| We watched in dismay, the dark clouds massing at | | | | mountains, clean rivers, and old-growth forests. |
| an alarming rate above the granite peaks of the | | | | The park system has established an infrastructure |
| Canadian Rockies in Jasper National Park. An | | | | that allows travelers access while keeping the impact |
| afternoon rain shower was brewing, and it was going | | | | to a minimum. Abundant Visitor Centers are manned |
| to start pouring before we could return to our | | | | with friendly Canadian park service staff who help |
| campsite on the Kicking Horse River. | | | | direct tourists by giving excellent information on |
| Fortunately, Canada's western parks have a strict | | | | everything from white water rafting outfitters to fine |
| bare camp policy due to the presence of grizzly | | | | restaurants. |
| bears, meaning that almost everything has to be | | | | Just about any amusement you want for your |
| stowed away before leaving camp. There was | | | | Canadian Parks vacation is available. Here is one you |
| nothing laying around our site that could be damaged | | | | won't want to miss: The Icefields Parkway. |
| by rain, so we decided not to worry about the | | | | Billed as, "The Most Beautiful Road in The World," the |
| change in weather. | | | | Icefields Parkway has a right to make the claim. It is |
| We drove back from our day's sight seeing and | | | | 230 kilometers of continuous World Heritage Site |
| other adventures, scheming for a way to wait out | | | | scenery completely protected by Jasper and Banff |
| the storm without getting wet and found ourselves | | | | Parks. The white glaciers against the dark granite |
| sipping gin-tonics at Truffle Pig, a quirky cafe in a little | | | | slopes with clear blue mountain lakes at their bases |
| mountain town named Field. With Irish fiddle music | | | | make for one breath-taking vista after another. The |
| playing in the background, we sat on benches by the | | | | Icefield Parkway is a must-see for any visitor to the |
| open door and smelled the cooling rain turn dust into | | | | region. |
| mud. | | | | Where -- Northern access to the Parkway is from |
| The challenges of dealing with bears and rain are | | | | the city of Jasper, and southern access is near the |
| among the reasons people generally either love or | | | | town of Lake Louise on the Trans-Canada Highway. |
| abhor camping. It's an entirely different sort of | | | | When -- The road is open most of the year, except |
| vacation from staying in resorts and hotels. And we | | | | during severe weather. But summer and fall are the |
| did a little bit of both on a recent vacation in Canada. | | | | best times to visit because snow obscures the |
| But aside from the question of lodging, all of the | | | | beautiful contrast of glacier, granite, and mountain |
| visitors to Jasper, Yoho, and Banff National Parks | | | | lakes. |
| have one thing in common: an appreciation for the | | | | What -- There are frequent picnic areas and some |
| dramatic natural beauty of the high and rugged | | | | lodges for dining along the Parkway. Also, several of |
| Canadian Rockies. | | | | the roadside parks have trailheads for visitors to |
| Tourists from around the world flock to Canada's | | | | explore in a more personal and focused way than |
| western national parks for good reason. Protecting a | | | | merely passing through by car. |
| huge area that spans into two provinces, (Alberta | | | | How -- Tour buses allow the visitor to completely |
| and British Columbia), the Canadian tourism industry is | | | | focus on the scenery. Individually operated vehicles |
| well aware of the value of keeping this large region | | | | offer more flexibility; the Parkway fee is 17 dollars |
| pristine, maintaining the natural beauty of the high | | | | for the vehicle. |