Glacier Views Camping Trip
Angel Glacier from Cavell Meadows
Camping along the Icefields Parkway
7 Days/6 Nights
The proximity of glaciers to hiking trails and highways is one of the great opportunities of the Canadian Rockies. Join us on this camping and walking tour and explore the peaks and glaciers of Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks.
We will be travelling the length of the one of the world’s most scenic highways, the famous 'Icefields Parkway', hiking each day in places with spectacular glacier scenery. Nights will be spent at the convenient campground located along the 'Parkway' There will be lots of opportunities for sightseeing and visits to Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.
Come in June, July and August to enjoy the wildflowers and summer temperatures, and at the end of August and September to see fall colours and encounter fewer people.
2008 Dates
June 22 - 28, July 6 - 12, July 20 - 26, August 17 - 23, September 7 - 13. Private departures available.
Cost
*Non-Canadian residents are eligible to receive a rebate on the tax paid for accommodation.
Meeting Place and Time
We will meet you at 7pm in the lobby of your hotel in Canmore on the evening of Day 1.
Program Itinerary
Day 1: We will meet you at your hotel at 7:00pm. We will discuss the trip logistics and plan our next few days together.
Day 2: Plain of Six Glaciers at Lake Louise
This morning we travel west to Lake Louise and the trail to the Plain of Six Glaciers. The trail takes us along the shores of the Lake and onto the lateral moraine overlooking the lower Victoria Glacier. Towering above us are two of the most climbed glaciated peaks in the Rockies, Victoria and Lefroy, both over 3000m high. On our return we can detour to traverse the Beehive trail to Lake Agnes before dropping back down to Lake Louise. We then set up camp in Lake Louise for the next two nights. Distance walked 16km, elevation gain 600m.Day 3: Iceline Trail, Yoho National Park
After breakfast we drive over Kicking Horse Pass 30km west to spectacular Takakkaw Falls. From here starts one of the most spectacular hikes in the Rockies .. The Iceline. Heading up the valley through the forest we may at first despair that we'll never get up high but inexorably we do, heading into the upper reaches of the Little Yoho Valley where suddenly the peaks seem much closer. The highlight of this hike is the ensuing section on which we travel over the moraines right next to the glaciers that form on the peaks right above us. The finale is the long descent back to the main valley with the mighty Takakkaw Falls cleaving the cliffs on the far side. We then return to our camp at Lake Louise. Distance 15km. Elevation gain 690m.
Day 4: Hike to Wilcox Pass, camp at Jasper
We get to drive along one of the most spectacular mountain roads in the world today ... The Icefields Parkway! Connecting Lake Louise to Jasper, this 225km road follows the valleys that closely parallel the Continental Divide and the most glaciated regions of the Canadian Rockies.
At the halfway point the highway rises to skirt the massive Columbia Icefields and the Saskatchewan and Athabasca Glaciers that drain the ice from it. Directly across from the immense glacier peaks of Athabasca and Snowdome is Wilcox Pass, our hiking objective for today. Hiking the open meadows to the Pass on a sunny day we get sore necks as we constantly twist around to see the magnificent views at our back. Before heading on to Jasper where we will spend the next two nights, we can visit the Icefields Interpretive Centre where all facets of glaciation are explained. Distance 8km. Elevation gain 335m.
Day 5: Hike below Mount Edith Cavell
Back south of town on highway 93 is Mount Edith Cavell which, at over 3000m high, is one of the biggest peaks in the Rockies. The meadows walk takes us right below the impressive North face of this mighty peak. Afterwards we can visit the town of Jasper for some shopping and sightseeing before returning to camp. Distance 6km. Elevation gain 400m.
Day 6: Return to Canmore, hike en-route
An early start will see us back on the Icefields Parkway where we get to see the mountains from a whole new perspective. We will want to stretch our legs on the way and a good option will be to stop at the Columbia Icefields for a short hike up Parkers Ridge to see amazing views of the Saskatchewan Glacier valley. Again we will see how glaciation has moulded this landscape. Or, there will be an alternate option to travel on the Athabasca Glacier aboard an Ice Explorer Snow Coach in the morning (not included in price). Once back in Canmore we can enjoy a final night on the town to celebrate our glacier adventures in the Canadian Rockies.
Day 7: Complimentary breakfast at the hotel.
How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need
you be?
It involves hiking for up to 6 hours per day, distances up to 16km, elevation gains of up to 690m. Participants will be carrying a day pack containing spare clothing, your camera, lunch and something to drink each day.
