Hidden Gems | Banff up to Athabasca Glacier
The Bow Valley and Icefields Parkway up to Columbia Icfields are a very nice scenic drive that winds its way through both Banff National Park and part of Jasper National Park. But these Parkway's aren't just about the scenic drive, on its way there are countless blue lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and hidden history behind.
This private guided tour may be just what you need to escape the crowds and witness nature's breathtaking spring, summer fall and winter transformation. The itineraries for this tour are based on the cultural heritage and history of Banff and Jasper National Park . An essential part of this tour is taking short and easy walks away from crowds. Travelers with all abilities can manage these walks.
Tour Itinerary
You'll get picked up from your accomodation in Calgary at 6.30am.
1. The Castle Mountain Internment Camp, located in Banff National Park, Alberta, was the largest internment facility in the Canadian Rockies. Established in 1915, a total of 660 innocent emigrants from Eastern Europe were interned behind wired fences and forced to labour by the Canadian Government during World War 1.
Stop: 30 minutes - Admission included
2. In 1886, 17 years old orphan, Jimmy Simpson was sent from England to Canada and for the next 86 years the Canadian Rockies have taught him it takes more than a love of the outdoors to conquer the rugged, unfriendly grandeur of Rocky Mountains forbidding peaks at Bow Lake.
Stop: 1 hour - Admission included
3. Peyto Lake is named after one of Banff's most colourful characters, the legendary Bill Peyto. He was one of the park's first guardians and a true lover of solitude. The emerald colours of Peyto Lake draw tens of thousands of visitors each year to the overcrowded viewpoint above Bow Summit along the Icefields Parkway. The braided trails that lead off to the overcrowded platform will take us to the area with no crowds and unobstructed views of the Peyto Glacier and Peyto Lake.
Stop: 1 hour - Admission included
4. David Thompson’s and his wife Charlotte Small contributions to exploring Western Canada is often overlooked in official histories. Thompson created the finest Canadian maps of his generation, ones that would be in use for decades. In May 1807, accompanied by fourteen people, west of the present bridge across the Saskatchewan River Crossings they had to abandon their canoes and transfer their goods to the horses and continue south to find the passage to the Pacific Ocean. He died poverty-stricken on February 10, 1857, in Longueuil, Quebec.
Stop: 1/2 hour - Admission included
5. From First Nations and fur traders to highways and hikers, this Canada’s oldest tree has seen it all. This oldest tree in Canada grows overlooking the North Saskatchewan River, not too far north of Banff National Park. People who have drilled a sample to count some of its rings say it could be 3,000 years old.
Stop: 1 hour - Admission included
6. This Falls is a large waterfall cascading into an energetic plunge that is possible to get right up close to. You can’t see this waterfall from the road, and it is not listed on most maps/brochures for the Icefields Parkway. Definitely one of the most hidden spots on its way to Columbia Icefield.
Stop: 1 hour - Admission included
7. The Columbia Icefield, particularly the Athabasca Glacier, is experiencing significant melting and retreat due to climate change and serve as a clear visual and scientific indicator of the impact of climate change. The shrinking glacier poses a threat to the overall ecological integrity of the region, impacting various ecosystems and wildlife. By the end of the century, under various climate scenarios, the icefield could shrink to multiple small patches or almost disappear.
Stop: 1 1/2 hours - Admission included
8.There are no road signs for these falls and Tangle Creek Falls is an absolutely breathtaking multi-tiered cascade. There will be an option to hike directly to the base of the falls. You can take some stunning photos on its way and get a rewarding cool mist once reached the base of the falls.
Stop: 1 hour - Admission included
Additional Information
Free cancellation • Full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before the experience starts
Tour is limited to minimum 2 and maximum 3 participants
Price is per person (50% discount for the third person in group)