In all honesty, were not big fans of either the Ice Explorer vehicles driving on Athabasca Glacier or the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. However, the majority of travelers won't probably even notice. This tour is family-friendly too since the hike is relatively easy and flat (5 km/3.1 miles in total.). per adult. Glacier Adventure on the Athabasca Glacier ONLY. It may seem kind but it doesnt just kill wildlife and put people in danger, its also illegal. The hike starts from a gravel Athabasca Glacier parking lot. However, you need to (obviously) pay for the tours. Walk to Athabasca Glacier's base on a well-marked trail from the car park and enjoy the stunning scenery of Columbia Icefield for free. There are plenty of places to stay if you want to spend more time in the area or not worry about a long drive back after your tour. Including transportation from Banff and lunch,this glacier touris the most popular option as it gets you access to the incredible glacier walk as well as a pretty sweet add-on with the Skywalk. Glacier Skywalk and Columbia Icefields (1 hour 15 minutes from Jasper) You will probably want to spend most of the time here. Its 6 km away from the Glacier Discovery Center and does not offer views of the Athabasca Glacier, but instead the Sunwapta Valley. These months inevitably collide with the holiday season, but there's not much you can do about it but plan your trip for the shoulder season months, such as late May and October. Learn More. Day 2 - Exploring Vancouver. Water from the Columbia Icefield and its glaciers makes up underground rivers and caves and flows to three different oceans. The Wilcox Pass trailhead is right nearby and will lead you to amazing views of Athabasca Glacier, Mount Athabasca, and Mount Andromeda. Whether it be buying a coffee or (even better) purchasing a unique print for your home from The Banff Print Shop all purchases help with the upkeep of this site that is updated daily. We highly recommend including one of those great hikes on your itinerary as well. February 1, 2018. After enjoying the views, we walked slowly back to the car park. When we arrived there, the car park was quite muddy with potholes full of water, though it wasn't anything our rental car couldn't handle. This blog may contain affiliate links. One thing that isnt at the visitor center is a gas station. Athabasca is one of the most easily accessed glaciers in North America, just a few minutes from the parking area. Follow the trail all the way to the lookout. A longer six-hour trek costs $175 CAD plus tax. Athabasca River is 1231 kilometers long river that originates in Jasper National Park at the end of Columbia Glacier and runs across the province of Alberta into enormous Lake Athabasca, spreading across the borders between Alberta and Saskatchewan. According to your ticketed time, youll board a bus at the Glacier Discovery Center that will drive you to the Skywalk. The RV parking tends to be busier in the middle of the day when people are here for day trips, but it does clear out, so theres quite a bit of room for overnight stays. This is where you can buy a spot on one of the glacier tours that go out onto the ice or Columbia Icefield Skywalk tickets if you havent purchased them ahead of time. Situated around 120 km (75 mi) from the town of Banff, it can be easily accessed from the Icefields Parkway. or visit eBay's page on international trade . Glacier Skywalk. The melting snow and waters from the glaciers flow straight north to the Arctic Ocean, east to the Atlantic Ocean and west to the Pacific Ocean. This 1km (.6 mile) walkway towers over the Sunwapta Valley. Hard. It will be quieter here in the winter, so you wont be dealing with a crowd. Its field staff is rigorously trained, especially for the glacier tour, which also includes educational facts . The only thing to note is that the insurance must be purchased once youve left your home country we typically buy it as soon as we land at the airport. That is approximately enough ice to cover a two-kilometer-wide (1.2 mile-wide) swath of land between New York and Los Angeles with an ice sheet that is one kilometer (0.62 miles) tall. Its a search engine with lots of deals with good customer service. We did a three-day mountaineering course with Yamnuska and summited on the third day the experience was epic. Home Banff Columbia Icefield (Athabasca Glacier): 15 Tips for Visiting. Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin . Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour. Columbia Icefield Adventure includes the Ice Explorer Tour on the Athabasca Glacier, admission to the Skywalk and return transportation from the Glacier Discovery Centre. Location: Athabasca Falls is located in Jasper National Park just off the Icefields Parkway on Highway 93A. Once you arrive at the Skywalk, youll get to see a variety of interpretive displays about the history of this glacier region before venturing out onto the glass-bottomed walkway for breathtaking views. Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefields (Located 185km from Banff or 103km from . We highly recommend booking an Ice Walk tour and not try to walk on the glacier on your own. This short walk up to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier is located in the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains. The scenery along the way is stunning; it's very easily accessible, family-friendly, photogenic, and unlike often overpriced tours, it is possible to see it for free (although there are more expensive alternatives how to see the glacier up close), so it is perfect for all budget travelers. Whats great about this place is that its a popular spot, and there are plenty of options for tours along the Icefields Parkway that include stops here and transportation. The Columbia Icefield is considered to be the most abundant ice mass in the Rocky Mountains, extending 25 kms across the Continental Divide. If youre driving up the Icefields Parkway, visiting this glacier is definitely an essential must-do on your Icefields Parkway itinerary. One of the best things about Icefields Parkway is that it is not lined with hotels and resorts. Cameron is a resident of Canmore, Alberta. A picnic lunch is also included. From Lake Louise the center is 130 km and takes around two hours to reach. Destinationless Travelis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. It has already lost more than half of its total volume in the past 125 years and is shrinking by 16 feet every year. To open it up in Google Maps for easy navigation just click the red pin. The Columbia Icefield formed around 240,000 years ago. Hiking poles may be helpful but are not required. Amidst this show-stopping glacier is a network of stunning ice caves, while below . Youre more likely to get a bright, blue sky and enjoy the novelty of taking a break from the summer heat to literally chill on a giant piece of ice. The perfect-blue streams of water making their way from this wall of ice, rushing down rocky slopes of rubble that have been carved up by the retreating behemoth the glacier itself is only one part of the experience - the strangely barren cliffs all around you exhibiting the glaciers effect on the landscape is what makes it feel like youre truly somewhere unique. The ridge has tremendous views over the Saskatchewan Glacier that are phenomenal and the hike is easy enough to complete in under two hours. Yes! C$203.96. The Athabasca Glacier is a large toe that extends down from the Columbia Icefield. In the right light conditions it can be a much more brilliant blue. Free WiFi is provided. This is the largest ice field in the Rockies and one of the most accessible, thanks to its location. Saskatchewan Glacier is the largest outflow glacier out of the Columbia Icefield. There you can disembark and walk around the glacier in a controlled environment. Day 4 - The Rocky Mountaineer to Banff. Youll need to follow the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre and then turn onto Snocoach Road for a couple of hundred feet before quickly turning right onto Glacier Road. Information needed to plan a visit to the park at any time of the year is available on the park website. You can also see markers along here showing how the glacier has shrunk over the years due to global warming. When driving between Jasper and Banff youre pretty much left with the Icefields Discovery Center or the disappointing Saskatchewan River Crossing. Our aim is to help you get the most out of your trip to Banff National Park and the surrounding areas. There are a lot of great vantage points along the pathways where you can see the Athabasca River as well as caves and unique rock formations. Note: The Athabasca Glacier is located in Jasper National Park, meaning that a valid park pass is required. Best glacier tour on Athabasca!! Banff Inn is a perfectly located hotel and a great place to stay both in the summer and winter. You cannot attempt this on your own without mountaineering experience, it is a serious mountain. FROM $1,103 Circle West - Canadian Rockies Round Trip Bus Tour From Vancouver. A massive tour bus with wheels the size of a car drive visitors across the glacier to a large parking area on the glacier. Athabasca Glacier lies on the Columbia Icefields Parkway midway between the Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. Some models suggest that the dying glacier will disappear completely between 2040 and 2100, along with 90% of Albertas glaciers at the end of the century. Best time to visit Athabasca Falls. Athabasca Glacier Icewalks is a more intimate way to explore this massive glacier. The land of fire and ice is a glacier wonderland, with 11% of the nation's terrain covered in icecaps - one of which is Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajokull, a glorious UNESCO World Heritage site in itself making up 8% of Iceland. Renting a car is an essential thing to do if you want to get the most of your trip to the Canadian Rockies. . According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Athabasca Glacier: Tread Lightly Glacier Hikes (From $138.10) 6 Day Rocky Mountain Explorer Private Tour; Circle West - Canadian Rockies Round Trip Bus Tour From Vancouver; Guided Glacier Hike on The Athabasca with IceWalks (From $98.25) Jasper to Banff One-Way Tour (From . Toe of the Glacier Athabasca. per adult. Jasper Inn & Suites offers good value for money. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey, we're Cameron and Natasha and have been writing about travel for the last decade. . 