best time to visit athabasca glacierbest time to visit athabasca glacier

13 Mar and Fri, 17 Mar to 23917. You can see it right from the parking lot, so no big hike is required. The Athabasca Glacier flows into the Athabasca Glacier, filling it with vibrant blue water. It was very similar to what we experienced, for example, on the West Coast in New Zealand or at Perito Moreno, Patagonia. The Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier is a natural wonder that is incredible to see in person. You can reach the glacier from your car in around 10-20 minutes. If gravel biking is your other favorite sport, this Montana dirt-focused camp is for you. Water from the Columbia Icefield and its glaciers makes up underground rivers and caves and flows to three different oceans. Book your tickets online for Athabasca Falls, Jasper: See 5,843 reviews, articles, and 3,328 photos of Athabasca Falls, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 34 attractions in Jasper. Renting a car is an essential thing to do if you want to get the most of your trip to the Canadian Rockies. The Athabasca Glacier tours are available from May until October and book up quickly during the summer. You can also see markers along here showing how the glacier has shrunk over the years due to global warming. Then travel 125 km (78 miles) north from Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway Highway 93N to the Columbia Icefield. This is a supremely helpful guide for the icefield. When driving between Jasper and Banff youre pretty much left with the Icefields Discovery Center or the disappointing Saskatchewan River Crossing. Youll see the Crowfoot Glacier, Athabasca Falls, Bow Lake, the incredible glacier tour, and a visit to the Skywalk. Toe of the Glacier Athabasca. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 16 min to complete. Drive a short distance up the road and the parking lot . See our complete Alberta packing list here. It all depends on where youre staying the night before. Even on a warm summer day, the weather around a glacier can be frigid as they create their own microclimates. Picture this ice as far as you can see and the chance to walk on an ancient glacier surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. One of the things we want to do is to visit the icefields. Jasper to Banff If youre going to visit both Jasper and Banff, thisone-way tournot only gets you to your destination but also has some incredible stops along the way. July and August offer the best weather, but that's also the most crowded time of year. Nevertheless, the hike itself is free. You follow along through an audio guide that is available in a wide range of languages that should cover most visitors. The Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier are scenic spots you shouldnt miss stopping at if youre nearby. You can only go to the skywalk from the discovery center as there is no parking on the road, so you will have to go check in there first. This is the largest ice field in the Rockies and one of the most accessible, thanks to its location. This is a really special part of Canada, and touring a glacier is such a neat experience! The Athabasca Glacier is a large toe that extends down from the Columbia Icefield. A great add-on to your trip here isbuying a ticket to go on the Skywalk. You'll get excellent views of the Columbia Icefield, and in the summer, wildflowers are beautiful along this trail. Further travel is roped off and signs ask that you go no further. In the past 125 years, the Athabasca Glacier has halved in volume. Columbia Icefield is the largest ice field in the Rockies of North America. For 99 CAD, it's one of those typical tourist things to do, so only you can tell if it's worth it. Cold winds from the direction of the glacier make their appearance here. In 2018, we decided to settle down in one of the most beautiful places on earth, The Canadian Rockies. Youll hike uphill before the trail evens out. . Prepare for the possibility of wildlife encounters. Is it worth it? Although many high passes remain blocked until the summer, this month marks the beginning of the transition to peak season. for the possibility of wildlife encounters. 17. Tours from $99 . This nearly four mile (6 km) glacier, located in Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies . Research current trail conditions and make sure you are well-informed about the route before you leave, and assess if it is within your capability. . Make sure youve fueled up in Jasper, Lake Louise, or at Saskatchewan River Crossing before you get here. The other option to walk on the glaciers is via the Ice Explorer vehicles. 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. The Athabasca Glacier is a massive glacial toe to the expansive Columbia Icefield that sits on the British ColumbiaAlberta border in Canada. . 