You are now viewing Athabasca Glacier, Sunwapta & Athabasca Falls Jasper

Athabasca Glacier, Sunwapta & Athabasca Falls Jasper

Day 9: Icefield Parkway also had to became one of the most beautiful routes in the world for us, but because of the smoke from the many forest fires the view of the spectacular landscape was still cloudy that day. It had rained the day before and well rained at night. When we left in the morning it still rained and it continued to rain until late in the afternoon. As a result, the route was less beautiful than expected for us. That day we drove from Banff to Jasper (Wapiti) via Icefield Parkway Highway 93 in total 400km / 250 miles. On the way we visited Athabasca Glacier, Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls Jasper. Each and every one of them fantastic places to see.

4/5
Athabasca Glacier, Sunwapta & Athabasca Falls
Athabasca Glacier

Athabasca Glacier

The first thing we encountered on our route was Athabasca Glacier. We parked on the other side of the road from Columbia Icefields Discovery Center. The distance from the campsite in Banff to Athabasca Glacier is 192 km. We were the last to visit Athabasca Falls Jasper that day. When we left that morning, we first filled the diesel tank in Banff, but we also had to leave the road to fill the propane tank. You cannot fill up propane in every gas station. After an 3 drive of about an hour we arrived at the Athabasca Glacier. I turned left for Columbia Icefields Discovery Center and immediately found a parking space.

Icefield Parkway Highway 93

Where to park

What I didn't know is that you can actually park closer to the glacier (P2). In retrospect, our place (P1) was a good place to stand (see also Google map at the bottom of the page). There is a path from the parking (P1) to the glacier. Most tourists park at the main building (Columbia Icefields Discovery Center) or at the denser parking lot. From there they go up the same path. Our path was higher and a bit remote. You have a nice overview of the ice and the surrounding mountains. Eventually you come down to the denser parking lot, from where you walk along with the others.

Temperature variations

 In a few hours, the temperature went from 27 degrees in Banff to 11 at the gas station until it was close to freezing close to the glacier. There are signs with numbers on the hiking trail. Those are the places where the glacier came that year. On the photo you can clearly see where the tongue of the glacier came in 1984.

Columbia Icefields Discovery Center
Discovery Center & P1
Athabasca Glacier years sign
Plate 1984
Closest Parking P2

On foot to the glacier

Columbia Icefield is a remnant of the thick ice mass that once covered most of the mountains of Western Canada. You can walk almost to the tongue of the glacier. Optionally you can choose to drive with a large jeep / bus to the glacier. Halfway through the "expedition" you can get off on the glacier, but within a defined safe zone. There are 56 people that can go along on the bus. We found this activity rather pricey. I thought we could get to the glacier on foot via a path, but this can only be done under supervision. Through this link you can, for example, book an excursion and view the prices.

Athabasca Glacier
Athabasca Glacier ground squirel
Athabasca Glacier hike

The Athabasca glacier is 6km long and is one of the six parts of Columbia Icefield. It is located in the Canadian Rockies. The glacier melts at a rate of about 5 meters (16 feet) per year.

Sunwapta Falls

Sunwapta Falls is located on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) and consists of the upper and lower waterfalls that are fed by the Athabasca glacier. The upper waterfalls with a fall height of 18 meters are easily accessible from the parking. The lower waterfalls can be reached via a short walk from 1.3 km to the Sunwapta River. When we were there, it was wet and slippery, so be careful.

Sunwapta Falls Sign
Sunwapta Falls

Athabasca Falls Jasper National Park

Finally we visited the Athabasca Falls Jasper National Park. From the parking the 200 meter is steps to the first waterfall. This is one of the most powerful waterfalls of the Canadian Rockies. An abundance of water, fed by the Columbia Icefield, falls down from the quartzite rocks at an altitude of 23 meters (75 feet). The limestone rocks below were cut for centuries into a large gorge and various holes.

At the bottom of Athabasca Falls you will find 14 different fish species, but at the upper waterfalls you will only find 1 species, the Bull Trout. For thousands of years the Athabasca valley was covered with an ice layer. Nothing could survive there. As the ice began to melt, animals and plants began to spread across the valley.

Fish could not migrate because they were blocked by the waterfalls. How did the Bull Trout get up? Bizarre! (see picture below)

Athabasca Falls
Athabasca Falls
Athabasca Falls Jasper
Athabasca Falls Jasper
Athabasca Falls Jasper

Fantastic waterfalls to photograph, even in this rainy weather. The mist surrounds surrounding rocks with a layer of water, which makes some parts of the walk dangerously slippery. The waterfalls are easily accessible via Highway 93 A.

Athabasca Falls Jasper
Athabasca Falls

Wapiti Campground

After a long day we arrived at 6 pm at the Jasper campsite. We stayed at Wapiti, a nice quiet provincial campsite. We were a bit too quick and had made a mistake in picking the camping spot. We had taken place (FF29) in front of the reserved spot (FF28). With this place we were in the clouds, wow, I did not remember that I had reserved that place. I love to hear a river or the sea in the evening and this place was just next the river. There was even firewood ready. Eli was just out of the camper and started cutting the firewood into pieces.

Wapiti Campground Sign
Wapiti Campground - Jasper

Do not light the fire too quickly 😉

It had rained for the first time in a long time and we were finally allowed to make a campfire in a park. When we told the children that we were going to Canada, we said that you can always make a campfire in the evening. That was one of the things that appealed to them to travel to Canada. Due to the drought and the high risk of forest fire, it was not allowed until now. When we were installed on the spot and the campfire burned, I checked the reservation papers again. Turned out we were in the wrong place. Our place FF28 was on the other side of the road. Ouch. Clean up everything, retract the canopy and retractable part, extinguish the fire and move to the other side. That was as they say in the Netherlands, balen (sucks)!

It apparently made little difference for our son, because after an 10 of a few minutes he had re-lit his campfire, now in the right place. There were narrow tree trunks in the forest that they used to make a camp out of it. This was the (adventurous) image I always had in mind before we left for Canada.

Malignant Canyon - Jasper National Park

Day 10: The first activity that day was a nice walk through Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park.

Read more

Athabasca Glacier, Sunwapta & Athabasca Falls Jasper: Icefield Parkway

  • Road Trip West Canada & Vancouver Island
  • Travel program overview

Wim & Jessica

We created the travel blog "Globetrotter Avenue" as a hobby, but also to share travel experiences with others. In the meantime we have visited more than 40 countries. We love nature, forests and mountains, but also sun, sea and beach. When we are not traveling, you will find us in the garden. Enjoy reading!

Give a reaction