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. The trailhead is two hours from Banff, or just over an hour from Jasper. That being said its easy to walk on the glacier with a guide. You can climb its peaks through hiking trails created by renowned Swiss mountain guides, enjoy a leisurely stroll through an old-growth cedar forest covered in moss, or go hiking through an alpine . You can also see markers along here showing how the glacier has shrunk over the years due to global warming. The park's manager says the glacier could disappear within one generation. The Athabasca Glacier is one of the six 'toes' that comes out of the Columbia Icefield. This nearly four mile (6 km) glacier, located in Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies . 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. Location: 130 km from Lake Louise & 103 km from Jasper. Ive marked the trailhead on the map above. Explore this 0.9-mile out-and-back trail near Improvement District No. Its a beautiful campground with some truly amazing views of the surrounding area. Once you reach the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier, youll have an incredible view of the glacier and icefield in front of you (pictured above.) 4.5Value. Athabasca Glacier Columbia Icefield Jasper National Park . You need to make a reservation for the big campgrounds in Banff or Jasper well in advance or arrive there around check-out time and hope that they will have availability. A longer six-hour trek costs $175 CAD plus tax. Additional Information. You could easily spend an entire summer here! Bald Hills. Planning ahead and booking one of the many Athabasca Glacier tours is the best way to see it up close. We never leave our home without travel insurance which is designed to help cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip. The Athabasca Glacier is located along Icefields Parkway, a scenic 143-mile (230-kilometer) highway connecting Jasper with Lake Louise. 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. If this experience sounds like the right fit for you, make sure you book this hike online now! 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 Icefield feeds six glaciers of which three can be seen from the parkway: Athabasca, Stutfield, and Dome. Glacier Adventure on the Athabasca Glacier ONLY. It makes you wonder how big of the impact we (people) have and if there is something we can do differently. Jasper is the closest at 105 km and 1.5 hours driving. You can also watch the award-winning film Through Ice and Time, which was specifically created for this gallery. This is a common thing at the popular glacier hikes, and Athabasca Glacier is no exception to that. As you plan your own trip to this amazing place, Ive put together a complete guide with tips and advice to make the most of your visit. 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. That road will take you right to the small parking lot. The Columbia Icefield is home to one of the most accessible glaciers in the world and is a great experience to take in along the Icefields Parkway. The Athabasca Glacier tours are available from May until October and book up quickly during the summer. from. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to have a real glacier experience For 99 CAD, it's one of those typical tourist things to do, so only you can tell if it's worth it. Note: The Athabasca Glacier is located in Jasper National Park, meaning that a valid park pass is required. This short walk up to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier is located in the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains. Athabasca Glacier trail is gravel, rocky, and quite slippery. This was such a waste of time thats easily avoided by booking one of the tours I linked above before you go. We personally wouldn't buy this tour as it does not seem exactly environmentally friendly. You do not need a reservation for the tours at the Icefield Discovery Center unless you have a large group, though reservations never hurt and do guarantee your time and booking. For a discount, book the Ice Explorer and Skywalk tours together. You can learn more on the about us page. The self-guided tour showcases how a glacier moves along with information on the local area. Rapidly receding, the Athabasca Glacier draws visitors from around the world. You can see it right from the parking lot, so no big hike is required. Columbia Icefields are home to the largest non-polar ice fields in the world. One of the things we want to do is to visit the icefields. While youre on Athabasca Glacier bring an empty water bottle as you can fill right up from the source of glacial water! 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. We highly recommend including one of those great hikes on your itinerary as well. We'll talk about it later in this blog post. We're a family who hike quite a bit - and so - are interested in. Full Day Guided Glacier Hike on The Athabasca with IceWalks. Said that there is a campground very close to the Athabasca Glacier walk. In the photo above you can Mount Columbia, Snow Dome, Andromeda, and Alberta. 