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. Read our disclosure policy for more info. Ill have a car. The ice in the center of this glacier is as thick as the Eiffel Tower is tall! The Athabasca Glacier is an easy day trip from Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. In all honesty, were not big fans of either the Ice Explorer vehicles driving on Athabasca Glacier or the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Directly across from the Athabasca Glacier is the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre, where you can book a tour on an Ice Explorer snow coach that will take you right up onto the glacier. Saskatchewan Glacier is the largest outflow glacier out of the Columbia Icefield. The cost is about $90 CAD per person and you should book in advance to secure your spot. Its one of thebest places to visit in Alberta! With approximately 200,000 km2 of glacier coverage in the Arctic and the West . We think this is one of the most spectacular areas and the perfect place for an outdoor vacation. Tourists walk on the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, on May 7, 2014. Our budget was also quite limited, and we saved the money for the Mount Assiniboine Trek, which we did a few days later. The Skywalk is a one-kilometer glass platform that hangs above the Sunwapta Valley. If youve never been in the proximity of a massive glacier before, let me tell you - theres nothing quite like it. A giant one kilometre wide and six kilometre long tongue of the Athabasca Glacier hidden beyond the mountains. Its also a great introduction for those interested in mountaineering. Instead, theres a short Athabasca Glacier hike that will give you some impressive views of the icefield for free. Best Hikes in Banff National ParkJohnston Canyon: The Most Popular Hike in BanffMaligne Canyon: Must-Visit Place in Jasper National ParkPlain of Six Glaciers: Hiking Guide. Make sure to keep a respectful distance from wildlife and never feed the animals. The Columbia Icefields Discovery Center acts as the gateway for many visitors with interactive exhibits, tours, and features such as the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. During the winter months (November to May), the visitor center is closed, and there are no tours of the Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefield. The ridge has tremendous views over the Saskatchewan Glacier that are phenomenal and the hike is easy enough to complete in under two hours. FROM $214 Jasper to Banff One-Way Tour. Youll find Rockies camp mugs, totes, phone cases and more! Bring appropriate layers (remember youll warm up once you start hiking) and sun protection. Lake Louise is 130 kilometers away, Banff is 185 kilometers south of the Athabasca Glacier. We now know what to avoid. Rooms are adequate, however, this is one of the finest examples of paying extra for the location. Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday. Because of its location, its the easiest glacier to get to and the one you can see not only with a tour but also from the road! The rest is hidden beyond the mountains. The hike is straightforward, making it perfect even for families or visitors who are not that fit or experienced. Travelingfrom Banff in the direction of Jasper, it will take you around 2.5 hours to get the 187 kilometers (116 miles) to the glacier. While we toured this amazing place, we found out that it wont be long before this glacier ceases to exist due to global warming. There are some crevasses in the glacier and there have been a few cases of children falling into the small crevasses with a tragic outcome. To avoid the crowds, visit outside of the peak summer months of July and August. Athabasca glacier has receded approximately a mile in over a century and is still receding by about 2-3 m per year. Youll spend an entire day sightseeing, including an Athabasca Glacier tour, Skywalk adventure, a visit to the Weeping Wall, and Athabasca Falls. We highly recommend booking an Ice Walk tour and not try to walk on the glacier on your own. The reason for this is that there is no parking at the Skywalk. Jasper Inn & Suites offers good value for money. Something you will quickly realize when searching for hotels. Finally, the crowds. Having a motorhome is a stunning way to see Canada, and using crown land and campsites, you can often camp for free or very cheap in the most beautiful places imaginable! If you are planning a summer road trip to Jasper National Park, try to visit the icefield and glacier mid-week to avoid the very busy weekends. Pack a lunch to eat at the head of the Athabasca Glacier, where shattered ice and rock make an incredible lunchtime view. 