Things to do in

Columbia Icefield

Enjoy an adventure at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center. Get a guided tour around the Athabasca Glacier on Ice Explorer, admire the stunning mountains and glaciers and listen as your guide informs you of all the facts and history. Meet your guide, who will take you to the Athabasca Glacier. At the scheduled time, board your Ice Explorer, a massive vehicle designed explicitly for glacial travel, and set off on an exciting ride. During your ride, hear stories and facts about the Columbia Icefield and the glaciers around you. Once on the Glacier, hop off the vehicle to walk on the thick, 25,000-year-old ice and drink cold, pure water from the glacier itself. This is an experience you will never forget. Then, take a short ride to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Heighten your senses by walking on a platform where only glass separates you from a 918-foot (279-meter) drop. Marvel at the spectacular views of the mountains, glaciers, and the Sunwapta River with its waterfalls.

Get an entry ticket to Columbia Icefield Skywalk, a cliff-edge walkway 918 feet (279 meters) above the valley floor. See giant glaciers perched above you and the spectacular Sunwapta Valley below with this experience. Make your way to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center in Jasper, then board the shuttle to get to the skywalk. Upon arrival at the observation platform, collect your audio guide and embark on your adventure. Step onto the glass floor of the Columbia Icefield Skywalk to begin the scenic 1-kilometer walk, surrounded by fantastic views. Marvel at crystal-clear waterfalls, admire the mountains and glaciers above and keep a lookout for wildlife native to the Candian Rockies.

Discover the Athabasca Glacier on a guided tour from Banff. Journey along the scenic Icefields Parkway and climb into an Ice Explorer vehicle to explore the awesome glacier. Experience breathtaking views of the Sunwapta Valley as you step across the Glacier Skywalk. Get picked up from your Banff hotel in a modern mini bus by your friendly guide. Departing from Banff, your guide will welcome you on the tour with an overview of where you'll be headed as you sit back and enjoy the ride along the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s most stunning scenic drives. Benefit from a tour where you don’t have to navigate or watch the road. Sit back, relax, and focus on the amphitheater of mountains towering above as you keep your eyes peeled for wildlife at the edges of the forest. Stop at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre and board an Ice Explorer vehicle. Drive onto the Athabasca Glacier, learn about its history, and take some free time to soak up the views. Touch this ancient sheet of ice and even drink pure, cold water straight from the glacier. Head to the nearby glass floor Glacier Skywalk and follow the 1-kilometer walkway that leads to a platform where glass is all that separates you from a 918-foot drop. Witness the giant glaciers perched above you and admire the views of the spectacular Sunwapta Valley spread out below. Enjoy a scenic stop for a hearty packed lunch of a sandwich, juice, fruit, chips, and brownies. Visit iconic landmarks along the Icefields Parkway such as Bow Lake, the headwaters of the mighty Bow River before heading back to Banff.

Discover the incredible Icefields Parkway with this smartphone audio tour between Lake Louise and Jasper. Let your audio guide transform this beautiful scenic drive into a sight-seeing, fact-finding, trivia-answering, family-friendly adventure. With your phone as your guide, start from either Jasper or Lake Louise, and end at the other. Enjoy the same tour experience in either direction. Your audio guide will point out must-see sights, attractions, breathtaking mountains, and glaciers that you pass along the journey. Learn about the area's early pioneers, animals, geography, and the historical events that led to the highway’s creation. Take in the panoramic views of Lake Hector and Bow Lake, and stop for easy trails in Banff National Park. Explore the famous Columbia Icefields and the Columbia Icefields Discovery Center. See the majestic Dolomite and Bow Peaks, Mount Amery, Mount Murchison, and Mount Wilson. Take in the gorgeous Sunwapta Falls where the water flows from the melting Athabasca Glacier. Hear about the people and events that made the area famous like Mary Shaffer Warren, Bill Peyto, George Simpson, and the Palliser Expedition. Easily navigate your tour and enjoy entertainment suitable for all ages. Stay laughing and engaged with your friends or family along the way with trivia fun. Hear fun audio clips that play automatically as you drive using a live GPS map. Try out multiple-choice trivia questions about the sights at each point of interest you pass. With no time constraints, enjoy the freedom to stop anywhere and take your time exploring.

Embark on an unforgettable full-day journey from Calgary, Banff, or Canmore to explore the majestic Columbia Icefield and stunning Rocky Mountain landscapes. Discover the awe-inspiring beauty of Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Lake with its vibrant turquoise waters, and the serene Bow Lake. Marvel at Glacier Lake and Waterfowl Lake, each offering breathtaking vistas. Immerse yourself in the natural splendor of these iconic locations, guided by knowledgeable experts who enhance your experience with insights into the region's rich history and ecology. This adventure promises an unforgettable exploration of the Canadian Rockies, perfect for nature enthusiasts and photographers alike. Enjoy the convenience of roundtrip transportation in a comfortable, air-conditioned van or private car, guided by knowledgeable local experts.