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. TheGlacier View Lodgehas rooms overlooking the glaciers and mountains and is close to all the activities here. According to your ticketed time, youll board a bus at the Glacier Discovery Center that will drive you to the Skywalk. From $5,499 per person, twin share - Save $500 per person! Here are our top picks for accommodation along the Icefields Parkway in the mid-range category. Its basically all the questions you thought you had and a few more! This blog may contain affiliate links. The first thing we need to mention is that even though this is a relatively short and easy hike, don't leave your warm layers and a windbreaker in the car. The tour company that operates the all-terrain bus said the vehicle was on its way to Athabasca Glacier, in the Columbia Icefield. Follow the trail all the way to the lookout. More information on staying safe in the outdoors. The Athabasca Glacier is one of the most accessible "fingers" coming down from the giant Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains. Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance. The melting snow and waters from the glaciers flow straight north to the Arctic Ocean, east to the Atlantic Ocean and west to the Pacific Ocean. We did a three-day mountaineering course with Yamnuska and summited on the third day the experience was epic. Tourists walk on the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, on May 7, 2014. Glacier Skywalk and Columbia Icefields (1 hour 15 minutes from Jasper) You will probably want to spend most of the time here. To open it up in Google Maps for easy navigation just click the red pin. These months inevitably collide with the holiday season, but there's not much you can do about it but plan your trip for the shoulder season months, such as late May and October. Length 0.9 miElevation gain 200 ftRoute type Out & back. Being prepared is the best defense. Be aware of what time it gets dark and check the weather forecast. If you book online, these are the rates you will pay, otherwise the "regular" rate should you purchase on-site will be 10% extra! Banff | Banff Inn - Banff is a little bit further from Icefields Parkway. These tours are VERY popular and often book out in advance. 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. Theres a reason so many people make this drive from Jasper to Banff or Banff to Jasper and stop along the way. You can reach the glacier from your car in around 10-20 minutes. Our recommendation would be to shoot for an early morning and witness sunrise on the Icefields Parkway. Its a search engine with lots of deals with good customer service. The Athabasca Glacier is probably the most commercially developed area of The Icefields Parkway. This is one of North America's most visited glaciers. Admission Prices. If you have time to look around, stop by the information desk inside the center for recommendations on what to do in the area. The landscape is stark and bare, covered in loose gray stones. If youre planning to stay longer or visit more than one national park in a year, theDiscovery Passis a great option. Between the towering peaks of mountains lies the immense and impressive Athabasca Glacier. Information needed to plan a visit to the park at any time of the year is available on the park website. For campers, there are two nearby campgrounds. The best way to get from Canmore to Athabasca Glacier (Land) costs only $100 and takes just 4 hours. Readers are responsible for ensuring their own safety. Dan and I didthis specific tourand made the mistake of not booking it ahead of time. Athabasca glacier has receded approximately a mile in over a century and is still receding by about 2-3 m per year. To reach the summit requires a long hike to a technical glacier crossing and then up an exposed face or col. However, I would certainly visit the Banff Hot Springs. No matter which of these towns youre coming from, the road trip takes you down the Icefields Parkway. It was very similar to what we experienced, for example, on the West Coast in New Zealand or at Perito Moreno, Patagonia. Hard. 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. However, you can still come in winter to hike theToe of the Athabasca Glacier TrailI previously mentioned. IE 11 is not supported. Our budget was also quite limited, and we saved the money for the Mount Assiniboine Trek, which we did a few days later. . We suggest picking up a packed lunch in Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper. Youll be rewarded with stunning views of the Saskatchewan Glacier along with multiple waterfalls. There are a number of facilities at the Discovery Center. Alaska is one of the world's great glacier destinations, especially when it comes to Denali National Park, where 40 named glaciers (and hundreds of nameless ones) cover one million acres. We visited the Athabasca Glacier twice already, and both times, it was super windy and chilly even at the foot of the glacier. HeyMondo offers competitive rates for all travelers. The Icefields Parkway is widely considered as one of the best scenic drives in the world. The only thing to note is that the insurance must be purchased once youve left your home country we typically buy it as soon as we land at the airport. So make sure to pack a toque and warm jacket when you visit the glacier for a more enjoyable experience. Adults - CAD 85 (US$ 64) Children (Age 6-15) - CAD 43 (US$ 32) Under 5 - FREE. Wait for a day when you know there is good visibility. The main parking lot here is at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. For a discount, book the Ice Explorer Tour and Skywalk Tour together in advance online. 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. per adult. Pack a lunch to eat at the head of the Athabasca Glacier, where shattered ice and rock make an incredible lunchtime view. Banff or Banff to Jasper and stop along the way to see it right from the parking lot, no! Was such a waste of time, on May 7, 2014 are available from May until October and up! 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