Banff to Jasper bike tour the 290 kilometre (180 mile) bike point. Continuing north descend to Saskatchewan e best time to do this bike tour is tour between Banff and Jasper is Crossing, where three rivers converge, and then climb in July and August but June and Sep - considered to be one of the most impressive to the Columbia Icefields, known for chilly tempera - tember are possible if the weather cooper - mountain rides in the world. e ride runs tures even in the middle of summer. is is where you ates. Fickle weather is the norm in the parallel to the Continental Divide, and can can take a motorized tour onto the glacier. mountains so come prepared for four seasons start in either Banff or Jasper, both of which are at any time. You might find snow patches at the exceptionally scenic towns. Mountain ride means North of the Columbia Icefield you’ll see Sunwapta top of some passes even in the summer. riding by mountains and not over them. Only 55 Mountain and the Endless Chain Ridge. e rest of kilometres from Banff is Lake Louise, considered to the bike tour takes you alongside the Sunwapta and e Banff Jasper corridor is easily accessible via Cal - be the hiking capital of Canada. If time isn’t of the Athabasca Rivers into Jasper. gary only 125 kilometres (80 miles) away to the east. essence then stay longer and explore. In particular, Edmonton is also a possibility though it’s 360 kilo - Lake Agnes and the Plain of Six Glaciers aren’t far e ride takes place entirely on the Parkway, a highway metres (215 miles) from Jasper. Plan to be challenged from Lake Louise and offer not only stunning views, with very wide shoulders. Roads are busy around Banff, by this very scenic and oentimes difficult bike tour. but a mountain teahouse for refueling before you begin Lake Louise and Jasper but reasonably quiet elsewhere, your descent. ere are many other worthwhile hikes especially on weekdays. Be alert for elk, moose, grizzly in this area. bears and mountain goats at all times. As you head north from Banff you’ll take in Bow Pass, the Parkway’s highest point and the Peyto Lake view - www.hikebiketravel.com 1 TIPS FOR BIKING FROM BANFF TO JASPER • Total trip mileage: 290 kms (175 sible and if not, plan to arrive no later miles) than 4pm or they’ll be full. • Most people bike from Banff to Jasper • Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper have but in fact the prevailing winds are hostels for the cyclist on a budget. from the north so the biking in theory might be a tad less windy if you begin • In June daylight lasts for 16.5 hours. in Jasper. TRIP HIGHLIGHTS • Always carry a fleece in addition to raingear. The long descents off the • Stunning panoramas for the entire passes can be very cold. ride • Avoid riding during the Banff to • Mind numbing views Jasper Relay Race in the middle of June when hundreds of runners and • Banff and Jasper National Parks support vehicles crowd the roads. Check with the National Park about • Johnston Canyon the dates. • The towns of Banff and Lake Louise • Most of the shoulders are six feet • Bow Pass wide on the main highway. Still, ride single file and wear bright clothing. • Waputik Icefields There are many novice RV drivers • Peyto Lake around. • Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia • Don’t bike at dusk or after dark when Icefields Center many of the animals come to life and you are harder to see. • Mistaya Canyon • Big trucks are banned on the Icefields • Sunwapta Pass Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper. • Jasper and the Jasper Tramway • There are 17 campgrounds between • Wildlife sightings Banff and Jasper. Book ahead if pos - www.hikebiketravel.com 2 BANFF AIRPORTER www.banffairporter.com/ Ph: 888-449-2901 or 403-762-3330 ere are 10 scheduled shuttles per day from the Calgary Airport beginning at 9am for a cost of $53 one way. Shuttles leave Banff for the Calgary Air - port beginning at 5am. Bikes are a problem. BANFF SHUTTLE www.banffshuttle.com/ Ph: 877-992-2633 or 403-678-2776 Private door to door service is provided between Calgary airport and your accommodation in Banff or Lake Louise. e cost is $225 one way for one to three passengers. Ask if they can accommodate your bike. Rocky Mountain restaurant BREWSTER AIRPORT SHUTTLE www.explorerockies.com/airport-shuttles/calgary-banff- larly scheduled passenger train service to Banff. Getting to Banff rockies.aspx Banff is easily accessed via Calgary – an