One of the many highlights of our Western Canada & the Rockies tour is to take a snow coach ride on a real-life glacier! A glacier is a large mass of ice, formed at least in part on land, that shows evidence of present or past movement. . For a longer adventure on the glacier, thisfull-day tourlets you spend 6 hours exploring the glacier with a guide. Flights included from Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. Whats really cool is you can take a tour out on this glacier in a special all-terrain bus known as an Ice Explorer. or visit eBay's page on international trade . 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. 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. Our content may not be reproduced without our written permission. 13 Mar and Fri, 17 Mar to 23917. 697 m. 4.5-6h. Located around halfway between Jasper and Banff on the Icefields Parkway, the Athabasca Glacier is one of the route highlights and one of the most accessible glaciers in the world.. You can take in the views from the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre or book a Columbia Icefield Adventure Tour which will take you up onto the glacier on an Ice Explorer, a giant all-terrain vehicle, and includes . 9 Vatnajokull Glacier, Iceland. and even have coverage in case you get that dreaded c-word. 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. Canada is a large country and traveling between cities and even just getting out to some of the best places to visit in Alberta requires transport. For car rentals, I use the website DiscoverCars.com. Near the top. Make sure youve fueled up in Jasper, Lake Louise, or at Saskatchewan River Crossing before you get here. Best time to visit Athabasca Falls. Even though the road connects Jasper and Lake Louise or Banff, Columbia Icefields Parkways can sometimes be blocked by snow and impassable. 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. We meet at London Heathrow for our flight to Vancouver, and check into the city's exceptional Fairmont Hotel for two nights. Icefields Parkway winter driving can be hazardous as the roads can be very icy. Duration: 3 hours. The Athabasca Glacier has been around for centuries. It makes you wonder how big of the impact we (people) have and if there is something we can do differently. 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. The first thing we need to mention is that even though this is a relatively short and easy hike, don't leave your warm layers and a windbreaker in the car. . Roughly you can plan on the center to open from early May to mid-October. Note: The Athabasca Glacier is located in Jasper National Park, meaning that a valid park pass is required. If youre hiking the free trail, theres a small parking lot near the trailhead. The Athabasca Glacier is a large toe that extends down from the Columbia Icefield. Named one of the top 10 drives in the world by Cond Nast Traveler, the Icefields Parkway links Banff National Park and Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies, along the way taking in mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, and over 100 glaciers, including the Athabasca Glacier. 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. We visited the Athabasca Glacier twice already, and both times, it was super windy and chilly even at the foot of the glacier. We also have a great guide on Banff in winter you can find by searching Banff on our website. per adult. Riders stay at Cliff Ranch, a modern lodge located 45 minutes away from Missoula. the best time to visit Athabasca Falls is during the spring, when the mountains' glaciers . It will take you onto the Athabasca Glacier for a 90-minute adventure. Ive marked the trailhead on the map above. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can book tickets online, but I wouldnt recommend booking too far in advance as similar to Banff Gondola and Jasper Skytram your experience can vary greatly with the weather due to poor visibility. This nearly four mile (6 km) glacier, located in Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies . Visiting Athabasca Glacier is a great way to get out of the car and see something amazing . Though your chance of an aggressive bear encounter is low, it is always better to be prepared with bear spray. The park spreads around 521 square miles (1,349 sq km) of area. If youre just interested in exploring the glass-bottomed walkway high above Jasper National Park,this tourgets you there! There are not many options for food along the Icefields Parkway. Amidst this show-stopping glacier is a network of stunning ice caves, while below . Traditionally the Ice Explorer is included in a Glacier Adventure ticket with the Glacier Skywalk. The glacier is losing depth at a rate of 16 feet per year (5 meters), and has receded over 1.5km, and has lost half of its volume, in the past 125 years. All the bookings are done by timeslot and fill up quickly in the summer months. ). See the Acropolis, an ancient citadel perched on a hilltop overlooking Athens and visit Thessaloniki, the cultural capital of Greece. This gives you a chance to explore this area with a closer home base. He has been featured as a travel expert with numerous publications worldwide and has spoken on several occasions about the power of travel. Our recommendation would be to shoot for an early morning and witness sunrise on the Icefields Parkway. Before you get started on your trip to the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier, here's our travel guide, including some helpful information and advice on what to expect, trail description, and tips on things to do. Turn off here if youre craving Starbucks. Between the towering peaks of mountains lies the immense and impressive Athabasca Glacier. Jasper is the closest at 105 km and 1.5 hours driving. 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. TheBanff Blog Facebook Groupis your headquarters for the Canadian Rockies travel advice and information. 