A day trip to the famous Columbia Ice Field and the Athabasca Glacier was the last outing on our road trip around Alberta.
Before we visited the Columbia Icefield, I did not know the difference between an icefield and a glacier. So, let me start there.
An icefield, as the name suggests, is a large mass or field of ice made up of multiple glaciers. Columbia Icefield, spread over 325 square kilometres, is the largest icefield in North America. Whew!!
It straddles the boundaries of Banff National Park and Jasper National Park and comprises of 6 major glaciers. Out of these 6, Athabasca Glacier, a part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world's most accessible glaciers, hence every bit touristy.
View of the Athabasca Glacier flowing from the icefield between the two mountain cliffs as seen from the terrace of Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre.....
What makes an outing to this glacier really thrilling is the entire experience of reaching it on an all-terrain Ice Explorer!
The Ice Explorer is a huge vehicle with massive tyres designed specifically for travel on the fragile surface of the glacier. It can carry up to 56 passengers at one time.
Let me give you a few handy tips before you plan this outing...
The entire province of Alberta is beautiful but the road leading to the Columbia Ice Fields needs a special mention as it winds its way through breathtaking scenery. The Canadian Rockies that were visible from afar throughout the journey are now up and close as we drove past them here. So, keep extra time for this drive as you'll be tempted to halt at every turn to click a picture.
En route the Columbia Icefield....I'm sure you wouldn't want to miss this, would you?
The tour starts from Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre located on Icefields Parkway Highway 93 N. You must plan to reach the centre at least 30 minutes before the departure time that you wish to avail. There is a tour every 15 minutes and your ticket is valid for the entire day. You will need 2.5 to 3 hours at the icefield.
The best time to visit the icefield is in the morning before 11 am or after 3 pm when the crowds are thin. We booked a tour after 3 pm and got a discount. You should check their website for any additional discounts on your day of travel before making the booking.
The Columbia Icefield Adventure is heavily booked. You must plan this trip in advance to ensure that you don't miss it. There are 2 tour options available. Option 1 is Glacier Adventure which includes the Skywalk. Option 2 is Ice Odyssey where you are taken in a smaller group higher up the glacier.
For Glacier Adventure, park on the lower Jasper-side parking lot. A very wide open stairway will lead you directly into the Discovery Centre.
Carry proper woollen clothing in summer too. It can get very cold on the glacier with icy winds blowing all around you.
Just about a 10-minute walk away and at a slightly steep incline from the parking lot is the stunning Peyto Lake. Don't miss it!
And now getting to the glacier.....
The Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre is a very well-organised facility. There are signages everywhere to guide you to the correct queue.....oh yes! there are queues everywhere.
We arrived right on time for our tour. We were led to an open waiting area and from there onto a shuttle. The shuttle drove us to the point where the Ice Explorers were parked. This gigantic bus drives at a snail's pace through the paved road near the icefield, making deep ridges on the ice as it passes...
This 10 to 15-minute drive up the glacier is accompanied by a very interesting commentary about the icefield and the glacier.
I was happy to learn that despite the heavy inflow of tourists, the fragile ecosystem of the icefield is preserved vigilantly. So much so, that before the ice explorer hits the glacier, it is made to pass through a small natural pool of meltwater called the 'tyre wash'. This is done to ensure that the debris from the surroundings is not carried onto the glacier and soil it.
As the ice explorer rumbles on, the beauty of the ice field starts unfolding in front of our eyes.
Upon reaching the glacier, we de-board the ice explorer and this is what we see...
We are greeted by huge mammoths of snow, icy cold winds and a rapidly thawing snow floor willing to give away the moment we step on it!
There is a lot of mirthful shrieking all around as people's feet dip into the icy chasms of the glacier.
A 15-minute window is allocated to each ice explorer, tourists are expected to return to the vehicle within that time slot.
The ice explorer brings us back to the bus stand, we board the bus again and are driven in the shuttle to the riveting Skywalk.
Skywalk is a one-kilometre-long glass-bottom walkway built over the Sunwapta Valley. The glass platform is 280 metres high and offers beautiful views of the valley.
The entire skywalk is lined with signages and displays with interesting information about this ecosystem. We spent about 45 minutes here and then took the connecting free shuttle back to the Discovery Centre.
Path to the Skywalk, scenic views all around and the trees that look like specks of green through the glass of the Skywalk....
A visit to the Athabasca Glacier is a journey back in time. And the receding glaciers too have a story to tell!
Don't miss this amazing experience on your trip through Alberta.
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