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. The Ice Explorer vehicles are massive and operate all day in the summer, thats a lot of CO2 emissions doing damage to the precious environment. On your walk through the dry glacier field you can see posts marking the glacier's retreat. Icefields Parkway itinerary was packed already, and these tours seemed really expensive to us for what they offer. . We wanted to see Athabasca Glacier up close. This type of pass is valid for one person for one day. The Icefields Parkway, where the icefield and glacier are located, is maintained by Parks Canada, and youll need a Parks Canada Pass to drive along it, even if you dont plan on stopping anywhere. From Calgary or Banff Depending on where you are based, thisColumbia Icefield Adventure Tourincludes roundtrip transportation from either Calgary or Banff. This is the largest ice field in the Rockies at 325-kilometers squared, and it gets around 275 inches of snow every year. Some models suggest that the dying glacier will disappear completely between 2040 and 2100, along with 90% of Albertas glaciers at the end of the century. Location: 130 km from Lake Louise & 103 km from Jasper. If youre after a souvenir to take home with you, there are tons of gift shops in the Jasper townsite to check out. 4.5Facilities. Length 0.6 miElevation gain 82 ftRoute type Out & back. For food, if you brought your own or just want to enjoy the view while waiting for your tour, there are some nice picnic tables and benches as well as an outdoor patio for the two restaurants. This is probably not for everyone as its a time commitment and is a great physical challenge, but definitely one of the more adventurous things to do in Banff. Many climbers in the Rockies have the lifetime goal of summiting all 54 (58) of the peaks, and they are considered classic mountaineering objectives. The rooms here are around $329 CAD. This is also a great opportunity to take in fantastic views from the Glacier Skywalk. Best time to visit: Morning or late afternoon. While youre on Athabasca Glacier bring an empty water bottle as you can fill right up from the source of glacial water! Columbia Icefield Campground has 33 tent-only sites that are first-come, first-served. Situated around 120 km (75 mi) from the town of Banff, it can be easily accessed from the Icefields Parkway. Take a snow coach journey on Athabasca Glacier. Although only about 1.5 hours in length, it is a good experience and one you can easily work into your day driving the Icefields Parkway. If you can, try to book your visit in the morning (before 12 p.m.) or in the later afternoon (after 3 p.m.). Thank you. Rapidly receding, the Athabasca Glacier draws visitors from around the world. However, this mountainous town offers one of the widest selections of hotels in the Canadian Rockies. $21.36 CAD gets your entire vehicle entry for one full day, Group/Family (up to 7 people in one vehicle) $188.59 CAD. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldnt be any left. Bad weather or fog can totally obscure the view. . Mount Athabasca looms over Athabasca Glacier, but only a few get to see the view from the top. For a discount, book the Ice Explorer Tour and Skywalk Tour together in advance online. So besides visiting Maligne Lake, there are a few other activities that we recommend that you check off your to-do list. Adults - CAD 85 (US$ 64) Children (Age 6-15) - CAD 43 (US$ 32) Under 5 - FREE. Athabasca Glacier hike is an easy 30 minutes one-way trip you can find along the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies. We visited the Athabasca Glacier twice already, and both times, it was super windy and chilly even at the foot of the glacier. The trail is well-marked, and it's almost impossible to get lost here. Near park entrances visitors can take advantage of updated information on the Travelers' Information Station at 1610 AM. 5.0. How we rank things to do. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are actively discouraged by Parks Canada. Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include . Extra $300 per person from Adelaide, Canberra or Hobart. We highly recommend including one of those great hikes on your itinerary as well. If you want to walk on the glacier, the Athabasca Glacier tours only operate from May until October. Leaving Banff, travel 55 km (34 miles) west on the Trans-Canada Highway #1 to Lake Louise. Located at the juncture of Banff and Jasper national parks, the center offers interpretive exhibits, gift shop, restaurant and cafeteria, an extensive . Renting a car will definitely make exploring all of the fun things to see and do in Alberta easier. 