We were up and organised nice and early this morning to enjoy a relaxed breakfast in the hotel before setting off for Jasper.

The Post Hotel and Spa, Lake Louise.
The Post Hotel and Spa, Lake Louise.
Keith outside our room at the Post Hotel and Spa.
Keith outside our room at the Post Hotel and Spa.

We left the hotel around 9:30 am and headed for our first stop, Peyto Lake, about half an hour up the Icefields Parkway. Peyto Lake is a glacier-fed lake in Banff National Park. The lake’s vibrant turquoise color is due to rock flour (glacial silt) that flows into the lake during the summer. The fine particles suspended in the water refract sunlight, creating the lake’s incredible turquoise hue.

Peyto Lake.
Peyto Lake.

From Peyto Lake, we continued up the Icefields Parkway to the very pretty town of Jasper, where we had lunch and then spent some time walking around and looking at the shops and houses.

The Jasper fire station.
The Jasper fire station.

We left Jasper late in the afternoon and headed south on the Icefields Parkway for about 30km to the incredible Athabasca Falls. Whilst this is not the largest waterfall by width or drop, it is the most powerful waterfall in the Canadian Rockies. It is a spectacular site and the noise of the water rushing through is incredible.

Andrea and Keith at Athabasca Falls.
Andrea and Keith at Athabasca Falls.
Athabasca Falls.
Athabasca Falls.
Athabasca Falls.
Athabasca Falls.
Athabasca Falls.
Athabasca Falls.
Insane tourists climbing down to the chute at Athabasca Falls.
Insane tourists climbing down to the chute at Athabasca Falls.
Rainbow at Athabasca Falls.
Rainbow at Athabasca Falls.
Rainbow at Athabasca Falls.
Rainbow at Athabasca Falls.
Rainbow at Athabasca Falls.
Rainbow at Athabasca Falls.
Rainbow at Athabasca Falls.
Rainbow at Athabasca Falls.

Form Athabasca Falls, we headed a further 75km further south and pulled off the parkway to take some pictures of the Athabasca Glacie, part of the Columbia Icefield.

The Athabasca Glacier, on the Icefields Parkway, between Jasper and Lake Louise, in Jasper National Park.
The Athabasca Glacier, on the Icefields Parkway, between Jasper and Lake Louise, in Jasper National Park.
The Athabasca Glacier, on the Icefields Parkway, between Jasper and Lake Louise, in Jasper National Park.
The Athabasca Glacier, on the Icefields Parkway, between Jasper and Lake Louise, in Jasper National Park.
The Athabasca Glacier, on the Icefields Parkway, between Jasper and Lake Louise, in Jasper National Park.
The Athabasca Glacier, on the Icefields Parkway, between Jasper and Lake Louise, in Jasper National Park.

It was dusk when we got back onto the Icefields Parkway and our plan was to just head back to the hotel. But on the way we saw a few vehicles parked on the side of the road, which probably meant that someone had spotted a bear and others had pulled over to have a look. Indeed, there was a bear there, just happily munching away in a small clearing. We were able to get much closer than we really should have and manged to get some good pictures but when the bear looked up and made prolonged eye contact, it was time to scoop up the camera gear and hustle away!

Up-close and personal with a huge brown bear on the ide of the road along the Icefields Parkway.
Up-close and personal with a huge brown bear on the ide of the road along the Icefields Parkway.

As the sun was setting, we stopped for one more photo, of the beautiful Mount Athabasca.

Mount Athabasca.
Mount Athabasca.

It was well after 9:00 pm when we got back to the hotel so we grabbed a quick dinner across the road and returned to the hotel after what had been a big day.

Tomorrow, we’re going to visit Moraine Lake, a short drive south from Lake Louise.