It took me a long, long time to go through all our photos from Canada when we got home in 2018. Six months, in fact.
This is because we took over 120 photos of the Icefields Parkway ALONE. Not the lakes that we stopped at; just the mountains as we drove through this epic part of Canada (which, by the way, averages out to one photo every two minutes or so).
So it stands to reason that it took me a while to go through all of them. Of course, I edited some of the absolute best photos for my Icefields Parkway post, but with over 100 more in our collection, I have a whole load more to share.
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The Icefields Parkway is the road that links Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, two of the best national parks in the world, so you already know it’s going to be epic. In fact, it’s 144 miles of unadulterated views of mountains, lakes, forests and, if you’re lucky, wildlife.
This is by far the best road trip we’ve ever done, and it’s easily one of the best travel days we’ve ever had. Yes, these are all taken in ONE DAY.
Brace yourselves, because these are epic!
Read more: Road Tripping The Icefields Parkway In Autumn
Read more: Mountains, Lakes & Glaciers: Road Tripping The Canadian Rockies
Although we’ve driven the entire Icefields Parkway before, we only made it as far as Columbia Icefield this time, which is just inside Jasper National Park. It’s also one of the most impressive glaciers around.
I can’t remember which lake this is above?? It looks like the Waterfowl Lakes, but can anyone confirm?!
This is Waterfowl Lake – we camped here in 2016 and it blew us away! And we’d never even heard of it!
Of course, let’s not forget that the Icefields Parkway isn’t just about driving!
It’s also home to some of the best lakes on the planet.
First up: Lake Louise, probably Banff’s most famous lake of all.
Unfortunately the road to Moraine Lake had closed early for the season after a snow storm just days before we arrived – which was very upsetting considering the weather was breathtakingly beautiful and the extra snow would have made it even more magical!
When I visited Moraine Lake in 2016, the weather wasn’t ideal, and we couldn’t even see most of the peaks at the end of the lake that make it so iconic. Even so, here are a couple of my photos from that trip because it’s still absolutely stunning and one of the best places you can visit in the area (which is saying a lot!).
I’m desperate to go back and get some of those postcard photos!
This time round, however, we did have a ridiculously epic stop at Peyto Lake instead, with some more of my favourite photos of all time.
Peyto Lake was completely different to how we saw it a few years ago – instead of its strangely captivating milky blue-green tint that everyone is convinced is Photoshopped, it was just radiantly blue and bordered by a white dusting of snow. I’m guessing the colour change was due to the melted snow diluting the rock flour that normally gives it its unique colour.
Regardless of the colour of the lake, I got some of my favourite photos ever! The view absolutely blew me away.
The Icefields Parkway is easily one of the best scenic drives in the world, and I feel incredibly lucky to have done it twice now. It’s one of those drives where every single time you turn a corner, you involuntarily shout “WOWWW!!” (There is video evidence of us doing this several times…!!)
I need to add that I should give Ash credit for taking most of these photos – after all, I was driving! He also captured some absolutely epic videos, which I’m still yet to sort out.
Anyway, now I’m desperate to get back to Canada, dammit.
Have you driven the Icefields Parkway? Is it on your bucket list?
You can read some of my other Canada posts here:
⭐ Road Tripping The Icefields Parkway In Autumn
⭐ Mountains, Lakes & Glaciers: Road Tripping The Canadian Rockies
⭐ A Drive Through Two Underrated Canadian Rockies National Parks
⭐ Why I Love Vancouver
⭐ A Short & Sweet Trip To Vancouver Island: Beautiful Victoria, BC
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I haven’t had a chance to go to Jasper but Banff is actually the most beautiful place I’ve ever been!
I’m totally with you on that! Jasper is really nice but I do prefer Banff (although there’s a lot more in that area I’d still like to see!).
I’d never heard of the Icefields Parkway until you mentioned it (but I’ve definitely heard of Banff National Park!). The scenic drive looks GORGEOUS with the lone road, pine trees, and snow-capped mountains. Your photo of Moraine Lake is stunning, even if you said it wasn’t ideal weather when you went– I think otherwise! Canada is certainly a beautiful country, and your post makes me want to go back once the pandemic’s over. 🙂
I hadn’t heard of it either until a few years ago, and I’d even been to Banff!! It’s such an unbelievable drive! And thank you – I’d love to go back to Moraine Lake when the mountains aren’t shrouded in clouds. 🙂
It’s on my todo list and after seeing your pictures, it’s moved up a few notches!
I highly recommend it!! Definitely the most beautiful drive I’ve ever done. 😍
The Icefields Parkway is one of those drives that you could do over and over again! You have some fantastic photos here! We are heading to Kootenay Park soon so hope to catch some lovely lake and mountain views 🙂
Ahhh absolutely! I would never, ever get tired of that. So sorry I’m only just replying to your comment – the Kootenays are lovely, if you haven’t been yet I recommend Marble Canyon, there’s a beautiful waterfall there! 🙂
hahaha saw your other comment too…Marble Canyon was one of the reasons we camped where we did 🙂
This was my absolute favourite two days in Canada, driving from Jasper to Columbia Icefields, waking in the morning to a snow-covered glacier and then driving through those majestic mountains to Banff 😍
Ahhh amazing!! I can see why. 😉 Driving along that road is definitely one of my favourite ever days of travel. <3
I have not yet managed to get to this part of the world. It looks very tempting and beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading, Bill! I hope you make it there, it really is astounding.
Wow, Wow and Wow!! This place is stunning. I can easily understand why you took so many photos. I’d have done the same!
Haha it’s impossible not to!
You’ve got my attention in planning a road trip through is pristinely beautiful place. Nice color touch up effect on you pictures.
I definitely recommend it! And thanks – I didn’t actually do all that much editing on these as the weather was so good for natural light, just a bit of brightening up – the landscape speaks for itself! 😉
Wow, your photos are amazing! I am adding the Icefields Parkway to my travel bucket list!
Thank you! 🙂 I highly recommend it, it should be on everyone’s bucket list! 😍