Columbia Icefield
If you're traveling through Jasper National Park, don't miss the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure.Lauren Pearson, July 2026
If you're traveling through Jasper National Park, don't miss the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure. My parents were visiting from Florida, and this ended up being one of the most memorable experiences of their trip. Riding down the massive 28percent grade in the Ice Explorers was exciting on its own, but actually stepping out and walking on a glacier was something we'll never forget.
A huge shoutout to our driver, Mitch, who made the experience even better with his humor and knowledge of the area and glacier history. The entire experience feels surreal from start to finish. Highly recommend adding this to your itinerary, it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Fun fact the only other ice explorers in the world are in Antarctica!
It's once in a lifetime experience to travel to the glacier on the Terrabus an the glacier is just magnificent.Girish Chandran, July 2026
It's an absolute must visit if you are visiting Jasper or travelling from Banff. Please make sure you have reservations. It's once in a lifetime experience to travel to the glacier on the Terrabus an the glacier is just magnificent. You are allowed to sample the glacier water. After the glacier visit you get to the stunning skywalk.
The Columbia facility has a Starbucks, and few cafes.
The glass Skywalk itself is actually quite short, but the engineering and architecture are incredibly impressive.My Dang, July 2026
We did the Columbia Icefield tour in May, and it was a great, smoothly run experience! We paid $375 with a 'kids ride free' promo, which was excellent value for the level of service provided. Please note: This advice applies specifically from May to the end of summer, as winter conditions will be entirely different.
The Columbia Icefield Skywalk:
The glass Skywalk itself is actually quite short, but the engineering and architecture are incredibly impressive. It is highly recommended, especially if you love mountain views. You get stunning, panoramic lookouts over the Sunwapta Valley and the famous surrounding peaks like Mount Snow Dome, Mount Athabasca, Mount Andromeda, and Mount Kitchener.
Bathrooms: Go to the bathroom before you start! The entire tour takes about 2 hours (including the regular bus transfer, the big red Ice Explorer bus, and the Skywalk), and there are no restrooms along the way.
Dining at the Columbia Icefield Centre:
After the tour, you can eat upstairs. There are two options: Altitude (dine-in, more expensive) and Chalet (cafeteria style, pick your food and pay at the counter). Many people complain about the prices, but honestly, for a remote tourist hub, the prices are completely fair compared to other famous BC tourist spots.
Pro-Tip for More Fun:
Once you finish the official tour, drive directly across the highway to the opposite parking lot to hike up to the Toe of the Athabasca Glacier by yourself. Honestly, exploring it on your own at your own pace was even more fun than the bus tour!
Summary: A very well-taken-care-of tour and a bucket-list experience.