This program is designed for walkers. Any training you can do before you arrive will enhance your experience. No previous mountain hiking experience required.
Guides and Group Size
White Mountain Adventures and its partner Yamnuska Mountain Adventures are licensed by Parks Canada and Alberta Provincial parks to conduct hiking tours in both National and Provincial Mountain Parks of the Canadian Rockies.
The minimum group size will be 4, maximum 10.
Accommodation and Meals
The group will be camping in modern 3-season tents, 2 guests per tent. Campgrounds have mixed amenities ranging from basic toilets and cooking shelters to ones with hot showers. The group will be travelling in a minibus and will be self-contained bringing camping and cooking equipment.
On the first and final night the group will be staying in a Canmore hotel (Westridge Country Inn), again on a double occupancy basis. No single supplement applies unless you wish to guarantee a single for yourself.
Getting to Canmore and Transportation
Canmore is situated 100km (65miles) west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. It is well served by scheduled bus lines both from Calgary (airport and downtown), Banff (20km west) and points further west. Calgary International Airport is well connected to major cities throughout North America and Europe. Once in Canmore we will supply all transport needed for the trip. Banff Airporter and Rocky Mountain Sky Shuttle offer frequent departures from Calgary Airport. Greyhound Bus Lines (1 800 661 8747) serves Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada Highway. Call 609 0300 for taxis in Canmore.
General Equipment List
Your guide will be carrying a full emergency and first-aid kit. You will need to bring your own daypack and personal clothing. Cotton clothing is NOT recommended as an insulating layer as it causes rapid heat loss when wet.
What to Bring
- HIKING BOOTS: These should be 'broken-in' and have good ankle support and tread. Your boots will make or break your holiday so some time spent getting used to them is time well spent.
- DAYPACK: Large enough to carry extra clothing (rain jacket & pants, sweater, gloves, hat), lunch and snack food, water bottle and camera plus accessories (rental available).
- SUNGLASSES
- WATER BOTTLE (1 Litre)
- SMALL BLISTER & FIRST AID KIT
- SUN BLOCK & LIP BALM
- INSECT REPELLENT
Hiking Clothing
- Wool or fleece HAT
- SUNHAT
- 3 TO 4 WARM LAYERED TOPS (1.Light weight polypro top. 2. medium or expedition weight polypropylene top. 3. fleece jacket or sweater
- T-SHIRT for warm, dry sunny days
- RAIN JACKET with HOOD (sufficient to withstand a day of rain or snow) (Rentals available)
- Light GLOVES or MITTS
- SOCKS, several changes. We suggest a wool blend for comfort.
- SHORT PANTS can be very comfortable for hiking; they should be quick drying, and preferably not cotton.
- HIKING PANTS (comfortable and quick drying, not cotton)
- RAIN PANTS (sufficient to withstand a day of rain or snow) (Rentals available)
- RUNNING SHOES OR OTHER LIGHT WEIGHT FOOTWEAR (backup in case you get blisters).
Optional Gear
- TREKKING POLES
- CAMERA AND SPARE FILM
Camping Gear (Glacier Views of the Rockies Camping Tour & Mount Assiniboine Adventure ONLY)
- SLEEPING BAG We recommend at least a '3 season' bag as temperatures can drop to below freezing at night. A bag with synthetic fill functions better in wet conditions. Make sure you bring a stuff sac that will reduce your bag to its minimum size (i.e. one with compression straps). This will provide enough space in your bag for everything else (rentals available).
- SLEEPING MAT Best is a 'Thermarest' mat; they have some great mats for this type of trip where we will be camping on quite hard surfaces (rentals available).
- PILLOW SLIP Rather then carrying a bulky pillow you can stuff this with extra clothing to make a serviceable pillow each night.
- Unbreakable PLATE, BOWL, MUG and EATING UTENSILS.
- FLASHLIGHT
Insurance in the National Parks
Please ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra travel insurance if necessary
To Book
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. Up to 8 weeks before the trip, we require a $511 CDN deposit including GST, after that, full payment is required. To avoid unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest you take our cancellation insurance for an extra non-refundable $73, this must accompany your deposit. Please click on the next line to read information on booking conditions and cancellation penalties before booking.
For detailed Booking Instructions and Conditions, click here.
For a Booking and Credit Card Authorization form, click here.
Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the trip. Click here for waiver copy.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need to know anything else about this hike!
