Icefields Parkway

Viewing points

Enjoy an adventure at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center. Get a guided tour around the Athabasca Glacier on Ice Explorer, admire the stunning mountains and glaciers and listen as your guide informs you of all the facts and history. Meet your guide, who will take you to the Athabasca Glacier. At the scheduled time, board your Ice Explorer, a massive vehicle designed explicitly for glacial travel, and set off on an exciting ride. During your ride, hear stories and facts about the Columbia Icefield and the glaciers around you. Once on the Glacier, hop off the vehicle to walk on the thick, 25,000-year-old ice and drink cold, pure water from the glacier itself. This is an experience you will never forget. Then, take a short ride to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Heighten your senses by walking on a platform where only glass separates you from a 918-foot (279-meter) drop. Marvel at the spectacular views of the mountains, glaciers, and the Sunwapta River with its waterfalls.

Get an entry ticket to Columbia Icefield Skywalk, a cliff-edge walkway 918 feet (279 meters) above the valley floor. See giant glaciers perched above you and the spectacular Sunwapta Valley below with this experience. Make your way to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center in Jasper, then board the shuttle to get to the skywalk. Upon arrival at the observation platform, collect your audio guide and embark on your adventure. Step onto the glass floor of the Columbia Icefield Skywalk to begin the scenic 1-kilometer walk, surrounded by fantastic views. Marvel at crystal-clear waterfalls, admire the mountains and glaciers above and keep a lookout for wildlife native to the Candian Rockies.

Discover the incredible Icefields Parkway with this smartphone audio tour between Lake Louise and Jasper. Let your audio guide transform this beautiful scenic drive into a sight-seeing, fact-finding, trivia-answering, family-friendly adventure. With your phone or tablet as your guide (download instructions found on your confirmation voucher), start from either Jasper or Lake Louise, and end at the other. Enjoy the same tour experience in either direction. Your audio guide will point out must-see sights, attractions, breathtaking mountains, and glaciers that you pass along the journey. Learn about the area's early pioneers, animals, geography, and the historical events that led to the highway’s creation. Take in the panoramic views of Lake Hector and Bow Lake, and stop for easy trails in Banff National Park. Explore the famous Columbia Icefields and the Columbia Icefields Discovery Center. See the majestic Dolomite and Bow Peaks, Mount Amery, Mount Murchison, and Mount Wilson. Take in the gorgeous Sunwapta Falls where the water flows from the melting Athabasca Glacier. Hear about the people and events that made the area famous like Mary Shaffer Warren, Bill Peyto, George Simpson, and the Palliser Expedition. Easily navigate your tour and enjoy entertainment suitable for all ages. Stay laughing and engaged with your friends or family along the way with trivia fun. Hear fun audio clips that play automatically as you drive using a live GPS map. Try out multiple-choice trivia questions about the sights at each point of interest you pass. With no time constraints, enjoy the freedom to stop anywhere and take your time exploring.

Discover the Athabasca Glacier on a guided tour from Banff. Journey along the scenic Icefields Parkway and climb into an Ice Explorer vehicle to explore the awesome glacier. Experience breathtaking views of the Sunwapta Valley as you step across the Glacier Skywalk. Get picked up from your Banff hotel in a modern mini bus by your friendly guide. Departing from Banff, your guide will welcome you on the tour with an overview of where you'll be headed as you sit back and enjoy the ride along the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s most stunning scenic drives. Benefit from a tour where you don’t have to navigate or watch the road. Sit back, relax, and focus on the amphitheater of mountains towering above as you keep your eyes peeled for wildlife at the edges of the forest. Stop at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre and board an Ice Explorer vehicle. Drive onto the Athabasca Glacier, learn about its history, and take some free time to soak up the views. Touch this ancient sheet of ice and even drink pure, cold water straight from the glacier. Head to the nearby glass floor Glacier Skywalk and follow the 1-kilometer walkway that leads to a platform where glass is all that separates you from a 918-foot drop. Witness the giant glaciers perched above you and admire the views of the spectacular Sunwapta Valley spread out below. Enjoy a scenic stop for a hearty packed lunch of a sandwich, juice, fruit, chips, and brownies. Visit iconic landmarks along the Icefields Parkway such as Bow Lake, the headwaters of the mighty Bow River before heading back to Banff.

