LL-Columbia ice field-LL in one day?
May 16th, 2007, 07:28 AM
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LL-Columbia ice field-LL in one day?
Hi, can anyone tell me if it's possible to leave from Lake Louise area early in the morning, see all the main sites off of Columbia icefield parkway (including icefield), and then return to Lake Louise at the end of the day? Or do you think staying overnight at Jasper is more logical?
May 16th, 2007, 07:33 AM
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I don't think it's doable even if you just drive and do not stop to see anything. But it is so beautiful I would think you'd want to really enjoy it and take your time. Stay over in Jasper more than one night if you can...lots to see & do there also. It was my favorite area. Enjoy your trip!
May 16th, 2007, 08:18 AM
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I agree with what TAW said.
If you lack the time to include Jasper in your trip, you could still do a day drive up the Icefields Parkway (Hwy #93), and go as far as you feel comfortable (leaving enough time and energy to drive back to Lake Louise).
If you take that approach, I suggest you do not have any preconceived ideas about how far you'll manage to go. It depends on how much stuff you stop to see en route. I think you'd be able to get to Sunwapta Falls at a minimum. However, if you leave early and return late, you might make it all the way to Jasper townsite and back.
The drive from LL to Jasper nominally takes 3 hours. But there is lots to stop and see. It's very easy to stretch the drive out over a full day.
I agree with TAW that it would be highly preferable to spend some time in Jasper National Park if you can manage it.
If you lack the time to include Jasper in your trip, you could still do a day drive up the Icefields Parkway (Hwy #93), and go as far as you feel comfortable (leaving enough time and energy to drive back to Lake Louise).
If you take that approach, I suggest you do not have any preconceived ideas about how far you'll manage to go. It depends on how much stuff you stop to see en route. I think you'd be able to get to Sunwapta Falls at a minimum. However, if you leave early and return late, you might make it all the way to Jasper townsite and back.
The drive from LL to Jasper nominally takes 3 hours. But there is lots to stop and see. It's very easy to stretch the drive out over a full day.
I agree with TAW that it would be highly preferable to spend some time in Jasper National Park if you can manage it.
May 16th, 2007, 12:31 PM
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I personally find it impossible to drive from Lake Louise to Jasper in less than 6 or 7 hours (and that is after making that drive each year for the past three years). Too much to see and do along the way, even if you have seen it and done it on a previous trip.
I fully agree with TAW and Judy that you should spend some time in Jasper--you can spend a full day visiting Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake, and Mt Edith Cavell.
I fully agree with TAW and Judy that you should spend some time in Jasper--you can spend a full day visiting Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake, and Mt Edith Cavell.
May 16th, 2007, 01:10 PM
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Thanks TAW, Judy & Craig for your replies
We have 4 full days in the area so I'm trying to make the best of it. There are just too many places to hit that I think we'll have to go back! Here's what I have...
day 1-Banff (gondola, vermillion lakes, Bow valley pkwy/Johnston Canyon)
day 2-Lake Louis-plaine of 6 glaciers hike /teahouse, moraine lake...)
day 3-Columbia ice field, peyto lake, bow lake, athabasca falls, sunwapta falls---
day 4---either Jasper Nat park/malign lake/canyon OR Yoho Nat Park (takakkow falls, emerald lake..ect)
Day 5-back to Calgary for flight in the afternoon
IS there a logical 'base' hotel that I can stay in? or pretty much I need to move around each night? Decisions decisions....
We have 4 full days in the area so I'm trying to make the best of it. There are just too many places to hit that I think we'll have to go back! Here's what I have...
day 1-Banff (gondola, vermillion lakes, Bow valley pkwy/Johnston Canyon)
day 2-Lake Louis-plaine of 6 glaciers hike /teahouse, moraine lake...)
day 3-Columbia ice field, peyto lake, bow lake, athabasca falls, sunwapta falls---
day 4---either Jasper Nat park/malign lake/canyon OR Yoho Nat Park (takakkow falls, emerald lake..ect)
Day 5-back to Calgary for flight in the afternoon
IS there a logical 'base' hotel that I can stay in? or pretty much I need to move around each night? Decisions decisions....
