Our Columbia Icefield Athabasca Glacier Adventure
Updated: Jun 17
Ever wondered what it would be like to be on a genuine ice glacier that has existed for thousands of years? Well if you have, then consider heading to the epic Columbia Icefield Athabasca Glacier in Jasper, Alberta, Canada! This is an absolute gem of a place you must surely visit if you can. If ever you were looking for a bucket list adventure, this is it!
When you think of an ice glacier do you immediately think of Antarctica? The North Pole? Polar Ice Caps? That may be the case for many; indeed the thought of exploring one may even feel impossible. Super cold or inaccessible, it may be feasible to suggest that seeing one of nature's most epic feats is beyond your reach. But we can tell you it is not! Especially if you live in Canada or are travelling to the stunning area of Banff or Jasper in Alberta.
Read on for our Athabasca Glacier highlights, some history, facts, how to get to the Columbia Icefield and where we stayed here.
Our Columbia Icefield Athabasca Glacier highlights, facts and history
The Columbia Icefield has no less than six 'toes'; places at which a glacier ends at any given moment in time. The toe of the Athabasca Glacier is at ground level and via specialist guided tours can be visited and walked on in the right conditions.
The glacier itself has sadly lost over half of its volume in the last 125 years although this does not make it any less impressive. It is indeed the most visited glacier in all of North America and is open to the public from mid-April to mid-October.
The Athabasca glacier is nearly 4 miles long and is up to 300 metres thick in some places. It is as dangerous as it is charming and there is a super steep decline to get to it, accessible only via specially designed snow coaches which cost a cool $1 million each!
We were given plenty of information by our coach driver which you will hear a snippet of in the video below. It was a fascinating trip; it is not often that you are travelling at such an angle that you can see almost directly in front of you out of the roof window!
It is called Snocoach Road and has a gradient of over 6% and an elevation of 135 metres, making it the steepest hill in all of North America. While the Athabasca Glacier is the easiest glacier in the world to access by vehicle, it is by no means an easy feat!
The Athabasca Glacier is part of the Jasper National Park and was first discovered by European explorers in the 1700's. It was named after a river nearby and it is estimated to be over 12,000 years old! One of the most fascinating features of the glacier are the wells (or moulins in French). These are large holes that are created by surface water which enters via channels that are formed across the glacier. This process creates tunnels or caves which typically exit at the base or toe.
The wells are incredibly dangerous and our guide was extremely cautious around them. We were only allowed to get within a couple of metres; the ice sheet is slippery but even more so close to the moulins! We were told a fascinating story of one person who fell in and actually survived; sadly this is not the case for others whose lives have been claimed over the years. Check out the video to hear a snippet of our guide talking about it...
So one piece of advice is to be properly dressed for the occasion! While we were happy to have our winter jackets I have to admit our footwear was grossly inadequate. Hiking boots are highly advisable as it is of course ice - running shoes are not a great match! As we were visiting during the lockdown strewn pandemic year of 2020 we were incredibly lucky to visit this glacier with just one other couple. The guide was even able to help Jenn and I as we tried not to fall in the blustering wind! Pre-pandemic there were up to 5000 visitors everyday here.
Step onto a clear glass platform 280 meters above the Sunwapta Valley as you admire the breathtaking views. Is it good value? You decide!
By its current measurements the Athabasca is sadly decreasing in size by over 16ft per year. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year due to its accessibility and breathtaking views. It is a sight to behold, being placed in an area that you just would not usually think would be a place for humans. We really loved the experience and even managed to bottle some fresh glacier water... what a treat! We have to say it was the freshest water we have ever tasted!
You will find the Athabasca Glacier in the Jasper National Park, T0E 1E0, Canada. All trips to the glacier are weather dependent and are operated by specially trained and certified guides. The visitation season runs from May to October and tours are regular throughout the day.
There is plenty of parking in the area if you aren't intending to stay, and you will also find other phenomenal attractions close by such as Lake Louise and Lake Moraine (these are a must see too!) You can book your tickets online or through the Icefield Discovery Centre located at the foot of the glacier.
We stayed at the superb Glacier Icefield Lodge which sits at the foot of the Athabasca Glacier. It offers excellent service and we thoroughly enjoyed the couple of days we spent there! We would highly recommend it!
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