Shared itinerary · Jasper National Park, Alberta
Jasper and the Icefields Parkway in 5 days
Five days from Lake Louise up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper: Bow and Peyto Lakes, the Columbia Icefield and the Skywalk, a waterfall day (Tangle Creek, Sunwapta, Athabasca) into Jasper townsite, Medicine Lake and the Maligne Lake cruise, the SkyTram and the lakes beside town, then the reopened Valley of the Five Lakes. 17 stops with times and notes. Maligne Canyon and the Mount Edith Cavell area are closed for 2026, so the plan leaves them out (checked 2 October 2026).
From the guide Jasper National Park: the quieter, wilder half of the Rockies
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Updated
Distance
360 km
Bow Lake → Valley of the Five Lakes
Days
5
Stops
17
| Day | Route | Stops | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Bow Lake to Glacier Skywalk | 5 | 115 km |
| Day 2 | Tangle Creek Falls to Jasper townsite | 4 | 114 km |
| Day 3 | Medicine Lake to Maligne Lake | 2 | 49.9 km |
| Day 4 | Jasper SkyTram to Old Fort Point | 4 | 66.0 km |
| Day 5 | Lac Beauvert to Valley of the Five Lakes | 2 | 14.0 km |
Day 1: Bow Lake to Glacier Skywalk
115 kmUp the Parkway from Lake Louise to the Icefield. Lake Louise to Jasper is 232 km in all; drive it slowly, and fill up at Saskatchewan River Crossing, the only fuel, open in summer only.
- Fuel
- The only fuel between Lake Louise and Jasper is at Saskatchewan River Crossing, in summer only; in winter the parkway has no services
Checked 2 Oct 2026 · Parks Canada (parks.canada.ca)
- 08:30
Bow Lake
Park & nature
Turquoise water under Crowfoot Glacier, with the historic red-roofed lodge on the shore.
9.5 km · 15m drive to next
- 10:00
Peyto Lake
Sight
The wolf-head lake from the Bow Summit viewpoint, the most saturated blue in the Rockies.
- Trail
- 0.6 km from the main lot to the viewpoint; Bow Summit Viewpoint is 3 km one way, 310 m up
Checked 2 Oct 2026 · Parks Canada (parks.canada.ca)
41.0 km · 40m drive to next
- 12:00
Saskatchewan River Crossing
Food & drink
The only fuel between Lake Louise and Jasper, open in summer only. Fill up.
57.6 km · 45m drive to next
- 14:00
Columbia Icefield
Activity
The Athabasca Glacier flows almost to the road. Walk the forefield trail to the toe, or book the Ice Explorer to stand on the glacier itself (2026 season: May 1 to October 12).
- Ice Explorer and Skywalk
- May 1 to Oct 12, 2026, weather permitting
Checked 2 Oct 2026 · Pursuit (www.banffjaspercollection.com)
7.2 km · 10m drive to next
- 16:45
Glacier Skywalk
Sight
A glass floor 280 metres over the Sunwapta Valley. Tickets pair with the Ice Explorer.
- Ice Explorer and Skywalk
- May 1 to Oct 12, 2026, weather permitting
Checked 2 Oct 2026 · Pursuit (www.banffjaspercollection.com)
Day 2: Tangle Creek Falls to Jasper townsite
114 kmWaterfall day, finishing in Jasper townsite.
- 09:00
Tangle Creek Falls
Park & nature
A roadside cascade fanning down tiered limestone. Five minutes, no trail.
49.4 km · 25m drive to next
- 10:00
Sunwapta Falls
Park & nature
The river makes a right angle around a small island and drops into a gorge. The lower falls, 20 minutes down-trail, lose the crowd.
28.5 km · 15m drive to next
- 11:45
Athabasca Falls
Park & nature
Not tall but immensely powerful, pounding through a quartzite slot. The old channel is now a walkable staircase canyon.
34.9 km · 30m drive to next
- 13:30
Jasper townsite
Food & drink
Lunch on Patricia Street, then the afternoon in town. Jasper is a railway town first and a resort second, in the best way.
Day 3: Medicine Lake to Maligne Lake
49.9 kmThe Maligne Valley. Maligne Lake Road is open; Maligne Canyon is closed for the whole 2026 season, so the day goes straight to the lakes (checked 2 October 2026).
- Closed for 2026
- Maligne Canyon, its day-use area and trail, is closed for the whole 2026 season
Checked 2 Oct 2026 · Parks Canada (parks.canada.ca)
- 09:30
Medicine Lake
Park & nature
The lake that drains itself through underground channels every autumn, a giant natural bathtub.
26.0 km · 30m drive to next
- 10:45
Maligne Lake
Activity
Take the classic boat cruise to Spirit Island (2026 season: May 29 to October 11), booked ahead, or paddle the shoreline from the boathouse.
- Spirit Island cruise
- May 29 to Oct 11, 2026
Checked 2 Oct 2026 · Pursuit (www.banffjaspercollection.com)
Day 4: Jasper SkyTram to Old Fort Point
66.0 kmAbove the town, then the lakes beside it.
- 10:00
Jasper SkyTram
Activity
Seven minutes up Whistlers Mountain, then a 1.4 km ridge walk to the true summit. Fifty peaks on a clear day. The 2026 season runs April 15 to October 25; from September 7 it opens at 10:00 (checked 2 October 2026).
11.1 km · 15m drive to next
- 13:00
Pyramid Lake
Park & nature
Walk the bridge to Pyramid Island under the rust-coloured mountain. Canoe rentals at the lodge.
5.7 km · 10m drive to next
- 15:30
Lake Annette
Park & nature
A paved lakeshore loop with beaches and the postcard view back at Whistlers. Locals’ swim spot on hot days.
3.4 km · 10m drive to next
- 18:00
Old Fort Point
Activity
A 3.5 km loop to a bald knoll over the Athabasca. Bighorn sheep at dusk more often than not.
Day 5: Lac Beauvert to Valley of the Five Lakes
14.0 kmA last lake by the lodge, then a reopened trail on the way south.
- 09:00
Lac Beauvert
Park & nature
The emerald lake wrapped by the Jasper Park Lodge grounds. Walk the loop before you leave town.
11.5 km · 15m drive to next
- 11:00
Valley of the Five Lakes
Activity
Five small lakes, each a different shade of jade. The trail reopened in 2026 on a realigned, resurfaced route with new rest areas; Trail 9 at the south end of First Lake is still closed.
- Trail 9
- Trail 9, 2.7 km at the south end of First Lake, is still closed; the rest of the valley reopened in 2026
Checked 2 Oct 2026 · Parks Canada (parks.canada.ca)
