Adventuring Through the Glaciers: Jasper National Park's Icefield Centre
Updated: Aug 23
Note from Jazz:
My visit to Jasper National Park was less than two weeks before a wildfire devastated the town and surroundings. Parks Canada continues to assess the situation, and most of the park remains closed. The Ice Centre remains closed, but the Icefield Adventure and Skywalk have re-opened. Please check the Parks Canada website before planning your trip along the Icefields Parkway.
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What a feeling! Beneath my feet was ancient ice several metres thick. In front of me was a view of the Athabasca Glacier that took my breath away. I was awed by the power of water and ice to shape landscapes as I continued my Icefields Adventure Tour to walk across the glass-bottomed Sky Walk. Come meander with me as I take the Icefields Adventure Tour in Jasper National Park.
Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park
Canada’s largest National Park in the Rocky Mountains is a Dark Sky Preserve known for its wildlife, trails, rivers, canyons and glaciers. Every year, Jasper welcomes visitors from all over the globe who marvel at the stunning beauty of the soaring mountains, turquoise blue waters, and the breathtaking experience of being up close and personal with glaciers.
The highlight for visitors is a drive along the renowned Icefields Parkway connecting the towns of Banff and Jasper. This 232-kilometre road winds through the heart of both national parks and has been called one of the most scenic drives in the world. Expect viewpoints of rivers, waterfalls and glaciers. Plan to enjoy a picnic or hike at multiple points along the parkway. Plan at least one adventure along the way, whether you choose a rigorous hike, a rafting trip, a scenic helicopter ride or the Icefields Adventure Tour offered at the Columbia Icefield Centre located about halfway between the towns.
What to Know Before Your Icefield Parkway Drive
If you were to drive without a stop from Banff to Jasper, the journey would take about 3.5 hours. That would be a mistake. Visitors will find something worth stopping for at every viewpoint, place of interest, rest stop, and pullover. Most stops are viewpoints and will not require much time. Future posts on this blog will be devoted to the scenic stops along the way.
I did about half the drive before taking a long detour from Saskatchewan Crossing to spend a couple of days visiting Rocky Mountain House before making my way back to the Parkway. I dedicated a day to the Icefields Adventure and explored the stops between the Icefield Centre and Jasper on a third day.
Get Your Park Pass
Be aware that you will need to purchase a Park Pass. A day pass will cost $11. If you plan on visiting other national parks in the area or are staying more than 6 days, consider purchasing a "Discovery Pass" good for a full year.
Discovery Pass
Adult (18+) $75.25
Senior (65+) 64.50
Family 151.25
Youth, New Canadian Citizens, Canadian Military, Disability Support people FREE
Buy online from Parks Canada or at any Park Entrance
The Columbia Icefield
The Columbia Icefield is what is left of the thick ice mass that once covered most of Western Canada's mountains. The Columbia Icefield Centre is directly across from the toe of the Athabasca Glacier.
The Athabasca Glacier is one of the world’s most accessible glaciers, providing millions of annual visitors with the opportunity to personally witness the evidence of climate change in the Athabasa’s rapid retreat over the past century. The Athabasca Glacier has been receding for the last 125 years, leaving a mound of boulders and debris known as a moraine. In 2023, the Athabasca Glacier saw more glacier ice melt than in any of the past 10 years.
Jasper Icefield Centre
The Icefield Centre, about the midpoint along the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park, is a visitor centre and the place to arrange tours.
The most popular tour is the Icefield Adventure, where specially designed Ice Explorers transport visitors onto the glacier for an up-close experience. This tour includes the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored observation platform that extends over the Sunwapta Valley and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. With several different restaurants, a Starbucks, gift shops, and a range of services, the Icefield Centre is a stop for almost every visitor along the road.
The Icefield Centre features informative exhibits about the geology, ecology, and history of the icefield and its glaciers. It also houses a theatre that screens educational films, providing a deeper understanding of the glacial landscape and the environmental changes affecting it.
With dining facilities, gift shops, and a range of services, the Icefield Centre is a crucial hub for visitors seeking to explore the awe-inspiring Columbia Icefield and its majestic natural wonders.
When I visited, I had planned to have lunch at the centre before heading off on my adventure. Unfortunately, the Centre was experiencing power failures, so the restaurants were closed, and the snacks and sandwiches soon sold out. A chat with an employee told me that this was not usual, but visitors may want to be prepared with a bag lunch.
