One of the most popular destinations for visitors to the Canadian Rocky Mountains is the Columbia Icefield. Located just minutes north of Banff National Park, the Columbia Icefield Adventure is one of the most unique & unforgettable experiences in Jasper National Park. This iconic Jasper tour takes you in a massive Ice Explorer vehicle out onto the ancient Athabasca Glacier.
The real highlight of the Columbia Icefield Adventure is stepping foot on the glacier itself. Don’t rush this part, take your time soaking up the incredible mountain scenery and the once-in-a-lifetime feeling of standing on a moving sheet of ancient ice.
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Here’s everything you need to know about the Columbia Icefield Adventure by Pursuit:
Where is the Columbia Icefield Adventure
If you are considering visiting the Columbia Icefield, you are in for a treat. This massive field of ice is located on the Icefields Parkway, a highway between Lake Louise and the Town of Jasper, which is considered one of the most scenic drives in the world.
The Columbia Icefield Adventure begins from the Glacier Discovery Centre, which is located not far from the foot of the Athabasca Glacier (the second largest glacier in the icefield). The Glacier Discovery Center is technically in Jasper National Park, but it is just minutes from the northern boundary of Banff National Park.
To make the most of this incredibly scenic drive, we recommend you buy the GuideAlong audio tour. We live here, yet we still listen to it, especially along the Icefields Parkway.
Recommended App
This GPS activated Canadian Rockies Audio Driving Tour is the perfect companion to your Banff vacation. It’s both entertaining and educational and will greatly enhance any drive in Banff National Park. Get 15% off with our Banff Discounts.
Glacier Discovery Centre
Your Columbia Icefield Adventure begins at the Glacier Discovery Centre, located directly across from the Athabasca Glacier along the Icefields Parkway. Inside, you’ll find many amenities to make you visit more enjoyable. In addition to the Pursuit ticket counter, you can enjoy a large photo exhibit of the glacier, a Starbucks, a gift shop stocked with glacier-themed souvenirs, and a variety of dining options.
More By Pursuit
In addition to the Columbia Icefield Adventure, Pursuit also operates many of the other top Banff & Jasper attractions. Don’t miss our informative posts on the Banff Gondola, the Jasper SkyTram and the Lake Minnewanka Cruise.
How to Dress for the Columbia Icefield Adventure
The Columbia Icefield Adventure is one of the premiere tours in Jasper National Park, with a price tag to match, so let’s make sure you are properly prepared for your visit. You need to know that it can be cold on the glacier; even in summer, it often feels like winter up there.
Temperatures on the Athabasca Glacier can be up to 15°C (27°F) colder than at the base, thanks to both the elevation and the chilly breeze that blows in off the icefield. The key to having a very enjoyable time on the Columbia Icefield Adventure is to dress in layers.
Good options to bring include a fleece jacket, a water or wind resistant jacket, and even a hat and gloves. Hopefully you’ll have a perfect weather day and you can store all unneeded layers in your day bag, but you’ll be glad to have the warmer layers if required!
Closed-toe, water resistant shoes with good grip are also a good idea. You’ll be walking on slippery, uneven frozen surfaces, which range between wet slush to snow to hard ice.
The Columbia Icefield Adventure Experience
As mentioned above, your Columbia Icefield Adventure experience begins in the Glacier Discovery Centre. Your experience will include:
- A ride on a massive, purpose-built Ice Explorer vehicle to and from the Athabasca Glacier.
- The opportunity to walk on the ancient ice of the Athabasca Glacier.
- Enjoy a thrilling walk on the glass-floor Columbia Icefield Skywalk.
All told, the Columbia Icefield Adventure tour lasts 2.5 to 3 hours. Here is a glimpse into what you can expect on the Columbia Icefield Adventure:
1. A Bus Ride to the Ice Explorer Terminal
When you check in at the Glacier Discovery Centre within your predetermined time window, you’ll enter an indoor queue. The purpose of this lineup is to wait your turn to board a normal bus which takes you from the Glacier Discovery Centre, across the highway to a spot closer to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier.
