Step on a glacier, then walk on glass (if you dare)🧊🏞️

This is definitely one of those sightseeing tours you gotta do! Massive glacier icefields, huge valleys, towering mountains and views that make you pull over even if you swear you’re not stopping again lol. If you’re already driving the Icefields Parkway, this is the the bucket list experience for sure.

You’re staring straight at the Athabasca Glacier, then you can go ride on it in a monster vehicle. It's not often you can so easily get up to a glacier, let alone drive and walk on it. The skywalk is also really cool, but I must admit - it makes me a littleeee nervous walking on glass right above a drop to the bottom of the Sunwapta Valley! But again, its not often you get these kinds of opportunities - brave it if you can haha.

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📅 OPERATING SEASON

• Typically open from May 1 to October 12 (weather dependent)

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🌐 COLUMBIA ICEFIELD DISCOVERY CENTRE

• This is basically the home base for everything in the area. You check in for the tour here, warm up, and take a break from driving before heading out for the adventures.

• There is also a gift shop where you can get gifts, souvenirs and all the usual touristy presents.

• There is a bunch of interpretive exhibits about the icefield and the history of the area, plus it’s where shuttles leave for the tours.

• Wifi?: Yes

• Cell Service?: Limited

• Pet Friendly?: No - With the exceptions of service animals, but appropriate accreditation per the Alberta Service Dogs Act must be presented on site.

• Restaurant?: Yes

  - Altitude: The main sit-in restaurant with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Which also has big windows that look out to all the peaks and glaciers.

  - Starbucks: For you coffee lovers. Yes - there is a Starbucks in the icefields lol.

  - Chalet: More of a casual spot - no breakfasts but you can grab lunch and snacks there.

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🧊 ATHABASCA GLACIER EXPLORER TOUR

You check in at the Discovery Centre, shuttle out, then climb into the 'Ice Explorer' - a specially designed vehicle built for glacier travel, and it feels like a tank! You ride up onto the Athabasca Glacier, walk on the ancient ice and learn about glaciology and climate from expert guides, take photos, and take it all in. When you are up there, just think you will likely never do something quite like this again.

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🏞 COLUMBIA ICEFIELD SKYWALK

You check in at the Discovery Centre, then take the shuttle to the Skywalk - a glass-floored walkway lets you stand high above the Sunwapta Valley with sweeping views of icefields and rugged peaks. It’s a thrilling experience and a popular stop for visitors in the area (so long as you are not afraid of heights). There are also interpretive features and stuff along the walk, so it’s not just a quick step-out-and-leave kind of stop. It's a cool experience to do while you are in the area.

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⛰️ HIKING TRAILS

• Easy: For the hikers coming to the area, there are lots of trails around here as well. For easy strolls, you could just wander by Sunwapta Lake, Boundary Lake or head up to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier.

• Moderate: For more moderate trails with some grind to it, there is Parker Ridge or the Wilcox Ridge Viewpoint that both have some beautiful views of the peaks and glaciers surrounding the area.

• Hard: If you want to up the game and do a harder hike. Boundary Peak has an AMAZING view. Just be sure you know what you are doing before going out into terrain like this, I definitely don't advise this one for novice hikers.

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🏕️ CAMPING OPTIONS

• Campsite At Discovery Centre?: No

• Close Camp Recommendation: Wilcox Creek Campground

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🏠🧊 GLACIER VIEW LODGE

Right at the Icefield Discovery Centre is The Glacier View Lodge. Basically the “sleep beside a glacier” option here. It’s definitely on the pricey side, but there aren’t many places to stay up in the icefields, and the location is the whole point I suppose. So if you’re going to splurge for one night, this is a pretty unreal place to do it that's for sure. For more details on the lodge, check out its pin on my map.

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🔗 BOOKINGS & DETAILS

If you want to book the Glacier Explorer & Skywalk bundle, you can check availability, pricing and more info here: Columbia Icefield Discovery Tours

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✅ TIPS FROM DEV, LINKS & SAFETY

• Glaciers are very dangerous. Always follow the guides instructions on the glacier.

• I would strongly advise to book ahead in peak summer. These tours can sell out in summer.

• Dress for wind and cold even if it’s sunny. The weather in the Rockies do their own thing and can change quickly.

• There little to no cell coverage along the Icefields Parkway (Although, you 'might' get a brief signal at the Columbia Icefields Discovery Centre).