You could drive the whole highway in about four hours, but to do so would be to miss out on the panoply of short (and long) trails, viewpoints and the chance to soak up the incredible scenery. If you want to make a day-trip of the Icefields Parkway, your best bet is to go just as far as the Columbia Icefield, the highlight for many, then turn back, since the landscape is a touch less dramatic along the northern half of the road. A free pamphlet from Parks Canada visitor centres provides a detailed map and summary of all sights and trailheads, and bus tours along the route are available (see Glacier tours).
Brief history
Fur traders and Aboriginal people who used the route as far back as 1800 reputedly christened it the “Wonder Trail”, though they tended to prefer the Pipestone River Valley to the east as it avoided the swamps and other hazards of the Bow Valley. The present highway was only completed in 1939 and opened in 1940 as part of a Depression-era public-works programme.