Getting to the Icefields Parkway and exploring it is easier than you might think, even without a car.
Shuttle services run from Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise, Edmonton, and Jasper, and guided tours along the route mean you can sit back and let someone else handle the logistics while you take in one of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet.
Ready to book? Browse tours and transportation at IceWalks.ca
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Classic Half Day Tour
A 5 km round trip hike on the lower glacier with departures at 9:45 AM and 2:00 PM. You will see deep crevasses, waterfalls disappearing into the ice, and get a real sense of just how alive a glacier is.
Running May 16 to October 12, 2026, this is the perfect introduction to the Columbia Icefield on foot. Adults $131.43 CDN plus GST, children 7-16 $68.62 plus GST.
Full Day Deluxe Tour
For those who want to go further, the full day tour travels the entire tongue of the Athabasca Glacier all the way to the icefalls at the head of the valley. It is a bigger day out, roughly 8.5 km and six hours, and it earns every minute. Pack your lunch because you will eat it surrounded by seracs and mountain peaks.
Running June 13 to September 20, 2026, with a 10:15 AM departure. Adults $198.15 CDN plus GST, children 7-16 $96.40 plus GST.
Indigenous Led Tour
This is a rare and genuinely special experience. IceWalks has partnered with Zuc'min Guiding to offer glacier walks led by Tim Patterson, an Indigenous Interpretive Guide, Educator, and ACMG certified hiking guide. Guests learn about the historical and current significance of the Columbia Icefield region through an Indigenous lens, including how these mountain passes were used by several Nations for trading both before and after European contact. The walk also covers the Athabasca Glacier's critical role as a water source supporting ecosystems and communities across North America. Tours run approximately 1 hour 30 minutes with a 9:30 AM start. Available on select dates in 2026: July 3, July 4, July 16, and August 15. Spots are very limited. Adults $158.00 CDN, children 7-16 $96.40 CDN.
Private Tours
If you want to experience the glacier at your own pace and on your own schedule, IceWalks offers private tours that can be customized to your group. Contact IceWalks directly to discuss options.
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Where to Meet
Meet your guide at the Icefield Information Centre Parking Lot. Please use overflow parking when you arrive.
What to Bring
The glacier sits at 2,000 m elevation and mountain weather moves fast, so dress for anything including rain and snow even in summer. Temperatures on the ice range from 3 to 18°C. Here is what to pack:
If you do not have everything, IceWalks provides crampons, a waterproof jacket and pants, and a warm hat so you are covered either way.
There is no cell service along the parkway, so this free guide map is worth downloading before you head out. It covers key stops, distances, and everything you need to make the most of the drive.
With new and exciting adventures come many questions.
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