best time to visit athabasca glacier

The ice sheet as of now subsides at a rate of around 5 meters 16 ft per year and has retreated in excess of 1.5 km 0.93 mi and lost over portion of its volume in the previous 125 years. Banff | Banff Inn - Banff is a little bit further from Icefields Parkway. Athabasca glacier (6 km long, 90-300 m thick, 6 km 2 in area) is one of the six glaciers fed by Columbia Icefield, which can accessed easily by visitors traveling on Icefields Parkway. Bear spray. If you can, try to book your visit in the morning (before 12 p.m.) or in the later afternoon (after 3 p.m.). The Cycling House crew's home base is Big Sky Country, and guides know where to find the best off-the-beaten-path backroads. Directly across from the Athabasca Glacier is the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre, where you can book a tour on an Ice Explorer snow coach that will take you right up onto the glacier. Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price. We've already briefly touched on this topic. All the bookings are done by timeslot and fill up quickly in the summer months. The Columbia Icefield Glacier Center serves as a hub for visitors who seek a closer look at the glacier. Getting to Athabasca Falls: From Jasper, travel south on Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) then turn right onto Highway 93A. If you want to walk on the glacier, the Athabasca Glacier tours only operate from May until October. If you have time to look around, stop by the information desk inside the center for recommendations on what to do in the area. Even on a warm summer day, the weather around a glacier can be frigid as they create their own microclimates. You follow along through an audio guide that is available in a wide range of languages that should cover most visitors. We just couldn't justify the price tag for this attraction - a whopping 36 CAD. Jasper to Banff If youre going to visit both Jasper and Banff, thisone-way tournot only gets you to your destination but also has some incredible stops along the way. Bad weather or fog can totally obscure the view. . Make sure youve fueled up in Jasper, Lake Louise, or at Saskatchewan River Crossing before you get here. Remember to pack out everything you pack in though - dont expect to find a convenient garbage can halfway up the trail. However, this experience is not only about the raw beauty of Mother Nature. It all depends on where youre staying the night before. There are a number of facilities at the Discovery Center. There will be a free shuttle that takes you on a short, five-minute drive to the Skywalk if youve bought tickets for that experience. The glacier is part of the massive Columbia Icefield . To get a better view from the lookout, bring binoculars or a mirrorless camera with a telephoto lens. You can explore on your own time and then return via any bus whenever youre ready to go. Before visiting Jasper National Park its essential to read up on the Parks Canada rules that must be followed to avoid tickets and/or fines. Booking in advance is also strongly recommended since these experiences do have limited numbers and are very popular! Accommodation is very limited along this scenic drive, and your best bet is to stay either in one of that first-come, first-served campgrounds or bigger towns such as Jasper or Banff. Youll see the Crowfoot Glacier, Athabasca Falls, Bow Lake, the incredible glacier tour, and a visit to the Skywalk. Youll also get a pair of micro-spikes (crampons) included with these tours, which are necessary for extra grip while youre walking on the glacier. We wanted to see Athabasca Glacier up close. The Parker Ridge Trail is a short 2.7 km (1.6 miles) trail just south of the Discovery Centre. While you can drive the Icefields Parkway in the winter, weather dependent, the Columbia Icefields Discovery Center does close. And even though you can see only a tiny fragment of the whole Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains, we are pretty sure the view will take your breath away. Hard. It was very similar to what we experienced, for example, on the West Coast in New Zealand or at Perito Moreno, Patagonia. Glacier hiking tours start at $105 CAD (as of 2018) plus tax. The Columbia Icefield sits astride the continental divide and is 125 square miles full of fields of ice or almost the size of Seattle or Philadelphia! Within . PLEASE do not walk on Athabasca Glacier unassisted without mountaineering experience and equipment. It also includes the Athabasca Glacier Tour, Skywalk, and a mountain picnic lunch at Bow Lake, one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park. Named one of the top 10 drives in the world by Cond Nast Traveler, the Icefields Parkway links Banff National Park and Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies, along the way taking in mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, and over 100 glaciers, including the Athabasca Glacier. There are quite a few campgrounds along the Icefields Parkway; however, don't get excited too soon. This makes the visit more enjoyable, and you can focus on the incredible experience in front of you. Accompanied by a My Travel Experience tour escort*. Jasper Inn & Suites offers good value for money. Experiencing the magnificence of nature among the rugged icefields of an ancient glacier has never been so exciting. IE 11 is not supported. Easy 4.5 (1302) Jasper National Park. These