Drive the Icefields Parkway to the Columbia Icefield for glacier viewpoints, turquoise lakes, and optional Ice Explorer or Glacier Skywalk experiences. This full-day trip from Calgary combines big-mountain scenery with short, guided walks and prime photo stops.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step out of the van and cold air cuts like a map across your face; the Icefields Parkway unfurls ahead, a highway of stone and sky. Towers of limestone and granite loom, creased with ice that has shaped these valleys for millennia. The Athabasca Glacier waits like an old, slow-moving machine — patient, enormous, and blue-edged.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
10–11 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels — travel is coach-based with short, accessible walks and viewpoints.
Wildlife
History
The Columbia Icefield formed over thousands of years and sits on routes long traversed by Indigenous peoples; the Icefields Parkway was constructed in the 20th century to connect mountain communities and open the landscape to visitors.
Conservation
Glaciers in the Columbia Icefield are retreating due to climate change; stay on designated trails, pack out waste, and follow Park rules to reduce impact.
Reserve your spot on the Experience the Columbia Icefield: Private Tour from Calgary today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Dress in layers
Temperatures near the ice are often 5–15°C colder than in town; pack a warm mid-layer and waterproof shell.
Bring a Parks Canada pass or confirm inclusion
This tour lists Parks Canada entrance fees in inclusions but verify before travel to avoid surprises at park gates.
Sturdy footwear
Gravel viewpoints and short glacier-access walks require ankle-supporting, waterproof boots with good traction.
Plan for bright glare
Polarized sunglasses and sunscreen protect against intense UV reflection off ice and snow; bring spare batteries for cold-affected devices.
Waterproof hiking boots
Protects ankles and keeps feet dry on gravel and wet shorelines.
Insulating mid-layer and waterproof shell
Keeps you warm and dry when wind and precipitation increase near the icefield.
Polarized sunglasses & sunscreen
Reduces glare from ice and protects skin at high altitude.
summer
Camera with extra batteries
Cold reduces battery life — bring spares to capture sweeping vistas and glacier details.