interna - e distance from Calgary airport to Banff is 145 Ph: 800-760-6934 ese people are the ones to use if you’re planning tional airline hub. Airlines servicing Calgary in - kms (90 miles). It’s an easy 90 minute drive along to bring your bike. ere are no extra charges at this clude Air Canada, West Jet, American, Canada’s Trans Canada Highway 1. You’ll need to time to get your bike to Banff or Jasper but it must Continental, Northwest and United as well as buy a Banff National Park pass which can be pur - be BOXED. ere are seven scheduled departures many overseas carriers. ere are frequent sched - chased at the Park entrance. Park prices are $9.80 from the Calgary Airport to Banff for $49 one way. uled shuttle and limo services available. All major per person per day or $19.60 for a car containing 2- e 11 am shuttle leaving from the airport will take car rental companies are represented and can be 7 people. found at the airport on the departures level, across you all the way to Jasper if you want to begin riding the road from the main terminal. ere is no regu - Listed below are some shuttle service providers. from there. e one way fee is $129. www.hikebiketravel.com 3 Getting to Jasper Dog Tours. ey offer a once a day service in each Calgary providing your bike is boxed. It leaves Jasper is not nearly as easy to access as Banff. e direction for $95 one way. ey are also able to take Jasper daily at 12:30pm and arrives in Banff at closest major city is Edmonton, 360 kms (215 your boxed bike for an additional $25. e shuttle 5:30pm at a cost of $79; it arrives in Calgary at miles) to the east. Calgary is 480 kms (290 miles) leaves Edmonton airport at 3:30pm and arrives in 8pm at a cost of $129. In reverse there is a daily bus southeast of Jasper and Vancouver is a 10 hour Jasper at 8:15pm. A return shuttle leaves Jasper at from Banff to Jasper that leaves Banff at 1:30pm drive away. 7am and arrives at the airport at 11:45 am. and arrives in Jasper at 6pm for $79. (www.sundogtours.com /) Ph: 888-786-3641 or 780- Edmonton is serviced by Air Canada, West Jet and 852-4056 Other possibilities are: other American and international airlines. Car • Ship your bike home from Banff or Jasper and rentals and a shuttle service can get you from the Trip Planning – Return Trip to the then make your way back to your starting point Edmonton airport to Jasper. Greyhound bus serv - Start at your leisure. ice is available from Vancouver and Edmonton. Your major decision relates to the logistical chal - Also Via Rail offers service from Vancouver and lenge of where you start, where you finish and how • Put an ad on Craigslist and ask for a ride at a pre - Toronto but expect to spend over 20 hours on the you want to leave when the cycling is done. If you determined time for a set fee. train, just from Vancouver. ( /) finish in Jasper then you could take the Brewster www.viarail.ca • Cycle back. shuttle (see contact info above) back to Banff or e main Edmonton airport shuttle service is Sun www.hikebiketravel.com 4 Bike Rentals Ship them your bike and your bike will be assem - bled, tuned, lubed and prepped for your ride. You BANFF also get a T-shirt. Send your bike home via Fedex too. BACTRAX (SNOWTIPS)BIKE RENTAL www.snowtips-bactrax.com/ JASPER 225 Bear Street Ph: 403-762-8177 FREEWHEEL CYCLE JASPER ey rent town bikes and road bikes, both of which www.freewheeljasper.com are suitable for the ride. ey can include racks but 618 Patricia Street organize that ahead of time. Rates are about $140 Ph: 780-852-3898 per week for both types of bikes. ey also sell bike ey rent suitable bikes for the highway along with boxes for $5. a trailer for $190 for 5 days. Bike boxes are pro - vided free of charge. Even better is a system that BIKE VALET SERVICE VIA FEDEX AND THE they’ve set up with Bactrax. If you rent from Free - SKI STOP wheel you can drop off your bike at Bactrax in www.theskistop.com Banff and they will ship the bike back to Freewheel. 203A Bear Street Freewheel offers the same service for people who Ph: 403-760-1650 rent from Bactrax. www.hikebiketravel.com 5 Banff Restaurants ere are numerous restaurants to choose from at all price points. Make reservations at peak times in the summer. e following restaurants are reputed to be good. SALTLIK www.saltlik.com 221 Bear Street Ph: 403-762-2467 e menu primarily features steak but also includes favourites like ribs, salmon and pasta - in an elegant setting.