ATV riding on Athabasca Glacier: Small-group glacier walk

Drive onto the glacier and walk where few venture

Ride a specialized all-terrain vehicle across Athabasca Glacier on a 2-hour guided tour with groups of up to 10 guests, stopping at exclusive sites where you walk on the ice itself. The low-emission vehicle is designed for the rugged terrain, and your guide shares the glacier's formation, its role in NASA research, and the landscape's environmental story. Children from age 6 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Glacier ATV tour and walk

• Join small-group ATV tour
• Explore Athabasca Glacier
• Walk on glacier at exclusive site
• Learn glacier history and NASA research

The experience

How do you get onto a glacier without mountaineering gear? You ride an ATV designed for ice and snow. The vehicle does the work of crossing terrain that would take hours on foot, leaving you free to take in the scale of Athabasca Glacier as you move across it. The guide navigates to exclusive stops where you step out and walk on the ice itself, the moment most people come for, then returns you to the Glacier Discovery Center after two hours. Public transportation reaches the center if you're staying in Banff without a rental car.

The small-group cap of 10 keeps the experience intimate and means your guide can answer questions and adjust the pace. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters on a glacier where the sun reflects off white ice and the temperature can shift fast. Your guide speaks English and carries the knowledge of how the glacier formed, why NASA uses it for research, and what the landscape is telling you about climate and time: details that turn a ride into an understanding.

What’s included

• Specialized all-terrain vehicle ride across Athabasca Glacier.
• exclusive glacier site access where you walk on the ice.
• 2-hour guided tour with live English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 May 2027

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Banff Jasper Collection By Pursuit

Is this one for you?The ATV does the heavy work of crossing the glacier, so you don't need mountaineering experience or a car to reach the ice: public transit gets you to the Glacier Discovery Center, and the tour handles the rest. Small groups of up to 10 mean you get personalized attention and the guide can adjust stops to what interests you.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

Can I ride the ATV myself, or does the guide drive?

The guide operates the all-terrain vehicle. You ride as a passenger and walk on the glacier at the stops the guide chooses. This keeps the focus on the landscape and the ice itself rather than on vehicle handling.

What is Athabasca Glacier like when you get there?

Athabasca Glacier is a river of ice that flows from the Columbia Icefield. At the exclusive sites where the tour stops, you step onto the ice surface itself and walk on it. The ice is solid enough to stand on, and the guide shares its history and what the landscape reveals about how glaciers move and change.

Do I need to arrange my own ride to the glacier?

Public transportation options are available near the Glacier Discovery Center where the tour departs. If you're staying in Banff or nearby, you can reach the center by bus. The tour itself includes the ATV ride and guide but not transport to the center, so you choose how to get there based on where you're staying.

What does the 2-hour tour actually include?

The tour covers the ATV ride across the glacier, stops at exclusive sites where you walk on the ice, the guide's commentary on the glacier's formation and NASA research, and an air-conditioned vehicle for the journey. All taxes and fees are included. Gratuities are separate.