The Columbia Icefield Adventure needs to be on your Canadian moments. From waking up to glacier views to exploring the glacier and filling your bottle with glacier water, this experience will impress and make you proud of Canada’s landscape. Here’s everything you need to know about the Columbia Icefield Adventure.
Check out my full guide to Adventure in the Rockies for ideas to add to this adventure.
Where is the Columbia Icefield?
You’ll find the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier in the Canadian Rockies. The icefield is 500 square kilometres and stretches across Jasper National Park, Banff National Park and Mount Robison Provincial Park.
Why Visit the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier?
The Columbia Icefield is full of stunning natural beauty. You’ll have a moment of awe as you set foot on the Athabasca Glacier and learn how important this piece of nature is to North America. The Athabasca Glacier is a prominent glacier part of the Columbia Icefield and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most accessible glaciers in North America and is visited by many tourists each year.
The Columbia Icefield offers breathtaking views of vast expanses of ice and snow, surrounded by majestic mountains. The scenery is truly awe-inspiring and provides a unique opportunity to witness the beauty of a glacier up close.
How to Get to the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier?
The Columbia Icefield is along the Icefields Parkway, one of Canada’s most beautiful drives.
Admire the view of snowcapped mountains and wildlife along the way. The best way to explore the Athabasca Glacier is the Columbia Icefield adventure (details below).
The best way to get to the Columbia Icefield is by car or bus from Calgary, Banff or Jasper. It’s about a 3-hour drive from Calgary, a 1.5-hour drive from Banff, and one hour from Jasper.
Brewster Bus is a great option to hit multiple attractions on your trip, and they will bring you to the Columbia Icefield and Skywalk. The buses have comfy seats, wifi, outlets and a bathroom. The Columbia Icefield Adventure is also wheelchair accessible. Make sure to call 1.866.506.0515 seventy-two hours ahead of arrival so that accommodations can be made.
Why You Need to Do the Columbia Icefield Adventure
Learning about the Columbia Icefield on the way and walking on the Athabasca Glacier made the experience much richer. You can learn at the source, and this is a Canadian bucket list experience. I learned so many cool facts. A highlight was drinking directly from the glacier. This experience is by Pursuit.
Who is Pursuit?
Pursuit is a tourism company that offers incredible experiences worldwide, including Banff and Jasper. Activities in Banff and Jasper include guided tours, sightseeing experiences, accommodations, dining, transportation and more. Pursuit focuses on providing visitors with unique and authentic experiences, allowing them to connect with the region’s stunning landscapes, wildlife, and rich history. You can find more Pursuit Banff Jasper experiences to add to your trip here.
The Eco-System of the Columbia Icefield
Learn about glaciology, climate change, and the fragile ecosystem that thrives in these icy realms. We learned there’s less biodiversity in the sub-alpine, but you can still find many mountain sheep and goats.
We also learned about Pursuit’s sustainability and green initiatives like their EcoFund and how they will have the first-ever electric ice explorer in 2 years.
Stoney Nakoda and the Columbia Icefield
Visiting the Columbia Icefield was also an excellent opportunity to learn about the area’s indigenous peoples. Your tour will begin with a land acknowledgement to recognize that Columbia Icefield is situated on the traditional territories of the Stoney Nakoda. They have a deep spiritual and cultural connection to the land, considering it sacred and imbued with ancestral significance. The Stoney Nakoda people have a profound knowledge of the area’s geography, flora, fauna, and natural resources, passed down through generations.
The Indigenous people knew for a long time how important the Columbia Icefield is for water sources in North America. Unfortunately, the Stoney Nakoda people have faced significant challenges and injustices, including forced displacement from their ancestral lands.
Pursuit has a long-standing relationship with the Stoney Nakoda, and last year team members were invited to a sacred ceremony where they hoped that all that visit the Athabasca Glacier have an appreciation and understanding of the area that would continue to deepen and that all guests could take home something meaningful from the experience.
After visiting the Columbia Icefield, I had a much better understanding and appreciation and would recommend fellow Canadians and visitors to see for themselves.
Are There Washrooms on the Columbia Icefield?
To limit environmental footprint, there are no washrooms at the Columbia Icefield or Skywalk, so make sure to use the facilities at the discovery centre before departing.
