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Columbia Icefield
Categories: Active Life Parks Hotels & Travel Tours Parks, Tours [Edit]
100 Gopher StBanff, AB T1L 1J3
(403) 762-6700
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
9 reviews for Columbia Icefield
9 reviews in English
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Review from Eric B.
6/6/2011
The Columbia Icefield is located in the Canadian Rockies, astride the Continental Divide. The icefield lies partly in the northwestern tip of Banff and the southern end of Jasper National Park. It is about 325 km in area, 100 to 365 metres in depth and receives up to seven metres of snowfall per year. The icefield feeds eight major glaciers.
The Athabasca River and the North Saskatchewan River also originate in the Columbia Icefield, as do tributary headwaters of the Columbia River. This puts the Icefield atop a triple Continental Divide, as these waters ultimately flow to the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.
I was here the first time in the middle of a blizzard and didn't see anything! I had better luck the second time as Gayle and I drove up from Lake Louise, enjoyed the visitors centre, and then took a hike to get a closer look. The next time, we'll try out the "Tundra Buggy" and I'm sure it will be worth every cent.
Parts of the Icefield are visible from the Icefields Parkway. The Athabasca Glacier in particular has apparently receded significantly over the years. It's a gorgeous sight nonetheless and well worth the Icefields Parkway Journey from either Banff or Jasper. You'll never see anything like this in your life again. -
Review from Monica K.
North York, ON
3/17/2011
The Columbia Icefield.... one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I felt so at peace wandering around the place, feeling like a little explorer. It was soo stunning, picturesque, serene, almost enchanting. The water was so clear, and so cold I was surprised it wasn't ice. The kids would also really enjoy this place, although you would really need to keep a close eye on them.
Although it's a bit expensive, given you don't get to spend too much time up there, I thought it was most definitely worth it, and I would most definitely want to go back/ recommend this place to all those heading over to the area. -
Review from Vicky L.
2/26/2009
AWESOME!! I can finally say I've walked on a glacier....4 times!!!
The sad thing is that trip after trip and lining the pictures up, I see myself growing taller.. than fatter... and the ice field shrinking.
Over the span of 10 years, the evidence of global warming is apparent.
You ride on these uber cool buggy things, listen to them give you a safety spiel, run around on the ice and head back. Oh yeah, you can also bring an empty water bottle to "bottle" up some of the "elixir water." Careful though!! They tell you stories of tourists who fall through crevases and die! -
Review from Denis K.
8/7/2008
Ice. As far as the eye can see. When you have to board a specially built ice truck to get onto the ice field, you know it's going to be good. It was like being in another world. Mountains of ice. Valleys of ice. Stunningly beautiful.
Of course I drank some of the fresh glacier water too.
review 8/7/2008
I.M.Y. -
Review from Sherri C.
6/8/2010
The scenery alone is worth the drive along the 230-kilometer Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to Jasper...majestic mountains, breath-taking glaciers, beautiful lakes and, lucky for us, wildlife such as black bears, deer and elk. Be prepared for the long drive through the parks, but you can get food and drinks at the Columbia Icefield Centre where everyone stops to visit the Athabasca Glacier.
From the http://explorerockies.com Web site, "The Columbia Icefield is located on the boundary of Banff and Jasper National Parks. One of the largest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle, it covers an area of nearly 325 square kilometres, sometimes reaching a depth of 300-360 metres. The continuous accumulation of snow feeds eight major glaciers including the Athabasca, Dome, and Stutfield Glaciers, all visible from the Icefields Parkway. The Columbia Icefield is a true 'hydrological apex,' for its meltwater feeds streams and rivers that pour into the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans."
We did not take the Brewster Ice Explorer tour out onto the glacier, but preferred to observe the glacial glory from the Columbia Icefield Centre. It felt more respectful to not step all over the glacier, especially after learning about it's retreat over the years (check out the markers for where the glacier's reach used to be as you drive to the parking lot closest to the glacier's tip). -
Review from Chris T.
9/8/2008
This was my first time on a glacier. Its a really neat experience. They take you out on specially designed glacier trucks which are totally unique and unlike anything you have ever seen before.
I learned more than I ever knew about glaciers. It was quite an interesting diversion on the road between Banff and Jasper National Parks. -
Review from Luke A.
Toronto, ON
9/21/2008
If you want to walk around on a glacier without much effort, check out the Athabasca Glacier, which is one tip of the Columbia icefield. It's right off the highway between Jasper and Banff Parks, making it probably the most impressive just-off-the-road tourist traps I know. You can take tours on the more dangerous parts of the ice, but you can also just walk on to the tip, on a fenced-off safe area, and that much is free.
There's also a visitor centre across the highway, with info on the glacier. Most notable are the old photos of the glacier over the last century and a bit, when it was much bigger (it extended to where the visitor centre is now, and would have covered the highway and the parking lot). Better to go while you can, before global warming shrinks it even more. -
Review from Foo B.
7/24/2011
We had a good time on our trip, even if the weather wasn't enormously cooperative. We got a chance to wander about on a big glacier, which isn't gonna happen anywhere else unless you go to Greenland or Antartica or do something involving lots of days of hiking or a helicopter ride. If we had more time, we would have done the glacier walk instead, but that's a whole day's trip.
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Review from Nina C.
8/7/2008
I loved being on a glacier for the very first time. I only wished I were alone to enjoy the glacier all by myself...
