Moraine Lake with turquoise water reflecting the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in Banff National Park, Canada

🇨🇦Athabasca Glacier

Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park is the most-visited glacier in North America, offering Ice Explorer rides, a glass-floored Skywalk, and guided ice walks for families.

Your family guide

Walking on ancient ice: Athabasca Glacier with your family

“Brilliant blue crevasses open beneath snow-capped peaks while glacial melt trickles under your feet. Cold hits different when you're standing on ice that's older than your great-great-grandparents.”

— San & Jo

Athabasca Glacier is one of those places that stops conversation mid-sentence. Part of the vast Columbia Icefield deep in Jasper National Park, this is the most-visited glacier in North America, and the moment families step out of the car and feel that cold glacial wind, the reason becomes clear.

The atmosphere here is raw and genuinely powerful. Brilliant blue crevasses, ancient ice stretching up toward snow-capped peaks, and the sound of meltwater trickling beneath your feet create a setting that feels nothing like everyday life. This experience stays with you.

Whether you ride out onto the ice aboard a massive Ice Explorer vehicle, walk the free Toe of the Glacier Trail, or brave the glass-floored Skywalk suspended 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley, Athabasca Glacier delivers an experience that is equal parts thrilling and humbling. Pack warm layers, even in summer, and prepare to have your breath taken away.

Jasper National ParkAlberta, Canada

Freezing on the iceBring warm layers year-round

May to OctoberBest season to visit

Best things to do

Best things to do in Athabasca Glacier

Columbia Icefield Adventure (Ice Explorer)

Climb aboard a massive Ice Explorer vehicle and ride out onto the glacier itself. Once you disembark onto the ancient ice surface, surrounded by nothing but white and blue and mountain peaks, the scale of it all hits you in the best possible way. This is the headline experience at Athabasca Glacier and absolutely worth it for families.

Book ahead in peak summer months, spots fill up fast

2-3 hours

Toe of the Glacier Trail

This free, approximately 1 km gravel trail leads from the parking area right to the edge of the glacier. No guide needed, no booking required. It is a fantastic way to get up close and personal with the ice without spending a cent, and the walk itself is easy enough for the whole family.

Free and stroller-friendly on the gravel path, though the final stretch gets rocky

30-45 minutes

Columbia Icefield Skywalk

A glass-floored oval walkway suspended 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley, the Skywalk delivers jaw-dropping views of the mountain and alpine landscape below. Kids tend to either love the glass floor or absolutely refuse to step on it, both reactions are equally entertaining for parents.

Often combined with the Ice Explorer as a package ticket

45-60 minutes

Guided ice walk with crampons

Full-day guided ice walks depart from downtown Jasper along the Icefields Parkway. You get kitted out with crampons, explore crevasses and moulins up close, and enjoy a packed lunch out on the ice. No previous experience is needed, making this a brilliant adventure for older kids and teens who want more than a quick look.

Crossing the glacier without a certified guide is prohibited, so this is the only way to explore deeply

6-8 hours including travel

Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre

Located directly across from the glacier, this is your base for tour departures, exhibits about glacier science, and a warm sit-down meal at Altitude Restaurant. The glacier models and educational displays are genuinely interesting for curious kids, and it is a great spot to warm up between outdoor adventures.

Closed mid-October to mid-April, so plan accordingly for shoulder-season visits

1-2 hours

Sunwapta Falls

Fed by glacial meltwater from Athabasca Glacier, Sunwapta Falls is a stunning nearby natural attraction that makes a perfect add-on to your glacier day. The falls are powerful and photogenic, and the short walk to reach them is manageable for families with kids of all ages.

Located along the Icefields Parkway, easy to include on the drive to or from the glacier

1 hour

Our verdict

How Athabasca Glacier scores for families

Kids

The Ice Explorer ride and Toe of the Glacier Trail are genuinely exciting for children. The cold and wind can be challenging for very young ones, so pack accordingly.

Nature

This is as dramatic as nature gets. Ancient ice, glacial meltwater, towering peaks, and a landscape that feels prehistoric. Absolutely world-class.

Adventure

From glass-floored skywalks to crampon-equipped ice walks, the adventure factor here is very high. There are options for every comfort level.

Food

Dining options are limited to the Discovery Centre, but Altitude Restaurant delivers solid locally inspired Canadian cuisine with impressive glacier views.

Budget

The Ice Explorer and Skywalk are a significant investment for families. The Toe of the Glacier Trail is free, which helps balance things out.

Planning your visit

How long should you spend at Athabasca Glacier?

3 hours

Quick stop

Walk the Toe of the Glacier Trail and take in the views from the Discovery Centre. A great option if you are passing through on the Icefields Parkway.

sweet spot

1 day

Sweet spot

Do the Ice Explorer, walk the Toe of the Glacier Trail, explore the Skywalk, and have lunch at Altitude Restaurant. This is the ideal family day at the glacier.

2 days

Deep dive

Add a full-day guided ice walk from Jasper on day two. Perfect for families with older kids or teens who want to really get onto the glacier.

Fun facts

Things to know about Athabasca Glacier

Water that reaches three oceans

The Columbia Icefield feeds water into three separate oceans: the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Arctic. That makes Athabasca Glacier a hydrological apex of North America. Stand on the ice and you are standing at a literal continental crossroads.

The ice beneath your feet is 400 years old

Some of the ice at the toe of the glacier fell as snow on the icefield approximately 400 years ago. That means it was already old when the Mayflower set sail. Let that sink in while you are standing on it.

The glacier makes its own weather

Athabasca Glacier is believed to be capable of generating its own localised weather systems. That is why conditions can change so quickly up here, and why even a sunny summer day on the glacier can feel bitterly cold and windy.

Taste Athabasca Glacier

Where to eat with kids at Athabasca Glacier

Alberta beef dishes

Kids love it

Altitude Restaurant, Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre

The Discovery Centre kitchen leans heavily into Alberta's famous beef, and for good reason. Hearty, warming, and exactly what you want after a few hours in the cold glacial air. Kids who love a good burger will be very happy here.

Arctic char

Must try

Altitude Restaurant, Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre

A regional speciality on the Altitude Restaurant menu, Arctic char is a cold-water fish with a mild, slightly sweet flavour. It is a great way to introduce kids to Canadian wilderness cuisine in a setting that could not be more fitting.

Bison dishes

Local favourite

Altitude Restaurant, Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre

Bison is a cornerstone of Canadian Rockies cuisine and Altitude Restaurant makes good use of it. Rich, slightly leaner than beef, and genuinely delicious. A memorable meal in a one-of-a-kind setting with glacier views through the windows.

Warm drinks and snacks

Safe choice

Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre cafe

After the Toe of the Glacier Trail or the Skywalk, a hot chocolate or coffee at the Discovery Centre is pure comfort. The cafe-style counter is quick and easy for families who just need to warm up before heading back out.

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