🇨🇦Icefields Parkway

Drive the Icefields Parkway with your family and discover glaciers, turquoise lakes, thundering waterfalls, and wildlife in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.

Your family guide

Icefields Parkway with kids: glaciers, lakes and mountain wildlife

“Glaciers, turquoise lakes and waterfalls at every turn. The Icefields Parkway delivers proper mountain drama.”

— San & Jo

The Icefields Parkway is one of those rare places that genuinely lives up to the hype. Stretching 232 kilometres through the Canadian Rockies between Lake Louise and Jasper, this scenic highway takes your family through a landscape of ancient glaciers, turquoise lakes, thundering waterfalls, and jagged mountain peaks. Condé Nast Traveller rates it as one of the world's top scenic drives, and honestly, it is hard to argue.

What makes this route so good for families is how accessible it all feels. You are not trekking for hours to reach the highlights. Many of the most dramatic viewpoints are just a short walk from the car park, and the Athabasca Glacier sits right at the edge of the highway. Whether your kids are into hiking, wildlife spotting, or simply pressing their noses against the window as bighorn sheep wander past, the Parkway delivers.

Plan to take at least two full days to drive the route properly. There is so much to stop for that rushing it would be a shame. Pack snacks, keep the camera charged, and be ready for the kind of family adventure that feels genuinely wild even when you are never far from the road.

232 km routeLake Louise to Jasper

Open year-roundBest: June to September

Alberta, CanadaBanff and Jasper National Parks

Best things to do

Best things to do in Icefields Parkway

Walk on the Athabasca Glacier

The Columbia Icefield Adventure takes your family out onto the Athabasca Glacier in a massive glacier vehicle, one of North America's most accessible glaciers sitting right at the highway's edge. Combine it with the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored walkway suspended above the Sunwapta Valley, for a full day of jaw-dropping moments.

Book ahead in summer, it sells out fast

Half day

Marvel at Athabasca Falls

One of the most powerful waterfalls along the Parkway, where glacier-fed water from the Athabasca River crashes through a narrow gorge. Short, well-maintained trails let you see both the main falls and the quieter lower falls. The sound and spray alone make this a highlight for kids of all ages.

Visit early morning to beat the crowds

45 minutes

Stop at Peyto Lake viewpoint

Peyto Lake is famous for its almost unreal turquoise colour and a shape said to resemble a wolf when seen from above. A short 10-minute walk from the car park leads to a viewing platform with one of the most photographed views in the Canadian Rockies. Simple, stunning, and totally worth the stop.

Go early for the best light and fewer people

30 minutes

Hike around Bow Lake and Bow Summit

Bow Summit is the highest point on the Parkway and offers several hiking options with spectacular views of the Wapta Icefield and Bow Glacier. Bow Lake itself is a beautiful stop for a picnic or a short lakeside walk. This stretch of the route feels genuinely remote and wild.

The Bow Glacier Falls trail is manageable for older kids

1 to 3 hours

Peer into Mistaya Canyon

An easy 0.5 km trail leads to a fenced bridge over a dramatic gorge where powerful water has carved wild shapes into the rock. It is one of the most accessible and impressive canyon viewpoints along the Parkway, and kids absolutely love the churning water below.

The trail is flat and easy for all ages

30 minutes

Spot wildlife from the road

The Icefields Parkway is one of the best places in Canada to see wildlife in the wild. Bighorn sheep, moose, grizzly bears, and black bears are all commonly spotted along the route. Keep a pair of binoculars in the car and remind the kids to stay in the vehicle when wildlife is close.

Dawn and dusk are peak wildlife hours

Throughout the drive

Discover Hector Lake on foot

Most visitors drive straight past this one, which is exactly why it is worth stopping. A 2.2 km one-way hike from an easy-to-miss trailhead brings you to a stunning glacial lake with far fewer crowds than Peyto or Bow. A great option if your family wants a bit more peace and quiet.

One of the Parkway's best-kept secrets

1.5 hours

Our verdict

How the Icefields Parkway scores for families

Kids

Glaciers you can walk on, waterfalls, canyon bridges, and wildlife around every corner. Kids are genuinely wowed by this place.

Nature

This is as dramatic as Canadian wilderness gets. Ancient glaciers, turquoise lakes, and mountain peaks in every direction.

Adventure

Hiking, glacier tours, kayaking, and in winter even ice climbing and snowshoeing. Active families are very well catered for.

Food

Dining options are sparse along the route. Most stops are at the Discovery Centre, Saskatchewan River Crossing, or lodges. Plan ahead and bring snacks.

Budget

National Park passes, glacier tours, and accommodation in the area add up. This is not a budget destination, but the scenery is priceless.

Planning your visit

How long should you spend on the Icefields Parkway?

1 day

Quick drive-through

Hit the biggest stops: Peyto Lake, Athabasca Glacier, and Athabasca Falls. You will see the highlights but feel rushed.

sweet spot

2 days

Sweet spot

Two full days gives your family time to stop properly, hike a trail or two, do the glacier tour, and actually soak in the scenery without rushing.

4 days

Deep dive

Stay at lodges along the route, explore lesser-known trails like Hector Lake, and really settle into the rhythm of the Parkway at a relaxed pace.

Fun facts

Things to know about Icefields Parkway

Water that flows to three oceans

The Columbia Icefield is one of only two triple-continental divides on the planet. Meltwater from this single icefield eventually flows into the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans. Ask your kids to guess which direction each river goes.

The original glacier tour pioneers

The first snow machine tours onto the Athabasca Glacier were started by Jasper locals Bill Ruddy and Tom McCready. Their idea of driving vehicles onto the ice launched an entire industry of glacier tourism that still runs today.

Over a million visitors every year

More than 1.2 million people drive the Icefields Parkway each year, with most coming in summer. That makes those early morning starts and off-season visits even more rewarding when you get a stretch of highway almost to yourselves.

Taste the Icefields Parkway

Where to eat with kids along the Parkway

Rocky Mountain bison burger

Must try

Altitude Restaurant, Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre

Alberta is famous for its beef and wild game, and bison burgers show up on menus at lodges and the Discovery Centre. Rich, hearty, and genuinely delicious after a day of hiking.

Smoked Arctic char

Local favourite

Altitude Restaurant, Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre

A staple of Rocky Mountain cuisine, Arctic char is often smoked and served with locally inspired sides. It is a great way to introduce kids to something a little different from the usual road trip menu.

Hearty road stop meal

Safe choice

Crossing Resort, Saskatchewan River Crossing

Saskatchewan River Crossing is the only spot roughly halfway along the Parkway with a gas station and food services. It is not gourmet, but it is warm, filling, and exactly what you need mid-drive.

Locally inspired desserts with wild berries

Kids love it

Altitude Restaurant, Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre

Indigenous berries and artisan ingredients show up in desserts along the route. Look out for saskatoon berry dishes, which kids tend to love for their sweet, slightly almond-like flavour.

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Athabasca Glacier

Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park is the most-visited glacier in North America, offering Ice Explorer rides, a glass-floored Skywalk, and guided ice walks for families.