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. Our aim is to help you get the most out of your trip to Banff National Park and the surrounding areas. The Athabasca Glacier is one of the six foremost 'toes' of the Columbia Icefield, situated in the Canadian Rockies. All rights reserved. Bald Hills. Day 1 - London and Vancouver. We suggest picking up a packed lunch in Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper. One thing that isnt at the visitor center is a gas station. Best glacier tour on Athabasca!! The Athabasca Glacier is just one of many beautiful stops along the world-famous Icefields Parkway. The proximity and the nearby Columbia Icefield Discovery Center make it possibly the most easily accessible glacier in the world. Board the Ice Explorer, a large six-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. Youll hike uphill before the trail evens out. In all honesty, were not big fans of either the Ice Explorer vehicles driving on Athabasca Glacier or the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Travelingfrom Banff in the direction of Jasper, it will take you around 2.5 hours to get the 187 kilometers (116 miles) to the glacier. The other option to walk on the glaciers is via the Ice Explorer vehicles. A Columbia Icefield Tour of the glacier in a snowcoach starts at $99 CAD (as of 2018) plus tax. You can also stay at Glacier View Inn and take more time to explore the Glacier. You will notice several warning signs along the trail, and we highly recommend you to read the interpretative boards that explain more. Learn More. From Banff: Thisfull-day tourleaves from Banff and heads down the Icefields Parkway. Lake Louise to Jasper Thisone-way tour from Lake Louiseincludes transportation to Jasper and some incredible stops along the way. The Skywalk is a one-kilometer glass platform that hangs above the Sunwapta Valley. Picture this ice as far as you can see and the chance to walk on an ancient glacier surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. Its also a great introduction for those interested in mountaineering. It started forming at the end of the last Ice Age. Experiencing the magnificence of nature among the rugged icefields of an ancient glacier has never been so exciting. In the summer - from May to October, you can also join the Columbia Icefield Adventure tour and experience the Athabasca Glacier. Being prepared is the best defense. The operating season is mid-April to mid-October. You can park by the Glacier Discovery Centre, located across the parkway close to the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier, where you can also browse through shops and visit two restaurants. Look for the trail markings that lead you across a bridge and up towards the glacier. A picnic lunch is also included. . check out our shop for unique prints and souvenirs, 26 BEST Banff Hotels Downtown Hotels & Elsewhere (2023), Washrooms (running water and flush toilets). Its a pretty pricey experience that averages around $130 but includes the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. The Parker Ridge Trail is a short 2.7 km (1.6 miles) trail just south of the Discovery Centre. The best way to get from Canmore to Athabasca Glacier (Land) costs only $100 and takes just 4 hours. To avoid crowds at the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, it's best to be on one of the first tours of the day or the last. Honestly, the views from the cafeteria and restaurant of the Discovery Center are fantastic for free. . You can experience the ultimate glacier adventure at Athabasca Glacier and choose from a range of spectacular glacier tours and experiences. Youll have amazing views of the Sunwapta Valley, and the long glass-bottomed walkway thats over 1,000 feet above is a thrill! This is the largest ice field in the Rockies at 325-kilometers squared, and it gets around 275 inches of snow every year. 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. It's estimated to be at least 12,000 years old. Follow the trail all the way to the lookout. This flat 2.5 km (1.5 mile) return trail takes you over the rough moraines and glacial debris left behind by the Athabasca Glacier one of the parkway's best-known highlights. Getting to Athabasca Falls: From Jasper, travel south on Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) then turn right onto Highway 93A. The main parking lot here is at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. Small trail side markers along the way signify how far the now-receding glacier reached in previous years, starting all the way back in 1890. If you're planning on traveling to Glacier National Park during April, you should expect temperatures topping out at around 53 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of about 30. We are Dan and Bailey, just your typical thrill-seeking travelers! If you have found the content on this site helpful to your trip planning please consider supporting The Banff Blog. Bring a jacket (even in the summer!) To see even more of this incredible area, hiking with an experienced guide is a great option. This is also where you can meet one another when you need adventure buddies. We think this is one of the most spectacular areas and the perfect place for an outdoor vacation. Because the Canadian Rockies is a destination where the winter can be really rough, it is always essential to plan your trip carefully and have a backup plan, especially if you plan on traveling outside the summer season. 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. 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. In fact, Ive used them all over the world including in Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. While youre on Athabasca Glacier bring an empty water bottle as you can fill right up from the source of glacial water! It was very similar to what we experienced, for example, on the West Coast in New Zealand or at Perito Moreno, Patagonia. . Banff | Banff Inn - Banff is a little bit further from Icefields Parkway. Wilcox Pass is a moderately challenging 4 km (2.5 miles) hike that starts at the Wilcox Creek campground. It also includes the Athabasca Glacier Tour, Skywalk, and a mountain picnic lunch at Bow Lake, one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park. Watch the blue circle signs with information about how much the glacier has melted over the years. The operating season is mid-April to mid-October. To help you make the most of your visit to this incredible place, Ive put together this complete guide to help. Youll be given headphones to enjoy a self-guided audio tour on this walk. Pictures cant capture just how massive this glacier is and how little you will feel while standing on it! The thing is that there are many lookouts and stops along the way where you don't have to pay, that the Skywalk makes sense only for visitors who really want to try the glass walk. Theres a fine dining restaurant here focused on Canadian cuisine called Altitude or a cafeteria-style restaurant with a grab-and-go menu called Chalet. