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Columbia Ice Field
Columbia Ice Field
4.5
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- SCORPIO67Chesterfield, United Kingdom214 contributionsAmazing experienceThis is an amazing experience, we did this as part of our tour with Sundog Tours but I think it costs around 90 Canadian dollars. Sam who drove us on to the glacier was really funny and provided us with lots of information. We went in May & it was cold but well worth visitingVisited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 30 May 2024
- Bob LumSingapore, Singapore321 contributionsWaling on GlacierWe went on the 4.30pm tour. After a 10 min bus journey, we boarded the Ice Explorer, a vehicle designed to move on the glacier. Our guide, Jez, injected fun into the tour. He was knowledgeable and friendly. We walked for about 30 minutes on the glacier and took lots of photos. I would say that it's a worthwhile experience.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 16 June 2024
- Ogad35 contributionsAnother tourDisclaimer: I do not care for organized tours! Family of 4 went on a tour to the glacier provided by Pursuit. 1. My son uses a wheelchair for all of his mobility needs.......they have completely wheelchair asseccible vehicles (you really need to schedule the time as early as you can, only 2 wheelchair accessible routes offered daily). My family loved loved this event! The van driver Sam and the Ice Explorer driver, Jez......were incredible! They were informative and entertaining. I would so do this again (even though I hate orgainized tours). They kept us safe and related really cool facts that I could not have googled. The family enjoyed drinking the glacier water and I enjoyed watching them. 2. Side note make sure if you require wheelchair accessible parking you ask for a parking code before arriving.....no phone service!Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten 26 June 2024
- Laura W2 contributionsAmazing tour and special thanks to Jacob and LiamYesterday we had an amazing tour. The tour guides (Jacob and Liam) were fantastic and so knowledgeable about the glacier. They did great putting up with our rowdy group from the UK, New Zealand and Australia. They had great personalities and made the whole experience so smooth. One of the best tours I went on and made my first trip to Canada a fantastic one.Visited July 2024Travelled soloWritten 10 July 2024
- Laurel M1 contributionCold, crisp, smooth and bubblyCold, crisp, smooth and bubbly: our guided trip to the tongue of the glacier was like a tasty beer. Our guide and monster truck driver (I can’t remember what the glacier-going vehicle is called) Kassie was confident and welcoming. Three generations of my family were on Kassie’s bus yesterday afternoon and we all had a great time. Thank you to the whole team at the Ice fields experience. Great fun!Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 16 August 2024
- StumatterPeoria, Illinois49 contributionsVery cool but a long crowded dayThis is truly a unique experience but, with that said it is also a very long day. The driving, the waiting, the shuttles and the number of people will all tire and stress you out. You do not spend much time on the ice which proved to be about an 8-hour day from Banff. If you able maybe catch this on your way in or out of your trip, possibly even coming in the night before and staying at the lodge and getting up on the ice first thing.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 25 August 2024
- Josh H1 contributionThanks Kassie!We stopped here on our way through to Banff on our honeymoon. We had originally planned to go in July but had to reschedule because of the fires in Jasper. The guy at the ticket booth made it very easy to switch it around, and we had a fantastic time. The views at the glacier and skywalk were spectacular, and riding in the Icefield explorer was an interesting and fun experience, thanks to our fantastic driver Kassie (wooo!) who made it a great experience!Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 29 August 2024
- phil cPocklington, United Kingdom18 contributionsWonderfulReally interesting half day, well worth the money. Loads of interesting facts, friendly guides, well run and easy to find. The glass walkway over the crevice will test your nerves !Visited September 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 27 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
5,275 reviews
Excellent
3,287
Very good
1,274
Average
491
Poor
146
Terrible
77
Colin B
Kelowna, Canada15 contributions
Sept 2021
Unfortunately it was raining when we visited, but we were disappointed in both for the costs involved. The glacier is melting fast and the ice looked dirty. On a cloudy rainy day the skywalk was not worth the coach ride. The restaurant at the centre was closed and the only refreshments were at Starbucks, for which we lined up for over half an hour.
