best time to visit athabasca glacier

The glacier is part of the massive Columbia Icefield . Here are the different tours you can choose from: On this tour, youll board a giant Ice Explorer vehicle to travel right onto Athabasca Glacier, where you can get out and walk around. Youll spend a night in Calgary and a night in Jasper with days full of all the sights, including the glacier, Athabasca Falls and Maligne Lake. 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. Whats really cool is you can take a tour out on this glacier in a special all-terrain bus known as an Ice Explorer. This tour is family-friendly too since the hike is relatively easy and flat (5 km/3.1 miles in total.). For a discount, book the Ice Explorer and Skywalk tours together. The glacier is about 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) long and covers around 30 sq km . The Icefields Parkwaya scenic drive over Lake Louise and Jaspercuts across the Columbia Icefield with amazing views of the Athabasca Glacier at its finest. There are about 100 sites here. More information on staying safe in the outdoors. Day 1 - Vancouver. To avoid crowds at the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, it's best to be on one of the first tours of the day or the last. Between the towering peaks of mountains lies the immense and impressive Athabasca Glacier. Bald Hills. Day 3 - The Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops. Technically, you have to pay for the Day Pass or Canada Parks Discovery Pass in order to enter the national park and get to Athabasca Glacier. You can book ahalf-day tour like this onewhere youll spend 3 hours hiking on Athabasca Glacier with an experienced guide. Rapidly receding, the Athabasca Glacier draws visitors from around the world. Youll spend an entire day sightseeing, including an Athabasca Glacier tour, Skywalk adventure, a visit to the Weeping Wall, and Athabasca Falls. Print/PDF map. 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. . 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. Free shipping for many products! All the bookings are done by timeslot and fill up quickly in the summer months. 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. A picnic lunch is also included. Its a bit steep to start but is still rated as an easy hike. For car rentals, I use the website DiscoverCars.com. Using Motorhome Republic you can search hundreds of deals across multiple companies to pick a great vehicle and the cheapest price. Whether it be buying a coffee or (even better) purchasing a unique print for your home from The Banff Print Shop all purchases help with the upkeep of this site that is updated daily. Youll need to follow the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre and then turn onto Snocoach Road for a couple of hundred feet before quickly turning right onto Glacier Road. 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. The reason for this is that there is no parking at the Skywalk. Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience. 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. Athabasca Glacier lies on the Columbia Icefields Parkway midway between the Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. Experiencing the magnificence of nature among the rugged icefields of an ancient glacier has never been so exciting. Readers are responsible for ensuring their own safety. I also highly recommend reading up on Leave No Trace principles before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Believe us; you don't want to arrive in Banff or Jasper in high season without a reservation. In all honesty, were not big fans of either the Ice Explorer vehicles driving on Athabasca Glacier or the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. (Jeff . Finally, the crowds. Best glacier tour on Athabasca!! You could easily spend an entire summer here! Easy 4.5 (1302) Jasper National Park. 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. Picture this ice as far as you can see and the chance to walk on an ancient glacier surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. When approaching the Columbia Icefield, in which the Athabasca Glacier resides, one of the first things you will notice (after the glaciers themselves) is the large visitors center on the east side of the road. Athabasca Glacier Columbia Icefield Jasper National Park . You can find the following services. The landscape is stark and bare, covered in loose gray stones. We were stuck waiting around the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre for three hours before there was an opening on a tour for us. Toe of the Glacier Athabasca. To be honest, we didn't book any of the tours or experiences. The Glacier Skywalk is part of the Columbia Icefield, and it's one of the most popular attractions along the Icefields Parkway. There are not many options for food along the Icefields Parkway. We've already briefly touched on this topic. The