There's a good chance of spotting bears while driving the Icefields Parkway

With both Banff and Jasper headline acts on virtually every Albertan tourist itinerary, it's not surprising that the road between the two - the Icefields Parkway - is going to be an amazing drive.

Yet, it's hard to be prepared for what awaits. The cornucopia of snow-capped peaks along the Continental Divide produce the grandest possible scenic backdrop and between them lie an overwhelming mix of immense glaciers, blue-green iridescent lakes, churning waterfalls and rapids, glaciers, wild-flower meadows, forests.

The chances of spotting wildlife from the road - including elk, deer, moose, mountain goats and even brown and grizzly bears - are very good. These chances improve if you stop at some of the many tempting roadside viewpoints, pull-offs and trails.