CANADA: Bicycle Jasper to Banff, Icefields Parkway | PhotoSeek | World Travel Photo Gallery, Tips, Classes, Best Digital Cameras Reviewed

CANADA: Bicycle Jasper to Banff on Icefields Parkway

We bicycled 187 miles in 5 days (plus a rest day) from Jasper to Banff, staying in campgrounds September 9-14, 2003. Our four riders ages 45 to 66 were supported by Mom and Dad (in their 70s) driving two Volkswagon Eurovan Campers as sag wagons.

Our first day of biking finished in style with a relaxing soak in Miette Hot Springs, a favorite swimming pool with mountain views. In comparison, Banff Hot Springs has a great view but is more crowded and disappointingly lukewarm.

Our self-organized bicycle tour saved money and flexed to ride on rain-free days, except for a half day of showers. Rainy forecast for the first 2 days in Banff motivated a rainy car shuttle drive north to sunnier Jasper. We rode bikes two days, rested on a rainy day, then rode three more days, averaging 38 miles per riding day. Total gain over 5 days from Jasper to Banff was 6800 feet, with 5600 feet downhill. The order of two trip legs were switched, bypassing snow falling at Sunwapta Pass (Leg 3) in favor of no precipitation at Bow Pass (Leg 4). This leg swap let us ride glorious Sunwapta Pass (Leg 3) on a beautiful sunny day speeding 2200 feet downhill over 43 miles (plus 1300 feet up). Good training made the hardest day (Leg 2) seem normal, climbing 2400 feet over 35 miles.

Dress warmly in moisture-wicking layers with waterproof breathable rainjacket. Use rain-proof booties, or cheap plastic bags between socks and shoes, in case of wind chill or rainy days. Cell phones may have no coverage in the middle 100 miles of the ride. Use walkie-talkies (with at least 5+ mile range) for communication between spread-out cyclists and support vehicles. The radios improved morale and prevented logistics problems, such as when a car key was misplaced, then replaced, with the help of radio communication.

See related article: CANADA: mountain parks.

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Planning details for bicycling from Jasper to Banff

We bicycled 187 miles from Jasper to Banff, from campsite to campsite, September 9-14, 2003.

Five bicycling days/legs from Jasper to Banff (north to south)

Leg 1: 32 miles (1300 feet up, 300 down)

From: Whistlers Campground (hot showers, Dump Station, open through 10/13/03, 3500 feet elev) (2 miles from town of Jasper).
To: Honeymoon Lake Campground (no showers; open until 10/13/03; 4300 feet elev).

Leg 2: 35 miles (2400 feet up, 200 down) Sunwapta Pass (6676 ft elev)

To: Columbia Icefield Campground (or adjacent Wilcox Creek Campground, DS, no showers; open through 9/22/03; 6600 feet elevation).
We added a rest/rain day after the first two days of riding.

Leg 3: 43 miles (1600 feet up, 2200 feet down)

To: Waterfowl Lakes Campground (no showers, open through 9/28/03). My favorite day, a speedy descent on a sunny day through gorgeous river and mountain scenery.

Leg 4: 39 miles (1100 feet up, 2000 feet down)

Bow Pass, 6785 feet, is the highest elevation on the Icefields Parkway. The steepest ascent on Bow Pass climbs 800 feet in 3.5 miles, not too bad. A side trip to Peyto Lake viewpoint is highly recommended.
To: Lake Louise Campground (5100 ft, hot showers, DS) Carol’s favorite day, a moderate climb followed by a fun, long 2000-foot descent to Lake Louise.

Leg 5: 38 miles (400 feet up, 900 feet down)

To: Banff: Tunnel Mountain Village I Campground (4700 feet elev, open year around)
We completed our bicycle ride just in time (September 14, 2003), because snow fell that night and days after!

Bicyclists commonly ride the Icefields Parkway in either direction. The southward road climbs 6800 feet total, with 5600 feet downhill. Although the net uphill is 1200 feet, you avoid climbing the long, narrow-shouldered, steep hill northwards up to Sunwapta Pass.

If you reverse the above five-day route, pedaling from Banff to Jasper makes nice moderate rides between the same campgrounds and climbs less, with only 5600 feet total gain and 6800 feet total down. Optionally shorten the trip to four days by combining Legs 1 and 2 into one day of 67 miles climbing 500 feet and descending an exhilarating 3700 feet.

Campgrounds

Break up the long drive from Seattle to the Canadian Rockies with an overnight stay near Salmon Arm or Revelstoke, BC:

www.cedarsrvpark.com: Campground with hot tub and pool, 1-877-836-3988, Sicamous, BC is 400 miles from Seattle.