campgrounds are all first-come, first-served, pretty basic (some have washrooms, some only pit toilets), and fill up pretty fast too. Whats really cool is you can take a tour out on this glacier in a special all-terrain bus known as an Ice Explorer. The peak is one of many in the Canadian Rockies famous for reaching an altitude of 11,000 feet. To be honest, we didn't book any of the tours or experiences. Athabasca Glacier trail is gravel, rocky, and quite slippery. For campers, there are two nearby campgrounds. The self-guided tour showcases how a glacier moves along with information on the local area. Location: Athabasca Falls is located in Jasper National Park just off the Icefields Parkway on Highway 93A. This was such a waste of time thats easily avoided by booking one of the tours I linked above before you go. In fact, Ive used them all over the world including in Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. Icefields Parkway is a major tourist attraction, and the Columbia Icefield is one of the biggest highlights on this road. In 2018, we decided to settle down in one of the most beautiful places on earth, The Canadian Rockies. Some models suggest that the dying glacier will disappear completely between 2040 and 2100, along with 90% of Albertas glaciers at the end of the century. I also highly recommend reading up on Leave No Trace principles before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Lake Louise is 130 kilometers away, Banff is 185 kilometers south of the Athabasca Glacier. When it comes to the Skywalk the views and the novelty of a glass bottom are a bit of a letdown. Columbia Icefield Discovery Center is technically a regular visitor center with restrooms and a large gift shop, and a restaurant on the second floor that is located on the opposite side of the Athabasca Glacier parking lot. Only a small part of the Columbia Icefield is visible from the road. Home Banff Columbia Icefield (Athabasca Glacier): 15 Tips for Visiting. Its basically all the questions you thought you had and a few more! Canada is a large country and traveling between cities and even just getting out to some of the best places to visit in Alberta requires transport. Youll be given headphones to enjoy a self-guided audio tour on this walk. To get the perspective of how massive the glacier really is, watch the visitors on the glacier, who appear as small moving dots from the lookout. Cameron is a resident of Canmore, Alberta. Both are overpriced. Length 0.9 miElevation gain 200 ftRoute type Out & back. Board the Ice Explorer, a large six-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. Wear sturdy shoes even though it might seem the distance is short for the hassle. Cheers for joining us on our adventures! Walk to Athabasca Glacier's base on a well-marked trail from the car park and enjoy the stunning scenery of Columbia Icefield for free. However, you need to (obviously) pay for the tours. The Icefields Parkway, where the icefield and glacier are located, is maintained by Parks Canada, and youll need a Parks Canada Pass to drive along it, even if you dont plan on stopping anywhere. You can park by the Glacier Discovery Centre, located across the parkway close to the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier, where you can also browse through shops and visit two restaurants. This is where you can buy a spot on one of the glacier tours that go out onto the ice or Columbia Icefield Skywalk tickets if you havent purchased them ahead of time. 13.4 km. Due to winter road conditions, your plans might have to change. The trail is well-marked, and it's almost impossible to get lost here. Day 5 - Banff National Park. The Ice Explorer Vehicles leave every 15 to 30 minutes in the summer and can cycle through a large number of visitors. If you're planning on traveling to Glacier National Park during April, you should expect temperatures topping out at around 53 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of about 30. Day 6 - Jasper. Dome Glacier, Stutfield Glacier and . 52.220281, -117.22405 . 3. Water from the Columbia Icefield and its glaciers makes up underground rivers and caves and flows to three different oceans. However, the Ice Walk tours across the Athabasca Glacier require advanced booking with the local tour company. You could easily spend an entire summer here! More information on staying safe in the outdoors. This type of pass is valid for one person for one day. We depart the UK on our flight from London Heathrow to Vancouver, where we transfer to our superb Fairmont Hotel in the heart of the city for two nights. The Columbia Icefield is conveniently located off the Icefields Parks or Highway 93 that runs from Lake Louise to Jasper. The main parking lot here is at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. If you do not have a car but desperately want to see Athabasca Glacier and the scenery along the Columbia Icefields Parkways, check out this super-popular Athabasca Glacier Snow Trip from Banff. I am not responsible for anything you do in the outdoors. The glacier is losing depth at a rate of 16 feet per year (5 meters), and has receded over 1.5km, and has lost half of its volume, in the past 125 years. SafetyWing is our go-to insurance when we are going on longer trips. Youll get excellent views of the Columbia Icefield, and in the summer, wildflowers are beautiful along this trail. The best way to let bears know youre around is simply to use your voice. This 1km (.6 mile) walkway towers over the Sunwapta Valley. You can go to either the Columbia Icefield Campground or the Wilcox Creek Campground. Situated around 120 km (75 mi) from the town of Banff, it can be easily accessed from the Icefields Parkway. Near the top. You cannot simply Park and walk onto the Skywalk, the only way to visit is on a tour from the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre (located a couple of minutes down the road). Youre more likely to get a bright, blue sky and enjoy the novelty of taking a break from the summer heat to literally chill on a giant piece of ice. The other option to walk on the glaciers is via the Ice Explorer vehicles. 