National park · Canada
Columbia Icefield
Stop 2–3 hours on the Icefields Parkway: walk the free gravel path to the Athabasca Glacier toe, add Wilcox Pass or Parker Ridge if you have half a day, and skip the paid snowcoach unless riding onto the ice is the point of your trip.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
325 km² (125 sq mi)125 sq mi (325 km²)
approximate
Established
1907
Best months
Jun–Sep
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Area
- 325 km² (125 sq mi)125 sq mi (325 km²)
- Icefield area, not a park boundary; the ice sits inside Jasper National Park, which was established in 1907 (check).
- Established
- 1907
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Jasper
The Columbia Icefield is the largest ice and snow field in mainland North America south of the Arctic Circle, roughly 325 km² of ice straddling the Alberta–British Columbia divide on the Icefields Parkway inside Jasper National Park. Eight named glaciers make it up; three are visible from the highway, and only the Athabasca Glacier can be reached on foot from a car park. Meltwater from its summit, Snow Dome, drains to the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. The ice has been retreating for a century, and the markers along the path show how far the toe has pulled back since the 1920s.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1984Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, which includes Jasper National Park.
Size and age
325 km² (125 sq mi)125 sq mi (325 km²) · national park since 1907
Icefield area, not a park boundary; the ice sits inside Jasper National Park, which was established in 1907 (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Jasper.
Why go
- Stand at the toe of the Athabasca Glacier on a free gravel path, with signs marking where the ice stood in past decades.
- Wilcox Pass and Parker Ridge are two of the best half-day hikes on the whole Icefields Parkway, both starting within 15 km (9.3 mi) of the visitor centre.Wilcox Pass and Parker Ridge are two of the best half-day hikes on the whole Icefields Parkway, both starting within 9.3 mi (15 km) of the visitor centre.
- The drive itself is the attraction: the parkway crosses high alpine country with almost no development between Jasper and Lake Louise.
- Glacier-fed rivers here run to three oceans, a hydrological split found in only a few places on earth.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanParkway open but icy; −20 °C (−4 °F) and colder; snowcoach closedParkway open but icy; −4 °F (−20 °C) and colder; snowcoach closed
- FebDeep winter; avalanche terrain; few services
- MarCold and quiet; snowcoach season starts early April
- AprSnowcoach running; path to the toe often snow-covered
- MayIce still solid; trails partly snowbound
- JunTrails clear, long daylight, waterfalls high
- JulWarmest and busiest; book snowcoach ahead
- AugFull services; afternoon thunderstorms
- SepClear, quieter, first snow on high ground
- OctSnowcoach winds down mid-month; visitor centre closes
- NovFacilities shut; parkway still drivable
- DecWinter conditions; no services at the icefield
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bighorn sheep and mountain goats on the slopesMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Grizzly and black bears (keep distance, never feed)May–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Caribou on high routes such as Numa PassJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Golden eagles and other raptors over the ridgesJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Jasper
Drive south on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93); the visitor centre is on the right.
1 h
Open the page →
From Lake Louise
Drive north on the Icefields Parkway; no fuel between Lake Louise and Saskatchewan River Crossing in some seasons.
1 h 45 min
Open the page →
From Banff
Drive the Trans-Canada to Lake Louise, then the parkway north.
2.5 h
Open the page →
From Calgary
Drive to Lake Louise then north, or join a guided day tour from Banff or Jasper.
4–5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Icefield Centre and Athabasca Glacier toe | Visitor centre, car parks, the gravel path to the glacier and the roped-off ice access. | Open to anyone with a park pass; the path is free. |
| Wilcox Pass and Parker Ridge | Two signed day hikes on either side of the parkway, climbing to alpine meadows and ridge views. | Free; park at the trailheads. |
| Saskatchewan Glacier valley | A longer valley walk from the big bend south of the centre to the toe of the Saskatchewan Glacier. | Free; river crossing and route-finding. |
| Columbia Icefield interior | The high snowfields and summits, including Snow Dome and Mount Columbia. | Experienced mountaineers only; no public access. |
Sketch map
- 1Icefield Centre · Headquarters≈52.220, -117.225Map ↗
- 2Athabasca Glacier toe · Trail≈52.210, -117.235Map ↗
- 3Wilcox Creek campground · Sleep≈52.219, -117.176Map ↗
- 4Parker Ridge trailhead · Trail≈52.190, -117.120Map ↗
- 5HI Hilda Creek Hostel · Sleep≈52.194, -117.131Map ↗
- 6Saskatchewan Glacier viewpoint · Viewpoint≈52.150, -117.100Map ↗
- 7Jasper townsite · Town≈52.874, -118.081Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the Icefields Parkway between the visitor centre and Parker Ridge; for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks Canada entry, adult (Jasper National Park) | CAD 11 (≈ US$8) | person per day | 2026 estimate; buy the Discovery Pass if you visit several parks. |
| Parks Canada entry, family/group (Jasper National Park) | CAD 22 (≈ US$16) | vehicle per day | 2026 estimate. |
| Columbia Icefield Adventure snowcoach (adult) | CAD 79–110 (≈ US$60–80) | person | 2026 estimate; includes the Skywalk; child rate lower. |
| Columbia Icefield Skywalk only (adult) | CAD 36–45 (≈ US$30–35) | person | 2026 estimate; a glass walkway over the valley, reached by shuttle. |
| Guided glacier ice walk (3 h) | CAD 121–150 (≈ US$90–110) | person | 2026 estimate; crampons and a guide, on the ice itself. |
| Camping, Icefield or Wilcox Creek campground | CAD 18–30 (≈ US$14–25) | night | 2026 estimate; tents only at Icefield, no hookups. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Snowcoach or Skywalk no permit
Glacier travel beyond the roped area permit or guide
Backcountry camping permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- C$11≈ US$8
- C$22≈ US$16
- C$79–110≈ US$60–80
- C$36–45≈ US$30–35
- C$121–150≈ US$90–110
- C$18–30≈ US$14–25
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Parks Canada — Jasper National Park camping before you go.