May 16th, 2007, 02:31 PM
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Sammyc, you may think you have provided plenty of information, but you have not provided enough.
For example, I don't know from the above post when you'll be arriving in the area. I don't know if Day #1 represents the day on which you'll be arriving in the area or the day after arrival. Also, I don't know at what time, by what method, and from which direction you'll be arriving.
If you say, "Landing in Calgary at 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday, taking off from Calgary at 1.00 p.m. on Sunday," I'll be able to help you.
When a trip is as short as yours will be, every hour counts.
For example, I don't know from the above post when you'll be arriving in the area. I don't know if Day #1 represents the day on which you'll be arriving in the area or the day after arrival. Also, I don't know at what time, by what method, and from which direction you'll be arriving.
If you say, "Landing in Calgary at 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday, taking off from Calgary at 1.00 p.m. on Sunday," I'll be able to help you.
When a trip is as short as yours will be, every hour counts.
May 16th, 2007, 02:54 PM
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Hi Judy:
On Day #1 We'll be arriving in Calgary around 10:30am, renting a car and driving to Banff.
On Day #5 Our flight in Calgary is 3:45pm, so I think the latest we have to leave Lake Louise/Banff would be 11:30am??
Right now I'm thinking day 1,2 hotel in Banff, day 3 in Jasper, and day 4 in Banff/Lake Louise?
Thanks for your help!
On Day #1 We'll be arriving in Calgary around 10:30am, renting a car and driving to Banff.
On Day #5 Our flight in Calgary is 3:45pm, so I think the latest we have to leave Lake Louise/Banff would be 11:30am??
Right now I'm thinking day 1,2 hotel in Banff, day 3 in Jasper, and day 4 in Banff/Lake Louise?
Thanks for your help!
May 16th, 2007, 05:04 PM
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Thanks for the clarification, sammyc. That helps a lot. I also checked your sunset thread and was reminded that you'll be in the area in late May. That makes a difference, because a few attractions will not yet be open.
The road to Mount Edith Cavell in Jasper National Park most likely will not be open.
The road to Moraine Lake may or may not be open. The last few years it has opened on the Victoria Day long weekend (the weekend before May 25th). However, the Rockies got an unusual amount of snow during the winter of 2006 / 2007, so I don't know if that road will be open in late May. Even if the road is open, the lake looks ugly at that point in time. It's half full, and half of the water that it does have in it is frozen. It is a pale shadow of the turquoise gem that summer visitors see. But, that said, if the road is open, it's still worth going there, because the mountains that ring the lake are pretty.
Another road that certainly will be closed will be the one to Takakkaw Falls.
Here is what I propose.
Day #1 - Land in Calgary at 10.30 a.m. It'll take you about an hour to clear immigration and customs, so it'll be 11.30 a.m. at the earliest before you hit the road. Drive to Banff (2 hours) and have a late lunch. Then drive to Jasper. From the time that you leave the airport, the whole thing, including an hour's lunch break, will take you about 7 hours, so you'll reach Jasper around 6.30 p.m.
Day #2 - From your Jasper base, explore Jasper National Park. Walk in Maligne Canyon, and drive the road to and from Maligne Lake. If you have time to spare, you might ride the tram up Whistlers Mountain. Pyramid Lake is about 5 miles outside of Jasper townsite, and would be a nice place to go at sunset.
Day #3 - Drive down the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise, this time stopping to see the sights along the way. I think you will be able to walk to Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls without difficulty. You should be able to reach the Peyto Lake lookout point, but be prepared to trudge through some snow in the Peyto Lake parking lot.
I don't think you need to switch accommodation between Lake Louise and Banff.