3. Nevertheless, the hike itself is free. Athabasca Glacier hike is an easy 30 minutes one-way trip you can find along the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies. The best way to get from Canmore to Athabasca Glacier (Land) costs only $100 and takes just 4 hours. Accommodation is very limited along this scenic drive, and your best bet is to stay either in one of that first-come, first-served campgrounds or bigger towns such as Jasper or Banff. Rockaboo Mountain Adventures is one of Jasper's longtime guiding heavyweights, and their new Athabasca Glacier Tour is the latest addition to their daily programs (which includes ice climbing in winter and rock climbing in summer). Near the top. TheGlacier View Lodgehas rooms overlooking the glaciers and mountains and is close to all the activities here. The Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies and covers around 230 sq km (89 sq mi) at depths up to 265 meters (1,200 ft). 52.220281, -117.22405 . Wait for a day when you know there is good visibility. Before visiting Jasper National Park its essential to read up on the Parks Canada rules that must be followed to avoid tickets and/or fines. Planning ahead and booking one of the many Athabasca Glacier tours is the best way to see it up close. Youll be rewarded with stunning views of the Saskatchewan Glacier along with multiple waterfalls. He has been featured as a travel expert with numerous publications worldwide and has spoken on several occasions about the power of travel. The Athabasca Glacier is just one of many beautiful stops along the world-famous Icefields Parkway. You need to make a reservation for the big campgrounds in Banff or Jasper well in advance or arrive there around check-out time and hope that they will have availability. That being said its easy to walk on the glacier with a guide. 697 m. 4.5-6h. From the center, you can book tickets on the Ice Explorer or Columbia Icefield Skywalk. The Athabasca Glacier flows into the Athabasca Glacier, filling it with vibrant blue water. The Columbia Icefield sits astride the continental divide and is 125 square miles full of fields of ice or almost the size of Seattle or Philadelphia! Its quite large, and you should be able to find a spot here. This waterfall is beautiful and easy to find right off the highway. The Discovery Pass is what Parks Canada calls their year-long (365 days from the purchase date), multi-park entry pass. (Jeff . The Athabasca is the most-visited glacier on the North American continent. Its crazy how much the glacier has receded in just 100 years. Columbia Icefield feeds 8 glaciers including Athabasca Glacier. That said, if youve never been up near a glacier before is this an experience worth having? 17 BEST Stops on the Drive from Vancouver to Whistler - Road Trip Guide, How to Get to Moraine Lake (from Banff, Canmore, Calgary, and More! Day 3 - The Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops. This gives you a chance to explore this area with a closer home base. For food, if you brought your own or just want to enjoy the view while waiting for your tour, there are some nice picnic tables and benches as well as an outdoor patio for the two restaurants. The tour company that operates the all-terrain bus said the vehicle was on its way to Athabasca Glacier, in the Columbia Icefield. These tours are VERY popular and often book out in advance. Wilcox Creek Campground has first come, first served sites, and it's an excellent choice for all visitors who don't want to spend a fortune on accommodation and want to stay close to the Athabasca Glacier, Wilcox Pass, and other points of interest. The Columbia Icefield is roughly 325 square kilometers and covers a large area of Alberta between Banff and Jasper National Parks. Located in: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada . Because youre not driving, youll be able to enjoy the scenic views! To stretch your legs, take a stroll through the gift shop or the Parks Canada Glacier Gallery. Make sure to tell someone where youre going and when you expect to return. Part of this expansive ice is located inside Jasper National Park, which is the best place to access it either on a tour or hiking along a nearby trail. Lake Louise | Lake Louise Inn - Newly renovated rooms, onsite restaurants, fitness center, and a heated indoor pool, this hotel is a perfect place to stay either during the summer and in the winter as well (they even provide a free shuttle service to the Lake Louise Ski Resort). The hotel has a convenient location, indoor pool, onsite restaurant, and clean and tidy rooms that should convince you to stay here. The operating season is mid-April to mid-October. This is one of North America's most visited glaciers. Getting to Athabasca Falls: From Jasper, travel south on Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) then turn right onto Highway 93A. Alaska is one of the world's great glacier destinations, especially when it comes to Denali National Park, where 40 named glaciers (and hundreds of nameless ones) cover one million acres. Watch the blue circle signs with information about how much the glacier has melted over the years. It is shocking to see how much it has retreated . Please do not use my photos or trip reports without receiving permission. If you want to walk on the glacier, the Athabasca Glacier tours only operate from May until October. With a million people coming every year between May to October, you wont be alone in wanting to stop here. Thank you. Get to Know The Athabasca Glacier. The landscape is stark and bare, covered in loose gray stones. More experiences in Banff & Jasper National Parks. You can learn more on the about us page. Day 6 - Jasper. 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