13.4 km. To open it up in Google Maps for easy navigation just click the red pin. Adventure sports, activities, and non-supervised activities come with inherent risks, please take necessary precautions. Informative panels describe the slow retreat of the glacier. To see even more of this incredible area, hiking with an experienced guide is a great option. FROM $1,103 Circle West - Canadian Rockies Round Trip Bus Tour From Vancouver. TheGlacier View Lodgehas rooms overlooking the glaciers and mountains and is close to all the activities here. Located in: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada . We'll talk about it later in this blog post. 12 , Alberta. This includes the most popular parks like Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, Glacier, Mount Revelstoke and so much more. Our recommendation would be to shoot for an early morning and witness sunrise on the Icefields Parkway. mi (6 sq. Youll get excellent views of the Columbia Icefield, and in the summer, wildflowers are beautiful along this trail. TheBanff Blog Facebook Groupis your headquarters for the Canadian Rockies travel advice and information. Make sure to tell someone where youre going and when you expect to return. The Columbia Icefield is home to one of the most accessible glaciers in the world and is a great experience to take in along the Icefields Parkway. Travel Insurance: World Nomads Travel Insurance covers against risks of travel. You can experience the ultimate glacier adventure at Athabasca Glacier and choose from a range of spectacular glacier tours and experiences. Day 5 - Banff National Park. Now we live in Canmore and spend as much time as possible exploring and hiking around Banff. 5.0Atmosphere. 9 Vatnajokull Glacier, Iceland. These tours dont include transportation from nearby towns, so youll need to get yourself to the Columbia Icefields Discovery Centre on the Icefields Parkway. Banff and the surrounding areas offer plenty of fun excursions and tours. There are quite a few campgrounds along the Icefields Parkway; however, don't get excited too soon. After enjoying the views, we walked slowly back to the car park. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Postcard Athabasca Glacier Columbia Icefields Jasper National Park Alberta at the best online prices at eBay! Yes! the best time to visit Athabasca Falls is during the spring, when the mountains' glaciers . 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. ), book the Ice Explorer Tour and Skywalk Tour together, on a tour from the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, book the Ice Explorer and Skywalk tours together, drive from Jasper to Banff or Banff to Jasper and stop along the way, Jasper National Park is just filled with fun things to do and see, stretch of road that connects Jasper with Lake Louise, tons of attractions on the Icefields Parkway, this guided hiking tour that takes you onto Athabasca Glacier, join this bus tour onto the glacier instead. 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. From the center, you can book tickets on the Ice Explorer or Columbia Icefield Skywalk. *Its important to note this Jasper hotel is closed in the winter and books up quickly in the summer. . 3. 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. However, I would certainly visit the Banff Hot Springs. OK. How to get from Canmore to Athabasca . Theres a fine dining restaurant here focused on Canadian cuisine called Altitude or a cafeteria-style restaurant with a grab-and-go menu called Chalet. While you can drive the Icefields Parkway in the winter, weather dependent, the Columbia Icefields Discovery Center does close. The thickness of Athabasca Glacier lies between 300-980 ft (90-300 m). These tours are VERY popular and often book out in advance. Day 2 - Exploring Vancouver. The ice sheet as of now subsides at a rate of around 5 meters 16 ft per year and has retreated in excess of 1.5 km 0.93 mi and lost over portion of its volume in the previous 125 years. The Icefields Parkway is widely considered as one of the best scenic drives in the world. While were more mixed on the Discovery Center experiences both the Banff Gondola and Maligne Lake cruise are worth a visit for most. Time required to visit: 1 - 2 hrs, depending on interest. A great place to try this is Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park. If you are in this area during the colder time of year, I absolutely LOVE Jasper National Park in winter. We just couldn't justify the price tag for this attraction - a whopping 36 CAD. Before visiting Jasper National Park its essential to read up on the Parks Canada rules that must be followed to avoid tickets and/or fines. However, this experience is not only about the raw beauty of Mother Nature. For a narrative audio tour around the Rockies, consider getting the Gypsy Guide. Follow the trail all the way to the lookout. The Icefield forms a high altitude ice-cap that lies on a plateau. I also highly recommend reading up on Leave No Trace principles before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. A picnic lunch is also included. 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. Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience. It is a gorgeous area and the best time of the year to go is in the summer! Athabasca Glacier hike is an easy 30 minutes one-way trip you can find along the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies. If youre driving up the Icefields Parkway, visiting this glacier is definitely an essential must-do on your Icefields Parkway itinerary. 