Lake Louise is situated in prime hiking territory, but has a small stock of accommodation and restaurants (albeit its small list of restaurants includes some very good ones).
Banff townsite is in a pretty setting, it has a large stock of accommodation, and it has heaps of restaurants. At the end of May, Banff townsite will not be anything like as full as it is in July and August, so it too will be a relatively peaceful place in which to stay. Pick one of those places, and stick to it. Drive to your accommodation on the evening of this day.
Day #4 - Do one of the hikes in the Lake Louise area.
I think you will find that the Plain of Six Glaciers trail will still have some snow on it. If you hike it, please have the courtesy to walk THROUGH the snow, and not AROUND it, as that would have the effect of damaging vegetation and widening the trail. Even if you manage to do the 6 Glaciers hike, I don't think the teahouse will be operational yet.
You might want to go the the Visitor Information Centre in the village of Lake Louise or in Banff townsite and ask the well informed staff which trails are in suitable shape at the time of your visit.
If the road to Moraine Lake is open, by all means drive there as well.
Day #5 - Forget Vermilion Lakes, and forget the Sulphur Mountain Gondola. Vermilion Lakes are not that spectacular anyway. I mentioned them only because they were a good vantage point from which to photograph Mount Rundle at sunset.
Visit Johnston Canyon. It takes about 40 minutes to drive there if your starting point is Lake Louise and about 20 minutes if your starting point is Banff townsite. It takes about an hour to walk from the parking lot to the Lower Falls and back again. If you are a keen photographer, you might want to budget some extra time.
Leave the Johnston Canyon parking lot by 10.30 a.m. Budget 2.5 hours to drive from Johnston Canyon to Calgary Airport. Budget 2 hours for check in. In addition to that, I always like to budget an extra hour for contingencies.
Have lunch at Calgary Airport BEFORE you check in for your flight. The airport has a respectable food court and a few quite acceptable full service restaurants (in addition to the usual selection of fast food joints). Once you check in and clear US immigration and customs, you are -- in effect -- on US soil, and you are not allowed back into the main part of the airport. The food choices and service at the departure gates are abysmal.
The above scheme allows you to stay in two hotels rather than three. When I travel, I like to minimize hotel changes if possible.
Hope that helps.
The road to Mount Edith Cavell in Jasper National Park most likely will not be open.
The road to Moraine Lake may or may not be open. The last few years it has opened on the Victoria Day long weekend (the weekend before May 25th). However, the Rockies got an unusual amount of snow during the winter of 2006 / 2007, so I don't know if that road will be open in late May. Even if the road is open, the lake looks ugly at that point in time. It's half full, and half of the water that it does have in it is frozen. It is a pale shadow of the turquoise gem that summer visitors see. But, that said, if the road is open, it's still worth going there, because the mountains that ring the lake are pretty.
Another road that certainly will be closed will be the one to Takakkaw Falls.
Here is what I propose.
Day #1 - Land in Calgary at 10.30 a.m. It'll take you about an hour to clear immigration and customs, so it'll be 11.30 a.m. at the earliest before you hit the road. Drive to Banff (2 hours) and have a late lunch. Then drive to Jasper. From the time that you leave the airport, the whole thing, including an hour's lunch break, will take you about 7 hours, so you'll reach Jasper around 6.30 p.m.
Day #2 - From your Jasper base, explore Jasper National Park. Walk in Maligne Canyon, and drive the road to and from Maligne Lake. If you have time to spare, you might ride the tram up Whistlers Mountain. Pyramid Lake is about 5 miles outside of Jasper townsite, and would be a nice place to go at sunset.
Day #3 - Drive down the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise, this time stopping to see the sights along the way. I think you will be able to walk to Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls without difficulty. You should be able to reach the Peyto Lake lookout point, but be prepared to trudge through some snow in the Peyto Lake parking lot.
I don't think you need to switch accommodation between Lake Louise and Banff.