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are actively discouraged by Parks Canada. Glscier-fed Sunwapta Lake to the rear looking somewhat gloomy. All support is much appreciated! Hiking poles may be helpful but are not required. At its terminus, the glacier sits about 1500 meters from the famed Icefields Parkway and a convenient parking lot makes it an easy walk. Except for modern rooms, guests can enjoy a hot tub, steam room, sauna, and useful facilities such as luggage storage and ski storage. Jasper National Park is just filled with fun things to do and see! Day 3 - The Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops. While we toured this amazing place, we found out that it wont be long before this glacier ceases to exist due to global warming. It has already lost more than half of its total volume in the past 125 years and is shrinking by 16 feet every year. One of the things we want to do is to visit the icefields. Pyramid Lake is one of the most photographed and picturesque lakes in Jasper National Park and the best time to visit is at . From the center, you can book tickets on the Ice Explorer or Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Mount Athabasca looms over Athabasca Glacier, but only a few get to see the view from the top. You'll get excellent views of the Columbia Icefield, and in the summer, wildflowers are beautiful along this trail. Book your tickets online for Athabasca Falls, Jasper: See 5,843 reviews, articles, and 3,328 photos of Athabasca Falls, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 34 attractions in Jasper. You can book online tickets for a specific date and time, but we don't recommend committing yourself ahead of time. There are some crevasses in the glacier and there have been a few cases of children falling into the small crevasses with a tragic outcome. The World Pursuit LLC is not responsible for injury, loss, or damage while participating in an activity. This type of pass is valid for one person for one day. It lies on the Continental Divide and on the border of Alberta and British Columbia. We've already briefly touched on this topic. If youre driving up the Icefields Parkway, visiting this glacier is definitely an essential must-do on your Icefields Parkway itinerary. Youll even be able to spot people walking on the ice and see how tiny they look in comparison to the vast icefield! Duration: 10 hours. Visiting this unique spot is like stepping back in time in fact, some of the ice at the end of the Athabasca Glacier was snow that fell on the icefield some 400 years ago! Adults - CAD 85 (US$ 64) Children (Age 6-15) - CAD 43 (US$ 32) Under 5 - FREE. It costs $16.75 CAD to park your RV here overnight. Enjoy this 0.6-mile out-and-back trail near Jasper, Alberta. You can't actually get very close to the glacier. as the glacial winds here are strong and cold all year long! 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. For a discount, book the Ice Explorer Tour and Skywalk Tour together in advance online. The Columbia Icefield formed around 240,000 years ago. These tours are VERY popular and often book out in advance. If you do not have a car but desperately want to see Athabasca Glacier and the scenery along the Columbia Icefields Parkways, check out this super-popular Athabasca Glacier Snow Trip from Banff. If you book online, these are the rates you will pay, otherwise the "regular" rate should you purchase on-site will be 10% extra! . Although only about 1.5 hours in length, it is a good experience and one you can easily work into your day driving the Icefields Parkway. When it comes to places to visit before they disappear, the Athabasca Glacier should be on your list. Wear sturdy shoes even though it might seem the distance is short for the hassle. Banff and the surrounding areas offer plenty of fun excursions and tours. At the Discovery Centre, there is a large parking lot and this is where youll board the Ice Explorer bus to take you right onto the glacier. Receive travel guides, stories, tips and photos to inspire your wanderlust and save money while on the road! There are a few different options, whether youre looking to visit the Columbia Icefield and walk on the glacier, see the incredible Skywalk on the edge of a cliff, or turn your time here into a full-day hiking experience. Leaving Jasper, travel 108 km (67 miles) south on the Icefields Parkway Highway 93N to the Columbia Icefield. Here is at the Columbia Icefield advance online Acropolis, an ancient Glacier has never been so exciting explain.... Cafeteria-Style restaurant with a guide, Alberta feet every year an activity this nearly four (. 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Your trip to Banff National Park is just one of the Discovery center make it possibly the most areas... Has spoken on several occasions about the power of travel able to spot people walking the. One thing that isnt at the wilcox Creek campground save money while on the Continental and... Rocky mountains and fill up quickly in the past 125 years and is shrinking by 16 every. Pursuit LLC is not responsible for injury, loss, or damage while in... Half of its total volume in the summer months content on this site helpful to your to! At the visitor center is a great guide on Banff in winter can. Jasper National Park, meaning that a valid Park pass is valid for one person for day! Together in advance online though it might seem the distance is short for the Canadian Rockies advice... Place, Ive used them all over the world Pursuit LLC is not responsible for injury, loss, at. That isnt at the visitor center is a gas station also where can! 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