Car rental in Canada isnt super cheap, but it isnt overly expensive either, especially if you get a budget car. The walk should only take 10-20 minutes and is easy enough for kids to tag along. If youre coming fromLake Louise to Jasper National Park, its about a 1.5-hour drive or about 132 kilometers (82 miles) to get to the icefield and glacier. The hike is straightforward, making it perfect even for families or visitors who are not that fit or experienced. 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. They offer travel medical insurance thats super affordable (only $42 USD per 4 weeks!) The Toe of the Glacier hike is the only way to visit Athabasca Glacier for free. 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. 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. 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. The landscape is stark and bare, covered in loose gray stones. One of the best things about Icefields Parkway is that it is not lined with hotels and resorts. DISCLAIMER: All activities you find on this site are dangerous. Youll have amazing views of the Sunwapta Valley, and the long glass-bottomed walkway thats over 1,000 feet above is a thrill! . 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. Its crazy how much the glacier has receded in just 100 years. They are: If youre arriving in Alberta via plane then I cant recommend getting a rental car enough. Tickets for the experiences operate on time slots so its best to purchase your tickets in advance to avoid a long wait or the tickets being sold out entirely. Its full of viewpoints to admire the scenery, stunning waterfalls, and good hikes all along this scenic drive. Using Motorhome Republic you can search hundreds of deals across multiple companies to pick a great vehicle and the cheapest price. However, you need to (obviously) pay for the tours. 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. There you can disembark and walk around the glacier in a controlled environment. We've already briefly touched on this topic. This is the largest ice field in the Rockies and one of the most accessible, thanks to its location. If you are in this area during the colder time of year, I absolutely LOVE Jasper National Park in winter. 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. A great place to try this is Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park. Riders stay at Cliff Ranch, a modern lodge located 45 minutes away from Missoula. 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. You can also see markers along here showing how the glacier has shrunk over the years due to global warming. There are not many options for food along the Icefields Parkway. The Columbia Icefield formed around 240,000 years ago. A giant one kilometre wide and six kilometre long tongue of the Athabasca Glacier hidden beyond the mountains. The Skywalk (pictured above) is an impressive glass-bottomed structure that hangs out into the valley offering some very stunning views. This short walk up to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier is located in the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains. 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. Its a search engine with lots of deals with good customer service. TheBanff Blog Facebook Groupis your headquarters for the Canadian Rockies travel advice and information. Bald Hills. FROM $1,103 Circle West - Canadian Rockies Round Trip Bus Tour From Vancouver. Glaciers are one of the best examples of the recent climate change, and you can see the signs along the way of how the glacier has receded in the last hundred years. Rockaboo Mountain Adventures is one of Jasper's longtime guiding heavyweights, and their new Athabasca Glacier Tour is the latest addition to their daily programs (which includes ice climbing in winter and rock climbing in summer). Visiting Athabasca Glacier is a great way to get out of the car and see something amazing . Getting to Athabasca Falls: From Jasper, travel south on Highway 93 (Icefields Parkway) then turn right onto Highway 93A. Pictures cant capture just how massive this glacier is and how little you will feel while standing on it! Day 1 - London and Vancouver. Now we live in Canmore and spend as much time as possible exploring and hiking around Banff. Ive marked the trailhead on the map above. between Lake Louise and Jasper. This article may contain affiliate links. In fact, Ive used them all over the world including in Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. Its a bit steep to start but is still rated as an easy hike. Something you will quickly realize when searching for hotels. This is also a great opportunity to take in fantastic views from the Glacier Skywalk. Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin . The views of the Athabasca Glacier are overwhelming. It's estimated to be at least 12,000 years old. To stretch your legs, take a stroll through the gift shop or the Parks Canada Glacier Gallery. We wanted to see Athabasca Glacier up close. $21.36 CAD gets your entire vehicle entry for one full day, Group/Family (up to 7 people in one vehicle) $188.59 CAD. Planning ahead and booking one of the many Athabasca Glacier tours is the best way to see it up close. You can also book the glacier tours and Skywalk here. That being said its easy to walk on the glacier with a guide. Visiting this unique spot is like stepping back in time in fact, some of the ice at the end of the Athabasca Glacier was snow that fell on the icefield some 400 years ago! Length 0.9 miElevation gain 200 ftRoute type Out & back. Board the Ice Explorer, a large six-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. Learn more on our about us page! It is shocking to see how much it has retreated . We are Dan and Bailey, just your typical thrill-seeking travelers! 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. The trail is well-marked, and it's almost impossible to get lost here. On your walk through the dry glacier field you can see posts marking the glacier's retreat. 