Columbia Icefield

Travel Guide

Columbia Icefield which includes snow, mountains and landscape views
Columbia Icefield
Columbia Icefield
Columbia Icefield
Columbia Icefield

This immense expanse of ice is home to six major glaciers, as well as some of the Canadian Rockies’ highest peak, including the mighty Athabasca Glacier.

Go for a drive over massive glaciers that have been active for thousands of years. Stare in awe at endless snowfields or hike past icy crevasses and muddy moraines. Drive the scenic Icefields Parkway to arrive in this vast winter landscape, which is one of the few that is easily accessible by road. Special explorer buses can take you into the park and even onto the glaciers.

With 130 square miles (365 square kilometers), Columbia Icefield is the largest of its kind in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and it feeds into six main glaciers. Located at about 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) altitude, the Columbia Icefield has year-round snowfall.

Stop at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center, open April through October, for information. Learn how the Icefield is one of the major sources of fresh water for farmland and cities in North America. To see it all up close, book a tour with a vehicle that can take you onto the glaciers.

Most people visit at least the steadily receding Athabasca Glacier. Sign up for the Columbia Icefield Scenic Walk a two-hour trek along the side of the glacier with a naturalist. Listen to the story of its formation and find out by how much it retracts every year. Take care if you decide to tour the glacier without a guide: Hidden crevasses in particular can prove treacherous and you should never set out on the hike alone. If you’re not feeling active, go for the Glacier Adventure aboard a snow coach bus. The trip lasts 1.5 hours and departs frequently.

Longer journeys lasting up to nine hours take in other sights of the Columbia Icefield and require you to book ahead. Tours often include Lake Louise, Peyto Lake, Big Hill, Victoria Glacier, and Athabasca Falls.

The Columbia Icefield is located on the boundary of Banff National Park. To get there from Jasper, travel 63 miles (108 kilometers) south on the scenic Icefields Parkway (Highway 93). Stop at the Athabasca Falls for a beautiful view.

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 WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (987 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.
Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites

3.5 out of 5
1110, Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC
Book a stay at this eco-certified aparthotel in Montreal. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,438 reviews)
"A bit of a long walk to waterfront and Notre Dame Cathedral, so we Uber'ed it. Other than that, plenty of restaurants and shopping nearby."

Reviewed on 7 Aug 2025

Hotel Le Cantlie Suites
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 WiFi, room service, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the restaurant and the bar in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (10,748 reviews)
"This hotel is located within easy walking distance of most downtown attractions and neighborhoods and is right next to the King St. metro stop. It's located in the financial district which is very lively during the week but a little quieter on weekends. The hotel itself was comfortable and employees ..."

Reviewed on 6 Aug 2025

One King West Hotel & Residence
Residence & Conference Centre - Toronto

Residence & Conference Centre - Toronto

2.5 out of 5
1760 Finch Avenue East, Toronto, ON
Book a stay at this family-friendly aparthotel in Toronto. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,059 reviews)
Great place to stay
"The stay was great; I didn't realize they rented out dorm rooms as hotel rooms in the summer so I was surprised when the two double beds were actually in two separate rooms (with doors), with a kitchen. I would have loved a bath tub but the shower was fine. The place was very clean; much nicer than ..."

Reviewed on 5 Aug 2025

Residence & Conference Centre - Toronto
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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