The tour begins at the centre in a regular coach-style bus, which transfers to the Ice Explorers once at the glacier. Visitors return to the Icefield Centre to transfer to another coach to visit the SkyWalk. The entire tour will last 2.5 - 3 hours. Make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before your tour. I saw several groups arriving minutes before departure, realizing that boarding had closed and they would need to rebook, with the next availability being several hours later.
Admission/Tour Rates
It is possible to hike to the glacier's toe, but visitors who want to go onto the glacier or take the Skywalk must join a tour. Rates are variable depending on the time of year and day of the week. Day tours can also be arranged from Jasper to Banff.
Icefield Adventure Tour: Rates are variable but will cost between $112-$140
Tours leave every 15-30 minutes during peak season, and boarding begins 1/2 before departure.
Athabasca Glacier
The Athabasca Glacier stretches over six kilometres in length and flows from the Columbia Icefield. The ice, which is several hundred meters thick in some places, is a dynamic and ever-changing environment. Despite its beauty, the Athabasca Glacier is a poignant example of climate change, as it has been receding at an alarming rate over the past century. Interpretive signs along the glacier's approach trail highlight its historical extent, showing how much it has retreated in recent decades.
Visitors may only walk on the designated part of the glacial toe. The Ice Explorers and visitors do contribute to the degradation of the ice surface but this is closely monitored and is balanced by the desire to educate.
Adventurous visitors can walk on the glacier's surface, feeling the ancient ice beneath their feet and witnessing deep blue crevasses and meltwater streams. The Athabasca Glacier is a stunning visual spectacle but also serves as important for understanding glacial dynamics and the broader implications of a warming planet.
Skywalk
The Glacier Skywalk is a remarkable engineering marvel that offers visitors a thrilling and immersive way to experience the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies. This glass-floored observation platform extends 280 meters (918 feet) out over the Sunwapta Valley, providing a glorious view of the surrounding mountains, glaciers, and valleys.
The structure is designed to blend seamlessly into the natural environment while offering a safe yet exhilarating experience. It incorporates sustainable practices, ensuring minimal environmental impact and preserving the area's pristine beauty.
Upon arrival, visitors are greeted with an interpretive walkway featuring informative exhibits about the area's geology, ecology, and history. The walkway leads to the Skywalk itself, where the glass floor offers a dizzying view straight down to the Sunwapta Valley floor below and beyond to the surrounding peaks.
Final Thoughts
Despite the hefty price, I recommend this tour highly. The excitement of riding in an Ice Explorer as it travels along the steepest unpaved commercial road on the continent, walking on ancient ice and enjoying views of the Sunwapta Valley is a privilege not to be taken lightly.
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Jasper National Park seems like one of those parks where I could spend a few days exploring. I am completely fascinated by icebergs and glaciers, and places like the Columbia Icefield.
The landscapes are breathtaking and your photos do justice to the grandeur of the place. Absolutely fabulous!
I hope the area recovers quickly from the devastation of the fires, and that the population can return to their normal lives. Angela | Blonde Around The World Travel -
I've done this a number of times and it never gets any less incredible being able to stand on the Glacier. Or just get so up close to such a remarkable area. Also being in the Ice Explorer trucks is just an adventure in itself - those wheels are massive! The drive itself up the parkway is worth the trip alone, but you're right about making sure to stop along the way.
This is quite a unique day out and I would love to do this! Getting up so close to a glacier and being allowed to walk on it must be once in a lifetime moment. I don't think the price for the 3h tour is that expensive but I guess with additional park fees, food ad parking it can add up quickly especially if you come as a family. Thanks for sharing your experience and the many practical insights, which allow other travellers and visitors to plan accordingly, set expectations and hopefully avoid disappointment onsite.
Carolin | <a href="https://solotravelstory.com/">Solo Travel Story</a>
It's wonderful to read about your experience and that you enjoyed your excursion. The view from the icefield center is jaw dropping and I can see myself standing for an hour just to survey the landscape. I am surprised however that know that they allow visitors to go that close to the glaciers #flyingbaguette
Jan - https://flyingbaguette.com/
I was lucky to visit the Athabasca Glacier when I was a little girl - a long time ago now. I remember the excitement of walking on the glacier itself and also stepping on a weak spot and ending up in the ice up to my waist! So this post brought back happy memories of that visit. You've given loads of great practical advice on visiting - I know I would love to go back. The skywalk looks amazing as well. On another note, we were so sad to hear about the awful fire in Jasper. We hope that the residents will be able to recover and welcome visitors once more.