Explore the Athabasca Glacier on a guided Ice Explorer ride, a massive vehicle built for glacial travel. Hear stories about the Columbia Icefield and its ancient ice. Walk on 25,000-year-old ice, sip pure glacial water. Then visit the Skywalk for thrilling glass-floor views 918 ft above the Sunwapta River and waterfalls. Unforgettable mix of glacier thrills and panoramic mountain beauty.
The colossal, shifting expanse of the Athabasca Glacier and the vertigo-inducing heights of the Sunwapta Valley serve as the stage for this high-alpine double adventure.
Operated by Pursuit Collection, this experience transitions from the deep, 25,000-year-old blue ice of the glacier to a glass-bottomed walkway suspended 279 meters (918 feet) in the air.
You move from the massive, oversized tires of a specialized Ice Explorer to the transparent floor of the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, experiencing an environment where the raw power of the Ice Age is still visible today.
Because this is one of the most sought-after tickets on the Icefields Parkway, you should book your Columbia Icefield adventure early to secure your 2026 departure time.
Expect a high-tech, awe-inspiring, and logistically smooth expedition. The transition from the warmth of the Discovery Center to the surface of the glacier involves a dramatic temperature drop; even in mid-July, the wind whipping off the ice can feel vertical in its intensity. The environment is one of "grand scale," where everything from the vehicles to the mountains feels oversized. Our agency notes that the tour is wheelchair accessible, though the glacier surface can be uneven. There are no washrooms available during the actual tour, so be sure to use the facilities at the Discovery Center before your ticketed time.
Our agency strongly suggests booking an afternoon departure if you want to avoid the peak tour-bus rush. Our travelers have found that the late-day light provides a more dramatic vertical contrast on the glacier, and the crowds at the Skywalk tend to thin out significantly after 3:00 PM.
Us at the agency want you to come prepared with a sturdy, reusable water bottle. Our clients often find that the "glacier water tasting" is the highlight of their trip, but travelers with us suggest making sure your bottle is empty before you board the Ice Explorer so you have plenty of room for that 25,000-year-old refreshment.
Our agency stresses that "mountain weather" is an understatement here. Our travelers often note that it can be 20°C at the Discovery Center and -5°C on the ice; us at the agency recommend a waterproof outer shell and gloves, regardless of how sunny it looks from your hotel window.
We recommend booking this experience for the first available day of your Jasper itinerary. Our travelers have found that because the tour is weather-dependent, booking early in your trip gives us at the agency the vertical flexibility to help you reschedule if inclement weather causes a temporary closure.
The conditions on the Icefields Parkway vary by the month and time of day.
Yes, both the Ice Explorer and the Skywalk are fully accessible.
You typically have about 20 minutes on the glacier itself.
No, pets are not allowed on the shuttles or the glacier vehicles.
Parking is at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center; you must provide your own transport to get there.
Tours depart every 15-30 minutes; if your requested time is full, the next available slot will be assigned.
Book it today with Banff National Park Tours or simply following this link.
