The Columbia Icefield is an icon of the Canadian Rockies. Home to the Athabasca Glacier, this massive expanse of ancient ice, peaks and rugged alpine beauty draws thousands of visitors every year for glacier-top tours. But which experience is best for you?
This season, more tours than ever are departing from the Glacier Discovery Centre, located between Banff and Jasper National Park along the Icefields Parkway. We’re here to help you find the perfect fit for your itinerary.
Check out this guide to every Columbia Icefield tour type, complete with estimated visit times, descriptions and tips to help streamline your experience.
Best for: Bucket-list travellers
Visit time: 2.5 – 3 hours
This classic icefield experience brings guests onto ancient ice and beyond the cliff’s edge. You’ll begin at the Glacier Discovery Centre before shuttling to a transfer station, boarding an iconic Ice Explorer and riding onto the mighty Athabasca Glacier. The tour includes 30 minutes of self-guided exploration on foot.
Afterwards, you’ll head over to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Here, you can take in the views from high above the Sunwapta Valley on a glass-floored walkway. Stay as long as you’d like before catching a shuttle back to the Glacier Discovery Centre.
TIP: Don’t forget to bring a water bottle. When conditions are right, you can fill it up with fresh water straight from the glacier.
Best for: Sightseers and height seekers
Visit time: 1 – 1.5 hours
If elevated views of the Sunwapta Valley are what you’re after, you’ll want to opt for the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. With this experience, you’ll head right to the glass walkway — suspended 918 feet (280 metres) above the canyon floor. While a 60-to-90-minute window is suggested, there is no time limit on this adventure, allowing you to traverse the one kilometre interpretive trail at your pace. Once you’re ready to return, just hop on a shuttle back to the Glacier Discovery Centre.
TIP: Big adventures create big appetites. The Glacier Discovery Centre has the answers at Chalet, Altitude and Starbucks.
Best for: Glacier lovers and exclusive explorers
Visit time: 2 hours
If you’re searching for a more exclusive experience on the Athabasca Glacier, there’s no better choice than an Ice Odyssey. You and up to nine other passengers will ride in a futuristic, all-terrain vehicle to an exclusive site, letting you explore the glacier in a more personalized way. Expert guides will accompany you every step of the way to share stories, answer questions and help you connect with the Columbia Icefield like never before.
TIP: Dress in layers. Weather can change quickly! Expect the temperature to be about 15° C (27° F) cooler on the glacier than at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre.
Best for: Premium adventurers
Visit time: 3 – 3.5 hours
Get ready to do it all. If you don’t want to miss out on a single thing, the All-In Odyssey Experience is for you. Join a small group and expert guide on this premium all-terrain vehicle and enjoy a unique view of the glacier. You’ll then head over to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk and take in sweeping views of the Sunwapta Valley. Finally, enjoy a delicious glacier-side lunch buffet at Altitude inside the Glacier Adventure Centre.
TIP: Unwind by the ice at Glacier View Lodge. Stays are available on their own or as part of a package with either an Ice Odyssey or a Columbia Icefield Experience.
Best for: Late-day adventurers
Visit time: 1 – 1.5 hours
If you’re tight on time or enroute to another adventure, then this golden hour glacier-only experience is for you. Perfect for late-day arrivals, you can hop aboard the Ice Explorer after 5 p.m. and travel onto the Athabasca Glacier to experience this natural wonder. Hear from your driver guides about the history that makes this place so special. If you have a little extra time, check out the shop and dining options inside the Glacier Discovery Centre.
TIP: Choose your footwear wisely. Flat, comfy, closed-toe shoes with grippy soles are best. Think sneakers or hiking boots.
With all the options explained, you’re prepared to pick the perfect tour for you. Book your next adventure today.
About the author: Amber McLinden is a freelance writer and instructor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. She can often be found hiking in the Rockies, planning her next vacation abroad or backcountry camping anywhere without cell service. You can read more of her musings at ambermclinden.com or in her weekly newsletter.
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