Park rules
- Stay off the glacier
- Do not step past the barriers or the roped area; snow-covered crevasses are invisible and people have died here.
- No drones
- Not allowed in Jasper National Park without a permit (check).check
- Wildlife distance
- Stay in your vehicle for bears and give all wildlife space; do not stop in the road for photos.
- Fires and camping
- Fires only in provided rings at the campgrounds; no random camping along the parkway.
- Litter and fuel
- Pack out everything; the nearest fuel is Jasper, Lake Louise or the seasonal Saskatchewan River Crossing station.
Where to stay
In the park
Glacier View Inn
Rooms inside the Icefield Centre; the only beds at the icefield, book early for summer.
Near the park
HI Hilda Creek Hostel
Small hostel about 8 km (5 mi) south; bunks, shared kitchen, reservations recommended.Small hostel about 5 mi (8 km) south; bunks, shared kitchen, reservations recommended.
Near the park
Icefield and Wilcox Creek campgrounds
Tent sites 2–3.5 km (1.2–2.2 mi) from the centre; no showers, no hookups.Tent sites 1.2–2.2 mi (2–3.5 km) from the centre; no showers, no hookups.
Near the park
Icefields Centre RV park
Trailers and RVs only, a short walk from the visitor centre.
Near the park
Jasper or Lake Louise
Full range of hotels, hostels and restaurants 1–2 h away by road.
Safety
Falling into a crevasse high
Driving the Icefields Parkway medium
No phone signal medium
Cold and sudden weather medium
Altitude and exertion on the hikes low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Icefield Centre, car parks and the first stretch of the glacier path are step-free and reachable by car.
- The full path to the glacier toe is gravel with a steady grade; wheelchair users may need help on the last section.
- The snowcoach and Skywalk are operated with accessible boarding on request; ask when booking.
Visiting lightly
- Do not book or join any trip that walks on the glacier without a guide and proper equipment; bare ice is fragile and dangerous.
- Stay on trails in the alpine meadows — trampled tundra takes decades to recover.
- Carry out all rubbish, including food scraps that attract wildlife to the roadside.
- Fill up in Jasper or Lake Louise; fuel and supplies at the icefield are limited and expensive.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Columbia Icefield?
There is no separate icefield ticket. You pay the Parks Canada entry fee for Jasper National Park — about CAD 11 per adult per day, or CAD 22 per vehicle, 2026 estimate — and the walk to the Athabasca Glacier toe is then free. The paid extras are the snowcoach and Skywalk (from about CAD 79 adult, 2026 estimate) and guided ice walks (from about CAD 121).
What are the best hikes in Columbia Icefield?
Wilcox Pass (3–4 h) and Parker Ridge (2–3 h) are the two classic half-day hikes, both with alpine views and moderate grades. The free 1 km path to the Athabasca Glacier toe is the easiest. The Saskatchewan Glacier valley walk is longer and rougher, and anything onto the ice itself needs a guide.
When is the best time to visit Columbia Icefield?
June to September: trails are clear, the visitor centre and snowcoach run, and daylight is long. July and August are busiest — arrive before 10:00 or after 15:00. Late September is quieter with fresh snow on the peaks. The parkway stays open in winter but there are no services at the icefield.
Can I walk on the Athabasca Glacier without a tour?
No. You can walk to the toe on the gravel path, but stepping onto the ice is only safe inside the roped area Parks Canada sets, or with a guided ice walk. Snow-covered crevasses are invisible and have killed people.
Do I need a reservation for the snowcoach?
In July and August, yes — book online in advance. It runs from early April to mid-October and includes the Skywalk. Outside those months the visitor centre and tours are closed.
Is there food or fuel at the Columbia Icefield?
The Icefield Centre has a restaurant, a cafeteria and a gift shop when it is open, but no fuel and no groceries. Fill up in Jasper, Lake Louise or Banff; the Saskatchewan River Crossing station about 30 minutes south is seasonal.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go