parker ridge trail

Parker Ridge, just south of the Columbia Icefield, offers an incredible view of the Saskatchewan glacier coming off the icefield. But it is a steep hike so only for the hearty! In mid-September after some snow the trail was also very muddy. But the ridge-top view of the glacier, with river flowing out of it into a small lake, was worth it!

I'd seen a few posts on TA about this and I was keen to do it. On our approach to the car park we saw a group of people hiking up the mountain through the snow and we weren't sure if we would have time (as it was nearly 4.00pm), plus the weather was looking overcast. But like a lot of things on this holiday we thought we may as well do it as we probably won't be back. And we are so glad we did! It was cold to start but we soon warmed up as we were going uphill. It was a spectacular walk with snow everywhere. Not many people around, probably because it was getting late in the day. Once we got to the top, the spectacular view of the Saskatchewan Glacier and the turquoise coloured lake made the steep 45 minute climb definitely worthwhile.

We were able to do this hike on our way south to Banff. It is not too demanding for a reasonably fit person. You should as always in this area do it as part of a group. The view is worthwhile once you get to the top. There are also routes you can follow from the top if you have time. There are no facilities on the ridge!

Lovely way to pass a few hours. Once we were dressed for the weather, it was beautiful. Nice way to spend an afternoon, soaking up the sights of Banff.

Moderate hike which took around 3h in total. Even on a day with mix of sun and clouds we had some stunning views of valley, glacier, mountain vistas. Absolutely beautiful! Definitely would recommend to everyone passing by this area.

I must admit to being a little disappointed in this hike, mainly because I thought it was a little more difficult than I expected from reading other reviews. But let me say, too, that we are seniors, so that's a contributing factor! The trail was very steep and a little slippery from recent rain. It was late September, so no wild flowers and we didn't see any wildlife. The weather was perfect and there was a wonderful breeze once we reached the top. And the view is spectacular! Round trip for us was 2 hrs. 50 min.

I was hanging out to do this hike having read the reviews, and while it was lovely, and the views stunning, I wasn't blown away; possibly because of the high expectations.We took the kids (but we took them everywhere); a mid level hike for a family, took a couple of hours and the trail was very busy. Pretty wild flowers in summer, and an impressive view overlooking a glacier at the end.

Not a hard hike by any means, lots of elk and deer in the foliage. Would recommend for families. Seen a lot of hikers with dogs to.

So for us this was an adventure. The hike is about 3.5 km with views of the parkway on your way up. About 15 minutes into the hike, the trees disappear and its switchbacks all the way to the top. When we went, it was about 38 degrees/3C and snowing. We wanted to turnaround, but kept pushing through the freezing weather. When we got to the top, we veered to the right to get amazing views of the glaciers. The wind was a little hard to manage, but the photos captured the intense weather and it was all worth it.

Great hike to a magnificent view point, good for the whole family. Like the views at top and the beautiful wild flowers.

The hike to the top of the trail is an easy one and is rewarded with a spectacular view. Very much worth the stop. Parking is easy at the side of the highway and if you are lucky as I was, you will see Mountain Goats and Sheep there.

If you make one stop when traveling the Icefields Parkway, this should be it. We stopped on the way back to Banff from Jasper and it was the perfect way to break up the trip. The hike is short, and after a bit of an incline and some switchbacks, it levels out to a ridge overlooking the Saskatchewan glacier and a pristine valley below. The wind increases and the temperature drops dramatically as you ascend, making a wind breaker/rain jacket is a must. The views in all directions are incredible.

It is some trail, and needs some fitness to go all the way up to the hill top. Phew! It's around 3KM long with good elevation. Once you are on the top, the view down below to the glacier and glacier waters is amazing, that's why I call it sky to sea trail. Carry some water, you'll need it for sure. Wear your sunscreen liberally, I got sunburns even after wearing it.

Great cardio workout and the views of Saskatchewan Glacier are amazing. Very well maintained trails. Go past the 3 piles of rocks, the views keep getting better.

This hike has a fair amount of climb, but the payoff is great views of a distant glacier. We also lucked out with an encounter with a female mountain sheep and her kid, and that made for a memorable hike.