 Highway 93 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banff-Windermere Highway Icefields Parkway | ||||
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 Highway 93 as seen from the observation deck on the north side ofParker Ridge | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors | ||||
| Length | 268 km (167 mi) | |||
| Existed | 1940–present | |||
| Restrictions | No commercial vehicles and National Parks pass required along the Icefields Parkway. Snow tires or chains required Nov. 1 to Mar. 31. | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end |  Highway 93 atB.C. border atVermilion Pass | |||
| Major intersections |  Highway 1 (TCH) nearLake Louise Highway 1A nearLake Louise Highway 11 inSaskatchewan River Crossing | |||
| North end |  Highway 16 (TCH) inJasper | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Canada | |||
| Province | Alberta | |||
| Specialized and rural municipalities | I.D. No. 9,I.D. No. 12,Jasper | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Highway 93 is a north–south highway inAlberta, Canada. It is also known as theBanff-Windermere Parkway south of theTrans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) and theIcefields Parkway north of the Trans-Canada Highway. It travels throughBanff National Park andJasper National Park and is maintained byParks Canada for its entire length.[1] It runs from theBritish Columbia border atVermilion Pass in the south, where it becomesBritish Columbia Highway 93, to its terminus at the junction with theYellowhead Highway (Highway 16) atJasper.[2] The route takes its number fromU.S. Route 93, which runs uninterrupted south to centralArizona, and was initially designated as '93' in 1959.
The southern portion of the route is part of the Banff-Windermere Highway, a 104-kilometre (65 mi) highway that travels fromBritish Columbia Highway 95 atRadium Hot Springs, throughKootenay National Park and Vermilion Pass across theContinental Divide, to the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) atCastle Junction.[3] The final 10 km (6.2 mi) of the highway are in Alberta and Banff National Park. Prior to 1959, the highway was designated as Highway 1B.[4]
Highway 93 connects with the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) at Castle Junction, midway betweenBanff andLake Louise.[3] Highway 93 follows the Trans-Canada Highway for 28 km (17 mi) northwest, diverging from Highway 1 west of Lake Louise. Highway 1 continues west toYoho National Park. TheBow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) also links Lake Louise and Banff. This road parallels Highway 1 and, at the midpoint, passes Castle junction where it links with Highway 93.[3]
The Icefields Parkway (French:Promenade des Glaciers) is a 230-kilometre (140 mi) long scenic road that parallels theContinental Divide, traversing the rugged landscape of theCanadian Rockies, travelling throughBanff National Park andJasper National Park. It is named for features such as theColumbia Icefield, visible from theparkway. It linksLake Louise withJasper to the north. At its southern end, the Icefields Parkway terminates at Highway 1. Highway 1 west leads toYoho National Park in British Columbia and Highway 1 east to Lake Louise and the Town ofBanff. A second parkway, theBow Valley Parkway also links Lake Louise and the Town of Banff. Known as Highway 1A, this road parallelsHighway 1 and, at the midpoint, passes the Castle Mountain junction where Highway 93 south, or theBanff-Windermere Highway, branches southwest intoKootenay National Park in British Columbia.[3]
The Icefields Parkway was predated by theWonder Trail, which opened in 1885 after theCanadian Pacific Railway was completed and brought increased tourist traffic to Banff National Park. It followed the route that geologistArthur Philemon Coleman took following the Sunwapta river. In 1931, the federal government commissioned the construction of a single-track road between Lake Louise and Jasper in theGreat Depression as arelief project. In order to employ as many people as possible, the road was constructed by hand and employed 600 men.[5] The road was completed in 1940; however, the 1950s saw an increase in automobile use and increased traffic along the parkway. In 1961, a reconstructed paved and modern highway was opened,[5] and in 1969, Brewster Sightseeing began to operate snowmobile tours on theAthabasca Glacier, located just beside the highway.[5]
The parkway is busy in July and August with up to 100,000 vehicles a month. The parkway is mainly two lanes with occasional passing lanes. It minimizes grades andhairpin turns. Snow can be expected at any time of year and extreme weather is common in winter.
While the Icefields Parkway is not atoll road, which charges for every time a vehicle enters, a Canadian national parks permit is required to travel on the Icefields Parkway and can be purchased for a day or year from park gates near Lake Louise, Jasper and Saskatchewan River Crossing, which function similarly totollbooths. Commercial trucks are prohibited.[6][7] The speed limit is 90 km/h (55 mph) although the limit is reduced at Saskatchewan River Crossing and the Columbia Icefield area. In winter, chains or winter-rated radial tires are required by law and road closures may occur without warning. There is no cell coverage.[8]
Starting from the south end of Highway 93:
 | |
|---|---|
| Highway 93A | |
| Location | Jasper National Park |
| Southern section | |
| Length | 24 km (15 mi) |
| South end |  Highway 93 nearAthabasca Falls |
| North end | Highway 93 nearMarmot Basin |
| Northern section | |
| Length | 1.7 km (1.1 mi) |
| South end | Highway 93 nearJasper |
| North end | Highway 16 (TCH) near Jasper |
Just south of Jasper, a short spur of the parkway branches off as Highway 93A, providing access to businesses on the south side of Jasper and providing an alternative route into the community via Hazel Avenue. Another Highway 93A spur farther south is 24 km (15 mi) long, is along Highway 93 and provides alternative access to viewpoints and other attractions within Jasper National Park.
Highway 93A south of Jasper is narrow and the pavement uneven, with an average limit of 60 km/h (37 mph). Brush grows up to the side of the highway so animals can be difficult to see. Old Fort Point Road branches east of Highway 93A and quickly leads to Old Fort Point Bridge, where vehicles cancross the Athabasca River.[9]
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