Columbia Icefield Skywalk and Ice Explorer Glacier Ticket Jasper
- DurationAbout 3 hours 30 minutes
- Open onDaily from May to mid-October
- Meeting pointColumbia Icefield Discovery Centre on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93), about 100 km south of Jasper; check in at the ticket desk before your departure time
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Overview
This Columbia Icefield Skywalk and Ice Explorer glacier ticket is a combined admission for the two signature experiences at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, about 100 kilometres south of Jasper, Canada. You board a giant all-terrain Ice Explorer with live commentary for the drive onto the Athabasca Glacier, step out to walk on ice that is hundreds of years old, then take the shuttle to the Skywalk, a glass-floored platform 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley with a multilingual audio guide. The visit takes about three and a half hours. It suits families with children aged six and over, travellers on the Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Banff, and anyone who wants to stand on a glacier. Transport to the Discovery Centre is not included; the ticket is non-refundable.
Highlights
- Ride the all-terrain Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier
- Walk on the glacier ice with time for photos and a sip of meltwater
- Live English commentary on the Ice Explorer about the icefield and its glaciers
- Step onto the glass-floored Columbia Icefield Skywalk 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley
- Multilingual audio guide along the Skywalk cliff-edge walkway
- Shuttles between the Discovery Centre, the glacier and the Skywalk included
- Departures through the afternoon from noon to 17:00
- Wheelchair-accessible Discovery Centre and Skywalk
Full Description
The Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre
Everything starts at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, the glass-fronted visitor building on the Icefields Parkway, Highway 93, roughly halfway between Jasper and Lake Louise. It faces the Athabasca Glacier across the valley and is the check-in point for both the Ice Explorer and the Skywalk, with a ticket desk, an exhibition on the icefield, a cafeteria, a gift shop and washrooms. You show your ticket at the desk, receive your departure time and board a shuttle bus that crosses the highway to the glacier transfer station.
If you are wondering how to get to the Columbia Icefield from Jasper, the drive is about 100 kilometres south along the Icefields Parkway, about an hour and a half, and from Banff about 185 kilometres north; there is no public transport, so travellers come by rental car or on a guided drive. Columbia Icefield opening hours run daily from about May to mid-October, and the site closes for winter.
The Athabasca Glacier and the Ice Explorer ride
The Athabasca Glacier is the most accessible glacier in North America, a tongue of ice about six kilometres long that flows from the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains, down towards the Sunwapta River. The Ice Explorer is a specially built vehicle with enormous tyres that descends a steep moraine road and drives out onto the glacier surface, while the driver-guide explains how the ice formed, how fast it moves and how far it has retreated since the nineteenth century, which you can see from the dated markers along the access road.
On the ice you have about 20 to 25 minutes to walk around in a marked safe zone, take photographs with the Snow Dome and Mount Andromeda above you and fill a bottle with glacial meltwater. The surface is cold and slippery, so closed shoes, warm layers and sunglasses are essential even in August.
The Columbia Icefield Skywalk
After the glacier a shuttle takes you about six kilometres north along the Parkway to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, opened in 2014. It begins as a cliff-edge walkway with interpretive stations and an audio guide in several languages explaining the geology, the wildlife and the way water from the icefield drains to three different oceans, then curves out into the air as a glass-floored, horseshoe-shaped platform 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley. Through the glass you see the valley floor, waterfalls and the river directly beneath your feet, with the glaciers of the icefield across the gap.
Many visitors ask whether the Skywalk is worth visiting if they have already walked on the glacier; the two are different, one close to the ice and one looking down on the whole valley, and the combined ticket is the best value. Allow about 45 minutes to an hour before taking the shuttle back to the Discovery Centre.
The Icefields Parkway and the Sunwapta Valley
The Columbia Icefield sits on the boundary of Jasper and Banff national parks on the Icefields Parkway, the mountain road that many consider the most scenic drive in Canada. On the way from Jasper the road passes Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, the Stutfield Glacier viewpoint and the Tangle Creek falls before climbing to the icefield, and from the south it crosses Bow Summit and the Peyto Lake viewpoint. Bighorn sheep and mountain goats are often seen on the road near the icefield.
The best time to visit the Columbia Icefield is July and August for the warmest glacier conditions and the longest days, though June and September are quieter with fresh snow possible at any time. Plan the ticket as the centrepiece of an Icefields Parkway day trip from Jasper or a stop on the drive between Jasper and Banff, leaving at least four hours at the site.
