This is part one of a seven part series about my trip around Alberta.
On August 31, 2020, during the strange middle-times of the pandemic, I set out on a solo road trip through my home province of Alberta. I felt compelled to do this for a few reasons. First, sometimes I get the feeling I’ve seen and done more in other countries than my own. But plentiful tourists visit Alberta from all over the world each year and I thought it might be time to see home through their eyes. Second, the ongoing pandemic has limited travel (RIP my 2020 Vietnam trip), so now more than ever felt like the perfect opportunity to explore the “backyard” (as safely as I could). 3,500 km later and I was back in Calgary having seen prairies, foothills, mountains, badlands, and boreal forest.
Throughout the trip I was recording GPS tracks, writing journal entries, and taking plenty of photos. Since I suspect travel will be limited for a while longer, I thought it might be fun to reflect on the trip and post itinerary notes from each day. Maybe it’ll help you plan their own Alberta tour! Or maybe you’ll feel inspired to (safely) explore your own backyard.
This itinerary makes a 3,500 km loop around southern Alberta (a distance that could get you over 1/3 across Canada) and breaks down to about 500 km of driving per day.
So the journey began. “Goodbye house” as I locked the door. Groceries safety tucked away in the trunk. This first leg of the drive was a familiar one. I took the same Trans Canada route people take out of Calgary and into the mountains. It was filled with songs from my “Wild Rose Tour” playlist, named for Alberta’s floral emblem—the phrase “Wild Rose Country” also emblazoned on nearly every license plate in the province. The playlist is filled with 80s rock. Every Rose Has Its Thorn and You Spin Me ‘Round were on repeat.
Started up the Trans Canada Highway (TCH) and north onto Highway 93 toward Jasper. I found an abysmal lunching spot that was so dull I watched a car pull into the parking lot, then promptly reverse out and continue on the highway. Instead, I’d recommend Coleman Creek for your lunch. I stopped in here to stretch the legs and take my first car selfie.
I was excited for the Columbia Icefields and they didn’t disappoint. It’s otherworldly up there on that glacier. Nearby was the Icefield Skywalk, a gorgeous cantilevered viewing platform with a glass floor. As I walked around I listened to the audio tour that explained the geology and wildlife of the area. The glass floor was not as terrifying as I’d expected despite my debilitating fear of heights.
Sunwapta Falls is located off the Icefields Parkway along the way to Jasper. The parking lot was at 5% capacity and it was the clearest example yet of the complete shutdown of tourism during the pandemic. It was midday and yet I had the falls to myself which probably hasn’t happened to someone since the 1950s.
My overnight stop was Becker’s Chalet along the Athabasca River. It reminded me of The Great Northern from Twin Peaks if that was a collection of chalets instead of one giant hotel. There are multiple cabins throughout the site and the whole setup was reminiscent of Woods on Pender, the place I stayed during a trip to the Southern Gulf Islands.
I ate at the restaurant, which marked my second restaurant meal since the start of the pandemic. I ordered plenty of food. Cauliflower bites, BC salmon with vegetables, bread with fancy butter. My appetite was large and I ate it all.
This is part one of a seven part series about my trip around Alberta. Check out the next part.