Sunwapta Pass
Sunwapta Pass with its approaches makes up the northern half of the
Icefields Parkway between Saskatchewan River Crossing
and Jasper. It is slightly lower than its neighboring
pass to the south, Bow Pass.
But Sunwapta Pass gives the impression of being higher
because of snow and ice, and their derivative -
glaciers. The dominant feature of the summit are true
glaciers ( not just icefields mistaken for glaciers ),
extending their white, licking tongues down towards the
road. A ride across Sunwapta Pass is described on this
page, under the heading "la promenade des
glaciers - the Icefields Parkway". The pass
separates water flowing into the North Saskatchewan and
Hudson Bay (southern approach) from that flowing into
the Athabaska River and the Arctic Ocean.
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01.(km000,1400m) START-END SOUTH:
Saskatchwan River Crossing
02.(km046,2027m) TOP: Sunwapta Pass
03.(km153,1050m) START-END NORTH: Jasper |
Approaches
From North. The initial approach from Jasper
first offers a chance to rest up emotionally for the great
landscape that lies ahead. Sure, there is the occasional
waterfall hidden behind a parking lot of tourists. But the
real road side scenery doesn't start until you get closer to
the summit.
From South. The ride from Saskatchewan
Crossing to Big Bend Curve does produce a net elevation gain
over the rolling hills between the towering mountains. But
the real climb starts after the curve. This is the most
curvy of the Icefield Parkway pass approaches, and even it
is pretty darn straight.
Tours
Dayrides. A dayride from the Pinto Lake
trailhead parking area on the south side to a convenient
turn around point on the other side measured 75 miles and
4790 feet of elevation gain, using a Cateye 100A cycle
computer.
Extended Tours. The Icefields Parkway
is where vacationing cycle tourists converge in the summer
on the American continent. While even the Okonagan valley
may be baking in 90 degree temperatures, the Icefields
Parkway remains cool, not to mention scenic, oh how scenic.
Modern Highways (| Bow Pass>|)
The Icefields Parkway was a late result of the road
building frenzy following WW1, in both the US and
Canada. The list of pass roads built during that period
includes Vermillion Pass in 1923, followed by Kicking
Horse, Crowsnest, Yellowhead and Sinclair. Finally
Canada's first commissioner of Public Parks planned a
route north along the main range from Banff. The
decision was made in favor of Sunwapta Pass over the
also used Wilcox Pass. The latter would have avoided the
difficult area, skirting the Athabasca Glacier area.
Sunwapta Pass was crossed before Bow Pass. An early
version of the highway was completed in 1940 and a new
road in 1961.
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