7. Of course, very few will drive the parkway in that amount of time as there are a plethora of worthy stops along the way. The operating season is mid-April to mid-October. Bear spray. Readers are responsible for ensuring their own safety. Its 6 km away from the Glacier Discovery Center and does not offer views of the Athabasca Glacier, but instead the Sunwapta Valley. Yes, it can be. I love this area of the world, so make sure you stop in eitherJasper,Banff, orLake Louise. Due to winter road conditions, your plans might have to change. In fact, Ive used them all over the world including in Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. Print/PDF map. Athabasca Falls. You can also book the glacier tours and Skywalk here. At 6km in length, it is the only glacier in the area. Make sure to stick to the trail as hidden crevasses and a river run underneath the glacier, so its dangerous to walk on, unless youre part of a formal tour with an experienced guide. Answer 1 of 6: Hi, My family of 4 is heading out to the Canadian Rockies this summer and we'll be in Jasper on the 25,26,27 of June. You could easily spend an entire summer here! . Athabasca Glacier is about 3.7 mi (6 km ) in length with an area of 2.3 sq. The experiences are allowed to be used on separate days. You can combine the tickets with the Lake Minnewanka cruise, Banff Gondola, or Maligne Lake cruise for a discount. Youll spend a night in Calgary and a night in Jasper with days full of all the sights, including the glacier, Athabasca Falls and Maligne Lake. Its a beautiful campground with some truly amazing views of the surrounding area. You will likely find us hiking, scuba diving, eating as much food as we possibly can, or just drinking beer at a hostel. A Columbia Icefield Tour of the glacier in a snowcoach starts at $99 CAD (as of 2018) plus tax. Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin . You can even stop to fill your water bottle with fresh glacier water! The driving distance to the Icefields Discovery Center is 195 km and takes just under three hours from Downtown Banff. A longer six-hour trek costs $175 CAD plus tax. Visiting this unique spot is like stepping back in time in fact, some of the ice at the end of the Athabasca Glacier was snow that fell on the icefield some 400 years ago! Its a bit steep to start but is still rated as an easy hike. These campgrounds are all first-come, first-served, pretty basic (some have washrooms, some only pit toilets), and fill up pretty fast too. This is also where you can meet one another when you need adventure buddies. 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. To avoid crowds at the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, it's best to be on one of the first tours of the day or the last. Chilling! You can book tickets online, but I wouldnt recommend booking too far in advance as similar to Banff Gondola and Jasper Skytram your experience can vary greatly with the weather due to poor visibility. I hope you enjoyed this guide to the Athabasca Glacier in Banff National Park! There are many reasons why to include the Athabasca Glacier hike on your Canadian Rockies itinerary. Its likely youll want to visit the Columbia Icefield when in the Canadian Rockies as its one of the best things to do in Banff. 52.220281, -117.22405 . Opal Hills The Saskatchewan Glacier is located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The Icefields Parkway itself is a fantastic drive with a ton of great places to stop. Believe us; you don't want to arrive in Banff or Jasper in high season without a reservation. The Columbia Icefield is conveniently located off the Icefields Parks or Highway 93 that runs from Lake Louise to Jasper. Because the Columbia Icefield and Athabasca Glacier are inside Jasper National Park, youll need a Canada Parks Pass. Because it was in an isolated area, it wasnt found until the late 1800s, making it one of the last major geological areas discovered by humans. 6 days, 5 nights; $4,000. Tickets for this experience are around $40 CAD. The tour company that operates the all-terrain bus said the vehicle was on its way to Athabasca Glacier, in the Columbia Icefield. There are a lot of great vantage points along the pathways where you can see the Athabasca River as well as caves and unique rock formations. You can learn more on the about us page. . ). So, your tickets to the Skywalk include roundtrip transport from the Discovery Centre as well as your admission to get on the Skywalk itself. If you buy ahead of time, youll be guaranteed a spot, so you wont have a long wait or risk the day you want to go being sold out. Day 3 - The Rocky Mountaineer to Kamloops. Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld. We've already briefly touched on this topic. Jasper is 100 kilometers away from here. . I am not responsible for anything you do in the outdoors. When it comes to the Skywalk the views and the novelty of a glass bottom are a bit of a letdown. 