bwgride

Hi folks --

I'm considering a tour of the Icefields Parkway this summer starting late July and early August. Seems most of the tour reviews I've read start in Calgary and proceed to Jasper then return to Calgary. Given this I suppose this may be the best route (i.e., perhaps most bicycle touring friendly).

Another option is to fly to Edmonton and take route 16 to Jasper (or some of the roads that parallel route 16 here and there), then down to Banff, and lastly to Calgary and fly home.

Anyone here with experience bicycling from Edmonton to Jasper? Any feedback on this route (shoulders, safety, scenery)? Are campgrounds sufficiently located on 16 for bicycle tourists?

gerald_g 

I'm sure Machka (I think I spelled it right) will have info on this route.
I also live in Alberta, but have not ridden these roads. I have limited local knowledge.

Looking for a travel partner ? :-)

raybo

You might find this earlier thread of interest: https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/87058-icefield-parkway-canada.html

Ray

jamawani 

Edmonton is 225 miles - about 3 days' ride - from Jasper.
The connecting highway is Hwy 16 - the Yellowhead Highway.
Four lanes, pretty heavy traffic, miles of prairie.
Only a few short sections of paved back roads.

valygrl

I wouldn't (and didn't) hesitate to ride the I.P. in both directions - different views, plenty of places to vary where you stay overnight, lots of things to do along the way.

antonyfhilliard

You could also meet up with the VIA train in Jasper and catch a lift either Vancouver or Edmonton-bound. Might be a fun way to break up the trip.

mercator

If you are coming to ride in the mountains, Edmonton should not be on your itinerary.

Barrettscv 

I have not ridden the route, but I took this route by car last year. It was a scouting trip, I also plan to take this route by bike... someday.

From Edmonton to Hinton is flat and mostly featureless. If time matters, try to start your ride in Hinton.

Starting in Hinton. See below for the location & route;



The light at dawn;



More pix between Hinton & Jasper;





From the Jasper tramway;





Traveling south from Jasper towards the Glacier Center;





I'll post some pics from the Icefield Parkway in another post.

Barrettscv 

South of Jasper the Icefields Parkway begins: https://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/visit/PkwyEn.pdf

The first stop is Sumwapta Falls;





The mountains become more dramatic as you pass by the Hooker & Chaba Icefields;





Arriving at the Columbia Icefield;

Barrettscv 

I posted dozens of additional pictures and provide a trip report here: https://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/...ke-lake-louise

Michael

bwgride

Yes, in fact I may be interested in a travel partner. My colleague with whom I've toured the past two years is unlikely to tour this summer, so I'm open to riding along with others. Recent posts have outlined how touring partnerships can be a bust, so just to be clear here is a self-description of my touring habits:

1. I'm 44 and overweight. This has a direct bearing on some information below.
2. I'm slow, with speeds between 10 to 12 mph (15 to 19 kph) while touring, and much slower when climbing.
3. I usually target a distance of 50 to 70 miles (80 to 110 kilometers) per day. Once I get my cardio conditioned, I could rider further, but tend to stay in the 50 to 70 range, or shorter if sightseeing or the weather presents difficult riding conditions.
4. I prefer to camp (stealth is fine), but will take motel/BB if weather turns nasty over days or area seems unsafe.
5. I don't cook or participate in group cooking (which is good according to those who have eaten my cooking). I prefer to carry food that does not require cooking (fruit, various multi-grain bars, jerky, bread, cheese, etc.).
6. I like to fall asleep early (9pm to 11pm, or shortly after dark) and rise early (7am or thereabouts) so I can be on the road by 8:30am to 9am (or thereabouts).
7. I take frequent breaks, especially while climbing.
8. I don't mind if my riding partner(s) pull ahead and out of sight, especially if we've agreed on a stopping or meeting point because I know many folks like to ride faster than me.

If I do tour the Icefield Parkway this summer, my likely starting date (from Calgary given all the replies above), would be sometime between July 22 to 25 and probably stay for about two weeks.

Send me a private message if this seems consistent with your thoughts.

P.S. Anyone else interested in riding along either partly or fully let me know.

bwgride

Michael, thanks much for all those images. They certainly reinforce why I want to tour there!

Machka 

Part of Rowan's and my Wedding Century was on Hwy 16 coming into Jasper:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7607097344648/

JohnyW

Hi,

I would start in Edmonton (may be take a bus to Hinton). Before Jasper are also some nice spots (Medicine Lake). From Lake Louise I would cycle the Golden Triangle. I needed 3 days for the Icefield Parkway, 3 days hiking (Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff), 3 days Golden Triangle, 1 day Banff - Calgary. So still have 4 days left to proceed a bit slower. But to be honest a only was in a hurry from Yoho - to Radium Springs and Banff - Calgary (there I had a little head wind which allows me only to cycle a maximum speed of 17 km/h during the afternoon)

Thomas

vik 

Riding the Icefields Parkway both ways is well worth it. The ride to and from Calgary is fine, but not something super exciting. You could take a bus from Calgary to Canmore/Banff/Lake Louise and start your ride there. The ride back to Calgary from the mountains is at least downhill and with the prevailing winds.

Icefields Parkway Photos 2006 & 2008

Randobarf

I would just ride from Calgary. There's a bike path from the Calgary airport and a basically scenic cycle from Calgary to the Icefields Parkway. Stay overnight in Calgary (the centre of culture and good taste in Canada) and it's a one day ride to the Tunnel Mountain campground (with a small bike camping area) in Banff.

The Edmonton airport is quite far south of Edmonton in Nisku. The ride into Edmonton is passable but not that great. You can skirt the city on secondary roads to get to the Yellowhead Highway (from Edmonton to Jasper) or you can cycle south on secondary roads to Rocky Mountain House and then onto Saskatchewan River Crossing (on the Icefields Parkway) via Highway 11 (not a spectacular cycling route if you ask me).

Highway 16 from Edmonton to Jasper is a four lane divided highway with fairly light traffic and a nice cycling shoulder but it is not exactly a tourist attractant. The scenery is pretty but it will not make your head explode. Due to the Prevailing winds and elevation gain it is a 3 day ride from Edmonton to Jasper and a two day ride from Jasper to Edmonton (with an overnight in the buzzing metropolis of Wildwood).

I cycle these routes on a fairly regular basis and I find a subtle joy in all of them.

For sheer amusement and scenery I would fly into Vancouver and cycle to Hope, Cache Creek, Kamloops then Highway 5 to Tete Jaune Cache (Highway 16) and then cycle east to Jasper then Calgary via the Icefields Parkway. I'm doing that route in August and from Calgary I'm riding to Minneapolis then Bar Harbor, Maine then Nova Scotia.

I would also like to add that I love Vik's photo - and yours too Barretscv and Charlene.