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. 13.4 km. We highly recommend including one of those great hikes on your itinerary as well. Wilcox Pass is a moderately challenging 4 km (2.5 miles) hike that starts at the Wilcox Creek campground. That said, if youve never been up near a glacier before is this an experience worth having? 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 other option to walk on the glaciers is via the Ice Explorer vehicles. Setting off from the rugged parking lot towards the Athabasca Glacier. Tickets for the experiences operate on time slots so its best to purchase your tickets in advance to avoid a long wait or the tickets being sold out entirely. . The Athabasca Glacier is the most-visited glacier in all of North America. The Columbia Icefield Skywalk is basically a glass-floored lookout perched atop a cliff about 280 meters above the valley floor that offers a thrilling walk around the observation platform. Its also a great introduction for those interested in mountaineering. The driving distance to the Icefields Discovery Center is 195 km and takes just under three hours from Downtown Banff. Athabasca glacier has receded approximately a mile in over a century and is still receding by about 2-3 m per year. 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 . The Athabasca Glacier is one of the six 'toes' that comes out of the Columbia Icefield. However, you can still come in winter to hike theToe of the Athabasca Glacier TrailI previously mentioned. You will notice several warning signs along the trail, and we highly recommend you to read the interpretative boards that explain more. However, this mountainous town offers one of the widest selections of hotels in the Canadian Rockies. Day 1 - Vancouver. 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. Its a beautiful campground with some truly amazing views of the surrounding area. The hike is straightforward, making it perfect even for families or visitors who are not that fit or experienced. From the center, you can book tickets on the Ice Explorer or Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Explore this 0.9-mile out-and-back trail near Improvement District No. You can't actually get very close to the glacier. Icefields Parkway itinerary was packed already, and these tours seemed really expensive to us for what they offer. In fact, it's astounding just how much is packed into this route! The Columbia Icefield is conveniently located off the Icefields Parks or Highway 93 that runs from Lake Louise to Jasper. This 1km (.6 mile) walkway towers over the Sunwapta Valley. There are also restaurants, washrooms, a gift shop, and interpretive displays inside. So besides visiting Maligne Lake, there are a few other activities that we recommend that you check off your to-do list. Absolutely. Departs on Australia on 4 September 2023 & 20 May 2024. Icefields Parkway Weather (Best Time to Visit) Just like Banff and Jasper, the Icefields Parkway drive is fairly mild and warm in the summer months and very cold in the winter. You can reach the glacier from your car in around 10-20 minutes. The Athabasca Glacier is just one of many beautiful stops along the world-famous Icefields Parkway. However, this experience is not only about the raw beauty of Mother Nature. One of the best hotels in Jasper is right at the foot of the Columbia Icefield. 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. If youre looking for a tourist-free rugged wilderness experience, sorry but this is not it. Easy 4.5 (1302) Jasper National Park. A longer six-hour trek costs $175 CAD plus tax. We've already briefly touched on this topic. Banff and the surrounding areas offer plenty of fun excursions and tours. Mount Athabasca, Andromeda, and Snow Dome. It should answer all the questions you have about where the glacier is, if you have to book a tour, parking options, and all about the nearby visitor center. It will take you onto the Athabasca Glacier for a 90-minute adventure. The Columbia Icefield Skywalk is a glass-bottomed bridge thats just north of the Athabasca Icefield a popular stop on the Icefield Parkway. Information needed to plan a visit to the park at any time of the year is available on the park website. 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. Except for modern rooms, guests can enjoy a hot tub, steam room, sauna, and useful facilities such as luggage storage and ski storage. Before you start the hike, enjoy the Sunwapta Lake's views (don't forget also to visit Sunwapta Falls later) which is located right next to the parking lot. Extra $300 per person from Adelaide, Canberra or Hobart. However, the Ice Walk tours across the Athabasca Glacier require advanced booking with the local tour company. The self-guided tour showcases how a glacier moves along with information on the local area. The Glacier View Lodge is the only hotel in the area and is where you can stay if you want to wake up to views of the Athabasca Glacier. Looking for a really unique experience to have with your dog? 