19.06.2018 - from Jasper to Banff

Today we started early, after all we wanted to drive from Jasper to Banff and experience some highlights of the Rocky Mountains along the way.

First stop was at Athabasca Falls. The Athabasca River was roaring down several meters there. Second stop was the Sunwapta Falls. Then we went a few more kilometers until we reached the Columbia Icefield. We took the side road to Sunwapta Lake, from where we could hike up the mountain and enjoy a clear view of the glacier. The next stop was at the highest pass in the Rockies, Bow Summit. From the parking lot, we walked a short but steep section to get a unique and fantastic view of the turquoise Peyto Lake.

After that, it was still nearly 100km to Banff. We headed straight to the Tunnel Mountain II Campground, where we had booked for 2 nights. The CG is located about 2.5km from town. After resting a bit, we walked into town. We visited the Visitor Center there to find out about bike tours. They had some available! And so we also checked out where the bike rental shop is.

After dinner in town, we took the bus back and then sat outside for a while because the weather was so wonderful.

Distance driven: 304km

Conclusion: the turquoise Peyto Lake looked gigantic