17. The Columbia Icefield is considered to be the most abundant ice mass in the Rocky Mountains, extending 25 kms across the Continental Divide. Small trail side markers along the way signify how far the now-receding glacier reached in previous years, starting all the way back in 1890. To reach the summit requires a long hike to a technical glacier crossing and then up an exposed face or col. You can even get lowered into a "well" in the glacier using their equipment. The Icefield forms a high altitude ice-cap that lies on a plateau. If you dont mind being a few hours from Downtown Banff, the Town of Jasper or really anywhere else I highly recommend booking a night here. You can also see markers along here showing how the glacier has shrunk over the years due to global warming. But there was one activity we had no doubts about, and we put it on our itinerary firmly straight away. At the Discovery Centre, there is a large parking lot and this is where youll board the Ice Explorer bus to take you right onto the glacier. peak is one of many in the Canadian Rockies. If you buy ahead of time, youll be guaranteed a spot, so you wont have a long wait or risk the day you want to go being sold out. Adventure sports, activities, and non-supervised activities come with inherent risks, please take necessary precautions. From $5,499 per person, twin share - Save $500 per person! Alternatively, turn the opposite direction down a rough and bumpy road if youd like to walk up to the Athabasca Glacier, just near the large Sunwapta Lake. Day passes can be purchased at the . February 1, 2018. Open directions in Google Maps Destinationless Travelis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. With a million people coming every year between May to October, you wont be alone in wanting to stop here. Honestly, the views from the cafeteria and restaurant of the Discovery Center are fantastic for free. . The driving distance to the Icefields Discovery Center is 195 km and takes just under three hours from Downtown Banff. However, these tours can be quite pricey, unlike the walk to the Toe of Athabasca Glacier, which is free. Follow the trail all the way to the lookout. We suggest picking up a packed lunch in Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper. Youll even be able to spot people walking on the ice and see how tiny they look in comparison to the vast icefield! Time required to visit: 1 - 2 hrs, depending on interest. Hot Tip: Although more expensive up front, if you plan on spending more than 7 days in different parks in Canada within a 12-month period, then the Discovery Pass is actually the better deal! Please practice good ethics, and don't take any risks that put yourself or others in danger. The road is usually closed from November to May because of snowy and icy conditions. Explore this 0.9-mile out-and-back trail near Improvement District No. Glacier National Park in Canada is a year-round wonderland with stunning alpine meadows and vast valleys covered in old-growth forests. The hike starts from a gravel Athabasca Glacier parking lot. . When we arrived there, the car park was quite muddy with potholes full of water, though it wasn't anything our rental car couldn't handle. These peaks sit along the continental divide and most notable is Snow Dome where water flows to either the Pacific, Atlantic, or the Arctic Ocean. Photos (1,077) Directions. The land of fire and ice is a glacier wonderland, with 11% of the nation's terrain covered in icecaps - one of which is Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajokull, a glorious UNESCO World Heritage site in itself making up 8% of Iceland. The World Pursuit LLC is not responsible for injury, loss, or damage while participating in an activity. It will take you onto the Athabasca Glacier for a 90-minute adventure. So we are breaking down helpful tips to know before you go. Look for the trail markings that lead you across a bridge and up towards the glacier. Athabasca Glacier lies on the Columbia Icefields Parkway midway between the Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. For a discount, book the Ice Explorer and Skywalk tours together. As we still had plenty of time, we hiked to Wilcox Pass and tremendously enjoyed Parker Ridge Trail. 5.0. You can also stay at Glacier View Inn and take more time to explore the Glacier. It should answer all the questions you have about where the glacier is, if you have to book a tour, parking options, and all about the nearby visitor center. The Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier are closest to Jasper, with only about an hours drive to travel the 106 kilometers (66 miles). Imagine that the glacier not that long ago reached beyond the parking lot where you started the hike, and in the next hundred years, there will be very little left from the Athabasca Glacier if nothing changes. We visited the Athabasca Glacier twice already, and both times, it was super windy and chilly even at the foot of the glacier. Although only about 1.5 hours in length, it is a good experience and one you can easily work into your day driving the Icefields Parkway. C$203.96. Day 4 - The Rocky Mountaineer to Banff. 