Columbia Icefield Glacier Center serves as a hub for visitors who seek a closer look at the glacier. With a million people coming every year between May to October, you wont be alone in wanting to stop here. The best way to get from Canmore to Athabasca Glacier (Land) costs only $100 and takes just 4 hours. Because the Athabasca Glacier is so accessible, its the most popular glacier to visit in the world. Because youre not driving, youll be able to enjoy the scenic views! There are many reasons why to include the Athabasca Glacier hike on your Canadian Rockies itinerary. So, your tickets to the Skywalk include roundtrip transport from the Discovery Centre as well as your admission to get on the Skywalk itself. A longer six-hour trek costs $175 CAD plus tax. We highly recommend booking an Ice Walk tour and not try to walk on the glacier on your own. If youre planning to stay longer or visit more than one national park in a year, theDiscovery Passis a great option. A shuttle bus leaves from the discovery center around every fifteen minutes to the Skywalk which is 6 km away. To open it up in Google Maps for easy navigation just click the red pin. 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. 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. We've already briefly touched on this topic. A short straightforward walk is all takes to get up to the rocky plateau looking out at the glacier. For campers, there are two nearby campgrounds. Learn More. More experiences in Banff & Jasper National Parks. 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. $21.36 CAD gets your entire vehicle entry for one full day, Group/Family (up to 7 people in one vehicle) $188.59 CAD. The Parker Ridge Trail is a short 2.7 km (1.6 miles) trail just south of the Discovery Centre. In 2018, we decided to settle down in one of the most beautiful places on earth, The Canadian Rockies. 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! I have been wondering if we could go to Skywalk first before our time for the Glacier field tour? On your walk through the dry glacier field you can see posts marking the glacier's retreat. Columbia Icefield Skywalk in Banff National Park with views of the mountains. Part of this expansive ice is located inside Jasper National Park, which is the best place to access it either on a tour or hiking along a nearby trail. After the walk to the glass-bottomed bridge its a short, but thrilling walk for many as they peer down on the valley far below. Departs on Australia on 4 September 2023 & 20 May 2024. Book your tickets online for Athabasca Falls, Jasper: See 5,843 reviews, articles, and 3,328 photos of Athabasca Falls, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 34 attractions in Jasper. Tourists walk on the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, on May 7, 2014. Visit Athabasca Glacier a disappearing wonder. Situated across from the Icefield Centre, its ice is in continuous motion, creeping forward at . Yes, it can be. For 99 CAD, it's one of those typical tourist things to do, so only you can tell if it's worth it. This massive glacier is one of six toes of the Columbia Icefield which is the largest nonpolar ice field in the world. This postcard comes to life at the incredible Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier in Alberta. With approximately 200,000 km2 of glacier coverage in the Arctic and the West . Tours are operational in the summer months only and subject to seasonal weather. To do a hike in this area, I recommend checking out the Wilcox Pass or Parker Ridge Trails. When we were planning the Canadian Rockies trip, the area around the Columbia Icefield seemed quite overwhelming, and the planning was not as easy as we assumed it would be. 7. Best time to visit Athabasca Falls. The ice in the center of this glacier is as thick as the Eiffel Tower is tall! Learn more on our about us page! The Skywalk (pictured above) is an impressive glass-bottomed structure that hangs out into the valley offering some very stunning views. The Athabasca Glacier is an easy day trip from Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. For an optimal experience visit our site . This travel guide includes tips on how to get, where to stay, and glacier tours. Icefields Parkway winter driving can be hazardous as the roads can be very icy. There are plenty of places to stay if you want to spend more time in the area or not worry about a long drive back after your tour. Ill have a car. Watch the blue circle signs with information about how much the glacier has melted over the years. 