Touring Tuesday - The Icefields Parkway

Spectacular scenery on the Icefields Parkway

The weather is getting hot here in Indiana. If you're looking for a cooler place to do some cycling, consider Canada's Icefield Parkway. It roughly parallels the continental divide in the Canadian Rockies for 144 miles. The entire highway is within Canada's Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. This route has been named as one of the World's Top 50 Riding Experiences. The route attracts a lot of auto traffic, and quite a few RVs as well, especially on weekends. If you are looking for a ride without a car in sight, this isn't the ride for you. However, there is a pretty good shoulder on most of the road. Along the route are over 100 glaciers, a couple waterfalls, and lots of great scenery. Be sure to bring warm clothing. Not only is the Parkway pretty far north, it's also pretty high. There are a couple passes that are over 6,500 feet high.

Here's a link to a map of the Parkway. Below is a video of cycling on the Parkway.