Campsites are mostly first come first served in Banff and Jasper National Parks. Checkout time is 11:00am. Check latest info at:

Banff NP campgrounds: www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit9_e.asp
Jasper NP campgrounds: www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/visit/visit19_e.asp

Reservations are accepted for the following campgrounds at http://www.pccamping.ca/, or phone 1-877-737-3783:

Jasper NP: Whistlers, Wapiti, and Pocahontas (near Miette Hot Springs)
Banff NP: Lake Louise Tent Campground and separate Trailer Campground, and Banff Tunnel Mountain #1 and #2.
Robson Meadows Campground, Mt Robson Provincial Park

Each morning, our support vehicles drove ahead to secure our next campsite without reservations and had no problem getting a site between 9:00am and noon in September 2003.

Hot Showers

Banff NP: Banff Tunnel Mountain Village (plus Banff Upper Hot Springs nearby), Two Jack Lakeside, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise.
Jasper NP: The Whistlers Campground (closes mid October), Wapiti Campground (closes in early September), and Miette Hot Springs (day use).
The campgrounds from Waterfowl Lakes through Honeymoon Lake have no hot showers. Alternatives: sponge baths, or drive to showers or hot springs.

RV Dump Stations (DS): In Banff NP: Tunnel Mountain, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, & Waterfowl Lakes campgrounds. In Jasper NP: Wilcox Creek, Whistlers, Wapiti Campground.

Food: buy groceries in Banff, Castle Junction, Lake Louise (more expensive), Saskatchewan Crossing (small grocery & restaurant), or Jasper. Our bikers carried their snacks, water and lunch each day. Restaurants are available at Vermilion Crossing and Sunwapta Falls.

Easy hikes and good side trips:

Jasper National Park:

Miette Hot Springs: Soak in the hottest springs in the Rockies, a clean swimming pool with a good view of Ashlar Ridge. Drive 1 hour from Jasper. 8:30 am – 10:30 pm summer hours.
The Whistlers Tramway whisks you up to high views of the Victoria Cross and Colin Ranges rising across the broad Athabaska River Valley.
Lower Maligne Canyon: Walk above a scenic slot canyon and gorge.
Mount Edith Cavell: Hike 2-5 miles to see spectacular Angel Glacier and Cavell Pond.
Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls: Easy stroll.
Columbia Icefield Visitors Centre: SnoCoach ride ~$30 on Columbia Icefield.

Wilcox Pass: 5 miles round trip, 1082 feet gain (7,790 feet max elevation). Start at Wilcox Creek Campround, 1.2 miles east of Icefield Centre.
Parker’s Ridge (7200ft elev; marked trailhead in Banff NP, 5 miles south of Icefield Centre): Walk 3 miles round trip, 910 ft gain, great view of Saskatchewan Glacier.
Nigel Pass hike.

Banff National Park:

Lake Louise area

Join the crowds at Fairmont Chateau admiring Lake Louise, Mount Victoria, and Mount Temple.
Moraine Lake is a hilly side trip on a narrow road with high traffic. Park early to avoid crowds and filled lot. Cross the outlet stream and ascend the little hill trail for a stunning view across the turqoise lake reflecting the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Johnston Canyon: Start early in the morning (or offseason) to get ahead of busloads of hikers on this deservedly popular trail. Easily walk 1 to 7 miles, 300-800 feet gain, through an attractive gorge with waterfalls. Only walk further to the Ink Pots if you want more exercise.
Herbert Lake and Bow Lake reflect peaks spectacularly on a windless day.
Peyto Lake overlook: Walk a short distance to see a spectacular turquoise lake and Bow Pass.

Read more in “CANADA: mountain parks“ article

Recommended Jasper/Banff books and maps

go to Adventure Cycling Association for excellent riding maps: ”Great Parks North Section 1″ Jasper to Banff to Fernie 2011

Search for latest “Canada Rockies travel books” at Amazon.com.

2011: 2010: 2010: 2012:2010: 2010: 2011:

Canadian Rockies Trail Guide (2011) by Brian Patton and Bart Robinson
Gillean Daffern’s Kananaskis Country Trail Guide-4th Edition: Volume 1: Kananaskis Valley–Kananaskis Lakes–Elk Lakes–The Smith-Dorrien(2010)
Moon Canadian Rockies: Including Banff & Jasper National Parks (Moon Handbooks 2010)
Lonely Planet Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks (2012) by Oliver Berry
Geology of British Columbia: A Journey Through Time (2011) by CanningsMoraine Lake, near : Cross the outlet stream and ascend the little hill trail for a stunning view across the turqoise lake reflecting the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Park early to avoid crowds and filled lot.

Posted on Friday, December 9th, 2011 at 3:04 pm. Filed under: All, Canada, North America, Travel Advice, Travel worldwide RSS 2.0 feed.

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