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Athabasca Glacier Hike: Explore Icefalls and Formations
4.9
31 Ratings
95446QCC+4Q
Join a full-day guided hike on Athabasca Glacier. Explore icefalls, learn natural history, and enjoy a unique lunch spot. No technical skills needed.
Join a full-day guided hike on Athabasca Glacier. Explore icefalls, learn natural history, and enjoy a unique lunch spot. No technical skills needed.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Athabasca Glacier - IceWalks’ ACMG certified guides will meet you in the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre parking lot and gear you up for your adventure. You will be shuttled a short distance to the trailhead. This 10 km roundtrip walking tour will take you to the incredible icefalls at the head of the Athabasca Glacier where you will enjoy your…
- Athabasca Glacier - IceWalks’ ACMG certified guides will meet you in the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre parking lot and gear you up for your adventure. You will be shuttled a short distance to the trailhead. This 10 km roundtrip walking tour will take you to the incredible icefalls at the head of the Athabasca Glacier where you will enjoy your lunch (bring you own) against the backdrop of shattered ice and rock. You will learn the natural history of the area and you will be immersed in the glaciated landscape, you’ll see: crevasses, mill wells (waterfalls into the depths of the ice), meltwater streams, and icefalls. This will be the highlight of your trip on the Icefields Parkway. The pictures you take will capture the memories of a lifetime. No technical climbing experience required! The 6 hour tour is moderate in difficulty, suitable for active people with no health concerns or mobility/balance issues. Children aged 7 and up should be strong hikers and seniors who enjoy an active lifestyle.
What's Included
- Micro-spikes (crampons) for ice traction
- Rain gear
- Hiking boots
- Gloves
- Hat
- Micro-spikes (crampons) for ice traction
- Rain gear
- Hiking boots
- Gloves
- Hat
What's Not Included
- Warm layers - bring your own insulating layer
- Lunch
- Warm layers - bring your own insulating layer
- Lunch
Additional Information
This tour departs at 9:30 in the morning. The 6 hour tour is a classic on the Icefields Parkway where you get to spend the whole day exploring the Athabasca Glacier. Bring your own lunch and enjoy it among the icefalls at the head of the glacier. It is a hike of moderate difficulty requiring no technical skills. We supply all the gear required to…
This tour departs at 9:30 in the morning. The 6 hour tour is a classic on the Icefields Parkway where you get to spend the whole day exploring the Athabasca Glacier. Bring your own lunch and enjoy it among the icefalls at the head of the glacier. It is a hike of moderate difficulty requiring no technical skills. We supply all the gear required to comfortably explore the glacier. IceWalks’ guides are ACMG certified. Your friendly and informative guide will explain the natural history of the area, guide you safely through the icefalls, and show you the many ice formations on the glacier.
Location
95446QCC+4Q
Arrive 20 minutes prior to your departure.
Meet in the West parking lot of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. Look for the white vans with IceWalks logo as you pull off the highway.
From there you will be shuttled a short distance to the trailhead.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(31 Ratings)
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Alisonclaire_l
Sep 21, 2025
Amazing experience! - Need to be reasonably fit as walk about 6 miles in total, most of which on the glacier. Absolutely phenomenal experience though and the best way to learn and appreciate these amazing creations!
Review provided by Viator
Sahil_b
Sep 19, 2025
Best experiences of my life - An unforgettable adventure! Kental’s deep knowledge of glaciers and expert navigation brought us to stunning formations and beautiful rivers
Review provided by Viator
Jiaw_w
Sep 14, 2025
Not a very strenuous hike... - Not a very strenuous hike but very moderate hike up the Glacier. Also, no bathrooms at the top, but plenty of places to hide and urinate.
Review provided by Viator
Wuyishan33
Sep 14, 2025
Great hiking experience - Super interesting experience. Our guide is very experienced, responsible, and friendly. Love this trip
Review provided by Viator
Valifornia
Jul 21, 2025
Absolutely phenomenal - We did a full-day hike because we wanted to see as much of the glacier as possible. Our guide, Heather, was great and made sure we got plenty of time at the ice falls. It was definitely a trek to get there, but she made it fun and safe the whole way, while giving us interesting facts about the Alabasca Glacier. So glad we did this, and would highly recommend it to anyone comfortable doing 5-6 miles over about 5 hours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Timo_r
Sep 9, 2024
I felt like Jon Snow on a Heike north of the wall in game of Thrones. I loved it. - Views, glacier-rivers, the blue ice,
The glacier wall at the end of the hike up
I dont want to say more.
Review provided by Viator
Melissa_s
Jul 25, 2024
Perfect Day In Jasper - Absolutely amazing. We booked the night before because it was SO hot in Banff. We wanted to do the 3 hour tour but it was sold out so we did the 6. SO glad we did. If you are moderately fit, you should be okay. It’s a long walk but truly one of the most amazing experience. Larry was our guide and he was so good. Our group was small (3 couples and a single girl) and we were all about the same age and level of fitness. He did a great job of finding a good pace that everyone was good with and I loved learning about the glacier. Picnic on the ice away incredible. If you can swing the 6 hour, do that one. I wouldn’t recommend for children or people with limited mobility, but if you want the most out of your experience, all the best views are farther back on the glacier ;) definitely worth the price. You can’t go that far back safely without a guide.
Review provided by Viator
Kurt_h
Jul 18, 2024
A MUST DO!! - one of the highlights of our trip to Banff and Jasper, a MUST DO!! Troy, our guide made it fun and shared his expansive knowledge of glaciers with us. There is so much to learn about them vs just a photo op and "walk on ice". If possible take the full day tour vs half day. Will take you to the top with stops on the way to view various characteristics of the glacier, including crevices, pools, running water streams and more, and Troy explained them all. Having lunch at the top was also very cool and time to learn more and meet others in the group. They keep the group small, 12 max, and Troy made it a point to spend time with each group within the group. Fantastic tour.
Review provided by Viator
Sandra_r
Jul 9, 2024
Worth the sweat - We were lucky to experience and see this melting glacier. 3+ km walk uphill definitely took a toll on us, but its an experience that we might never have an opportunity to repeat so one thing crossed off of our bucket list. :)
Review provided by Viator
Carsten_l
Jul 14, 2024
Fantastic experience - Great views an Glacier and good explanation of the surroundings by guide.
The glacier had lost already 1 m in height this year since end of may, that’s only 6 weeks. And a heat wave just started. A pity to see the fantastic glacier melting…
Review provided by Viator