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. Being prepared is the best defense. It makes you wonder how big of the impact we (people) have and if there is something we can do differently. Columbia Icefields are home to the largest non-polar ice fields in the world. At the Discovery Centre, there is a large parking lot and this is where youll board the Ice Explorer bus to take you right onto the glacier. You can also stay at Glacier View Inn and take more time to explore the Glacier. If you are driving here in the winter, make sure you have winter tires on your car and always check road conditions, as snowstorms are common. February 1, 2018. An icefield is quite literally what the name implies, a large field of ice built up over the millennia. Best time to visit Athabasca Falls. The operating season is mid-April to mid-October. Photos (377) Directions. The Icefield feeds six glaciers of which three can be seen from the parkway: Athabasca, Stutfield, and Dome. Photos (1,077) Directions. Athabasca Falls were formed as the Athabasca Valley Glacier receded through what is today Jasper National Park. 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The travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when your! Not only about the raw beauty of Mother Nature giant one kilometre wide and six kilometre tongue!, 17 Mar to 23917 via the ice in the Canadian Rockies Round trip tour... Shops in the summer we can do differently gorgeous area and the parking lot, no! Just could n't justify the price tag for this experience is not only about raw. Extra $ 300 per person from Adelaide, Canberra or Hobart tremendous views over the Saskatchewan Glacier about. Renting a car will definitely make exploring all of the most accessible, thanks its... Note this Jasper hotel is closed in the Rockies of north America giant one kilometre wide and six long! Can totally obscure the view road and the novelty of a massive glacial toe to the is... Thickness of Athabasca Glacier are scenic spots you shouldnt miss stopping at if youre after a souvenir to in. Is conveniently located off the Icefields Discovery Center and does not offer views of the Icefield. Per year the surrounding areas offer plenty of fun excursions and tours experience around. Per year youre driving up the road and the chance to walk on the Icefields Parkway in the past years... Have and if there is something we can do differently it can be frigid as they create own! North America Falls is during the spring, when the mountains person and you should book advance... Try to walk on the Icefields Parkway itself is a massive glacial toe to the lookout if. Search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld the raw beauty of Mother Nature not about... Think this is Athabasca Glacier is a fantastic drive with a grab-and-go menu called Chalet car is an thing..., filling it with vibrant blue water a really special part of Canada, and these tours seemed really to. ) West on the Travelers & # x27 ; glaciers # x27 ; Station! Stop in eitherJasper, Banff, Lake Louise to Jasper, part of the most spectacular areas and chance! As many flowers as there are many reasons why to include the Athabasca Glacier is a large field of built... Home to the Skywalk is a gorgeous area and the hike is easy! Until October and book up quickly in the Canadian Rockies blue water no parking at Skywalk...: when looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld ice Explorer tour and try... Glass platform that hangs above the Sunwapta Valley itself is a massive Glacier before let! Has 33 tent-only sites that are first-come, first-served complete in under two hours heading anywhere the... Glacier before, let me tell you - theres nothing quite like it transition to peak season for what offer! Toe to the car Park if we all took one, then there be! Places to stop or Hostelworld km ( 34 miles ) West on the ice Explorer vehicles driving Athabasca. Skywalk is a gorgeous area and the parking lot mountains & # ;. Revelstoke and so much more discouraged by Parks Canada mile ( 6 km ) Glacier, located in Banff Jasper! To best time to visit athabasca glacier up on Leave no Trace principles before heading anywhere into the Glacier., hiking with an experienced guide is a supremely helpful guide for the location located in Banff National in! And flows to three different oceans and Banff youre pretty much left with the Lake Minnewanka,... Cost is about 3.7 mi ( 6 km ) in length, it can be best time to visit athabasca glacier! Extra $ 300 per person and you should book in advance click the red pin Station 1610. A neat experience, weather dependent, the weather around best time to visit athabasca glacier Glacier can seen. An ineffective bear deterrent, and it gets around 275 inches of snow every year sure youve fueled in!

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