Lake Louise to Jasper: Guided Rockies Tour with Glacier Walk

Summary

Travel from Lake Louise to Jasper with glacier adventure stops

You’ll travel from Lake Louise to Jasper with a local guide, stopping at glaciers and waterfalls along the way. Walk right onto the Athabasca Glacier during your Glacier Adventure tour, try out the glass-floored Skywalk over Sunwapta Valley, and share a picnic lunch surrounded by mountain air. Expect moments that stick with you long after you’ve left these peaks behind.

What’s the experience like?

We left Lake Louise early — not too early, but enough that the air still felt cold and sharp. Our guide, Mark (he’s from Banff and knows every bend in this road), had this way of pointing out things I’d never have noticed. Like the way Crowfoot Glacier used to have three “toes” but now it’s just two — he said it almost offhand, but you could tell it meant something. The mountains here aren’t just scenery; they’re kind of alive, you know? Sometimes I’d catch myself staring out the window and forgetting to listen.

The drive along the Icefields Parkway is long, but not in a bad way. There’s this rhythm to it: Bow Lake flashing blue under the clouds, then sudden stretches where all you hear is tires on gravel and maybe someone quietly unwrapping their lunch. At one stop, I tried to pronounce “Athabasca” right (Li laughed — apparently my accent is hopeless). The wind at the Columbia Icefield was colder than I expected. We bundled up for the Glacier Adventure tour and actually rode out onto the Athabasca Glacier itself. Walking on ancient ice feels strange — like you’re trespassing somewhere old and important. My boots crunched over little pebbles frozen into the surface; I kept thinking about how far that ice must have traveled.

Lunch was a picnic near the Icefield Centre — sandwiches, fruit, nothing fancy but somehow perfect after all that cold air. The Skywalk part was wild: glass under your feet, Sunwapta Valley dropping away below. Some people looked nervous (I probably did too). Mark told us stories about local wildlife and old explorers who crossed these passes before there were even real roads.

I still think about that view from Athabasca Falls — water roaring so loud we had to shout just to hear each other. By the time we rolled into Jasper, everyone was quieter than before. Not tired exactly; more like full up with everything we’d seen. It’s funny how a day trip from Lake Louise to Jasper can feel like a week’s worth of new things jammed together.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Lake Louise to Jasper Highlights

• Travel through Canadian Rockies
• Stop at Lake Louise
• Visit Crowfoot Glacier
• Visit Bow Lake
• Explore Columbia Icefield
• Glacier Adventure tour
• Glacier Skywalk experience
• Visit Weeping Wall
• Visit Athabasca Falls
• Enjoy picnic lunch

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Lake Louise to Jasper tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in your booking.

How long do we spend at the Columbia Icefield?

You’ll have about 4 hours at the Columbia Icefield for tours and lunch.

Does this day trip include walking on a glacier?

Yes, you’ll join a guided Glacier Adventure tour onto Athabasca Glacier.

Are meals provided during the tour?

A picnic lunch is included as part of your experience.

What sightseeing stops are made between Lake Louise and Jasper?

You’ll stop at Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Columbia Icefield, Weeping Wall, and Athabasca Falls.

Is there live commentary or guidance during the journey?

Yes, your driver/guide provides live commentary throughout the trip.

Do I need special fitness for this tour?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended for participation.

Does this tour operate in bad weather?

The tour operates in all weather conditions; dress appropriately for changes.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in either Lake Louise or Jasper, entry fees for both the Glacier Adventure onto Athabasca Glacier and the glass-floored Skywalk experience at Columbia Icefield, live commentary from your local guide throughout Banff and Jasper National Parks, plus a picnic lunch enjoyed among mountain views before arriving in Jasper in the evening.