Drive the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield for a guided Ice Explorer ride across Athabasca Glacier and a walk on the Glacier Skywalk. This full-day trip from Banff combines up-close glacier access with interpretive stops and expansive mountain views.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step off the coach onto a bright, crystalline plain and the mountain air pushes against you—the glacier seems to breathe beneath a sky as sharp as broken glass. The six-wheeled Ice Explorer rumbles away and you are left with a sweep of blue-tinged ice that stretches and cracks in slow motion, a living record of the last ice age.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
11 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; requires basic mobility for short glacier walks and boardwalks.
Wildlife
History
The Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier were carved during the last ice age and have long been part of travel routes for Indigenous groups, including Cree and Stoney Nakoda, who named and navigated these valleys before modern roads.
Conservation
Glacier retreat is rapid; stay on designated routes, avoid disturbing fragile alpine vegetation, and follow Leave No Trace principles to reduce your impact.
Reserve your spot on the Athabasca Glacier Snow Trip from Banff today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Layer for rapidly changing conditions
Temperatures on the ice can be 10–20°C colder than Banff—pack an insulated midlayer and waterproof shell.
Protect your eyes
Strong reflected UV on snow makes glacier sunglasses and sunscreen essential even on cloudy days.
Stick to guide routes
Glacier surfaces and moraines are unstable; stay with your guide and follow marked paths on the Ice Explorer.
Hydrate and snack
High-elevation cold suppresses thirst—carry water and small snacks to maintain energy during the long day.
Insulated waterproof jacket
Keeps you warm and dry during wind, snow squalls or cold glacier winds.
Sturdy hiking shoes or boots
Provides traction and ankle support on icy and uneven surfaces at stops and short walks.
Glacier sunglasses (category 3+) & sunscreen
Protects eyes and skin from strong UV reflected off ice and snow.
summer
Warm hat and gloves
Lightweight insulated gloves and a hat are useful even on milder days due to cold wind chill on the ice.
spring