See the best of Banff, in style. The day will be filled with stunning glacial lakes, mountain views, history, fun stories, incredible photo opportunities, a bit of humour, and maybe a game or two. It will be a day to remember for years to come. Begin your mountain adventure the minute you get picked up at your hotel/lodge in Calgary, Canmore or Banff. This is not a touch-and-go tour, you will have time to explore with our guide as well as on your own. All destinations will be reached based on the best possible time, meaning fewer crowds, better weather conditions, and traffic flow, so you can enjoy the park the way you always imagined. Our stops will be breathtaking, to say the least: Winter/Fall/Spring: Canmore, once a coal mining town, but now a must-visit place due to its charming boutique shops, art galleries, friendly locals, and delicious flavours. Stop for a few minutes to pick up your delicious lunch to go (included). You might also see some wildlife on our way here. Then head to Lake Louise, surrounded by majestic peaks, nearby glaciers, and the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. You'll have time to ice skate, take a horse sled to the end of the lake during the winter months, take that perfect photo you've always wanted with the yellow colours of fall, or simply enjoy a cup of hot chocolate by the lake. Go visit the Peyto Lake Lookout, the newly upgraded viewpoint which truly offers the best views of this glacier-fed lake. You will see why this is one of the most photographed lakes in all of Canada. Then discover Bow Lake, one of the largest and deepest lakes in Banff. If you like nature and love to take photos of stunning unique places, you'll love the possibilities here. See Icefields Parkway, one of the most beautiful drives in the world. You'll see glaciers, lakes, wildlife, and mountains, a very scenic road. Then explore the town of Banff, a popular and must-do stop in the Canadian Rockies. This charming and picturesque stop will be your last stop. Enjoy the souvenir shops, sit down and relax, or visit a museum while you're here. We will also stop at a couple of our favourite secret spots, you don't want to miss this. You will be dropped off at your original pickup location or at one of our listed stops if you prefer (check with your guide) to finish your epic day of adventuring. If you would like to stay in the towns of Canmore or Banff once your tour has ended, get dropped off at your hotel/lodge as part of our deluxe services at no additional cost to you. From June until the end of Septemberbeginning of October, everything above plus Moraine Lake ─ the place everyone wants to see and experience during the summer months when it opens. Located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, this lake feels surreal, we will spend enough time here to make sure you live it to the max.

Your mountain adventure starts when your driver guide meets you at your accommodation. Your journey through two of Canada's most renowned national parks: Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, starts with incredible views surrounding the town of Banff and a stop at shimmering Lake Louise. After departing Lake Louise, you will travel the Columbia Icefields Parkway, truly one of the most scenic roadways in the world. Take the magnificent scenery and make several stops along the route to appreciate the breathtaking beauty of the region.  Highlights include Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake, Petyo Lake, Saskatchewan Crossing, the Weeping wall, the Columbia Icefield, and the Athabasca Falls. During this journey, you will also partake in a delicious picnic lunch at a scenic viewpoint. At the Columbia Icefields you will take part in a Glacier adventure to Athabasca Glacier as well as experience the Glacier Skywalk for vistas over the Sunwapta Valley. This tour is designed to provide the optimum guide and passenger interaction. Small vehicles and group sizes are assured to make your journey in this stunning environment memorable. Have your camera ready, as this remote region of the world provides you with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

Enjoy a safe and reliable shared transfer between Calgary Airport and the areas of Banff and Lake Louise. Travel safely with ease in a licensed vehicle with a professional driver and get to your destination conveniently and safely. Benefit from air-conditioned vehicles maintained to high hygienic standards. Let your driver navigate you through the traffic smoothly. Enjoy a hassle-free ride without worrying about hotel shuttles or expensive taxis. Be transferred between your hotel and the airport in Calgary, and enjoy the views of the majestic Canadian Rockies as you drive.

