THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend a full day on the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to the Columbia Icefield — ride an Ice Explorer onto Athabasca Glacier and step onto the glass Glacier Skywalk for sweeping valley views. Practical tips and what to expect for this high-alpine experience.
Spend a full day on the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to the Columbia Icefield — ride an Ice Explorer onto Athabasca Glacier and step onto the glass Glacier Skywalk for sweeping valley views. Practical tips and what to expect for this high-alpine experience.
You step off the coach onto a flat, wind-swept plateau and the glacier waits like an old, slow-moving animal — its blue ice daring you to draw closer. On a clear morning the peaks sharpen into knives; the air is thin and carries the mineral scent of moraine and meltwater.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Banff Jasper Collection By Pursuit · Jasper, Alberta
You step off the coach onto a flat, wind-swept plateau and the glacier waits like an old, slow-moving animal — its blue ice daring you to draw closer. On a clear morning the peaks sharpen into knives; the air is thin and carries the mineral scent of moraine and meltwater.
This full-day loop from Jasper follows the Icefields Parkway, a road carved through 100-million-year-old sediment and sculpted by repeated glaciation. The Columbia Icefield itself feeds both the Arctic and Pacific watersheds, and layers of compressed snow reveal a geological archive. Indigenous peoples, including the Stoney Nakoda and other First Nations, have long read these landscapes for travel and stories; later, early explorers and surveyors mapped the route that now draws visitors worldwide.
Your day mixes interpretive stops, a ride on an Ice Explorer over the glacier surface, and the vertiginous glass-and-steel Glacier Skywalk that cantilevers above the Sunwapta Valley. Expect raw alpine weather: sunlight one minute, sleet the next, and thin air that quickens your breath. Wildlife — mountain goats and marmots — use the rocky outcrops as vantage points and may watch you pass.
Practical guidance: arrive layered and prepared for slippery surfaces; the operator provides guided access but the terrain on the glacier is uneven. Bring sunscreen, a windproof shell, and extra water. Timeliness matters — the tour runs on a strict schedule to protect the site and fit the parkway’s limited pullouts — so plan pickup details in advance and allow extra time in Jasper to acclimatize before boarding.
The tour is about 7–8 hours and departs from Jasper with scheduled pickup locations; confirm your pickup on the voucher before the day.
Access onto the glacier is via the guided Ice Explorer experience included in the tour; free, unsupervised walks on the glacier surface are not permitted for safety and conservation reasons.
The Skywalk has boardwalk access and is wheelchair accessible in many areas, but some terrain and vehicle boarding may require assistance—inform the operator of needs when booking.
Weather is highly variable; dress in layers, carry a windproof shell, and be prepared for cooler temperatures than in Jasper town, even in summer.
Banff Jasper Collection By Pursuit operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step off the coach onto a flat, wind-swept plateau and the glacier waits like an old, slow-moving animal — its blue ice daring you to draw closer. On a clear morning the peaks sharpen into knives; the air is thin and carries the mineral scent of moraine and meltwater.
You step off the coach onto a flat, wind-swept plateau and the glacier waits like an old, slow-moving animal — its blue ice daring you to draw closer. On a clear morning the peaks sharpen into knives; the air is thin and carries the mineral scent of moraine and meltwater.
This full-day loop from Jasper follows the Icefields Parkway, a road carved through 100-million-year-old sediment and sculpted by repeated glaciation. The Columbia Icefield itself feeds both the Arctic and Pacific watersheds, and layers of compressed snow reveal a geological archive. Indigenous peoples, including the Stoney Nakoda and other First Nations, have long read these landscapes for travel and stories; later, early explorers and surveyors mapped the route that now draws visitors worldwide.
Your day mixes interpretive stops, a ride on an Ice Explorer over the glacier surface, and the vertiginous glass-and-steel Glacier Skywalk that cantilevers above the Sunwapta Valley. Expect raw alpine weather: sunlight one minute, sleet the next, and thin air that quickens your breath. Wildlife — mountain goats and marmots — use the rocky outcrops as vantage points and may watch you pass.
Practical guidance: arrive layered and prepared for slippery surfaces; the operator provides guided access but the terrain on the glacier is uneven. Bring sunscreen, a windproof shell, and extra water. Timeliness matters — the tour runs on a strict schedule to protect the site and fit the parkway’s limited pullouts — so plan pickup details in advance and allow extra time in Jasper to acclimatize before boarding.