Guided Glacier Hike on The Athabasca with IceWalks
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Jasper, Canada
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Enjoy the unique experience of walking on a glacier on this small-group tour. As your guide leads you across the majestic Athabasca Glacier in the Canadian Rockies you'll get insights into its many incredible ice formations such as crevasses, mill wells, meltwater streams, and icefalls. Equipment is provided and no technical climbing experience is required.
- One-of-its-kind glacier-walking adventure in the Canadian Rockies
- Get incredible views of the Rockies as you walk on the Athabasca Glacier
- Tour is moderate, suitable for young children and active seniors alike
- Small-group tour (maximum 12): A more personalized experience
- Not suitable for people who has medical issues specifically, Heart, Lungs, and mobility issues
What's Included
- You will be provided micro-spikes (crampons for added traction on the ice) If you don't have your own: Rain gear, hiking boots, gloves, and hat
- Rain coat & waterproof pants can be borrowed for no cost
- Warm layers - bring your own insulating layer
- Snacks
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 95446QCC+4P495446QCC+4P
Arrive 20 minutes prior to your departure. Meet in the West parking lot of the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre. Look for the white vans with IceWalks logo as you pull off the highway. From there you will be shuttled a short distance to the trailhead.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Athabasca Glacier
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Estelle_E
This is an incomparable experience. It was incredible to walk on a glacier and see its different features up close and learn how they were formed. Our guide, Mike, was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and personable. Do not pass up this opportunity!
Reviews
4.9
based on 402 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Julie_K, Aug 2026
It was so cool to hike on a Glacier! Our guide (name started with a G, sorry I forgot) was so knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. Our family of 4 (girl 19 and boy 15) all had a really great time! Highly recommend this trip over the snow coaches.
Katherine_A, Aug 2026
Such an amazing experience!!! Wonderful hike with tons of information. Incredible experience on the glacier! Beyond my expectations.
Eleanor_M, Aug 2026
This guided hike is so worth it. It was exactly as amazing as I hoped it would be. Tom was so patient with my 8 year old and he is so incredibly knowledgeable.
They will provide you with crampons for your shoes, as well as hiking poles, gloves, hats, and even a warm jacket if you need. We had our own stuff but it was good for others! We went mid August and it was about 15 degrees in Jasper that day, with some cloudy moments - we were plenty warm with a base layer and a light puffer jacket, a light headband and light gloves.
The hike is a gentle but consistent uphill once you are on the ice, but our group ranged from 8-60+, from fit to less obviously so, and no one was struggling to keep up because it was such a nice, easy pace to enjoy the stunning features. We were never rushing and everything was exactly as described - 5km total (tracked on my watch) and 3 hours. You take a van over to the Toe of the Glacier parking lot and start from there (don't bother doing that hike, you'll do it and more on this tour!).
Truly excellent. Can't recommend this enough - absolutely worth every penny!! Avoid the crowded bus and get out and see the ice with the attention it deserves!
Stacy_P, Aug 2026
We absolutely loved it. It’s a small hike, about ~3-4 miles but we had a great group and our guide was awesome. Tom was so knowledgeable and patient. We would 1000% recommend this and we would absolutely do it again.
Margitta_W, Aug 2026
We can highly recommend this ice Walk. Amazing nature!
Don‘t forget warm clothes, it‘s really windy on the field.
David_R, Jul 2026
Heather was an amazing guide. It was around 5-6KM hike round trip she did a great job answering all questions and being very friendly. We left right on time and they had plenty of items to borrow in case you left some jackets/mittens/etc.
Nick_C, Jul 2026
Was better than I expected. Really fun experience. Guide was informative and fun.
As a side note (we'll do this next time), there is public parking at the base of the glacier. And, you can hike up on your own. But, I would suggest a guided tour if you don't understand the risks and danger signs on a glacier.
Jen_T, Jul 2026
Mike was a FANTASTIC guide and this was the absolute best way to experience the glacier. We saw the vehicles driving people to the glacier while we donned micro-spikes and walked our way up. We saw some beautiful, up close water features, tasted the water and got some beautiful photos.
IceWalks provided everything we needed, even a selection of beanies to choose from. It was cold and windy on the ice, but they had windpants and windbreakers for us.
If you like adventure, this is for you! It's perfect for teenagers instead of just riding along for the view!
Ketki_H, Jul 2026
This was definitely one of the highlights of this trip! Our guide, Tom, was fun, engaging and super informative! I was traveling with my husband and our 3 teenage boys, and they gave this experience a 5/5!
Erik_E, Jul 2026
The entire team we worked with was great! Everyone was professional, knowledgeable, and made the experience a must do.
Lynn_K, Jul 2026
What a perfect day with Simon as our Guide. We are two 70+ retirees enjoying life and Simon helped make our adventure memorable. He was full of information and positive energy. Highly recommend
Rebecca_P, Jul 2026
Just did the glacier tour with Heather. She was awesome. It was a very educational tour with interesting stories mixed in. We went high up on the glacier, close up within a safe distance to multiple crevasse,, drank out of the glacier run off. An amazing adventure.
It was an effort but if you are in decent shape, you won’t have an issue.
Much better than the big truck tours that only have 15 min on the ice.