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! This 130+ miles-long tour covers the essentials of Icefields Parkway in 2 - 3 Hours. This tour can begin in Jasper or Banff, whichever’s most convenient! The Jasper route begins in the town of Jasper. One of the first stops will be the breathtaking Jasper SkyTram, where you’ll have the chance to ride up the face of a mountain for a bird’s-eye view of the vast landscape unfolding on this journey. Then, you’ll pass a trail that winds into the lush Valley of the Five Lakes. Continuing, you’ll come to Athabasca Falls, a roadside waterfall plunging into an ancient canyon. As you gaze up at the towering peaks of Mount Kerkeslin and Mount Christie, you’ll discover the history of this majestic place, from the First Nations to the daring construction of the Icefields Parkway itself. Your next stops include the serene settings of Wabasso Lake and Horseshoe Lake. Here, nature isn’t just observed; it’s felt. Discover secrets of the surrounding ecosystem, from the tiniest wildflower to the majestic elk. Stop at Goats & Glacier Lookout for exactly what you’d expect: Mountain goats and a glacier! Then, continue and learn about the crucial role of the Canadian Pacific Railway in bridging vast distances across Canada’s wilderness. Soon, the Columbia Icefield Skywalk awaits. This glass-floored observation deck offers unparalleled views and an unforgettable experience of these mountains. With the glaciers beneath your feet, time seems to stand still. Peyto Lake, up next, offers a perfect spot for contemplation. But don’t linger too long, as the historical tales of Hollywood's forays into the Rockies beckon. Then, hear tales of strange World War II experiments amid the icefields and stop at another overlook for a fabulous view of Crowfoot Glacier. Finally, you’ll approach the picturesque Lake Louise, one of Banff’s most iconic attractions. Here, the reflections of the mountains on the pristine water are a reminder of the eternal beauty of nature and the stories it holds. Your tour concludes here. If you begin at Lake Louise, you’ll experience all the same sights, just in the opposite order!

Snowshoe to Peyto Lake’s Viewpoint: Venture into the winter wonderland leading to Peyto Lake’s viewpoint. Feel the crunch of fresh snow beneath your shoes, marking a path few tread in the winter. Pause and absorb the raw, unspoiled beauty of the expansive Canadian Rockies. (Snowshoe rentals extra $19, please contact Radventures before booking your tickets for availability) Abraham Lake’s Ice Bubbles Phenomenon: Step onto Abraham Lake’s icy surface, be it for an ice-skate or a exploration walk. Let yourself be captivated by the mesmerizing frozen bubbles trapped beneath, a testament to nature’s artistry. Epic Icefields Parkway Exploration: Embark on a journey through the Icefields Parkway, recognized globally for its astounding scenic vistas. As you traverse this route, unveil the captivating beauty it offers and delve into the hidden gems that only the locals are privy to. Get Cozy Amongst Rockies Peaks: Nestle into a serene spot amidst the imposing Rockies. As you sip on a steaming hot drink, feel the comforting warmth of a lakeside fire, all while being enveloped by the grandeur of the towering peaks around you.

Your journey through two of Canada's most renowned national parks: Jasper National Park and Banff National Park, commences the moment your friendly driver/guide meets you at your hotel or approved accommodation. Departing the picturesque mountain town of Jasper, you will travel the Columbia Icefields Parkway, truly one of the most scenic roadways in the world. Take in the magnificent scenery and make several stops along the route to appreciate the region's breathtaking beauty. Along the way, highlights include Athabasca Falls, the Columbia Icefields, the Weeping wall, Petyo Lake, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, Saskatchewan Crossing and Lake Louise. You will also partake in a delicious picnic lunch at a scenic viewpoint during this journey. At the Columbia Icefields you will take part in a Glacier adventure to Athabasca Glacier as well as experience the Glacier Skywalk for vistas over the Sunwapta Valley. This interpretive tour is designed to provide the optimum in guide and passenger interaction. Small vehicles and group sizes are guaranteed in order to make your journey in this stunning environment memorable. Have your camera ready, as this remote region of the world provides you with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.