There are few places in the Canadian Rockies that bring you closer to the mountains than the Glacier View Lodge. Perched up high along the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park, this boutique hotel offers something most visitors never experience: the chance to stay overnight in front of the Athabasca Glacier.
While thousands of visitors come and go each day for a quick photo or tour, guests at Glacier View Lodge enjoy the luxury of lingering; watching the glacier in the soft morning light, sipping wine while the evening sun dips behind the peaks, and experiencing the magic of this place without the daytime crowds.
I recently spent two nights at the Glacier View Lodge with my family, and from the moment we stepped out of the elevator into the Moraine Lounge, it was clear this wasn’t just an ordinary hotel stay, it was a full immersion in one of Canada’s most spectacular mountain landscapes.
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Description of the Glacier View Lodge
Glacier View Lodge combines modern alpine style with an exclusive, almost retreat-like atmosphere. The property is compact compared to the sprawling resorts you might find in Banff or Jasper, which is part of its charm. Inside, the décor is warm and contemporary, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the glacier like a work of art.
The heart of the lodge is the Moraine Lounge; a guest-only space where plush chairs are angled toward the glacier and where, each evening, a complimentary reception is served. From 5 to 7 p.m., guests can enjoy a complimentary drink and a generous charcuterie spread while soaking in uninterrupted glacier views.
During both evenings of our stay (after dining at the on-site restaurants) we settled into the Moraine Lounge with drinks in hand, watching the tour buses roll away and the stillness return to the icefield.
Glacier View Lodge Location
The Glacier View Lodge’s location is nothing short of extraordinary. It resides on the top floor of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre complex, directly opposite the Athabasca Glacier. From here, the Icefields Parkway stretches south toward Lake Louise and north toward Jasper, winding through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Rockies.
Being right at the glacier means you can easily take part in the area’s signature experiences, like the Columbia Icefield Adventure or Glacier Skywalk, without the need to drive or find public parking.
It also means you get to enjoy the rare quiet that comes after the day visitors leave. By early evening, the parking lot is empty, the air is still, and the only sounds are the wind and the trickle of meltwater flowing off the ice. This tranquil part of day was, by far, my favorite part of staying at the Glacier View Lodge.
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The Icefields Parkway is renowned as one of the most scenic drives in the world. If you are traveling to the Columbia Icefield, don’t miss our complete guide to the Icefields Parkway.
Glacier View Lodge Amenities
Glacier View Lodge is designed for comfort and connection to its surroundings. Guests can unwind in the guest-only lounge, where the Athabasca Glacier dominates the view. The evening reception is a highlight, with complimentary drinks and charcuterie, the perfect way to relax after a day outdoors.
Rooms feature modern furnishings, premium bedding, Nespresso coffee machines, and well-appointed bathrooms with eco-friendly toiletries. Wi-Fi is included, but you might find yourself too captivated by the view to use it much. The property features on-site dining, a Starbucks, a gift shop, and direct connection to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre.
Room Types
There’s a room style here for almost every traveller. Luxury-seekers can book glacier-view rooms, where the scenery is framed right from your window. Mountain-view rooms offer the same comfort at a slightly lower price point, with glacier views just steps away in the Moraine Lounge.
Families and groups will appreciate the larger configurations. We stayed in a deluxe loft with three queen beds, a spacious, airy room that easily accommodated our family of four. The loft layout was fun for the kids, while the beds were quite comfortable after active days. Every room is thoughtfully designed to be a restful retreat after a day exploring the Rockies.
On-Site Restaurants
Dining is another strong point of the Glacier View Lodge. There are two on-site options to choose from:
Altitude Restaurant is the signature dining room, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner with panoramic glacier views. The menu features Canadian-inspired cuisine with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. We ate here on our first night and loved watching the fading light on the Athabasca Glacier through the wall of windows.
For a more casual option, the Chalet offers grab-and-go meals and hearty fare, perfect after a day on the trails. On our second night, we opted to eat at the Chalet before heading back to the lounge for the evening reception. Both restaurants make it easy to enjoy a great meal without leaving the property.
Activities to Do Around the Hotel
One of the biggest advantages of staying at Glacier View Lodge is the easy access to some of Jasper National Park’s best experiences.
The Columbia Icefield Adventure, a combination of the Ice Explorer tour onto the glacier and the Glacier Skywalk, is right on your doorstep. We joined the 4 p.m. tour on our arrival day and loved the quieter, less crowded atmosphere at that hour. Learn more about the Columbia Icefield Adventure.
Hiking is another highlight. From the lodge, it’s a short drive to the Parker Ridge Trail, where a moderately challenging trail rewards you with sweeping views of the Saskatchewan Glacier.
After the evening reception in our second night, we enjoyed a short walk on the Toe of the Glacier. This fun interpretive hike takes you as close as possible to the glacier without going on a tour.
On our final morning, after checking out, we hiked Wilcox Pass to the Parks Canada red chairs, which offers one of the best elevated perspectives of the Athabasca Glacier and surrounding peaks.
Staying at the Glacier View Lodge with Kids
While the lodge feels refined and adult-oriented in style, it’s surprisingly family-friendly. The larger room layouts, like the loft we stayed in, make it easy for families to share space comfortably. Having three queen beds meant everyone slept well after active days.
Kids will love the novelty of staying so close to a glacier, especially when the tours and hikes are just minutes away. The evening reception might appeal more to adults, but the relaxed lounge atmosphere works well for families who want to wind down together. Every night the lounge was filled with families enjoying the complimentary games like chess, Connect 4, Jenga and more.
Glacier View Lodge Review Summary
Glacier View Lodge is a rare gem in Jasper National Park; a place where luxury, nature, and exclusivity meet. Staying at the Glacier View Lodge transforms a quick roadside stop into a multi-day immersion in one of the Rockies’ most spectacular settings. The glacier becomes part of your daily rhythm, from morning coffee with a view to sunset drinks in the lounge.
For us, the combination of a spacious family-friendly loft, the unforgettable Columbia Icefield Adventure, evenings in the Moraine Lounge, and hikes like Parker Ridge and Wilcox Ridge made this stay one of the highlights of our family trip to Jasper. It’s equally suited to couples seeking a romantic escape, families ready for adventure, or solo travellers wanting to slow down and soak in the alpine quiet.
If your travels take you along the Icefields Parkway, resist the urge to simply stop for an hour. Stay a night or two at Glacier View Lodge, and you’ll see the Athabasca Glacier the way few visitors ever do: in peace, in comfort, and with time to truly appreciate its grandeur.
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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 hoping 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.