Choose between a 20-minute, 30-minute, or 55-minute tour over the Canadian Rockies with a professional pilot. The day starts at the helicopter base surrounded by mountain views. Go through a thorough safety briefing with the flight crew before learning about the controls and getting kitted out with a professional headset. Feel the excitement build as the crew readies for takeoff. Once in the air, the itinerary will vary depending on the option selected. Either way, breathtaking sights are guaranteed. 20-Minute Tour Deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, take in an incredible view of Abraham Lake - its incredible blue color and unique bubble patterns are truly a sight to see. After a glimpse of the lake, continue the flight around the Canadian Rockies. 30-Minute Tour The most popular of the 3 flights, this adventure covers crevasses, glaciers, and waterfalls over the beautiful Wilson Icefield. Soar at a cool 100mph, 9000ft (2900m) over Cline Pass. Admire the impressive fierceness of the mountains while flying alongside them. 55-Minute Tour The “Complete Columbia Icefields Tour” is just that – a complete, full, 55 minutes of gorgeous scenery and ancient ice. See the iconic Columbia Icefield the way it was intended, an awe-mazing trip highlight to remember for years to come. Marvel at incredible panoramas of waterfalls, emerald-green lakes, and mountain ridges. Pass over 6 different glaciers surrounded by frozen lakes and waterfalls. Many mountains reveal themselves along the trip, including Purple Mountain, Mount Cline, Resolute Mountain, Mount Harlan, Minster Mountain, and more. This trip is sure to leave anyone speechless. All the trips end with one last 360-degree view of the Canadian Rockies and Abraham Lake before landing softly back at the heliport.

Get ready to explore the beauty of Canada on this tour from Calgary, after heading to the meeting point in Calgary and Banff, driving along the Icefield Parkway, one of the world's most scenic highways by National Geographic. Visit Bow Lake, known for its bright turquoise color due to glacial runoff from Bow Glacier, and then see Peyto Lake, famous for its unique maple shape and vibrant blue glacier-fed water. Your choices of a Western Lunch box (additional fee) on your way to the glacier. When arrive at the Columbia Icefield to witness the stunning beauty of Athabasca Glacier, the largest and oldest icefield in North America. For an unforgettable experience, take a ride on the Ice Explorer(additional fee) for an in-depth perspective of the glacier. Your trip will end with great memories of the ancient Rocky Mountain.

Join a guided tour of moderate difficulty to explore the Columbia Icefield. Get all the gear required to comfortably explore the glacier. From the meeting point, be shuttled a short distance to the trailhead. Embark on a 5 km roundtrip walking tour with a 200m elevation gain that will take you onto the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield, and into the incredible landscape that is the Canadian Rockies. Learn the rich history of the glacier and soak in spectacular views of the surrounding ice-covered peaks. Explore the many incredible ice formations on the glacier, including crevasses, mill wells (waterfalls into the depths of the ice), meltwater streams, and icefalls (from a safe distance).

Get ready for an awe-inspiring experience of the Rocky Mountain with this scenic helicopter flight and hiking tour. See the Rockies from a bird's-eye view. Admire the stunning views of the mountains, lakes, and glaciers from above. Then explore the region’s natural beauty on foot. Choose from a 20, 30, or 55-minute scenic flight. Each option includes incredible panoramas of waterfalls, emerald-green lakes, and mountain ridges. With the 55-minute flight, approach the Columbia Icefield, the largest expanse of ice in the Rocky Mountains. After the flight, land at the confluence of the Cline River and Waterfalls Creek. Continue to explore the wild beauty of this region on foot, hiking to the Twin Falls waterfall. Then climb back on board the helicopter and fly back to the heliport, enjoying the fantastic views of Abraham Lake.

Meet your tour at the designated meeting point in Banff or Calgary and drive to Jasper National Park, the biggest National Park in Canada. Sit back and relax as you enjoy breathtaking views of the majestic Rocky Mountains. Pass through the Icefield Parkway, one of Canada's natural treasures. Gaze out onto a vast wilderness of pristine mountain lakes, ancient glaciers, and broad sweeping valleys. Next, stop at Bow Lake, the most visited lake on the Icefield Parkway. Catch the reflection of the Crowfoot Mountain Range on the lake's mirror-like surface and take in the serene and enchanting atmosphere. Then, head to the Columbia Icefield, where you can take about 2.5 hours to explore. Get a sense of awe for nature as you stand on this massive ice sheet. Take an optional journey aboard the Ice Explorer, a specialized coach that allows you to further explore the glacier (not included). After your glacier visit, stop at Peyto Lake to take in the picturesque scenery. Marvel at how the glacial minerals in the water make the lake appear as if the waves are frozen at the edge. Finish your tour with a stop at the Crowfoot Glacier, which resembles the claws of a crow. Find out how climate change has altered the shape of this glacier over the years. Get dropped off back at the meeting point in Banff or Calgary at the end of your tour.