Lake Louise is situated in prime hiking territory, but has a small stock of accommodation and restaurants (albeit its small list of restaurants includes some very good ones).
Banff townsite is in a pretty setting, it has a large stock of accommodation, and it has heaps of restaurants. At the end of May, Banff townsite will not be anything like as full as it is in July and August, so it too will be a relatively peaceful place in which to stay. Pick one of those places, and stick to it. Drive to your accommodation on the evening of this day.
Day #4 - Do one of the hikes in the Lake Louise area.
I think you will find that the Plain of Six Glaciers trail will still have some snow on it. If you hike it, please have the courtesy to walk THROUGH the snow, and not AROUND it, as that would have the effect of damaging vegetation and widening the trail. Even if you manage to do the 6 Glaciers hike, I don't think the teahouse will be operational yet.
You might want to go the the Visitor Information Centre in the village of Lake Louise or in Banff townsite and ask the well informed staff which trails are in suitable shape at the time of your visit.
If the road to Moraine Lake is open, by all means drive there as well.
Day #5 - Forget Vermilion Lakes, and forget the Sulphur Mountain Gondola. Vermilion Lakes are not that spectacular anyway. I mentioned them only because they were a good vantage point from which to photograph Mount Rundle at sunset.
Visit Johnston Canyon. It takes about 40 minutes to drive there if your starting point is Lake Louise and about 20 minutes if your starting point is Banff townsite. It takes about an hour to walk from the parking lot to the Lower Falls and back again. If you are a keen photographer, you might want to budget some extra time.
Leave the Johnston Canyon parking lot by 10.30 a.m. Budget 2.5 hours to drive from Johnston Canyon to Calgary Airport. Budget 2 hours for check in. In addition to that, I always like to budget an extra hour for contingencies.
Have lunch at Calgary Airport BEFORE you check in for your flight. The airport has a respectable food court and a few quite acceptable full service restaurants (in addition to the usual selection of fast food joints). Once you check in and clear US immigration and customs, you are -- in effect -- on US soil, and you are not allowed back into the main part of the airport. The food choices and service at the departure gates are abysmal.
The above scheme allows you to stay in two hotels rather than three. When I travel, I like to minimize hotel changes if possible.
Hope that helps.
May 20th, 2007, 04:43 PM
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Well the schedules have been laid out in detail for you, but I cannot comment on them because I never took a very orderly trip along the Icefields Parkway.
First, I don't think you can see all of the worthwhile sights along the Icefields Parkway in two day, or even 3 for that matter. Second, I don't believe that you can see ALL of what is there to be seen.
The first time we drove from Lake Louise to Jasper, we stopped for a couple of short hikes and we took the ice coach trip onto the glacier. By the time we stopped at Athabasca Falls we did not arrive in Jasper until dark.
Two days later we drove south along the parkway and stopped to see what we had missed.
Then a few years later I went back after realizing through further reading that I had missed more than I thought I had!
Then two years after that I went back again to see even more of what I had missed the first 3 attempts.
And this saga goes on for repeated trips.
Let me say in all honesty that you will enjoy what you do along the parkway. I really did not worry myself with what I did not see. I focused on enjoying what I had time and the knowledge to see.
I also urge against scheduling too tightly. There is always something to divert you from your plan.
Have a list, prioritized if possible, and see what you can.
If I may use an analogy from Paris, I think it shows my philosophy. We set out one Sunday for Musee d'Orsay. We got so interested in a farmers' market set up along Boulevard Raspail that we were two hours later than planned getting to the d'Orsay. At the end of the day, we missed some places on my list. What were they? I have no idea.
I really did not care. What we saw was interesting and grand. We loved what we saw. I don't think you can do more than that.
First, I don't think you can see all of the worthwhile sights along the Icefields Parkway in two day, or even 3 for that matter. Second, I don't believe that you can see ALL of what is there to be seen.
