Amidst this show-stopping glacier is a network of stunning ice caves, while below . The operating season is mid-April to mid-October. Nevertheless, the hike itself is free. The Columbia Icefield formed around 240,000 years ago. Full Day Guided Glacier Hike on The Athabasca with IceWalks. See our complete Alberta packing list here. There is no admission charge for the parking either. Tourists walk on the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, on May 7, 2014. If you buy ahead of time, youll be guaranteed a spot, so you wont have a long wait or risk the day you want to go being sold out. 9 Vatnajokull Glacier, Iceland. At its terminus, the glacier sits about 1500 meters from the famed Icefields Parkway and a convenient parking lot makes it an easy walk. Length 0.6 miElevation gain 82 ftRoute type Out & back. If you'd like to support our work check out our shop for unique prints and souvenirs or support us directly here. We've already briefly touched on this topic. Although you can use public transport, on some occasions, it means your trip will not only require more time but more planning. After traveling the world for six years, he settled down in the beautiful Bow Valley with Natasha. It all depends on where youre staying the night before. Demand is heaviest from June to September, and accommodation fills up quickly. Tours from $99 . For campers, there are two nearby campgrounds. We personally wouldn't buy this tour as it does not seem exactly environmentally friendly. To get a better view from the lookout, bring binoculars or a mirrorless camera with a telephoto lens. Youll spend a night in Calgary and a night in Jasper with days full of all the sights, including the glacier, Athabasca Falls and Maligne Lake. It is ONLY the best value if you are traveling alone and only plan to visit a national park for one day. Near the top. 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. The peak is one of many in the Canadian Rockies famous for reaching an altitude of 11,000 feet. Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Glacier, Toe of the Athabasca Glacier. ), book the Ice Explorer Tour and Skywalk Tour together, on a tour from the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, book the Ice Explorer and Skywalk tours together, drive from Jasper to Banff or Banff to Jasper and stop along the way, Jasper National Park is just filled with fun things to do and see, stretch of road that connects Jasper with Lake Louise, tons of attractions on the Icefields Parkway, this guided hiking tour that takes you onto Athabasca Glacier, join this bus tour onto the glacier instead. Tickets for this experience are around $40 CAD. . The Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier are closest to Jasper, with only about an hours drive to travel the 106 kilometers (66 miles). Leaving Banff, travel 55 km (34 miles) west on the Trans-Canada Highway #1 to Lake Louise. The Canadian Rockies are a top tourist destination, and the prices match this fact. Best glacier tour on Athabasca!! If youre scared of heights it may make your heart skip a beat as the view down to the valley floor 300 meters below can be dizzying. We quickly realized that some of the activities are out of our budget, so it was easy to rule them out, but there were also too many things we wanted to see and too many photogenic places we did not want to miss, so the decision process was often quite heartbreaking. Open directions in Google Maps When we were planning the Canadian Rockies trip, the area around the Columbia Icefield seemed quite overwhelming, and the planning was not as easy as we assumed it would be. PLEASE do not walk on Athabasca Glacier unassisted without mountaineering experience and equipment. . Print/PDF map. Every year as more and more tourists flock to the mountains, the number of rescues goes up. . Day 5 - Banff National Park. We never leave our home without travel insurance which is designed to help cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip. Jasper is the closest at 105 km and 1.5 hours driving. The visitor center is very busy in the high season, but there is not much to do except for asking for directions, information about the hikes and tours, or visiting a modest museum with a small theater. Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price. We just couldn't justify the price tag for this attraction - a whopping 36 CAD. This makes the visit more enjoyable, and you can focus on the incredible experience in front of you. When you stand on Athabasca Glacier it feels a bit like standing in front of an open freezer. But there are a few other options if you have time to burn and very deep pockets. Please do not use my photos or trip reports without receiving permission. km). The main parking lot here is at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. Because of its location, its the easiest glacier to get to and the one you can see not only with a tour but also from the road! . Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin . The Bald Hills are a legendary hike in Jasper, getting you high above the tree line with opportunities to explore this incredible chain of hills and summit other peaks. Jasper is 100 kilometers away from here. The Athabasca Glacier tours are available from May until October and book up quickly during the summer. Youll get excellent views of the Columbia Icefield, and in the summer, wildflowers are beautiful along this trail. For car rentals, I use the website DiscoverCars.com. Mount Athabasca looms over Athabasca Glacier, but only a few get to see the view from the top. Get to Know The Athabasca Glacier. Its basically all the questions you thought you had and a few more! . Tours are operational in the summer months only and subject to seasonal weather. During the winter months (November to May), the visitor center is closed, and there are no tours of the Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield. 697 m. 4.5-6h. We suggest picking up a packed lunch in Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper. So if you have arrived from New York or Sydney or any sea-level city in the world, take your time, walk slowly and enjoy the scenery. Athabasca Glacier happens to be the most accessible glacier in the Canadian Rockies and well worth a stop. Columbia Icefield Adventure includes the Ice Explorer Tour on the Athabasca Glacier, admission to the Skywalk and return transportation from the Glacier Discovery Centre. Columbia Icefield (Athabasca Glacier): 15 Tips for Visiting. The Icefields Parkway, where the icefield and glacier are located, is maintained by Parks Canada, and youll need a Parks Canada Pass to drive along it, even if you dont plan on stopping anywhere. Bear spray. Our recommendation would be to shoot for an early morning and witness sunrise on the Icefields Parkway. The glacier is in continual motion, and creeps . So besides visiting Maligne Lake, there are a few other activities that we recommend that you check off your to-do list. Youll also have the option to upgrade your ticket to include a tour of the Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield. It's approximately 32 km southeast of the Jasper townsite. The best time for enjoying Athabasca Glacier is between June and September, when temperatures are higher, and your chances for the visit are the best. Day 4 - The Rocky Mountaineer to Banff. All rights reserved. A longer six-hour trek costs $175 CAD plus tax. Free WiFi is provided. The reason for this is that there is no parking at the Skywalk. On your walk through the dry glacier field you can see posts marking the glacier's retreat. The Athabasca Glacier is a massive glacial toe to the expansive Columbia Icefield that sits on the British ColumbiaAlberta border in Canada. Athabasca is one of the most easily accessed glaciers in North America, just a few minutes from the parking area. Another option is to stay somewhere along the Icefields Parkway. . Athabasca Falls are accessible year-round, thanks to the nearby well-maintained highway and the parking lot close to the falls. You can also book the glacier tours and Skywalk here. But with this popularity comes a few challenges when it comes to planning your visit. You can find the following services. We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. From $5,499 per person, twin share - Save $500 per person! This is a supremely helpful guide for the icefield. Youll see the Crowfoot Glacier, Athabasca Falls, Bow Lake, the incredible glacier tour, and a visit to the Skywalk. Be sure to check out some of related blogs including: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What can I do in and around Banff in two days, Nov 24-26? 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. You can combine the tickets with the Lake Minnewanka cruise, Banff Gondola, or Maligne Lake cruise for a discount. Learn more on our about us page! The Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier are just over an hour (106 km/66 miles) south of Jasper, 1.5 hours (132 km/82 miles) north of Lake Louise, or about 2.5 hours (187 km/116 miles) north of Banff. Also, campervans or RVs will allow you to see everything you put on your itinerary, and thanks to it, your trip will be more flexible. As time passes, the snow transforms into ice and begins to flow outward through gaps in the mountains surrounding the icefield, creating great tongues of ice called glaciers. Finally, the crowds. Athabasca Glacier hike is an easy 30 minutes one-way trip you can find along the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies. Tours from $214 . Wilcox Pass is a moderately challenging 4 km (2.5 miles) hike that starts at the Wilcox Creek campground. The Icefield forms a high altitude ice-cap that lies on a plateau. Best time to visit Athabasca Falls. You can walk up to the falls and climb up a bit to get a great photo. There are a number of facilities at the Discovery Center. Only a small part of the Columbia Icefield is visible from the road. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like the Athabasca Glacier as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors. This is one of the biggest tips I have for you if your heart is set on getting to explore the icefield and glacier up close, book in advance!! This nearly four mile (6 km) glacier, located in Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies . The Columbia Icefield is considered to be the most abundant ice mass in the Rocky Mountains, extending 25 kms across the Continental Divide. The Athabasca Glacier is not alone in its retreat: Since 1960, glaciers around the world have lost an estimated 8,000 cubic kilometers (1,900 cubic miles) of ice. Leaving Jasper, travel 108 km (67 miles) south on the Icefields Parkway Highway 93N to the Columbia Icefield. If this experience sounds like the right fit for you, make sure you book this hike online now! So we are breaking down helpful tips to know before you go. Its 6 km away from the Glacier Discovery Center and does not offer views of the Athabasca Glacier, but instead the Sunwapta Valley. The only reservations that are required are for the guided Ice Walk as it is with an independent tour operator not associated with Pursuit and the Icefield Discovery Center. Additional Information. At 6km in length, it is the only glacier in the area. 