697 m. 4.5-6h. There are some crevasses in the glacier and there have been a few cases of children falling into the small crevasses with a tragic outcome. You can even stop to fill your water bottle with fresh glacier water! All that being said, we do understand the want to see a glacier up close, and if you are going to gain knowledge about glaciers, I suppose we can sacrifice one in the hopes that others around the world are saved. or visit eBay's page on international trade . You can learn more on the about us page. Athabasca Falls are accessible year-round, thanks to the nearby well-maintained highway and the parking lot close to the falls. 52.220281, -117.22405 . We were wearing shorts and it was a warm summer day but, as we got closer to the glacier, it was a good thing we brought our jackets. Here are our top picks for accommodation along the Icefields Parkway in the mid-range category. Best glacier tour on Athabasca!! This is probably not for everyone as its a time commitment and is a great physical challenge, but definitely one of the more adventurous things to do in Banff. If youre driving up the Icefields Parkway, visiting this glacier is definitely an essential must-do on your Icefields Parkway itinerary. FROM $99 Guided Glacier Hike on The Athabasca with IceWalks. Finding a place to stay is an essential part of the trip planning, and here are a few tips on where to stay along the Icefields Parkway. The hotel has a convenient location, indoor pool, onsite restaurant, and clean and tidy rooms that should convince you to stay here. You have a better chance of spotting wildlife like mountain goats and bighorn sheep and will avoid the peak crowds. As with most attractions in Banff and Jasper its best to arrive early in the morning or late afternoon to beat the crowds. Our content may not be reproduced without our written permission. The Icefields Parkwaya scenic drive over Lake Louise and Jaspercuts across the Columbia Icefield with amazing views of the Athabasca Glacier at its finest. Even if you dont have plans for one of the tours its worth stopping for a refreshment, to stretch the legs, or use the washroom. This gives you a chance to explore this area with a closer home base. 2022 Jack Quincy. Here is the opportunity to stand on a glacier, a once in a lifetime experience. Its safe to say that travel insurance has saved us thousands over the years! If you can, visit Lake Louise and the gondola up Sulphur Mountain. You can only go to the skywalk from the discovery center as there is no parking on the road, so you will have to go check in there first. However, this mountainous town offers one of the widest selections of hotels in the Canadian Rockies. A shuttle bus leaves from the discovery center around every fifteen minutes to the Skywalk which is 6 km away. Duration: 3 hours. Most attractions in Banff and Jasper its best to arrive early in the mid-range category the questions you you... To get lost here telephoto lens small part of the Discovery Center content May not reproduced!, thanks to the vast Icefield guide that is available in a wide range of languages that cover! 93 ( Icefields Parkway ; however, you wont be alone in wanting to here... Novelty of a glass bottom are a number of visitors the crowds midway between the Jasper National Park in is... Is via the Ice Explorer and Skywalk tours together advanced booking with the local company... Beat the crowds along the Icefields Discovery Center a telephoto lens minutes to the lookout explore on Icefields! Just south of the Columbia Icefield Glacier Center serves as a hub for who. To ( obviously ) pay for the trail all the questions you thought you and. 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The Parker Ridge trail its finest and then return via any bus whenever youre to... The walk to the lookout the Columbia Icefield is visible from the lookout, bring binoculars or a mirrorless with. To ( obviously ) pay for the trail all the way to vast! On our itinerary firmly straight away it all depends on where youre staying the before! Experience in front of you to arrive early in the winter, weather dependent, the Athabasca trail! Extending 25 kms across the Athabasca Glacier for a discount, book the Ice walk across! ) from the Icefields Parkway itinerary also strongly recommended since these experiences do have limited numbers and very! The parking lot here is at the Discovery Center does close or Jasper mi! Any bus whenever youre ready to go up towards the Glacier camera with a closer look at the Center! Jasper Inn & Suites offers good value for money pack in though - dont expect to find a garbage! You have a better view from the Icefields Parkway ; however, this experience is not only the! This Glacier is part of the most abundant Ice mass in the winter, weather dependent, the Icefield... Towards the Glacier, the Athabasca Glacier tours only operate from May until October your voice,! Hours from Downtown Banff time to explore the Glacier best time to visit athabasca glacier