The first time we drove from Lake Louise to Jasper, we stopped for a couple of short hikes and we took the ice coach trip onto the glacier. By the time we stopped at Athabasca Falls we did not arrive in Jasper until dark.
Two days later we drove south along the parkway and stopped to see what we had missed.
Then a few years later I went back after realizing through further reading that I had missed more than I thought I had!
Then two years after that I went back again to see even more of what I had missed the first 3 attempts.
And this saga goes on for repeated trips.
Let me say in all honesty that you will enjoy what you do along the parkway. I really did not worry myself with what I did not see. I focused on enjoying what I had time and the knowledge to see.
I also urge against scheduling too tightly. There is always something to divert you from your plan.
Have a list, prioritized if possible, and see what you can.
If I may use an analogy from Paris, I think it shows my philosophy. We set out one Sunday for Musee d'Orsay. We got so interested in a farmers' market set up along Boulevard Raspail that we were two hours later than planned getting to the d'Orsay. At the end of the day, we missed some places on my list. What were they? I have no idea.
I really did not care. What we saw was interesting and grand. We loved what we saw. I don't think you can do more than that.
May 21st, 2007, 05:15 PM
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Hi Bob:
I totally agree with you. I'm in the process of putting together a list of what to do and will prioritize them. I know for sure that I want to come back and do the glacier hike (they don't operate till June!). I did it in New Zealand and loved it.
I have a feeling I'm going to be returning to hike some of the trails (some are still closed right now). But whatever we do this trip, I know it'll be memorable!
I totally agree with you. I'm in the process of putting together a list of what to do and will prioritize them. I know for sure that I want to come back and do the glacier hike (they don't operate till June!). I did it in New Zealand and loved it.
I have a feeling I'm going to be returning to hike some of the trails (some are still closed right now). But whatever we do this trip, I know it'll be memorable!
May 21st, 2007, 08:02 PM
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Those mountains are spectacular. If you like mountains, you will not leave wanting anything.
My wife and I were discussing some of our prior trips, back when she had two good knees. A few uears agp. we were en route to Twin Falls Chalet for a two-night stay.
We decided to hike in by taking the Iceline Trail that begins with as ascent of the Yoho Valley. The trail climbs on the opposite side to a view point of the brink of Takkakaw Falls. The most memorable picture I have is a telephoto shot of the whole setting of the falls. We can trace the route of the stream from the toe of the Daly Glacier all the way to the brink.
Also on that trip we had more memorable moments of the human variety that illustrate that mountain weather is never to be taken for granted. On the ascent, we were intermixed with hikers from a bus tour group. They were going to walk from Whiskey Jack Hostel to Emerald Lake by way of Yoho Lake.
I don't think I have ever seen a less prepared group on a trail. They had very little, if any, equipment that I could see. Most of the group members had inadequate footgear. Few of them had the clothes for a long day on the trail.
I saw no more than a few light sweaters, and some of the women were hiking in skirts.
Perhaps there was a tour escort with extra equipment who had gone on ahead, but I did not see such a person, nor could one or two people have carried enough for 15 hikers.
Shortly after we reached the point where the Iceline goes north and the Emerald/Yoho Lake trail goes south, a sleet storm broke out.
The wind was blowing fairly stiffly, driving the sleet into our faces. We had good equipment, including Polarfleece pullovers, rain pants, and Goretex jackets with hoods, which were quickly pulled up.
The touring group paid the price of being unprepared.
We got quite a contrast in preparation. Earlier two young women with a small baby had passed us. We soon met them coming back. They were prepared with good clothing, and the baby was riding warmly on her aunt's back in a baby pack that had a roof.
A little farther along the trail, after going up and down over the glacial rubble, we stopped for a quick snack and water. Even though the sleet was pelting us strongly, we were hot from hiking up and down.
While we were standing there I could hear voices coming from the gulch behind us. Soon a party of 5 came into view. Two of them were teen aged boys, neither one of which had a hat of any description. They were holding their hands over their ears and complaining about the sleet.