Written 20 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
L G
Edenbridge, UK23 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Visited the glacier and Skywalk as part of a one way Jasper to Banff tour. Sad to say we did not enjoy any of this experience. Herded like cattle from bus to bus for 4 hours. Glacier (what is left of it) was crowded and all you do is stand on a bit of ice for 20 mins while someone fakely hoots “are y’all excited to be on a glacier?”. I have done glacier tours elsewhere that include looking at the intricate ice formations but there’s none of that here. Skywalk was crowded and honestly, the views are far better from the pit stops on the road. Worst thing we did in Canada. Save your money and time and spend longer on the drive looking at the beautiful scenery rather than spending 4 hours getting on and off of crowded smelly buses to mostly view parking lots.
Written 9 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet H
Calgary, Canada10 contributions
Aug 2020
This is very much one for the bucket list. I joke that the older I get, the farther I have to walk to see it, but sadly, that is too true - everyone should see this before it is gone forever. We also did the skywalk and while it is fun, I dont think the views were spectacular enough in that spot to warrant the price. That said, the bus drivers were wonderful and we felt safe both on the road and with the Covid safety protocols. It needs to be clearer from road signs that the skywalk starts from the Glacier Centre - we had bought advance tickets and even we weren't sure if there was a separate check in spot along the highway.
Written 2 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
conshome4
Alpharetta, GA36 contributions
Sept 2022
We might be last generation of beings, who would get an opportunity to pay respect to rapidly receding one of the largest glaciers in Canada and in N. America.
Pursuit Tours have a done a fantastic job with this excursion with their multi-million $$$ Ice Explorer buses.
Loved when the bus goes through the steep trough and inclines to reach to the glacier bed.
Pursuit Tours have a done a fantastic job with this excursion with their multi-million $$$ Ice Explorer buses.
Loved when the bus goes through the steep trough and inclines to reach to the glacier bed.
Written 3 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
remmick1963
Austin, TX29 contributions
June 2022
The drive from Lake Louise to Jasper is beautiful with many great animals and sites to see along the way. Personally I would not plan much time, or any, stopping at the Columbia Ice Field. I may be a Glacier Snob but I have seen much better in Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula. To get to the Ice Field you have to either pay or hike a short distance through probably the most unattractive section of the drive. Take a look from the parking lot and then move on. There are much better things to see either way down the road.
Written 16 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jaydee1244
Calgary, Canada70 contributions
Sept 2021
What an experience! The drive up to the Columbia Ice Field from Calgary was amazing!! The view from the restaurant patio there is so awesome. There is the lower parking lot, upper parking lot and then across the road (on the glacier side) there are 2 more parking lots with bathrooms. If you go to the parking lot at the bottom (closest to the lake/glacier), the trail is right beside it to start the trek up to the ice field. It is a rocky hill to climb at first but its not difficult. Be careful on the way back down because of loose rocks in some parts. It was very windy at the top and cooler (September- afternoon). The hiking trail to the glacier has beautiful views!! I am not an avid hiker and did this in my normal runners and didn't find it hard. You can walk right onto the glacier. Very cool experience! Check it out!
Written 7 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tushar R
Montreal, Canada8 contributions
Aug 2022
This is a must do adventure! They take you on huge custom vehicles used in Antartica expeditions to bring you to the glacier safely. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and so are the bus drivers. They make the entire experience a lot of fun for all ages. The bus drivers were making jokes for the kids on the tour and it really felt like an inclusive environment.
Written 10 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob L
3 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Vactions By Rail selected Brewster Sightseeing Tours to take us to Columbia Icefields Adventure. Eise from Brewster was fantastic, and Sam from Columbia was delightful. Witty and informative, he interacted with the tour guests like a seasoned pro, and while safety consciuos and careful, he sprinkled his presentation with interesting facts and funny observations. QBoth drivers gave us an experience we won't soon forget.
Written 10 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
P&ZH
Western Canada215 contributions
June 2021 • Couples
Shame on Parks Canada for letting this get so run down. This should be an inexpensive way to see the glacier but Parks Canada won't let you get anywhere near it any longer. They block off access at the stream instead of building a bridge. Time to send some of the money they earn off of commercial concessions and upgrade the trail right to the current toe of the glacier. They appear to prefer that you spend the money and take a commercial tour. That's not what our public parks are about.