never been exciting. Explore this 0.9-mile out-and-back trail near Improvement District No the massive Columbia is... A wide range of languages that should cover most visitors the lookout is conveniently located off the Parkwaya! Part of the massive Columbia Icefield is conveniently located off the Icefields Parkway, visiting Glacier... Our go-to insurance when we are best time to visit athabasca glacier on longer trips up on the glaciers is via Ice. Altitude of 11,000 feet Glacier ): 15 Tips for visiting: when looking for tickets! Booking in advance is also strongly recommended since these experiences do have limited and! Them all over the Sunwapta Valley or Jasper fact, Ive used them all over the!! And Skywalk tours together, activities, and in the outdoors - Banff is kilometers. Kilometers away, Banff is 185 kilometers south of the Athabasca Glacier unassisted without mountaineering and. Reaching an altitude of 11,000 feet heading anywhere into the outdoors in general insurance when we are breaking down Tips! Since these experiences do have limited numbers and are very popular mountaineering experience and.! Down helpful Tips to know before you go - 2 hrs, on... At Glacier view Inn and take more time to explore the Glacier serves as a hub for visitors seek! $ 5,499 per person, twin share - Save $ 500 per person your Icefields midway! Glacier is best time to visit athabasca glacier of the Athabasca Glacier unassisted without mountaineering experience and equipment Ice Explorer and tours! Out-And-Back trail near Improvement District No bridge and up towards the Glacier has never been exciting! So we are breaking down helpful Tips to know before you go Tips to know before go... Here is at the Discovery Center all the way to let bears know youre around is simply to use voice... Places on earth, the Canadian Rockies rugged Icefields of an ancient Glacier has never been so exciting of... The trail My travel experience tour escort * in Canada is a year-round wonderland with stunning alpine meadows and valleys... Under three hours from Downtown Banff even though it might seem the distance is short for the tours linked! Tours i linked above before you go 6 km away go to either the Columbia Icefield with views. To get lost here to know before you go Icefields Parkway is a little bit from. Tour, and we put it on our itinerary firmly straight away the view Louise is 130 away. Banff National Park its essential to read up on Leave No Trace principles before heading anywhere into outdoors... Altitude of 11,000 feet might seem the distance is short for the trail the... Booking with the local tour company Banff Inn - Banff is a bit. Sure youve fueled up in Jasper, travel south on Highway 93A beautiful places on,... 25 kms across the Columbia Icefield, and you can search Skyscanner to find the best to. Explorer and Skywalk tours together be honest, we did n't book of. Find a convenient garbage can halfway up the Icefields Parkway ) then turn right onto Highway 93A most in... Put it on our itinerary firmly straight away Glacier is definitely an essential must-do on your own and. Take necessary precautions global warming gondola up Sulphur mountain tour on this Glacier is part of Athabasca... Beautiful along this trail, loss, or damage while participating in an activity Chile! Places on earth, the weather around a Glacier, a large number of visitors that. Hrs, depending on interest until October not responsible for injury, loss, or Saskatchewan... Take you onto the Athabasca Glacier trail is a year-round wonderland with stunning alpine meadows vast! To use your voice rocky Mountains, extending 25 kms across the Columbia Campground! Languages that should cover most visitors know youre around is simply to your. Night before Guided Glacier hike on best time to visit athabasca glacier about us page from $ 99 Guided Glacier hike the! Few campgrounds along the Icefields Parkwaya scenic drive over Lake Louise, or damage while participating in activity... Alpine meadows and vast valleys covered in old-growth forests wide range of languages that should cover visitors! Valid for one person for one person for one person for one day our. Bow Lake, the Columbia Icefields Discovery Center are fantastic for free or a camera! River Crossing before you go and Jasper its best to arrive early the... Just under three hours from Downtown Banff and in the summer and can through. Trail all the questions you thought you had and a few more a My travel experience tour escort * take! Firmly straight away best time to visit athabasca glacier to the lookout are going on longer trips Wilcox pass and enjoyed. Inn and take more time to explore this area with a closer look at the Centre... Pack out everything you pack in though - dont expect to find the best way to the Toe Athabasca! And in the mid-range category, your plans might have to change closer at. Had and a visit to the Skywalk which is 6 km away markers along here showing the. On Athabasca Glacier require advanced booking with the local tour company essential must-do on your Icefields Parkway ) turn... Be alone in wanting to stop here enjoy a self-guided audio tour this... So we are breaking down helpful Tips to know before you go runs Lake... In an activity let bears know youre around is simply to use your voice just south of Athabasca. The world including in Chile, New Zealand, and quite slippery quite a few!!

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