Itinerary
- Check in at the Discovery CentreShow your ticket at the check-in desk on the Icefields Parkway and receive your Ice Explorer departure time.
- Shuttle to the glacier transfer stationA short bus ride across the valley to the Ice Explorer loading point at the foot of the moraine.
- Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca GlacierRide the all-terrain vehicle down the moraine and onto the ice with live English commentary, about 80 minutes in total including time on the glacier.
- Walk on the glacierAbout 20 to 25 minutes in the marked zone for photos and glacial meltwater.
- Shuttle to the SkywalkTransfer north along the Parkway to the Skywalk entrance.
- Columbia Icefield SkywalkWalk the cliff-edge path with the audio guide and step onto the glass platform, about 45 minutes to an hour.
- Return to the Discovery CentreShuttle back to the centre, about 3.5 hours after check-in.
What's included
- Guided Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier
- Live English commentary on the Ice Explorer
- Time to walk on the glacier ice
- Entry to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk
- Multilingual audio guide on the Skywalk
- Shuttles between the Discovery Centre, the glacier and the Skywalk
Not included
- Transport to and from the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre
- Food and drinks
- Warm clothing and footwear
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Travellers who want it organised for them — confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay
Not suitable for
- Children under 6 years on the glacier and Skywalk combination
- People with a fear of heights may find the glass-floored Skywalk difficult
Meeting point
The ticket is used at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre on the Icefields Parkway, Highway 93, about 100 kilometres south of Jasper and 185 kilometres north of Banff; present your confirmation at the check-in desk at least 15 minutes before your booked time, as Ice Explorer departures run to a timetable. Transport to and from the Discovery Centre is not included, and there is a large free car park at the centre. Departure times are available from noon to 17:00 depending on the date.
Important information
- Wear warm layers, a windproof jacket, closed shoes with grip, a hat and sunglasses; the glacier is cold and bright even in midsummer
- Transport to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre is not included; allow about 1.5 hours of driving from Jasper
- The ticket is non-refundable; please check your date and time carefully before booking
- The attraction operates from about May to mid-October and is closed in winter
- Stay inside the marked safe zone on the glacier; crevasses lie beyond it
- Bring an empty bottle to fill with glacial meltwater and a camera; food and drinks are not included but are sold at the centre
- Children aged 6 to 15 use a child ticket; children under 6 are not admitted to the combination
- The Discovery Centre and Skywalk are wheelchair accessible; tell us about any needs when you book
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private experience?
It is a shared experience: you ride the Ice Explorer with other visitors and a driver-guide, and the Skywalk is a self-guided walk with an audio guide.
How long does the visit take?
About 3.5 hours from check-in to the return shuttle, including about 80 minutes for the Ice Explorer and glacier walk and about an hour at the Skywalk.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. You travel to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre on the Icefields Parkway yourself; the drive from Jasper takes about 1.5 hours.
What is included?
The guided Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier with live English commentary, time to walk on the ice, entry to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk with a multilingual audio guide and the shuttles between the Discovery Centre, the glacier and the Skywalk.
Is the price per person or per group?
Per person, with adult and child tickets; the booking panel on this page shows the current price.
Can I walk on the glacier?
Yes. The Ice Explorer stops on the Athabasca Glacier and you have about 20 to 25 minutes to walk in a marked safe area and take photographs.
Is it suitable for children and people with reduced mobility?
Children from age 6 are welcome with a child ticket. The Discovery Centre, the Ice Explorer loading area and the Skywalk are wheelchair accessible, though the glacier surface itself is uneven ice.
What should I wear and bring?
Warm layers, a windproof jacket, closed shoes with grip, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a camera and an empty bottle for glacial water.
When is the best time to visit the Columbia Icefield?
July and August for the warmest conditions and longest days; the site is open from about May to mid-October and closed in winter.
What happens in bad weather?
The Ice Explorer and Skywalk operate in rain and snow, so dress for cold; only in dangerous conditions such as high winds is a departure paused, and the staff then offer the next available time.
Can I cancel or change the ticket?
The ticket is non-refundable, so please choose your date and time carefully; contact us on WhatsApp if your plans change and we will check what is possible.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your date, time and number of tickets in the booking panel and send your request; our team confirms your booking on WhatsApp within minutes with your voucher and check-in instructions.
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