Mom was on their case big time: "If I have told you once, I have told you a thousand times, wear a hat when you go hiking." Mom was not exuding any sympathy!!
I had to turn my back to them so they would not hear my smothered laughter. I remembered raising a teen aged son all too well.
The point being: Those mountains are beautiful, but as you know from your New Zealand experience, mountain weather can change from beautiful to ugly very quickly. The ill prepared often suffer needlessly while the prepared can enjoy all that the mountains have to offer regardless of the conditions.
My wife and I were discussing some of our prior trips, back when she had two good knees. A few uears agp. we were en route to Twin Falls Chalet for a two-night stay.
We decided to hike in by taking the Iceline Trail that begins with as ascent of the Yoho Valley. The trail climbs on the opposite side to a view point of the brink of Takkakaw Falls. The most memorable picture I have is a telephoto shot of the whole setting of the falls. We can trace the route of the stream from the toe of the Daly Glacier all the way to the brink.
Also on that trip we had more memorable moments of the human variety that illustrate that mountain weather is never to be taken for granted. On the ascent, we were intermixed with hikers from a bus tour group. They were going to walk from Whiskey Jack Hostel to Emerald Lake by way of Yoho Lake.
I don't think I have ever seen a less prepared group on a trail. They had very little, if any, equipment that I could see. Most of the group members had inadequate footgear. Few of them had the clothes for a long day on the trail.
I saw no more than a few light sweaters, and some of the women were hiking in skirts.
Perhaps there was a tour escort with extra equipment who had gone on ahead, but I did not see such a person, nor could one or two people have carried enough for 15 hikers.
Shortly after we reached the point where the Iceline goes north and the Emerald/Yoho Lake trail goes south, a sleet storm broke out.
The wind was blowing fairly stiffly, driving the sleet into our faces. We had good equipment, including Polarfleece pullovers, rain pants, and Goretex jackets with hoods, which were quickly pulled up.
The touring group paid the price of being unprepared.
We got quite a contrast in preparation. Earlier two young women with a small baby had passed us. We soon met them coming back. They were prepared with good clothing, and the baby was riding warmly on her aunt's back in a baby pack that had a roof.
A little farther along the trail, after going up and down over the glacial rubble, we stopped for a quick snack and water. Even though the sleet was pelting us strongly, we were hot from hiking up and down.
While we were standing there I could hear voices coming from the gulch behind us. Soon a party of 5 came into view. Two of them were teen aged boys, neither one of which had a hat of any description. They were holding their hands over their ears and complaining about the sleet.
Mom was on their case big time: "If I have told you once, I have told you a thousand times, wear a hat when you go hiking." Mom was not exuding any sympathy!!
I had to turn my back to them so they would not hear my smothered laughter. I remembered raising a teen aged son all too well.
The point being: Those mountains are beautiful, but as you know from your New Zealand experience, mountain weather can change from beautiful to ugly very quickly. The ill prepared often suffer needlessly while the prepared can enjoy all that the mountains have to offer regardless of the conditions.
May 23rd, 2007, 03:48 PM
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We just got back.
Smart move to spend 2 nights in Jasper.
(Do the 6 Bridges hike---really fantastic! Roundtrip is only 3 hours. 2 hours out and 1 hour back).
FYI: Downtown Banff is totally under construction until October. So is Lake Louise. (Probably gearing up for the 2008 Winter Olympics).
There are a million hikes to do enroute to Jasper and the scenery is a "feature film".
pete
Smart move to spend 2 nights in Jasper.
(Do the 6 Bridges hike---really fantastic! Roundtrip is only 3 hours. 2 hours out and 1 hour back).
FYI: Downtown Banff is totally under construction until October. So is Lake Louise. (Probably gearing up for the 2008 Winter Olympics).
There are a million hikes to do enroute to Jasper and the scenery is a "feature film".
pete