It’s a really quick bus ride, and soon you’ll transfer from the boring old bus to the incredible Ice Explorer Vehicles. As you can see, the views from this bus are still incredible!
2. Ride the Ice Explorer to the Glacier
One of my favorite parts of the Columbia Icefield Adventure is the ride on the giant Ice Explorer vehicles onto the glacier itself. These massive, six-wheel all-terrain vehicles are custom built to navigate the steep, icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier, and they’re one of only a few of their kind in the world.
Once you are on the Ice Explorer, your driver will take you on a slow, bumpy descent down a steep moraine (a formation of rocks, gravel, and sediment that was created by the a glacier as it moves). Portions of this road are one of the most steep commercial roads in North America!
Not to worry, the driver takes this section very slowly and carefully – it’s thrilling though! Along the way, your guide shares fascinating facts about glaciology, climate change, and the unique terrain you’re crossing.
It takes roughly 35 minutes for the Ice Explorer to reach the glacier, so you’ll have plenty of time to soak in the spectacular views. The real excitement happens when you step out and walk on the glacier itself.
3. Walking on the Athabasca Glacier
We have visited many glaciers around the world, and there are very few opportunities where you can actually get out onto the glacier. This experience is truly what makes the Athabasca Icefield Adventure special – it’s a surreal, humbling experience to stand on a living piece of ice that formed thousands of years ago and still flows slowly down the mountain today.
Once your Ice Explorer comes to a stop, you’ll step out onto the Athabasca Glacier, and it’s likely a moment you’ll never forget. Surrounded by towering peaks and a floor of ancient ice, life on the glacier feels otherworldly. The air is crisp, the landscape is quiet, and under your feet is a thick sheet of ice that’s been slowly flowing for thousands of years.
You’ll have about 20 – 25 minutes to explore a designated safe area on the glacier. Take your time and thoroughly explore the area. Wander around, take some pictures, and even fill your water bottle with freshly melted glacial water. It’s cold, clear, and incredibly pure.
The glacier surface can be wet and/or slippery in places, so watch your step and wear good, closed-toe shoes. There’s staff on site to answer questions and help make sure everyone stays within the safe zone. As a real glacier, there are dangerous crevasses and unstable ice on the Athabasca Glacier, so please respect the safe zone boundaries.
For many people, walking on the Athabasca Glacier is the highlight of their trip to Jasper National Park. It’s a chance to not just see a glacier, but to stand on one.
4. The Columbia Icefield Skywalk
After your exciting walk on the Athabasca Glacier, you’ll reboard your Ice Explorer and take the return journey to the bus terminal. Here you’ll get back on a normal bus which will whisk you to the nearby Columbia Icefield Skywalk.
The final stop on your Columbia Icefield Adventure, the Columbia Icefield Skywalk is a dramatic glass-floored walkway that juts out 280 metres (918 feet) above the Sunwapta Valley.
The Skywalk itself is a thrilling experience especially if, like me, you’re a little afraid of heights. But the views are worth it: glaciers, waterfalls, and jagged peaks stretch in every direction. Interpretive signs along the route share the geology, ecology, and Indigenous stories of the region, adding depth to your experience. (There’s a non-glass bottom section for those who prefer).
You’ll walk along a short, interpretive path before reaching the main, horseshoe-shaped viewing platform. Plan to spend 30 – 45 minutes here taking in the views and learning about the powerful forces that shaped this landscape.
Whether you’re into photography or just soaking up the scenery, the Skywalk is a fantastic way to end your Columbia Icefield Adventure. When you are done here, you board a bus, which takes you back to the Glacier Discovery Centre.
Columbia Icefield Adventure Tickets
Columbia Icefield Adventure Price
The price of the Columbia Icefield Adventure fluctuates a little bit, depending on how far in advance you make your reservation. If you book at least 2 weeks in advance, the base price of this tour is $116 for adults and $75 for kids. If you book your tickets within the 2 week window, the price goes up the closer you are to the date of your tour.
