Athabasca Glacier Hike
Athabasca Glacier hike is an easy 30 minutes one-way trip you can find along the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies. Walk to Athabasca Glacier's base on a well-marked trail from the car park and enjoy the stunning scenery of Columbia Icefield for free. This travel guide includes tips on how to get, where to stay, and glacier tours.
The Icefields Parkway is widely considered as one of the best scenic drives in the world.
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.
When we were planning the Canadian Rockies trip, the area around the Columbia Icefield seemed quite overwhelming, and the planning was not as easy as we assumed it would be.
We quickly realized that some of the activities are out of our budget, so it was easy to rule them out, but there were also too many things we wanted to see and too many photogenic places we did not want to miss, so the decision process was often quite heartbreaking.
But there was one activity we had no doubts about, and we put it on our itinerary firmly straight away. We wanted to see Athabasca Glacier up close.
That's right, a short walk to the foot of the Athabasca Glacier is a must-do activity while touring the Icefields Parkway.
There are many reasons why to include the Athabasca Glacier hike on your Canadian Rockies itinerary.
The scenery along the way is stunning; it's very easily accessible, family-friendly, photogenic, and unlike often overpriced tours, it is possible to see it for free (although there are more expensive alternatives how to see the glacier up close), so it is perfect for all budget travelers.
Before you get started on your trip to the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier, here's our travel guide, including some helpful information and advice on what to expect, trail description, and tips on things to do.
TRAILHEAD
The hike starts from a gravel Athabasca Glacier parking lot. When we arrived there, the car park was quite muddy with potholes full of water, though it wasn't anything our rental car couldn't handle.
To get to the Athabasca Glacier parking lot, follow the Icefields Parkway to Columbia Icefield Discovery Center (don't drive to the parking lot, though).
Then turn onto Snocoach Road, and after 50 meters, turn right to Glacier Road and follow the road all the way to the parking lot.
The road is usually closed from November to May because of snowy and icy conditions.
HOW TO GET
Athabasca Glacier lies on the Columbia Icefields Parkway midway between the Jasper National Park and Banff National Park.
Jasper is 100 kilometers away from here. Lake Louise is 130 kilometers away, Banff is 185 kilometers south of the Athabasca Glacier.
Renting a car is an essential thing to do if you want to get the most of your trip to the Canadian Rockies.
Also, campervans or RVs will allow you to see everything you put on your itinerary, and thanks to it, your trip will be more flexible.
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.
THINGS TO KNOW
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.
We visited the Athabasca Glacier twice already, and both times, it was super windy and chilly even at the foot of the glacier.
The relatively high altitude grants low temperatures even in the summer.
When it comes to safety, stay on the trail, and don't leave the roped-off area. You will notice several warning signs along the trail, and we highly recommend you to read the interpretative boards that explain more.
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.
This brings us to the next thing we need to mention. You can't actually get very close to the glacier.
This is a common thing at the popular glacier hikes, and Athabasca Glacier is no exception to that.
It was very similar to what we experienced, for example, on the West Coast in New Zealand or at Perito Moreno, Patagonia.
The distance you need to keep between you and the glacier is for safety reasons, and the only way to get close to the glacier is with a guided tour. We'll talk about it later in this blog post.
To get a better view from the lookout, bring binoculars or a mirrorless camera with a telephoto lens.
The toe of the Athabasca Glacier sit at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, some visitors might notice that the air is thinner here, and it's a little bit more difficult to breathe when you are walking up.
So if you have arrived from New York or Sydney or any sea-level city in the world, take your time, walk slowly and enjoy the scenery.
However, the majority of travelers won't probably even notice.
Finally, the crowds. Icefields Parkway is a major tourist attraction, and the Columbia Icefield is one of the biggest highlights on this road.
So, yes, there are people everywhere, though it wasn't that bad as we expected or experienced in some other top locations, for example, in the Yellowstone National Park.
TOE OF THE ATHABASCA GLACIER HIKE
The trail is well-marked, and it's almost impossible to get lost here.
The hike is straightforward, making it perfect even for families or visitors who are not that fit or experienced.
Before you start the hike, enjoy the Sunwapta Lake's views (don't forget also to visit Sunwapta Falls later) which is located right next to the parking lot.
The trail gradually leads uphill, with some steeper sections along the way. Athabasca Glacier trail is gravel, rocky, and quite slippery.
Wear sturdy shoes even though it might seem the distance is short for the hassle.
Watch the blue circle signs with information about how much the glacier has melted over the years. Follow the trail all the way to the lookout.
The views of the Athabasca Glacier are overwhelming. Even from a distance.
And even though you can see only a tiny fragment of the whole Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains, we are pretty sure the view will take your breath away.
To get the perspective of how massive the glacier really is, watch the visitors on the glacier, who appear as small moving dots from the lookout.
However, this experience is not only about the raw beauty of Mother Nature.
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.
It makes you wonder how big of the impact we (people) have and if there is something we can do differently.
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.
After enjoying the views, we walked slowly back to the car park.
As we still had plenty of time, we hiked to Wilcox Pass and tremendously enjoyed Parker Ridge Trail. We highly recommend including one of those great hikes on your itinerary as well.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
ENTRANCE FEE
All backpackers and people traveling on a budget rejoice; the Athabasca Glacier hike is free (as all hikes in Jasper National Park).
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. Nevertheless, the hike itself is free.
There is no admission charge for the parking either. However, you need to (obviously) pay for the tours.
