To say I was looking forward to this scenic roadtrip is an understatement. And despite the recent wildfires devastating areas around Jasper NP, I enjoyed the quieter September shoulder season cruising this infamous highway and stopping at every roadside body of water just to take it all in. What a blessing!
I opted to drive to the end of the parkway & make my way backwards to all the stops, in hopes of avoiding most of the crowds that were still prevalent despite being in the mid September sweet spot. My goal was to hit lots of mini hikes & couldn’t have been happier putzing around. The ice tipped peaks in the background were instantly inspiring & calming…. exactly what I needed!
The piercing blue waters were unlike any that I had ever seen & all my anxieties disappeared effortlessly. My favorite waterfall was at Mistaya Canyon, where I could have sat all day watching the rushing waters pound & carve out the landscape.
I drove until the boundary of the wildfires recent footprint & was heartbroken to see the devastation in Jasper. But nature is resilient & has already begun the regrowth process for future generations to enjoy.
Peyto Lake was crowded but a must see, where you could literally imagine the glaciers melting & receding at a rapid pace.
My final stop was at the popular Bow Lake, adjacent to the parkway, while slivers of the sunset started lighting up the sky in cool pastel colors. I thought for a quick second about taking a polar plunge, but these glaciers waters were downright frigid to the touch. So I threw pebbles into the calm lake & just started to dream…..
FearlessAdventures 