JASPER DARK SKY PRESERVE jasperdarksky.org
Jasper National Park is the world’s second largest dark sky preserve. Some of the best spots for star gazing include Pyramid Island, Jasper House, Marmot Meadows, Athabasca Glacier, and (shown) Wilcox Pass.
9. Bow Summit and Peyto Lake At 2,069 metres, Bow Summit is the highest point on the Icefields Parkway and Canada’s second highest spot on a public highway. A short paved trail leads to endless views of Mistaya Valley and the brilliant blue hues of Peyto Lake. Several side trails take you off the beaten path — and to even better views. QUICK FACT: Suspended clay and silt particles give Peyto Lake — and many other Rocky Mountain lakes and rivers — their stunning blue and green shades. This rock flour, as it’s called, comes from glacial erosion. Sunlight reflecting on the particles creates the intense turquoise and emerald colours. The more rock flour a lake has, the greener it will be. 10. Helen Lake Trail This popular day hike offers incredible views of the Bow Valley and Wapta Icefields. It’s six kilometres one way, with an elevation gain of 460 metres. Pack a lunch and say hi to the hoary marmots. 11. Dolomite Pass and Stromatolite Reef Banff’s stromatolite reef fossils represent some of the oldest life forms on Earth, dating back about 500 million years. To find them, hike to Helen Lake, then take a steep trail (up and to the left) three kilometres to the top of the Dolomite Pass. At the top, go north towards Cirque Peak and look for a sand-coloured rock layer. QUICK FACT: Dolomite — a mineral consisting of crystalline carbonate of lime and carbonate of magnesium — is rare in the Rockies. The jagged cliffs of Dolomite Peak, seen along Helen Lake Trail, are a great example. 12. Bighorn Dam and Abraham Lake Technically, Bighorn Dam and Abraham Lake are not on the Icefields Parkway, but they’re just a short detour east along Highway 11. Abraham Lake is Alberta’s largest artificial lake, created in 1972 when the dam was built. Escape the crowds here to fish, hike, camp, or just enjoy the magnificent scenery.
7. Columbia Icefield pc.gc.ca
Seven glaciers make up the Columbia Icefield — the largest ice mass in North America outside the Arctic Circle. Athabasca Glacier, the most accessible, is just off the highway. Explore safely via a Snowcoach tour or guided ice walk. For an elevated view, visit the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. QUICK FACT: Over the past 20 years, the icefield has shrunk from around 325 square kilometres to 220 square kilometres. Athabasca Glacier has lost half its volume and has retreated more than 1.5 kilometres over the past 125 years. 8. Glacier Skywalk brewster.ca One of Banff’s newest attractions, this glass-floored platform is suspended from the mountainside, 280 metres above Sunwapta Valley. Look down, if you dare! An award-winning feat of engineering, the skywalk is supported by cables anchored deep into the rock face.
Photo Credits 1. SkyTram -photo courtesy Jasper SkyTram 5. Athabasca Falls -photo by JD Hascup 6. Mount Columbia -photo by Vern DeWit
7. Athabasca Glacier -photo by Frederico Moroni 8. Skywalk -photo by Norio Nakayama 9. Peyto Lake -photo by Federico Moroni 11. Dolomite Peak -photo by Calypso Orchid
SUMMER 2016 PEG | 77
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