Welcome to Saskatchewan Crossing. The Crossing as they call it affectionately, is 249km from Calgary, or 80km from lake Louise, along the Icefields Hwy 93. The Crossing lies at the intersection of the David Thompson hwy 11 and the Icefields Hwy 93. This area was a significant stop during the fur trade in the 19 century as traders used the area to cross over the North Saskatchewan river as they traveled into British Columbia.
During high Season, June to August, the Crossing is a very busy weigh-point a long the journey from Lake Louise to Jasper. Tour busses, RV’s and travelers all stop here to take a break from the open road to stretch the legs and partake in the quaint if not touristy amenities of the Crossing. A restaurant, convenience store and souvenir store all reside in the main lodge of the Crossing. There is also fuel, propane, and san-dump services located here along with potable water.
The view from the crossing of the surrounding mountains is breathtaking and on a clear day they are truly magnificent. On this day there was smoke in the valley and the mountains had a grayish hue to them. One thing to beware of, at the crossing there is limited parking for RV’s and even cars for that matter. The Crossing lately has been catering more to bus traffic then RV travelers. Parking for RV’s can be found by driving through the fuel station area and driving to the back of the main lodge by the travelers cabins. Make sure you take your first left after driving through the fuel station otherwise you will get stuck in a dead end.
The crossing out front, has an interpretive center that explains the region and its importance to travelers from days gone by.
Once again incredible views of the surrounding mountains, and the valley can be had by walking the front meridian in front of the Crossings main lodge. It does not take much to imagine why the fur traders stopped here and took a break before crossing the North Saskatchewan River.
After high season is over the Crossing is pretty much deserted. The odd traveller will now stop by and be relieved there are no crowds to deal with. Now is the time to buy Icefields merchandise. The Crossing is the only place that you can get Icefield souvenirs and merchandise. There is also an incredible selection of magnets, not only for the Icefields but surrounding areas too. If your anything like the Glampurs, you collect magnets from the places you have been. This is a meca for magnets.
Well my time was up at the Crossing and my errands had been done, so it was time to say goodbye. One last selfie to remember my time here, and how i enjoyed my stay and spent a lot of money.
Happy Trails
The Glampurs
Nuts & Bolts:
The Crossing is a must see stop. I think every traveller on the Icefields or David Thompson hwy’s stops here at least for a few minutes. As quaint and picturesque as the Crossing can be, be prepared to spend money here. Because of its isolation within the parkway, prices here are often tripple of what you would find in the city. Gas, Propane, food are all very expensive. If you can, try to make sure you have enough supplies and fuel to get you through to Jasper or Lake Louise. With that said if you are a souvenir hunter this is a place for you. There is a great selection of souvenirs, clothing and magnets for the bargain hunter to sift through.