From Calgary: Columbia Icefield, Three Glaciers & Herbert Lake Day Tour

Depart from Calgary, Canmore or Banff
and drive the Icefields Parkway

Board an air-conditioned van or bus at the pickup point for your option and set off with a local guide. The first stop is Herbert Lake, a quiet glacier lake in the forest where Mount Temple and the surrounding peaks reflect on the water on calm mornings.

See glacier scenery at
Crowfoot Glacier and Bow Lake

Spend about 20 minutes at the Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint on the side of Crowfoot Mountain and hear how the glacier, which once had three icy "toes" like a crow’s foot, changed shape as it retreated. Then spend about 30 minutes taking photos at Bow Lake, filled with turquoise water from the Bow Glacier, and learn about its geological importance.

Enjoy the turquoise views of
Waterfowl Lakes and Peyto Lake

At the Waterfowl Lakes viewpoint, surrounded by meadows and forest, enjoy the calm scenery with Mount Chephren reflected on the water. At Peyto Lake, take a short walk to a panoramic viewpoint and spend about 1 hour admiring the lake famous for its wolf-head shape and vivid turquoise color.

Walk on the Athabasca Glacier
at the Columbia Icefield

The tour ends at the Columbia Icefield. Explore the Athabasca Glacier on foot while your guide explains how glaciers form, their role in the ecosystem and the area’s history as a NASA testing ground for extraterrestrial exploration. If you wish, ride the Ice Explorer onto the glacier from the Glacier Discovery Centre or visit the Skywalk, a glass-floored platform above the Sunwapta Valley, at an additional cost.

※ All-terrain vehicle (Ice Explorer) rides, Columbia Icefield Adventure and Skywalk tickets are not included and cost extra.
※ The tour covers rugged terrain, and lake colors and scenery may vary with weather and season.