Written 13 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
njgramps
NJ318 contributions
July 2019
This a very popular spot for tourists with good reason. One gets a great viewof the entire ice field from the visitor center. From there you take a bus to get to the next stop - another special bus designed to operate on ice. That bus has giant wheels and travels slowly up the ice field to an open stop. There you getup close and personal with the glacier. It is cold with icey water runnung throught. Flags of many countries are available so make sure you take a photo with yours.
Written 31 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, is the glacier stable in summer - Are tours still running, or just in winter?
Hope that makes sense!
Written 27 November 2019
We were on Rocky Mountaineer train tour. They stop the trip in late fall due to weather and daylight for viewing.
Written 4 October 2020
Hi,
I’m wondering if the skywalk is open year round. We’re looking at visiting in December.
Written 6 November 2019
We don’t know p. We were on a train tour with Rocky Mountaineer train. They operate till late fall due to decreasing daylight and weather, we had six inches of snow at Lake Louise, Banff, Canada.
Written 4 October 2020
I'm trying to plan our day around a visit here. Can anyone give me an idea of how long a visit usually takes in total, including the ice fields and the Skywalk.
Written 10 September 2019
We had tickets in advance, so we got on the transport bus pretty quickly.
From that moment until we returned to the Center, was one and one-half hours.
Skywalk was closed the day we were there, so no help there.
Written 11 September 2019
Hello, I was not sure if there is access to the Columbia Icefield in June. We are traveling in the area from the Eastern part of the US and would like to experience some of the Icefield sights. Can you direct me to info regarding this. The tours to the glaciers only run from July to October. Is the restaurant open in June? Thanks so much. Cindy
Written 25 August 2019
Unsure of the operating months. You might see if they have a website.
Written 15 January 2020
Can I drive to the ice field car park and then join a local tour company to see the glacier? If I can, what is the cost please and what is included in the ticket? Thanks.
Paul
Written 6 August 2019
There are two ways to see the Glacier. One, is through the Ice Explorer tour which you can book with different companies. The 2nd is the Icewalk. This is the one we took. A mountain guide takes a group of 10 - 12, and hike up to the glacier. Total hiking time is 3 hours. For the Icewalk, the parking and meeting place is at the parking at the toe of the glacier, across the street from the Icefield Visitor Center. The Icewalk lets you enjoy the Glacier so much more than the Ice Explorer, and you learn so much about Glaciers and the Icefield. Regardless of which you choose, you need to book in advance.
Written 7 August 2019
How practical is it to trek across the icefield in August? I'm mainly concerned about:
- Red tape: Do I need any kind of permit? Where and when do I need to acquire it / how likely is it that I'll get turned away?
- Crevasses: is there a route that avoids them? Is there a route that's even navigable in August when the snowpack is lower?
I have a fair bit of experience climbing mountains in the Cascades with heavily crevassed glaciers, and I have the equipment necessary for it.
Written 27 July 2019
Suggest you get in touch with Banff tourist information for correct advise
M
Written 5 August 2019
Hi we will be visiting the ice field at the beginning of July. Very confused about what to wear. What do people recommend? Thanks
Written 13 May 2019
I went in early September 2018 and wore a thin waterproof It wasn't particularly cold - in fact the ice was melting fast. Doubt if most people would feel cold in July - Take a light coat just in case, then decide when you are about to get out of the vehicle that takes you to the glacier - Enjoy!
Written 14 May 2019
hemant292019
Millstone, New Jersey
1.Is there any hotel accommodation at Columbia Ice Field and restaurant foe lunch and dinner?
2.We want to go to following places while travelling to Columbia Ice Field from Banff
Bow Lake
Peyto Lake
Mistaya Fall
Herbert Lake
Hector Lake
Water Fowl Lake
Glacier Adventure
Glacier Sky walk
Can you please do me a favour to suggest which sequence to follow for the above places starting from Banff?
3. One day is enough or two days are required to visit above mentioned places?
Glacier Adventure
Glacier Sky walk
Written 1 March 2019
You will need 2 or 3 days and then some. Not many hotels apart from Banff or Jasper or Lake Louise. You are in a national park and the speed limits are STRICKLY enforced, so you can't just zip around.
Written 4 March 2019
Can I drive to the glacier in Jasper and get a ride on the all terrain ice explorer for. The parking lot to the glacier or do I have to take the tour?...thx...kim
Written 25 February 2019
You have to take the tour to get on the ice explorer vehicle .
Written 26 February 2019
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