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. Note: The Athabasca Glacier is located in Jasper National Park, meaning that a valid park pass is required. If you book online, these are the rates you will pay, otherwise the "regular" rate should you purchase on-site will be 10% extra! 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. Thanks for the response. Read our disclosure policy for more info. 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. The Athabasca Glacier is located along Icefields Parkway, a scenic 143-mile (230-kilometer) highway connecting Jasper with Lake Louise. 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. Sadly a boundary limits people from approaching the glacier itself, however the views from here are impressive nonetheless. 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. As with most attractions in Banff and Jasper its best to arrive early in the morning or late afternoon to beat the crowds. Home Banff Columbia Icefield (Athabasca Glacier): 15 Tips for Visiting. However, the majority of travelers won't probably even notice. Within . If you have found the content on this site helpful to your trip planning please consider supporting The Banff Blog. Another option is to stay somewhere along the Icefields Parkway. For a discount, book the Ice Explorer Tour and Skywalk Tour together in advance online. Free shipping for many products! 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. Our recommendation would be to shoot for an early morning and witness sunrise on the Icefields Parkway. Situated around 120 km (75 mi) from the town of Banff, it can be easily accessed from the Icefields Parkway. As we still had plenty of time, we hiked to Wilcox Pass and tremendously enjoyed Parker Ridge Trail. Youll be given headphones to enjoy a self-guided audio tour on this walk. These hiking tours are different than the Ice Explorer tour because youll spend more time on the glacier and walk to parts of the glacier that most people dont get to see. If youre driving with an RV, there is overnight parking available in a large asphalt lot on the west side of the Discovery Centre. 5.0. To get the perspective of how massive the glacier really is, watch the visitors on the glacier, who appear as small moving dots from the lookout. Visit Athabasca Glacier a disappearing wonder. Youll spend an entire day sightseeing, including an Athabasca Glacier tour, Skywalk adventure, a visit to the Weeping Wall, and Athabasca Falls. Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin . Youll also get a pair of micro-spikes (crampons) included with these tours, which are necessary for extra grip while youre walking on the glacier. Ive marked the trailhead on the map above. The road is usually closed from November to May because of snowy and icy conditions. Youll see sights like Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, and Crowfoot Glacier. Glacier Skywalk. ), 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. Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below. All rights reserved. If you are driving here in the winter, make sure you have winter tires on your car and always check road conditions, as snowstorms are common. To see even more of this incredible area, hiking with an experienced guide is a great option. Of course, if you are driving between Banff and Jasper, this isn . Soon, we might not have any glaciers left. Think of it as what you would expect the icy surfaces of Greenland or Antarctica to look like, with ice that . The Athabasca Glacier is one of the six foremost 'toes' of the Columbia Icefield, situated in the Canadian Rockies. Near the top. It is a gorgeous area and the best time of the year to go is in the summer! I hope this guide has given you all the information you need for your own visit to the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier. They offer travel medical insurance thats super affordable (only $42 USD per 4 weeks!) Something you will quickly realize when searching for hotels. Answer 1 of 6: Hi, My family of 4 is heading out to the Canadian Rockies this summer and we'll be in Jasper on the 25,26,27 of June. We now know what to avoid. You can check out guided ice walk tours here. So, yes, there are people everywhere, though it wasn't that bad as we expected or experienced in some other top locations, for example, in the Yellowstone National Park. Day 1 - London and Vancouver. Columbia Icefield Adventure includes the Ice Explorer Tour on the Athabasca Glacier, admission to the Skywalk and return transportation from the Glacier Discovery Centre. 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. For car rentals, I use the website DiscoverCars.com. Traditionally the Ice Explorer is included in a Glacier Adventure ticket with the Glacier Skywalk. Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre . 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