Columbia Icefield Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Columbia Icefield which includes snow, landscape views and mountains
Columbia Icefield
Columbia Icefield
Columbia Icefield
Columbia Icefield
An awe-inspiring mix of ethereal beauty and immense geological forces awaits you at this renowned site, home to eight major glaciers.

Looking out over the vast expanse of the Columbia Icefield, you’ll be left in no doubt that this is a true wonder of nature. Surrounded by some of the tallest peaks in the Canadian Rockies, this icefield covers 365 square kilometres, making it the largest in this mountain range. Endless fascinating discoveries await you in this frozen landscape of sweeping ice sheets marked by deep crevasses and rock formations carved over millennia by the glaciers.

Your first port of call should be the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center, where you can book a place on a wide variety of tours. Exploring the glaciers without a professional guide can be dangerous, as there are many hidden crevasses. You should never set out on your own.

The Glacier Adventure tour is a popular introductory option. You’ll be taken on a 5-kilometre round trip across the Athabasca Glacier, a stretch of ice 6 kilometres long and 1 kilometre wide, in a specially-designed ice explorer coach. You’ll learn how the constant snowfall compacts into ice, whilst flowing down the slopes at a rate of several centimetres per day.

If you want to truly immerse yourself in this unique environment, nothing beats the guided walking tours. Choose from either full-day or half-day trips, depending on your fitness levels. Your expert guide will explain how the glaciers shape the landscape and climate, and how they provide a vital source of fresh water, ultimately feeding the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

If you want to go further afield, there are snow coach tours that last up to 14 hours, taking in the spectacularly beautiful Victoria and Crowfoot glaciers, as well as Peyto Lake and Lake Louise.

Back at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center, you can refuel at the restaurant, overlooking the stunning landscape. If you want to prolong your experience, the centre also includes a hotel with rooms with a view over either the Athabasca Glacier or the towering mountain peaks. The centre is open between April and October.

The Columbia Icefield lies on the boundary between Jasper National Park and Banff National Park, 108 kilometres south of Japer, along the Icefields Parkway.

Glacier View Lodge

Glacier View Lodge

3 out of 5
Highway 93 N, Icefields Parkway, Columbia Icefield, Jasper, AB
Stay at this hotel in Improvement District No. 12. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (986 reviews)
"Very nice updated lodge. Nice location and staffs. We saw aroura here!"

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

Glacier View Lodge
Fortress Lake Wilderness Retreat

Fortress Lake Wilderness Retreat

2.5 out of 5
Columbia Shuswap A, Fortress Lake, BC
Stay at this lodge in Fortress Lake. Enjoy free breakfast, room service and a 24-hour front desk.
Fortress Lake Wilderness Retreat
HI-Rampart Creek Hostel

HI-Rampart Creek Hostel

1 out of 5
Ice Field Parkway, Rampart Creek, AB
Stay at this hostel in Rampart Creek. Enjoy free parking, daily housekeeping and a garden.
"WiFi but no showers"

Reviewed on 21 Jun 2017

HI-Rampart Creek Hostel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
One King West Hotel & Residence

One King West Hotel & Residence

4 out of 5
1 King Street West, Toronto, ON
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified aparthotel in Toronto. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, room service and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the restaurant and the bar in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (10,593 reviews)
"We loved this hotel from the 180 view of downtown and lake to the friendly staff, quiet comfortable room and bed, the text reminders about service and the location cant be beat. 5 minutes union station walking. A beautiful building itself surrounded by magnificent architecture. We had an amazing ..."

Reviewed on 21 Jul 2025

One King West Hotel & Residence
Hotel Monville

Hotel Monville

4 out of 5
Montreal, QC
Stay at this 4-star luxury aparthotel in Montreal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,578 reviews)
"Beautiful hotel centrally located. Great customer service. Beautiful room."

Reviewed on 20 Jul 2025

Hotel Monville
Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

3.5 out of 5
1110, Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC
Stay at this eco-certified aparthotel in Montreal. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,379 reviews)
NOT a bargain
"Everything is small: the elevators, the pool and the room. It said « suite room » so we expectated a room at least a little bigger than a regular hotel room… It was actually smaller than most regular rooms we were in. We could feel they were understaffed: there was never enough towels at the pool. ..."

Reviewed on 18 Jul 2025

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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