors may drive to the base of the glacier, but walking on it without a guide is dangerous because of hidden crevasses. A specially designed tour coach is available that drives onto the glacier. Although it has receded nearly a mile over the past 125 years, it is still nearly four miles long. Even the tour coach can be dangerous. A couple of years ago, a coach rolled over and killed three passengers. Nineteen passengers were injured and transported to hospitals.
The turquoise lakes are fed by glaciers, giving them the glacial silt that results in the bright green color.
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