Alberta

The greatest drive in the world is in Alberta...

I have driven a lot of Alberta. Most of this province I drove with a small pickup whilst working for an oil and gas company many years ago. I have driven further into the middle of nowhere in this province than most anyone you probably know. I’ve seen pasture upon pasture, and many a dirt road. I've passed through just about all the parks and villages, and the hamlets too. The prairies, actually span three provinces; and I’m not going to lie to you and say that you won’t find hidden gems here and there as you sojourn this great and vast country. Canada is massive — we have a lot of ‘space’ and you can see that quite clearly from out the car window. But, I think with all this driving (and sight-seeing), I’ve also stumbled upon one of the greatest roads to drive, and it just so happens to be right in this province — and in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

I’ll tell you a little about it...

First, I must say that there are a few close contenders, including the roads that weave around the Spray Lakes, and maybe even the roads in and around Waterton Lakes National Park. There are also some roads in British Columbia — such as the Coquihalla, or the Sea-to-Sky — which are also majestic and perhaps serene, in their own way; but don’t forget that these are not in Alberta; nor are the roads that hug the Okanagan, or Kootenay Lake, for that matter. Yet, if you believe that any one of these is the VERY best...you would be wrong.

So, here is the dinosaur juice to put in your tank -- the 93 Octane!

What I mean to say, is that once upon a time, I drove the road to Jasper (HWY 93N), all by my lonesome, after I completed a nearly two-year project where I roamed the province, as mentioned. At the time, you may say I was feeling a bit restless since I was used to driving the country, and, well, I had otherwise been sitting around of late. What’s more, I never had the chance to drive this particular route with the company pickup. Thus, I felt with all this time off, I might be wasting the opportunity to go. And, if you can believe it, when I offered to take some friends along with me for the ride, they turned me down — unbelievable, right? Though I wonder now, in these days of the coronavirus lockdown — with the ‘great reset’ squeezing our economy in a vise — and no hope yet in sight, but for a vaccine — if they regret their decision... maybe just a little?

Anyway, I recommend doing this drive in the summer, especially if you’re not a local to Alberta. The road may close at any time in the winter due to unfavorable road conditions, and you won’t see the spectacular scenery with mountains of snow heaped on either side of the road — so keep that in mind. Consider this also: the type of vehicle makes a heck of a difference as well. I absolutely loved driving the little engineering marvel I had at the time, which was the e34. A classic BMW, from the early 90s, it purred and hugged the roads at every turn. When I look back now, I would not want to drive this road (aka Icefields Parkway), any other way; and I’ve driven a lot of different cars. There was something about this car... I wish I could throw in a few more pictures for you.

You can count on wildlife at any time along the route, so keep your eye out. I should not have rushed it, but I did the drive up to Jasper and back in just 2 full days. So don’t rush it. Take 4 days, at least, if you’re driving out of Calgary. Along the way, pull out and spend some time at the blue waters of the Bow Lake. The sunlight bouncing off the minerals in the water makes it look amazingly turquoise. When you get to the Columbia Icefields, see if you can spot the explorer truck perched somewhere upon the glacier. As I passed on through, I could see it. I had to use the restroom at the lodge across from the glacier, but I saw it and carried on. I'll have to take the explorer truck up to the top of the glacier next time.

From this point on, I remember climbing in altitude for a great length of time. I hit the gas and overtook a number of vehicles that were struggling up the road, and I arrived in Sunwapta falls sometime later in the afternoon. Don’t forget to check this location out — it’s worth pulling over and stretching your legs! There is also a place to lodge in Sunwapta if you should choose to do so. After a few pictures of the falls, however, I continued on to Jasper without further delay. Jasper is a beautiful town that is like the little brother to Banff. They have more than a few similarities and much the same to offer in terms of activities and wildlife. There are a lot of lodges to choose from in Jasper, and I pulled into a lodge just off the Athabasca river; whereupon, I unpacked some beer, wandered the town, and returned to the river to hear it run, whilst the sunset to my back.

The next morning I was on the road again; a road so freshly paved and smooth it's hard to imagine it's been laid down in such a remote place. I even spotted some bighorn sheep the next day, in a nearby location. But, that's not all — there is somewhat of an arm extension of the 93N, which can be accessed from just off the road; a click or two north of Jasper. Take the small bridge across the river and continue on to Medicine lake. There is a pullout with a fantastic view of the entire lake here. You can read a little about the local Caribou migration, and then continue on from here to Maligne lake, which has a grand lodge and much else to appreciate in the scenic realm. From here, you'll find trails and a boat cruise to Spirit Island; which also has spectacular views...

It also happens to be one of the most photographed areas of the Rockies. But maybe that's another story...