To increase your chances of getting the best price and departure times for your tour, book your Columbia Icefield Adventure tickets as early as possible.
Columbia Icefield Adventure Discount Opportunities
Off-Peak Pricing
You can save $25 per adult and $15 per child if you buy a tour with a departure time after 3:30PM.
Alberta Residents Rate
Alberta residents can enjoy a discount of $25 per adult and $15 per child with proof of residency, and agreeing to receive email offers from Pursuit.
Family Experience – Kids Go Free
You can get one free child admission with each regular-priced adult ticket purchased.
Banff / Jasper Ticket Bundles
You can save up to 25% by purchasing tickets for several top area attractions as a package. The very popular Pursuit Pass Rockies package bundles tickets for six excellent Banff & Jasper attractions including:
- The Banff Gondola ride
- Columbia Icefield Explorer
- Columbia Icefield Skywalk
- Open Top Touring
- Golden Skybridge
- Either the Lake Minnewanka boat cruise in Banff or the Maligne Lake boat cruise in Jasper
If you are flexible on your timing, you can save up to 40% on your tickets by purchasing a Pursuit Pass Rockies Value package. This package is identical to the Pursuit Pass Rockies package, except you can only visit the two Columbia Icefield attractions after 3:30 PM.
Explore Columbia Icefield Ticket Package Deals
You can easily buy the Pursuit Pass Rockies ticket packages while you are making a Columbia Icefields reservation.
Tours to the Columbia Icefield
Given its location at the midpoint of one of the most scenic drives in the world, an excellent way to visit the Columbia Icefield is on an organized tour. This way no one in your party needs to bother with driving and everyone can soak in the world-class mountain views.
There are two tours which visit the Columbia Icefield:
Columbia Icefield Discovery Tours
The Columbia Icefield Discovery Tours are an excellent and convenient way to see the majesty of the Icefields Parkway and enjoy the exciting attractions at the Columbia Icefield. The highlight of these tours is a chance to ride an Ice Explorer vehicle onto the Athabasca Glacier, along with a walk on the Columbia Icefield Skywalk.
This round-trip tour is offered from either Banff or Jasper:
The Banff tour can originate in either Calgary, Canmore, Banff or Lake Louise. You can begin and end in two different locations. In addition to the exciting Columbia Icefield activities, the Columbia Icefield Discovery tour from Banff may also include stops at Lake Louise, the Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake and Peyto Lake.
The Jasper begins and ends in the Town of Jasper. In addition to the exciting Columbia Icefield activities, the Columbia Icefield Discovery tour from Jasper may also include stops at Athabasca Falls and the Stutfield Glacier.
Icefield Parkway Discovery Tours
The Icefield Parkway Discovery Tours are perfect for visitors who wish to travel one-way from Banff to Jasper (and vice-versa), while seeing the highlights along the way. This tour includes stops at Lake Louise, the Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Falls.
While at the Columbia Icefield, you’ll enjoy a trip onto the glacier with the Columbia Icefield Adventure along with a thrilling visit to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk.
Depending on which tour you book, you can enjoy one-way transportation between Calgary, Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, or vice-versa.
Recommended Columbia Icefield Tours
No matter which tour you take, an Icefield Parkway tour is sure to be a highlight of your trip to the Canadian Rockies.
Columbia Icefield Adventure in Winter
The Columbia Icefield Adventure is not a year-round activity and does not operate in winter. The operating season typically runs from early May to mid-October.
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Dan Brewer, a life-long Alberta resident, calls Canmore home along with his wife and two kids. He is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada, where he gets to share his passion for the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Dan, along with his family, love being outdoors doing one of the many activities they enjoy in the mountains: hiking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
When he's not in Canmore enjoying one of his favourite local hikes, you can find him hopping on a plane to explore a new country with his family or working on one of their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.