Victoria_S, Jul 2026
This is a moderate hike but our guide made frequent stops so everyone in the group could catch up and also to provide very interesting information regarding the glacier. It was an amazing experience to hike and walk on the glacier. The company provides everything that you may need for this activity for free which was great because it was raining at the start of our hike. We borrowed rain jackets/pants, hiking boots, hats and gloves. We had a great time and strongly recommend this tour.
Sherry_T, Jul 2026
Great experience! We had 10 members of our family ages ranging from 10 to 62 go on this
hike up to the glacier. Going up is a fairly steep weaving pattern on a dirt/rocky path. I found the walking stick they offer to be beneficial. Our guide, Antoine was great. He was very informative throughout the tour and took it at a comfortable pace. There were a few times some of us would stop to rest for a few seconds but never got behind. I would say it was pretty strenuous for the younger grandkids, but once at the top, they loved it. I highly recommend this activity.
David_Y, Jul 2026
Wonderful and environmental way of visiting the glaciers. Decent amount of walking but glacier was amazing.
Cheryl_L, Jul 2026
Was so glad I booked this guided walk on the glacier rather than the ice bus! They had gear to borrow, including rain pants which was needed on the way back down. Even though we caught some cold sleet this was a great experience. Stu was a knowledgeable guide and engaging.
Burzin, Jul 2026
Such a unique experience both from the perspective of learning about glaciers and seeing all the parts of the glacier. Can’t recommend this enough!
Ramesh_R, Jul 2026
I personally this experience to truly live glacier experience . Walking and doing trail brought to life amazing experience and history of this glacier . Your guide was phenomenal
Wiley_J, Jul 2026
Fabulous guide! He taught us things about nature and the glacier while also keeping us safe. The steep climb with loose rocks to get to the glacier wasn’t what I expected. Stu took the needs of each person into consideration and made sure all of us had a safe experience. Thank you! Our group was also helpful and supportive. Fantastic job!
Rajesh_G, Jul 2026
The Ice Walk was the highlight of our vacation. Antoine is awesome, very friendly and knowledgeable. Would love to do this again!
Mud_A, Jun 2026
Kelly was a great guide! Super unique experience, go visit before the glacier melts away 😔
The visitors center has limited hours so if you’re on the last tour of the day you won’t be able to get a bite to eat or see the special exhibits.
Ruchika_D, Jun 2026
It was our first time to hike glaciers with family of 3 having 12 year old , the guide was knowledgeable , showed us many textures at the glaciers , kept us safe and overall made it fun as memorable experience.
Anusha_F, Jun 2026
This was an awesome experience! Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and friendly. Even as people struggled with the hike, he went out of his way to be considerate and help them.
Brandy_s, Jun 2026
We had an incredible hike with Adam. He was very knowledgeable and just an amazing tour guide all the way around. I would recommend this hike as a must if you are in the area. I would consider this a moderate hike, but not terrible.
Gal_R, Jun 2026
Had the best experience hiking the Athabasca glacier. So much more meaningful to take the challenging way up rather than just ride the ice bus up to take pictures. Nick was such a great guide, super knowledgeable and caring for the group.
You actually get to walk on ice!!! Not an easy hike (intermediate) but definitely worth every step!
Steven_P, Jun 2026
Moderate hike to glacier. Weather for us in early June went from snow blizzard to sunny day. They provided weather resistant pants covers, jackets, gloves, and hiking poles. Our guide CC was great! Very memorable experience, but wish we had more time for taking pictures. .
Effie_S, Jun 2026
It was fascinating and at the same time humbling experience to walk the ice field with a professional guide! An adventure you want to go back to and at the same time to share with family or friends because it not only a wonderful experience but also very educational specially for the young.
John_J, Jun 2026
Absolutely Amazing! An experience we will never forget! Nick was a great guide who took the time to explain what we were looking at.
R_M, Oct 2025
EXCELLENT! Just make sure you know you are indeed hiking in this one. I had looked at both options I found and THOUGHT I got the one that was more what I could handle 7 months out from a major knee surgery but we got about 45 mins out and I realized I was very wrong. All my error, just know this has some steep hiking areas and is 3 hours of almost continuous hills and declines on unstable surfaces.
Guillaume, our tour guide, went absolutely above and beyond to help me through my experience. I can’t thank him enough for helping me and allowing me to still experience this.
Outside of that, if you can hike, DO THIS! It definitely was a much better option for seeing magical glacier events! And ask for Guillaume because he will teach you so much, pay attention for your safety and your questions, and will make this an amazing experience worth every dollar.
Barbara_G, Oct 2025
Great guide with lots of information and knowledge of glacier and ecosystem
Would do again only with the same guide Tracey
Likely to Sell Out
From $101.72
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Likely to Sell Out
Guided Glacier Hike on The Athabasca with IceWalks
402
3 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$101.72
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Jasper, Canada
- Sunwapta Falls Tours & Tickets
- Columbia Icefield Skywalk Tours & Tickets
- Fraser River Tours & Tickets
- Jasper Planetarium Tours & Tickets
- Mount Robson Provincial Park and Protected Area Tours & Tickets
- Medicine Lake Tours & Tickets
- Athabasca Glacier Tours & Tickets
- Columbia Icefield Tours & Tickets
- Maligne Canyon Tours & Tickets
- Athabasca River Tours & Tickets
- Spirit Island Tours & Tickets
- Maligne Lake Tours & Tickets