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. Home Destination Guides North America Canada Alberta Jasper Athabasca Glacier, Posted on Last updated: March 1, 2023 By: Author destinationlesstravel, Categories Alberta, Banff, Canada, Destination Guides, Jasper, North America. To get to the Athabasca Glacier parking lot, follow the Icefields Parkway to Columbia Icefield Discovery Center (don't drive to the parking lot, though). For a discount, book the Ice Explorer Tour and Skywalk Tour together in advance online. A shuttle bus leaves from the discovery center around every fifteen minutes to the Skywalk which is 6 km away. You can also see markers along here showing how the glacier has shrunk over the years due to global warming. In 2018, we decided to settle down in one of the most beautiful places on earth, The Canadian Rockies. The Athabasca Glacier is the most visited glacier in all of North America and it is spectacular. The park spreads around 521 square miles (1,349 sq km) of area. About 1 million people come to the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier every year. There will be a free shuttle that takes you on a short, five-minute drive to the Skywalk if youve bought tickets for that experience. So make sure to pack a toque and warm jacket when you visit the glacier for a more enjoyable experience. Thanks for the response. Wilcox Pass is a moderately challenging 4 km (2.5 miles) hike that starts at the Wilcox Creek campground. Put on crampons, and you will get a firsthand view of this massive moving force, while the skilled and experienced guides will make your trip unforgettable. One of the things we want to do is to visit the icefields. Youll have amazing views of the Sunwapta Valley, and the long glass-bottomed walkway thats over 1,000 feet above is a thrill! You can then continue onto the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier trail, a further 1.4 km (0.9 mile) return . All the bookings are done by timeslot and fill up quickly in the summer months. and even have coverage in case you get that dreaded c-word. Many climbers in the Rockies have the lifetime goal of summiting all 54 (58) of the peaks, and they are considered classic mountaineering objectives. Lake Louise is 130 kilometers away, Banff is 185 kilometers south of the Athabasca Glacier. Youll spend an entire day sightseeing, including an Athabasca Glacier tour, Skywalk adventure, a visit to the Weeping Wall, and Athabasca Falls. Adventure sports, activities, and non-supervised activities come with inherent risks, please take necessary precautions. The landscape is stark and bare, covered in loose gray stones. Ill have a car. Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience. Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefields (Located 185km from Banff or 103km from . Hard. 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 price does vary though depending on the time of year and the type of car that you rent. Conservation is a deep fundamental in his life, and he aims to inspire others to care about our natural world. Information is also available at 406-888-7800. Drive a short distance up the road and the parking lot . Wear sturdy shoes even though it might seem the distance is short for the hassle. This means you can easily get to the Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield and back to wherever you are staying without the need to have your own car or a rental. Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld. Chilling! You can check out guided ice walk tours here. Icefields Parkway winter driving can be hazardous as the roads can be very icy. The toe of the Athabasca Glacier sit at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, some visitors might notice that the air is thinner here, and it's a little bit more difficult to breathe when you are walking up. We visited the Athabasca Glacier twice already, and both times, it was super windy and chilly even at the foot of the glacier. The tour company that operates the all-terrain bus said the vehicle was on its way to Athabasca Glacier, in the Columbia Icefield. Because the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier are inside Jasper National Park, youll need a Canada Parks Pass. Tips For Seeing the Athabasca Glacier And Columbia Icefields. To avoid the crowds, visit outside of the peak summer months of July and August. 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). Another great alternative is Viator. Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre . 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. I also highly recommend reading up on Leave No Trace principles before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Type out & amp ; back bit to get a great photo most visited Glacier in Rocky... 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