Everything You Need to Know about Icefields Parkway: Smartphone Audio Driving Tour in Alberta

If you’d like to experience some of the most breathtaking views in Alberta, then the Icefields Parkway can’t be missed. From awe-inspiring glaciers and powerful rivers, to majestic mountains and vast valleys, the Icefields Parkway is a stunning corridor of unforgettable landscapes. And now, with the new Smartphone Audio Driving Tour available, travelers and locals alike can experience the highlights of this incredible road trip in a whole new way.

What Is Icefields Parkway?

The Icefields Parkway, known as Alberta Highway 93, is a 232-kilometre road that connectors Jasper National Park with Banff National Park. It is the highest, driest and coldest major route in the Canadian Rockies and it passes over several major rivers and passes between two major icefields—the Columbia and the Athabasca.

From grand vistas like Peyto Lake with its glittering turquoise waters, to monumental waterfalls and glaciers, the Icefields Parkway is a journey through some of the most stunningly beautiful natural wonders in Alberta. And because many of these attractions are difficult to access otherwise, a road trip through the parkway is a great way to explore as much of this Canadian Rocky Mountain region as time allows.

What Is the Smartphone Audio Driving Tour?

The new Smartphone Audio Driving Tour is a self-guided audio experience that allows for a unique way to explore the entire length of the Icefields Parkway without ever leaving your car. As soon as you start your engine, you’ll be immersed in stories about the culture, geology, flora and fauna of the region.

You’ll be guided through 27 points of interest disguised as regular roadside stops with interpretive signs. Once you arrive at different interpretive stops, along your route, you can listen to podcasts featuring stories told by experts in their field, who have extensive knowledge about the area and its inhabitants.

Definitely stop and listen to interesting stories about the wildlife that lives in this area—you never know what you may encounter on your journey! Each podcast episode offers information about what you’re seeing out your window, as well as Canadian culture and traditions.

What Technology Do I Need to Complete the Audio Tour?

In order to experience the Smartphone Audio Driving Tour, you will need to download an app for your smartphone for free. The audio tour is compatible with both iOS and Android mobile devices (including iPhones, iPads, iPods and other smart phones). To get started, simply download the app from iTunes or Google Play and start exploring.

Once you have downloaded the app, you can listen to stories from over 10 experts on your drive from one end of the Icefields Parkway to the other. All you need is your phone and your car for this unique adventure — no guide needed. You’ll be able to find historical facts, geological effects of climate change, endangered plants and much more through this audio tour.

How Does It Work?

Once you have installed the app on your device, you can begin driving along the route. As soon as you arrive at an interpretive station, both signs visible by eye and GPS coordinates will trigger audio stories on your device. The audio will include stories from scientists, First Nations elders and park rangers as they give insight into their research on the sites that you’ve stopped at.

You will be able to hear narratives in English or French about environments unique to this part of Canada – insight that would rarely be heard anywhere else.

Why Should You Use This Audio Tour?

The Smartphone Audio Driving Tour is an unusual and excellent way to explore Alberta and connect with its incredible landscape in a more meaningful way. It brings history and nature together with experiences told by real people who are proud of their homes in Western Canada.

The best part about this audio tour is that it can be experienced at your own pace. Listeners can drive all 233km of Highway 93 in one go or take their time at each site. You can also create your own personal audio tour by selecting individual stops that interest you most. As you drive along this iconic road trip this summer, put down your phone and grab life on the highway with this audio tour!

Conclusion

The Icefields Parkway’s Smartphone Audio Driving tour is an exciting way to experience one of Canadian Rocky Mountain’s most awe-inspiring regions. With stories from both local experts and passing travelers alike, listeners can connect with more meaningful insights from historians and First Nations elders who understand the land like no other. So why not download the app, turn up your speaker volume, hit the highway to explore without ever leaving your car.

For more information about experiences available along Alberta’s Icefields Parkway visit GetYourGuide, where you can find experiences like Super Express IcefieldsIce Explorer, Glacier Adventure – Sunwapta Falls and much more.