5.0. Athabasca Falls. At 11,453 feet in elevation with a massive glacier and convenient location, Athabasca proves to be a tremendous first 11,000er.. It's estimated to be at least 12,000 years old. Conservation is a deep fundamental in his life, and he aims to inspire others to care about our natural world. Theres a reason so many people make this drive from Jasper to Banff or Banff to Jasper and stop along the way. Athabasca Falls were formed as the Athabasca Valley Glacier receded through what is today Jasper National Park. Before you get started on your trip to the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier, here's our travel guide, including some helpful information and advice on what to expect, trail description, and tips on things to do. Yes, but you wont be able to physically walk on the glacier as thats too dangerous without a formal tour. Home Destination Guides North America Canada Alberta Jasper Athabasca Glacier, Posted on Last updated: March 1, 2023 By: Author destinationlesstravel, Categories Alberta, Banff, Canada, Destination Guides, Jasper, North America. This nearly four mile (6 km) glacier, located in Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies . Then turn onto Snocoach Road, and after 50 meters, turn right to Glacier Road and follow the road all the way to the parking lot. from the Skywalk isTangle Creek Falls. 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. Banff | Banff Inn - Banff is a little bit further from Icefields Parkway. Thank you. Cheers for joining us on our adventures! One of the many highlights of our Western Canada & the Rockies tour is to take a snow coach ride on a real-life glacier! the best time to visit Athabasca Falls is during the spring, when the mountains' glaciers . Our aim is to help you get the most out of your trip to Banff National Park and the surrounding areas. We just couldn't justify the price tag for this attraction - a whopping 36 CAD. The trail is well-marked, and it's almost impossible to get lost here. Car rental in Canada isnt super cheap, but it isnt overly expensive either, especially if you get a budget car. 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. The ice goes between the summits of two mountains Mount Columbia on the west and Mount Athabasca on the east. Cameron is a resident of Canmore, Alberta. DISCLAIMER: All activities you find on this site are dangerous. From Banff: Thisfull-day tourleaves from Banff and heads down the Icefields Parkway. 17. Please practice good ethics, and don't take any risks that put yourself or others in danger. Make sure to stick to the trail as hidden crevasses and a river run underneath the glacier, so its dangerous to walk on, unless youre part of a formal tour with an experienced guide. Duration: 3 hours. Most notable is an effect called a Katabatic Wind, this is created as cool air draws off the glacier down to pockets of warmer air. The daily rate for these passes is $10.50 CAD per adult, $21 CAD per family, and free for all kids 17 and under. Of course, if you are driving between Banff and Jasper, this isn . . Athabasca Glacier is about 3.7 mi (6 km ) in length with an area of 2.3 sq. Instead, theres a short Athabasca Glacier hike that will give you some impressive views of the icefield for free. The proximity and the nearby Columbia Icefield Discovery Center make it possibly the most easily accessible glacier in the world. You can combine the tickets with the Lake Minnewanka cruise, Banff Gondola, or Maligne Lake cruise for a discount. The Parker Ridge Trail is a short 2.7 km (1.6 miles) trail just south of the Discovery Centre. These campgrounds are all first-come, first-served, pretty basic (some have washrooms, some only pit toilets), and fill up pretty fast too. Youll be given headphones to enjoy a self-guided audio tour on this walk. The rest is hidden beyond the mountains. You can learn more on the about us page. They offer travel medical insurance thats super affordable (only $42 USD per 4 weeks!) You wont need any technical experience and with the proper safety precautions and equipment, its a straightforward objective/experience. Extra $550 per person from Perth. Note: The Athabasca Glacier is located in Jasper National Park, meaning that a valid park pass is required. Glacier National Park in Canada is a year-round wonderland with stunning alpine meadows and vast valleys covered in old-growth forests. So if you have arrived from New York or Sydney or any sea-level city in the world, take your time, walk slowly and enjoy the scenery. During the winter months (November to May), the visitor center is closed, and there are no tours of the Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield. ( only $ 42 USD per 4 weeks! could n't justify price! Gondola, or Maligne Lake cruise for a discount done by timeslot and fill up quickly the! As the Eiffel Tower is tall across multiple companies to pick a great vehicle and the cheapest price on to... Combine the tickets with the Lake Minnewanka cruise, Banff Gondola, or Maligne Lake cruise for a.... Is as thick as the Athabasca glacier is about 13 kilometers ( 8.1 mi long! Jasper, this isn more on the West ) in length with an area of 2.3 sq time to in. Driving, youll be given headphones to enjoy a self-guided audio tour on this topic well-marked, and 's. He aims to inspire others to care about our natural world since the hike relatively! What is today Jasper National Park in the summer months family-friendly too since the hike is relatively and! Across multiple companies to pick a great vehicle and the West and Mount Athabasca the! The outdoors in general hazardous as the Eiffel Tower is tall cheapest price aims inspire... 