Jasper to Highwood Pass Cycling Tour

Before the cycling adventure starts, you’ll arrive in Edmonton and have a free day to explore this central Albertan metropolis. Take your bike for a spin along the River Valley to prepare your legs for the adventure ahead, head to Elk Island National Park, or walk around to explore the many museums, restaurants, and other cultural sights before heading to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Bright and early this morning, you’ll be picked up and whisked away to Jasper, one of the most iconic mountain towns in the Canadian Rockies. Looking at the scenery, you’ll get a feel for how spectacular the following days will be when you cruise through this wild mountain landscape. Stop in Hinton for lunch, then stop at Miette hot springs to unload the bikes.

After a pleasant soak, cycle into Jasper to the accommodations on the Athabasca River. If the group decides to add the optional 50-kilometre ride, you’ll have a shuttle to Maligne Lake, then cycle back to the chalet for dinner and rest.

Enjoy breakfast with your Athabasca River view, then spend the morning exploring Jasper. Walk around the charming town with Pyramid Mountain as your ever-present backdrop. Around noon, regroup at the hotel for a brief orientation on today’s ride. Then, you set off on the Icefields Parkway, possibly the most jaw-dropping stretch of highway in Alberta, replete with glaciers, lakes, and peaks right next to the road.

The group will stop for a break and snack at the magnificent Athabasca Falls, then press on to the hotel for the night with plenty of time to unwind and enjoy a 3-course meal. Tonight, you can sit on your cabin’s deck and watch the stars come out—undeniably peaceful.

After filling up on a hearty breakfast, you’ll depart for a longer distance than the last few days—but your efforts will be worth it. Today’s route includes several elevation changes, so you’ll be offered plenty of breaks and snacks to keep you going. You’ll stop for a well-earned lunch at the base of the Columbia Icefields, then ascend the scenic Sunwapta Pass. As if it were planned, you’ll have a rewarding downhill stretch of 15 kilometres through imposing cliffs and rushing waterfalls. The last leg of the route has you riding over undulating land flanked by snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and lake views.

After your longest day riding (so far), you’ll be stoked when the resort for the night comes into view, and even more so when you have a cold pint sitting in front of you on the patio with panoramic mountain views.

Indulge in breakfast to replenish your energy stores, then begin the day with an ascent out of the valley. You’re still on the Icefields Parkway, and it still promises magnificent scenery as you wind and cruise next to glaciers and wildlife habitats. When you complete Bow Pass, admittedly challenging, you’ll be rewarded with views of Peyto Lake, a surreal alpine gem with a milky emerald colouration. Stop at Bow Lake for lunch, then cruise the remaining descent to Lake Louise.

Once in Lake Louise, your group can organize a shuttle transfer to visit the iconic Lake Louise and Moraine Lake—these are the pictures you absolutely must take! Relax in the hotel’s hot tub before heading to bed to get rest for two big days ahead.

This is it, the longest push of the tour! Lucky for you, though, the entire ride cuts through Banff National Park and enters into Kananaskis Country, a lesser-known but equally stunning mountain area at the edge of the Rockies. The terrain is not as demanding as on the Icefields Parkway, but you will push a farther distance. Riding along the Bow Valley Parkway and the Legacy Trail, you’ll pass several other cyclists, as this is a famous stretch surrounded by mountains and leading you to Banff, where you’ll stop for a gourmet lunch.

After visiting Banff for a hot sec, continue on bikes past Canmore, then merge onto Highway 40 for the final 27-kilometre push to Kananaskis Village. When you arrive, you’ll have a bit of time to spare—take advantage of this peaceful village tucked into the mountains. Book a massage or soak in the hot tub before dinner, and hit the hay early for your final day of riding tomorrow.

After a filling breakfast, you’ll hop in the saddle for your final ride of the tour, and it promises to be epic! It takes you over the highest paved road in Canada, reaching 2200 metres. Highway 40 offers endless mesmerizing views at every twist and turn of the road. The group will reconvene as directed by the guides for snacks and lunch, and after covering about 500 kilometres total, you’ll cruise into the cowboy town of Longview to close out the ride.

High-five everyone in your group as you head to a local pub for celebratory eats and drinks. Once you’re full, you’ll get to rest your legs and take a transfer to a hotel in Calgary for your final night.

Your tour has come to an end! A transfer from the hotel will take you to the airport when you need to check in for your flight. Leave with a full heart and full camera with memories of your epic journey from Jasper to Highwood Pass.