Banff to Athabasca Glacier: Icefields Parkway Day Trip & Skywalk

Summary

Icefields Parkway road trip with glacier walks, lakes, and mountain air

You’ll feel glacier wind on your face at Athabasca, taste pure ice water right from the source, and cross the glass-floored Skywalk above Sunwapta Valley—all with a local guide from Banff and picnic lunch included. Expect moments of awe (and maybe cold toes) as you travel along Icefields Parkway past Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier.

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed was how cold the air felt when we stepped out at Bow Lake—like it snuck under my jacket and woke me up for real. Our guide, Jen (she’s from Jasper, knows every mountain by name), pointed out a patch of turquoise water where the glacier melt runs in. I tried to take a photo but honestly, it never looks the same as standing there. There was this sharp smell—pine mixed with something almost metallic from the rocks. People were quiet, just taking it in. I caught a couple whispering in French behind us about how blue everything looked.

The drive along Icefields Parkway is one of those things you hear about but don’t really get until you’re actually winding through it. We stopped at Crowfoot Glacier for a quick look—Jen told us the glacier used to have three “toes,” now only two are left. It made me weirdly sad thinking about that. The bus felt warm after standing outside, everyone shaking snow off their boots and laughing because someone (me) managed to spill coffee on their sleeve.

Getting up onto Athabasca Glacier in that huge Ice Explorer thing—it’s like a monster truck for ice. The tires alone are taller than most people. When we got out, the wind hit hard and my cheeks stung; I bent down and scooped up some snow just because I could. Drinking glacier water straight from a stream was colder than I expected—almost sweet? Li laughed when I tried to say “glacier” in Mandarin—probably butchered it but she grinned anyway.

The last bit was the Glacier Skywalk—just glass under your feet and nothing but air between you and the valley below. My legs went kind of wobbly at first but then you look out and see all these jagged peaks lined up forever. It’s loud with wind but somehow feels quiet too. Even now, sometimes when things get noisy back home, I think about that silence hanging over Sunwapta Valley.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Glacier exploration and scenic drive

• Travel along Icefields Parkway
• Stop at Crowfoot Glacier
• Visit Bow Lake
• Ride Ice Explorer on glacier
• Drink glacier water
• Walk on Glacier Skywalk

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Banff to Athabasca Glacier?

This is a full-day tour departing from Banff with multiple stops along Icefields Parkway before returning in the evening.

Is hotel pickup included for this Banff glacier tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is available on request or you can meet at Mount Royal Hotel’s public bus parking area.

What do you do on the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure?

You board an Ice Explorer vehicle to drive across Athabasca Glacier and can drink fresh glacier water during the stop.

Is lunch provided during this tour?

A picnic lunch is included; options can be selected by contacting 403-760-5007 in advance.

Do you visit Bow Lake on this day trip?

Yes, Bow Lake is one of several scenic stops along the route between Banff and Athabasca Glacier.

Are there any physical requirements for joining?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; some walking outdoors is involved at stops like Bow Lake or Crowfoot Glacier.

What’s special about the Glacier Skywalk?

The Skywalk features a glass floor suspended 280 meters above Sunwapta Valley with panoramic views of mountains and canyon below.

Can infants join this tour?

Infants are welcome but their rate does not include lunch; bring extra snacks if needed.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup (or meeting point option), all transport along Icefields Parkway with a small group, entry to both Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure (with time on Athabasca Glacier) and the glass-floor Skywalk experience, plus a picnic lunch before heading back toward Banff in late afternoon.