Columbia Icefield tour from Calgary: Ice Explorer & Skywalk

Four glacier lakes, one ancient ice field, and a glass platform suspended over a canyon

A full-day guided tour from Calgary travels the 235-km Icefields Parkway to Peyto Lake, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier and Columbia Icefield, where you board an Ice Explorer snowcoach to walk on Athabasca Glacier and cross the glass-floored Skywalk above Sunwapta Canyon. The tour includes a bilingual guide in English and Chinese, air-conditioned transport, and pickup from Calgary hotels; the 10-to-11-hour day covers the route's most visited stops with curated viewpoints and expert commentary on the landscape and climate change.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Columbia Icefield and Rockies

• Travel along Icefields Parkway
• Visit Peyto Lake viewpoint
• Stop at Bow Lake
• See Crowfoot Glacier
• Ride Ice Explorer on glacier
• Walk on Athabasca Glacier
• Walk Skywalk over Sunwapta Canyon

The Experience

The drive north from Calgary follows the Icefields Parkway, a 235-km route lined with glaciers, lakes and mountain peaks. Early stops at Crowfoot Glacier and Bow Lake set the scale: Crowfoot, named for three "toes" of ice that once resembled a crow's foot, now shows only two—a visible record of climate change over the past century. Bow Lake reflects the surrounding Crowfoot Mountain Range on calm mornings, a mirror-like surface that anchors the first half of the day.

Peyto Lake arrives next, a sapphire-blue basin nestled among peaks. The route then leads to Columbia Icefield, the largest single ice mass in North America south of the Arctic Circle and the source of dozens of glaciers. Here the tour shifts from viewing to stepping onto the ice itself: you board a massive Ice Explorer snowcoach, a specially designed vehicle that navigates the glacier surface, and walk on the ancient Athabasca Glacier. The Skywalk follows—an open-air glass-floored platform suspended above Sunwapta Canyon, where the ground drops away beneath your feet.

Transport, timing and expert guiding are arranged throughout. The bilingual guide speaks English and Chinese (Cantonese available), and the air-conditioned vehicle handles the long drive so you focus on the landscape. Hotel pickup from Calgary is included, and the full day—10 to 11 hours—is structured around the sequence of stops, so the route holds together without gaps.

What’s included

• Bilingual guide in English and Chinese (Cantonese available).
• air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup from Calgary.
• Ice Explorer snowcoach ride onto Athabasca Glacier.
• Skywalk glass-floor platform access above Sunwapta Canyon.
• stops at Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier along the Icefields Parkway.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Panasia Holidays

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both the Ice Explorer glacier walk and Skywalk in one day; the fixed itinerary combines them without gaps, whereas booking separately means coordinating timing and transport yourself.

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Top questions

How long does it take to drive from Calgary to Columbia Icefield?

The full tour runs 10 to 11 hours from pickup to return, with the drive north taking most of the morning and early afternoon before you reach the glacier and Skywalk in the later hours of the day.

What is Crowfoot Glacier, and why does it look different from other glaciers?

Crowfoot Glacier was named for three "toes" of ice that resembled a crow's foot, but one toe collapsed in the early 20th century due to climate change; today only two remain, making it a visible reminder of how glaciers have retreated over time.

Do I actually walk on the glacier, or just view it from a distance?

You board the Ice Explorer snowcoach and ride onto Athabasca Glacier, then step out and walk on the ancient ice surface itself—the vehicle is specially designed to safely navigate the glacier terrain.

What is the Skywalk, and is it safe?

The Skywalk is an open-air glass-floored viewing platform suspended above Sunwapta Canyon; the glass floor lets you look straight down while you stand on a cliff-edge pathway, and it is engineered for safe public use.

What language does the guide speak?

The tour includes a bilingual guide fluent in English and Chinese, with Cantonese available; the guide provides expert commentary on the landscape, glaciers and climate throughout the day.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Meals are not included in the tour; you will have time at stops along the route, and food options are available at the Columbia Icefield area, but you should plan to bring or purchase your own lunch.