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. We visited the Athabasca Glacier twice already, and both times, it was super windy and chilly even at the foot of the glacier. Wilcox Creek Campground has 46 campsites and can accommodate tents and SMALL trailers (big RVs should go to the RV parking lot). Rooms are adequate, however, this is one of the finest examples of paying extra for the location. It is a gorgeous area and the best time of the year to go is in the summer! as the glacial winds here are strong and cold all year long! The Athabasca Glacier is the most-visited glacier in all of North America. Being prepared is the best defense. The rest is hidden beyond the mountains. However, the majority of travelers won't probably even notice. Our recommendation would be to shoot for an early morning and witness sunrise on the Icefields Parkway. Parks Canada Passes can be bought online here or at one of the Visitor Centers of booths at the entrance to many national parks. Wilcox Pass is a moderately challenging 4 km (2.5 miles) hike that starts at the Wilcox Creek campground. BEST TIME TO VISIT. The Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies and covers around 230 sq km (89 sq mi) at depths up to 265 meters (1,200 ft). Glacier Skywalk and Columbia Icefields (1 hour 15 minutes from Jasper) You will probably want to spend most of the time here. . When is the Best Time to Visit the Glacier Skywalk? To help you make the most of your visit to this incredible place, Ive put together this complete guide to help. Board the Ice Explorer, a large six-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. Bring appropriate layers (remember youll warm up once you start hiking) and sun protection. Glacier Adventure on the Athabasca Glacier ONLY. Jasper Inn & Suites offers good value for money. The Athabasca Glacier is one of the most accessible "fingers" coming down from the giant Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains. Note: The Athabasca Glacier is located in Jasper National Park, meaning that a valid park pass is required. To reach the summit requires a long hike to a technical glacier crossing and then up an exposed face or col. 2022 Jack Quincy. This type of pass is valid for one person for one day. Duration: 3 hours. The meltwaters from the icefield's various glaciers travel thousands of kilometres, flowing through many rivers and eventually draining into the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. 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 book online tickets for a specific date and time, but we don't recommend committing yourself ahead of time. Day 1 - Vancouver. Length 0.6 miElevation gain 82 ftRoute type Out & back. 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. For car rentals, I use the website DiscoverCars.com. Best Hikes in Banff National ParkJohnston Canyon: The Most Popular Hike in BanffMaligne Canyon: Must-Visit Place in Jasper National ParkPlain of Six Glaciers: Hiking Guide. That is approximately enough ice to cover a two-kilometer-wide (1.2 mile-wide) swath of land between New York and Los Angeles with an ice sheet that is one kilometer (0.62 miles) tall. 52.220281, -117.22405 . Youll get excellent views of the Columbia Icefield, and in the summer, wildflowers are beautiful along this trail. 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. FROM $214 Jasper to Banff One-Way Tour. The Athabasca Glacier is not alone in its retreat: Since 1960, glaciers around the world have lost an estimated 8,000 cubic kilometers (1,900 cubic miles) of ice. Make sure to tell someone where youre going and when you expect to return. Between the towering peaks of mountains lies the immense and impressive Athabasca Glacier. Turn off here if youre craving Starbucks. Soon, we might not have any glaciers left. While we toured this amazing place, we found out that it wont be long before this glacier ceases to exist due to global warming. Whats great about this place is that its a popular spot, and there are plenty of options for tours along the Icefields Parkway that include stops here and transportation. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldnt be any left. 4.8. 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. Less than a minutes drive (super close!!) Banff | Banff Inn - Banff is a little bit further from Icefields Parkway. The Athabasca Glacier has been around for centuries. Tourists walk on the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, on May 7, 2014. 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. The cost is about $90 CAD per person and you should book in advance to secure your spot. You can't actually get very close to the glacier. There are so many breathtaking places along the way that you will have to plan your itinerary very carefully and find a balance on what is, according to you, worth seeing and what is better to skip. 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. . Situated across from the Icefield Centre, its ice is in continuous motion, creeping forward at . Its a pretty pricey experience that averages around $130 but includes the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. You could easily spend an entire summer here! Youre in for a treat! Thanks for the response. This makes the visit more enjoyable, and you can focus on the incredible experience in front of you. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Postcard Athabasca Glacier Columbia Icefields Jasper National Park Alberta at the best online prices at eBay! If youre just looking for a coffee, theres also a Starbucks inside! Adventure Tours. The Cycling House crew's home base is Big Sky Country, and guides know where to find the best off-the-beaten-path backroads. Due to winter road conditions, your plans might have to change. Then travel 125 km (78 miles) north from Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway Highway 93N to the Columbia Icefield. In case you don't want to read them, in short, several meters deep and hidden crevasses appear every few years, and there is a risk of falling inside. Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include . Jasper National Park is just filled with fun things to do and see! Another option is to stay somewhere along the Icefields Parkway. As with most attractions in Banff and Jasper its best to arrive early in the morning or late afternoon to beat the crowds. 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. You'll get excellent views of the Columbia Icefield, and in the summer, wildflowers are beautiful along this trail. Athabasca Glacier Columbia Icefield Jasper National Park . 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