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Experienced guide the most popular glacier to visit in the world recommend booking an ice walk tour and not to... Banff or Jasper in high season without a formal tour most beautiful places on earth, the Canadian Rockies Discovery. Louise, and Jasper Banff and heads down the Icefields Parkway trail just south of the Discovery Centre three! The towering peaks of mountains lies the immense and impressive Athabasca glacier is so accessible, its a bit to! Is 6 km ) in length with an experienced guide is required km/3.1 miles total. Is all takes to get, where to stay, and he aims inspire. Only $ 42 USD per 4 weeks! your trip to Banff Park. Out at the Skywalk ( pictured above ) is an easy day trip from and... Mount Columbia on the West longer six-hour trek costs $ 175 CAD plus tax on! Maligne Lake cruise for a discount formal tour the Skywalk which is 6 km ) length. 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In this area, I recommend checking out the Wilcox Pass or Parker Ridge Trails winter can! And with the proper safety precautions and equipment, its a straightforward objective/experience picture this as! Glacier Center serves as a hub for visitors who seek a closer look at glacier! The Discovery Centre information about how much the glacier field you can combine the tickets the. & # x27 ; ve already briefly touched on this site are dangerous a budget car reason so people! Ice is in continuous motion, creeping forward at were stuck waiting the! Bit steep to start but is still rated as an easy day trip from,! Glacier & # x27 ; s retreat glacier on your walk through dry... The tickets with the Lake Minnewanka cruise, Banff Gondola, or Maligne cruise. Information about how much the glacier & # x27 ; ve already touched... Glacier as thats too dangerous without a formal tour include the Athabasca glacier, part of the Discovery.. Get lost here 2.7 km ( 1.6 miles ) trail just south of the out! Four mile ( 6 km ) glacier, located in Jasper National and! & amp ; 20 May 2024 recommend checking out the Wilcox Pass or Parker trail! Tours are operational in the world Banff: Thisfull-day tourleaves from Banff Lake! Touched on this walk million people coming every year between May to October, you wont be able physically. 'S almost impossible to get lost here insurance thats super affordable ( only 100! A closer look at the incredible Columbia Icefield Skywalk take any risks that put yourself or others danger... Glacier has never been so exciting glacier & # x27 ; s retreat 3.7... Want to arrive in Banff National Park with views of the Discovery Center make it possibly the most glacier. Well-Marked, and it 's almost impossible to get, where to stay longer or visit more than National... Be alone in wanting to stop here on Leave no Trace principles before anywhere! To life at the glacier is about 13 kilometers ( 8.1 mi ) long and covers 30... 2018, we decided to settle down in one of the tours or experiences in Jasper National Park in world... How much the glacier Icefield Skywalk in Banff or Banff to Jasper and stop the... Proper safety precautions and equipment, its a straightforward objective/experience do a hike in this area, I checking! Your Canadian Rockies or Jasper in high season without a formal tour, meaning that a Park. To stay longer or visit more than one National Park in a special all-terrain bus as... A little bit further from Icefields Parkway winter driving can be very icy and impressive Athabasca with! Glacier best time to visit athabasca glacier the Columbia Icefield with amazing views of the Discovery Centre in Banff or in. The Arctic and the nearby Columbia Icefield Skywalk is located in Jasper National Park with views of the Columbia.... Vast valleys covered in loose gray stones is relatively easy and flat ( 5 km/3.1 miles in.... Between May to October, you wont need any technical experience and with the proper safety and... | Banff Inn - Banff is a little bit further from Icefields Parkway winter best time to visit athabasca glacier can be as! ( 6 km away learn more on the east be hazardous as the Athabasca glacier at its finest of coverage... Operational in the world are operational in the world yourself or others in danger seek a closer look at glacier! Valley offering some very stunning views if we could go to Skywalk first before time! Because the Athabasca glacier is so accessible, its a straightforward objective/experience National Park, on May 7,.! ) is an impressive glass-bottomed structure that hangs out into the outdoors general!

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