Victoria Glacier Tours and Tickets

Here’s a fun way to experience the Victoria Glacier in Banff National Park:

• Discover the Lake Agnes Tea House Trail With a Guided Audio Hike

The Victoria Glacier in Banff National Park overlooks Lake Louise and its waters feed the famous lake. If you want to see the glacier from Lake Louise, drive northwest along the Trans–Canada Highway from Banff—the journey should be about 40 minutes. You can also hike to places with good views of the glacier.

The best time to visit the Victoria Glacier depends on what you want to do. The glacier is visible from Lake Louise and the summer months—June to September—are ideal for kayaking and hiking, including the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail to the glacier. To see the glacier within a snowy landscape, visit between November and March.

Yes, you can hike to the Victoria Glacier via the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail, which is considered a moderate to strenuous hike. The 8.7-mile (14-kilometer) trail starts at Chateau Lake Louise, passing along the lake’s northern shore and through forest to reach the cliffs and waterfalls at the glacier’s base.

Yes, you need a permit to enter Banff National Park, but you don’t need a separate permit to visit the Victoria Glacier. Banff permits can be purchased online, at the northern, southern, western, and eastern entrances to the park, and at select national park visitor centers in Alberta and British Columbia.

Lake Louise is one of the best places to see the Victoria Glacier, as it’s easily accessible. Alternatively, if you’re up for a challenge, you can hike the 8.7-mile (14-kilometer) Plain of Six Glaciers Trail from Lake Louise to the glacier. The Abbot Pass Viewpoint, a side trip from this trail, has great views.