Transfer to Jasper before taking an inaugural ride to Beauvert and Edith Lakes
Our trip starts today in the heart of Banff. We meet our guides and traveling companions for introductions before transferring 4.5-hours to the alpine town of Jasper. Along the way we stop to stretch our legs and enjoy a picnic lunch along the shores of the North Saskatchewan River. After a bike fitting and briefing we're off on a warmup ride to nearby Beauvert and Edith Lakes. Lunch and dinner included.
Cycling: 10 miles, Elevation gain: 429'; Van transfer: 4.5 hours
Cycle from Jasper to Medicine Lake and back
Today's ride is all about maximizing saddle time while acclimating to the higher altitudes of the Icefields Parkway. We'll leave directly from our accommodations and spend the full day cycling through beautiful Maligne Valley. Considered to be one of the most spectacular areas in Jasper National Park, the Maligne Valley is known for a diversity of wildlife, glacier fed lakes, and ice-capped peaks. We'll make stops at some of the most iconic destinations in the area, including the geologic anomaly, Medicine Lake, and Maligne Canyon, the deepest canyon in the Jasper National Park. Our day wraps up back at our comfortable accommodations in Jasper, where we'll recharge for tomorrow's ride. Dinner will be on our own today. Breakfast and lunch included.
Cycling: 44 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +2,571' / -2,571'
Ride the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Sunwapta Falls
We begin our journey to Banff with a day of remarkably beautiful views and an assortment of noteworthy pit stops. As we head south from Jasper, we merge onto a 15-mile road which runs parallel to the Icefields Parkway and is a cycling favorite. We explore some of the more noteworthy sites along route, including the Path of the Glacier Trail and Athabasca Falls. We finish our ride at a charming mountain lodge close to beautiful Sunwapta Falls. All meals included.
Cycling: 35 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +2,603' / -1,505'
Climb Sunwapta Pass, ride beside the Columbia Icefield and descend to the Saskatchewan River
Today is full of big challenges and giant rewards. We start out from our lodge at Sunwapta Falls and travel the beautiful Sunwapta River Valley, with incredible views of the Endless Chain Ridge to the east and the Winston Churchill Range to the west. Our first objective for the day is the Mushroom Peak lookout. We climb approximately 1,294' before taking a well-deserved breather at this scenic pit stop. We're then off on our most challenging climb of the day, Sunwapta Pass. While the climb isn't for the faint of heart, the jaw dropping scenery, including the iconic Columbia Icefield, offers a spectacular distraction. After enjoying a well-earned lunch, we're rewarded with an epic descent down the "Big Bend" to the Weeping Wall, where we regroup before our final ride to Saskatchewan River Crossing. Dinner will be on our own this evening. Breakfast and lunch included.
Cycling: 61 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +4,109' / -3,951'
Bike from Saskatchewan River Crossing to Lake Louise
With what seems a never-ending supply of glacier-fed lakes just a stone's throw away, today's ride to Lake Louise makes clear why the Icefields Parkway is considered one of the most scenic cycling routes in the world. We start with a 1,327' climb out of the Mistaya River Valley. A welcome and scenic pit stop at Waterfowl Lakes provides a well-timed breather before a second climb up to Bow Summit. Along the shores of turquoise-blue Bow Lake, we enjoy a picnic lunch and, for the brave at heart, take a quick dip in the lake's ice-cold waters. We're rewarded with a gradual descent into Lake Louise for the last section of our ride. This evening we indulge in a celebratory dinner before our final push into Banff tomorrow. All meals included.
Cycling: 50.5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +3,456' / -3,139'
Finish our epic journey along the Icefields Parkway in beautiful Banff
Our triumphant ride into historic Banff is the perfect way to cap off six days in the saddle. Surrounded by towering peaks, roaring rivers and a verdant valley floor, riding through the Bow Valley provides a glorious conclusion to our time on the Icefields Parkway. As an added reward, gravity makes our final journey a breeze, with most of the route traveling along a gradual decline into the village. We wrap up our ride to Banff early this afternoon. Breakfast included.
Cycling: 36 miles, Elevation gain/loss: +'1,706 / -2,224'
