Western Canada - Icefields Parkway

which way is better, Jasper to Banff or Banff to Jasper when it comes to hill climbing and steepness?

http://www.openrunner.com/displayElevation.php?id=164059

I've done Banff to Jasper and didn't find it too difficult. The only section of concern was the rise from the "Big Bend" to the Parker ridge trailhead. Otherwise, it was fairly reasonable.

FWIW, Banff is also 300m or so higher than Jasper.

You also might try posing this question on the touring forum on this site.I know that the Lady Machka has ridden the route a couple of times and possiblely others on that forum have done so also.

I've done Jasper to Lake Louise. It's a little more down then up but not too much. I liked that direction. Great short tour

i rode the other way Lake Louise to Jasper, took us 4days, camping at the national parks. Its really good as the big rigs are banned, making the ride less stressful. You've got to buy the park pass but other than that, the sights are amazing. We rode tadpole trikes (just 2 of us)and met up with a couple from Austrailia, also riding trikes.

Well I've done it both ways a number of times although most of the time it would be from North to South. You see different sights riding in different directions. In both cases you start with an uphill climb that gets steeper until you are hitting 8%+ grades (so not too bad other than they are loooooong). You go over the first pass, downhill, then start uphill to the second pass, then after cresting down.

For folks thinking of this, take your time and make sure you are riding between Banff and Jasper as the ride from Lake Louise along the back road to Banff is really nice, relaxing and easy, especially if you've come down from Jasper. There are enough Youth Hostels along the way that you can stop in each night there or camp if you prefer. Although it has been a few years since I've cycled through there.

A word of caution, be ready for cool weather including potential snow at the summits, even in the middle of summer, I've hit snow at the Icefields on the August long weekend (start of August) - large fluffy flakes HURT and you soon loose all feeling in your feet as they get wet as you are going too fast to spin even in a 103"+ gear. But, you get to take up the whole lane because you are faster than any traffic.

The road generally has wide sholders although in some places the road isn't great. It is paved but will be a bit rough. Oh and I've ridden through their when the clouds are so low and the rain so thick that you can't tell there are mountains anywhere.

BC Don

I've done Jasper to Banff when I've done the whole distance.

But I've travelled in various directions when I've done part of it.