What To Wear to the Columbia Icefield?
The Columbia Icefield will be slightly colder than the discovery centre. I recommend wearing a sweater and windbreaker, toque and bring small mitts just in case.
When to Visit the Columbia Icefield?
The Columbia Icefield Adventure is offered from May to October, weather dependent.
Things To Do At the Columbia Icefield Adventure:
Learn at the Discovery Centre
Your tour starts at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre. Step inside this hub of knowledge before you embark on your journey. These interactive exhibits are a great place to learn about the formation and significance of the Columbia Icefield, delve into the mysteries of its creation and evolution, and more at these interactive exhibits.
Enjoy the Ride in the Ice Explorer
First, a Brewster Bus will bring you to the beginning of the journey, where you will climb aboard an Ice Explorer. This specially designed all-terrain vehicle will bring you onto the icy expanse of the Athabasca Glacier. As the Ice Explorer glides across the vast ice field, you’ll be in awe of the surreal surroundings and the sheer magnitude of the glacier.
On the journey, you’ll drive on North America’s steepest commercial road in the Ice Explorers. You’re in good hands with professional drivers, and you can focus on admiring the views on the way.
At each step along the way, the guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I loved hearing their stories of the Athabasca Glacier and its history. While on the Ice Explorer, I learned that 70% of our drinking water is frozen in time and locked away In these glaciers.
Walk on the Athabasca Glacier
Once you’ve arrived in the Ice Explorer, you’ll have around 20 minutes to walk on the Athabasca Glacier. That’s plenty of time to enjoy the experience and warm up on the Ice Explorer. There will be a section marked that you can safely explore within. It’s a surreal moment stepping out onto the glacier, admiring the surrounding mountains, and watching the water flow through it.
Drink from the Athabasca Glacier
A highlight for me was drinking fresh glacier water from the Athabasca Glacier. Make sure to bring a water bottle you can fill up. I loved watching the bright blue glacier water weaving through the glacier. After exploring the glacier, we returned to the Ice Explorer, and a Brewster Bus brought us to our next destination.
Reach New Heights at the Skywalk
Would you walk on a glass walkway at the edge of a cliff? You’ll have the opportunity at the end of your Columbia Icefield Adventure with Skywalk.
Walk on a glass platform 918 feet above the Sunwapta Valley floor at the Discovery Vista at Skywalk. Get an incredible view above and below the surrounding mountains. Take some time to soak in the breathtaking views.
The journey begins with an interpretive trail to learn more about the area. Keep an eye out for the mountain goats below. It’s wild the inclines they can climb too.
Where To Stay at the Columbia Icefield
I highly recommend staying at the Glacier View Lodge. This is a Canada bucket list stay!
Staying here allowed us to soak in the Glacier views even longer. The next morning, I jumped out of bed because I could see blue skies peeking through the blinds. It’s an incredible experience to wake up to views of the Athabasca Glacier. Make sure to book far in advance because this is a popular spot.
I spent my free time in the main lobby, where you’ll get this stunning glacier view. You need to try the complimentary hot chocolate. It was decadent and perfect for enjoying the view. There’s a happy hour where you can enjoy their signature blue cocktail and charcuterie.
The rooms include modern decor, local touches like Jolene’s Tea and Rocky Mountain Soap Company products and local artwork.
Where to Dine at the Columbia Icefield
Altitude Restaurant
Enjoy a delicious meal with spectacular scenery at Altitude Restaurant. The menu is developed by Executive Chef Michael O’Neill and is Canadian-inspired and locally sourced.
Everything was excellent, but some of my favourite dishes were the Tuna Carpaccio, Seared Salmon with beluga lentils, triple-smoked bacon and dashi cream sauce. Try their Athabasca Shaft, their take on a popular Alberta cocktail. Ask for a seat by the window and admire the glacier and mountain views while you dine.
This is also an excellent spot for breakfast. I recommend the breakfast croissant or smoked salmon.
Columbia Icefield Chalet
This is the perfect spot for a quick meal between adventures. Dine on the patio to admire the glacier while you dine. The Chalet has a great selection of warm, casual fare and grab-and-go items.
Find more Alberta ideas here.
This experience was thanks to Pursuit. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own. I hope you love exploring the Columbia Icefield as much as I did 🙂
Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
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