Day 6 - Icefield Parkway

Our day started icy today, the nights on the Icefield Parkway are colder than the nights before in Banff. Since the road from Saskatchewan River Crossing is closed due to the fires in Jasper, we had to make a few adjustments to our plans. So we headed to the points on our travel list that are still accessible.

1. Stop: Howse Pass Viewpoint: The pass connects the two river systems North Saskatchewan and Columbia - It served as a Trans-Mountain transport route. 
2. Stop: Mistaya Canyon: Impressive volumes of water that have carved their way through the rocks over the years.
3. Stop: Peyto Lake Viewpoint - A turquoise glacier lake that gets its incredible color from glacial rock flour. 
4. Stop: Hike Bow Summit Lookout Trail to Peyto Glacier, 6 km, 310 meters elevation gain. 

We also had a hike to the waterfalls of the Bow Glacier on our list, but unfortunately the parking lot was already full and there was no way through. This really disappointed me.

On the way back from the Icefield Parkway, we noticed a line of vehicles on the side of the road and slowed down as well, and there he was, our first black bear, who quickly disappeared into the bushes. He was camera-shy ;-).

So we continued to the next campground in Golden, where smoky air (from a wildfire) and a thunderstorm awaited us.