TOURS
You can experience the ultimate glacier adventure at Athabasca Glacier and choose from a range of spectacular glacier tours and experiences.
However, these tours can be quite pricey, unlike the walk to the Toe of Athabasca Glacier, which is free.
To be honest, we didn't book any of the tours or experiences. Icefields Parkway itinerary was packed already, and these tours seemed really expensive to us for what they offer.
Our budget was also quite limited, and we saved the money for the Mount Assiniboine Trek, which we did a few days later.
COLUMBIA ICEFIELD SKYWALK
The Columbia Icefield Skywalk is basically a glass-floored lookout perched atop a cliff about 280 meters above the valley floor that offers a thrilling walk around the observation platform.
There are some interpretative storytelling boards about the history on the walkway that will take you to the lookout.
We just couldn't justify the price tag for this attraction - a whopping 36 CAD.
The thing is that there are many lookouts and stops along the way where you don't have to pay, that the Skywalk makes sense only for visitors who really want to try the glass walk.
ATHABASCA GLACIER ICEWALK
Athabasca Glacier Icewalks is a more intimate way to explore this massive glacier.
If the budget is not a concern, you can join a guided tour that will safely introduce you to this natural sight.
Put on crampons, and you will get a firsthand view of this massive moving force, while the skilled and experienced guides will make your trip unforgettable.
GLACIER ADVENTURE
Glacier Adventure will allow you to travel onto the glacier in an Ice Explorer, a giant vehicle that's modified to conquer the glacier's icy surface.
When you see this behemoth slowly driving across the receding glacier, you might start questioning yourself if this is what this unique environment really needs.
Said that this tour is trendy from what we saw, and the bus shuttles were leaving the car park frequently.
For 99 CAD, it's one of those typical tourist things to do, so only you can tell if it's worth it.
We personally wouldn't buy this tour as it does not seem exactly environmentally friendly.
COLUMBIA ICEFIELD DISCOVERY CENTER
Columbia Icefield Discovery Center is technically a regular visitor center with restrooms and a large gift shop, and a restaurant on the second floor that is located on the opposite side of the Athabasca Glacier parking lot.
The visitor center is very busy in the high season, but there is not much to do except for asking for directions, information about the hikes and tours, or visiting a modest museum with a small theater.
You can also book the glacier tours and Skywalk here.
WHERE TO STAY
One of the best things about Icefields Parkway is that it is not lined with hotels and resorts.
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.
Accommodation is very limited along this scenic drive, and your best bet is to stay either in one of that first-come, first-served campgrounds or bigger towns such as Jasper or Banff.
Demand is heaviest from June to September, and accommodation fills up quickly.
Many visitors book their stay at least several months in advance, and bookings made even more than six months upfront are common.
The Canadian Rockies are a top tourist destination, and the prices match this fact. Something you will quickly realize when searching for hotels.
Believe us; you don't want to arrive in Banff or Jasper in high season without a reservation.
For us, booking hotels or campsites this well in advance was one of the most annoying things to do when planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies, but it's a necessary thing to do.
Here are our top picks for accommodation along the Icefields Parkway in the mid-range category.
Icefields Parkway | The Crossing - Located in Saskatchewan River Crossing on the Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Banff, The Crossing is one of the few hotels along this stunning road. The hotel offers an excellent location, basic rooms, and facilities. Rooms are adequate, however, this is one of the finest examples of paying extra for the location. Is it worth it? Only you can answer this question.
Jasper | Jasper Inn and Suites - When traveling north, Jasper is the best place to end your Icefields Parkway road trip. Jasper Inn & Suites offers good value for money. The hotel has a convenient location, indoor pool, onsite restaurant, and clean and tidy rooms that should convince you to stay here.
Banff | Banff Inn - Banff is a little bit further from Icefields Parkway. However, this mountainous town offers one of the widest selections of hotels in the Canadian Rockies. Banff Inn is a perfectly located hotel and a great place to stay both in the summer and winter. Except for modern rooms, guests can enjoy a hot tub, steam room, sauna, and useful facilities such as luggage storage and ski storage.
Lake Louise | Lake Louise Inn - Newly renovated rooms, onsite restaurants, fitness center, and a heated indoor pool, this hotel is a perfect place to stay either during the summer and in the winter as well (they even provide a free shuttle service to the Lake Louise Ski Resort). Free WiFi is provided.
CAMPGROUNDS
There are quite a few campgrounds along the Icefields Parkway; however, don't get excited too soon.
These campgrounds are all first-come, first-served, pretty basic (some have washrooms, some only pit toilets), and fill up pretty fast too.
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.
Said that there is a campground very close to the Athabasca Glacier walk.
Wilcox Creek Campground has first come, first served sites, and it's an excellent choice for all visitors who don't want to spend a fortune on accommodation and want to stay close to the Athabasca Glacier, Wilcox Pass, and other points of interest.
For more information, read our guide on Camping in the Canadian Rockies.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
We've already briefly touched on this topic. Still, before you start planning your trip, it is good to know that the side road that leads from Icefields Parkway to the Athabasca Glacier parking lot is often closed from November to May, depending on the weather conditions.
Because the Canadian Rockies is a destination where the winter can be really rough, it is always essential to plan your trip carefully and have a backup plan, especially if you plan on traveling outside the summer season.
Even though the road connects Jasper and Lake Louise or Banff, Columbia Icefields Parkways can sometimes be blocked by snow and impassable.
The best time for enjoying Athabasca Glacier is between June and September, when temperatures are higher, and your chances for the visit are the best.
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.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
