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I Finally Hiked the Athabasca Glacier and Wish I Packed These
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items Planning a Columbia Icefield trip in Alberta and totally clueless about what to bring, wear, or do while you're there? I showed up my first time in sneakers and a hoodie like an absolute rookie. Took me two freezing, blistery trips to figure out exac...
Sections
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Layering Gear That Survived Glacier Winds
Footwear That Won't Betray You on Ice
Camera Gear for Columbia Icefield Photos
Sun Protection You'll Actually Need on Ice
Hydration and Snacks for the Glacier Walk
Daypack and Organization for the Icefield
Layering Gear That Survived Glacier Winds
The wind at the Athabasca Glacier hit me sideways and I was wearing a cotton hoodie like a fool. These layers kept me warm on my second trip without turning me into a sweaty marshmallow on the bus ride back.
Throw this on under a shell and you'll forget you're standing on ice. I was comfortable at 25 degrees while the guy next to me in a denim jacket looked miserable. Perfect for anyone who runs cold but hates bulky coats.
Patagonia Men's Nano Puff® Packable Insulated Jacket
Wear this under everything. My first trip I wore a cotton tee and was damp and freezing within 20 minutes. Merino wicks sweat and stays warm even when wet. Grab one before your trip, seriously.
Women's Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer Crew
Keep this in your daypack for when the wind picks up on the glacier walk. It blocked every gust without making me overheat. Built for people who want one jacket that handles rain, wind, and light snow.
Beta AR Jacket Men's
Pull this over your face when the glacier wind starts stinging your cheeks. Weighs nothing, stuffs into any pocket. I bought mine at the Calgary airport last minute and it saved my entire face.
Merino Wool Neck Gaiters
Try these if you want to keep using your phone for photos without taking gloves off every 30 seconds. My fingers went numb on my first glacier walk and I missed half my shots fumbling with regular gloves.
Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor Glove Review (Updated)
Swap out your cotton socks before you even leave the hotel. Cotton gets wet, stays wet, and your feet will hate you by hour two. These kept my toes dry and blister-free the whole day.
Men's Merino Multisport Light Mini Socks
Footwear That Won't Betray You on Ice
I watched someone eat it hard on the glacier in running shoes. The ice is uneven, wet, and slippery in ways you don't expect. Good boots made the difference between enjoying the walk and white-knuckling every step.
Grab these if you want ankle support without feeling like you're wearing cinder blocks. They gripped the wet ice way better than my old trail runners. Waterproof too, which matters when you're walking through meltwater.
Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots - Men's
Slip these over your boots right before the glacier walk. They bite into ice and suddenly you're walking confidently instead of shuffling like a penguin. For anyone who's nervous about slipping, these are the move.
NANOspikes® Footwear Traction
Use these if you want a solid boot without spending $300. They handled the rocky approach trail and the ice without any issues. Broke mine in on two neighborhood walks before the trip and had zero blisters.
Men's Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots
Toss these into whatever boots you bring. The rocky terrain before the glacier beat up my feet until I switched insoles. Now I put them in every pair of hiking boots I own.
Superfeet All-Purpose Support High Arch (Green) Insoles
Treat your boots with this a few days before you leave. I skipped this step on trip one and my feet were soaked by lunch. Takes five minutes and saves you hours of soggy misery on the glacier.
Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather | REI Co-op
Pair these with good boots and your feet will feel like they're on vacation. Lifetime warranty too, so if they ever wear out you just send them back. I've had mine for three years of hiking and they still look new.
Men's Hiker Boot Midweight Cushion Hiking Socks
Camera Gear for Columbia Icefield Photos
The light on the glacier is wild. Bright white ice, dramatic mountain backdrops, and weird reflections that mess with your phone camera. I came home with washed-out photos my first time and vowed never again.
Bring this if you want photos that actually capture how massive the glacier looks in person. My phone photos never did it justice. This camera is light enough to carry all day and the autofocus locks on fast even in bright conditions.
Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Camera: Compact APS-C
Sling this across your chest so your camera stays accessible but secure on the ice. I tried a regular backpack and missed shots because I couldn't grab my camera fast enough. Fits the Sony plus a lens and snacks.
Everyday Sling
Use a neutral density filter when the sun is bouncing off white ice. Without one, every glacier photo looks blown out and flat. Took me ruining a whole memory card of photos to figure this out.
Gobe: Filter Kits
Clip this to your jacket for hands-free video while you're walking on the glacier. The stabilization is ridiculous. Perfect for anyone who wants to capture the experience without holding a camera the entire time.
GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera
Snap this onto your phone if you don't want to carry a full camera setup. It cuts glare on ice and snow so your phone photos actually look like what your eyes see. Small enough to fit in your pocket.
Moment 67mm Universal Phone Filter Mount
Keep this in your jacket pocket. Glacier mist and wind kept fogging up my lens and I was wiping it with my shirt like an amateur. This pen cleaned it perfectly every time in about two seconds.
LensPen NLP-1 Camera Lens Cleaning Pen, Black
Sun Protection You'll Actually Need on Ice
Nobody warned me that a glacier reflects UV like a mirror. I got sunburned UNDER my chin. Under my chin. The reflection off the ice hits you from angles you never think about.
Slather this everywhere, and I mean everywhere, including under your nose and chin. The glacier reflects UV upward and I looked like a tomato by dinner. Reapply after an hour on the ice, no excuses.
Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Wear these instead of your regular sunglasses. They have side shields that block light bouncing off the ice from every angle. I squinted through my first glacier walk with aviators and had a headache for hours.
Julbo Explorer 2.0 Glacier Glasses | Julbo Eyewear USA
Keep this on your head the whole time. Wide brim blocks sun from above while the dark underside reduces glare bouncing up from the ice. Folds flat in your bag when you don't need it.
Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure UPF 50+ Hat
Toss one in every pocket. My lips cracked and bled on day two because I forgot lip protection at the hotel. The dry mountain air plus UV reflection is brutal on exposed skin.
Signature SPF 30 Mineral Lip Balm
Use this stick format for quick reapplication around your eyes and ears. Way easier than squeezing lotion from a tube with cold fingers. For anyone who always forgets to reapply, the stick makes it brainless.
Ultra Sheer ® Face + Body Stick Sunscreen Broad
Pull this up over your neck and lower face when the sun gets intense. Lighter than a neck gaiter and rated for UV protection. Saved my neck from burning on the approach trail before we even reached the ice.
CoolNet® Neckwear
Hydration and Snacks for the Glacier Walk
There's basically nothing to buy once you're out on the ice. I got lightheaded halfway through because I only brought a tiny water bottle and no food. The altitude and cold drain your energy faster than you expect.
Fill this before you leave the hotel. There's nowhere to refill on the glacier and the dry air dehydrates you sneakily. I drank my whole 32oz and still felt thirsty on the bus ride back.
32 oz Wide Mouth Bottle
Drop one of these in your water before the hike. The altitude and dry air pull moisture out of you fast. I started using these on mountain trips and the difference in how I feel by afternoon is noticeable.
Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets Mixed Flavors
Stash two of these in your jacket. Simple ingredients, filling, and they don't turn into a crumbly mess in cold weather. For anyone who gets hangry on hikes, these are your insurance policy.
Shop All Protein Bars
Pop a couple of these when you feel your energy dipping on the ice. Easier to eat than a bar when your hands are cold and you don't want to stop walking. I keep a sleeve in my chest pocket.
Clif Bloks Energy Chews
Squeeze this directly into your mouth for a quick calorie hit. Sounds weird, tastes amazing, and it won't freeze solid in your pack like some bars do. Discovered these on a backcountry trip and now I bring them everywhere.
Maple Syrup & Sea Salt 1.15oz Lil' Squeeze (12-Pack)
Bring this for hot chocolate at the visitor center after your walk. They sell drinks but sometimes don't have cups in the gift shop. Folds completely flat and weighs almost nothing in your pack.
Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Cup
Daypack and Organization for the Icefield
You don't need a massive backpack for a glacier day trip, but you do need something that keeps your stuff organized and accessible. I used a grocery tote on trip one. Don't be me.
Carry this for the perfect amount of space without overdoing it. Fits water, layers, snacks, and camera gear with room to spare. Light enough that you forget it's there but structured enough that nothing gets crushed.
Worst Daypack? Product Review: Osprey DayLite Plus
Stuff your phone, wallet, and extra layers in here inside your pack. Glacier meltwater and surprise rain showers can soak through zippers. I lost a phone to water damage on a mountain trip and never go without dry bags now.
Ultra-Sil Dry Bag
Clip your water bottle or gloves to the outside of your pack so you can grab them without stopping. Simple, cheap, and saves you from digging through your bag every five minutes on the trail.
S-Biner Aluminum Dual Carabiner
Keep your sunscreen, lip balm, and lens cleaner in this so they don't float around your pack. Waterproof and lies flat when empty. For anyone who loses small items in their bag constantly, this solves it.
FlatPak™ Zipper Toiletry Case
Bring a charged power bank because cold weather kills phone batteries fast. My phone died at 40% on the glacier because the cold drained it. Tuck the power bank in an inner pocket to keep it warm.
Anker 313 Power Bank (PowerCore 10K)
Use this ultralight sack to separate dirty or wet gear from clean stuff in your pack. After walking on glacier mud and meltwater, you don't want your soggy gloves touching your snacks.
Medium Stuff Sack - Lightest Backpack Hiking Pouch
Booking the Columbia Icefield Experience Right
I booked my first glacier walk the morning of and it was sold out. Then I drove three hours for nothing. Planning even a little bit ahead saves you from the kind of frustration that ruins a road trip day.
Book this at least two weeks ahead during summer. It sells out fast, especially July and August. You ride the massive Ice Explorer bus onto the glacier and get walking time on the ice. Worth every dollar.
Columbia Icefield Adventure
Tack this onto your glacier tour for the glass-floored observation platform over the Sunwapta Valley. My palms were sweating the whole time but the views are unreal. Book the combo ticket to save a few bucks.
Columbia Icefield Skywalk
Grab this if you're hitting multiple attractions along the Icefields Parkway. Bundles the glacier tour, Skywalk, and other stops into one price. Saved me about $40 compared to buying everything separately.
Save up to 40% in the Rockies with a Pursuit Pass
Stay here the night before your morning glacier tour so you're first in line. Waking up with the glacier outside your window beats driving two hours from Jasper at 6am. Book months ahead because it's small and fills up.
Glacier View Lodge
Try this spot if Glacier View Lodge is booked. About 45 minutes south of the Icefield and right next to Sunwapta Falls. Quiet, cozy, and the falls alone are worth a stop even without the glacier trip.
Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge
Get this before entering Jasper or Banff National Park. You need a park pass for the Icefields Parkway and they check. Buy it online ahead of time so you're not stuck in the entrance line behind 30 RVs.
Parks Canada Discovery Pass
Other Stops Along the Icefields Parkway
The drive to Athabasca Glacier is one of the most scenic roads in North America, and most people just blow past incredible stops because they don't know they're there. I pulled over constantly and regret nothing.
Stop here early morning before the crowds show up. The turquoise water looks photoshopped but it's real. Short uphill walk from the parking lot. For anyone driving from Lake Louise, this is about 40 minutes in and worth every second.
Peyto Lake Viewpoint
Park and walk 15 minutes to a canyon carved by water that looks like something from a fantasy movie. Quick stop, free, and the roaring water echoing off the walls is wild. Don't skip this one.
Mistaya Canyon, Alberta, Canada - 944 Reviews, Map
Pull over right at the roadside. You can see this waterfall from your car but walking up close lets you feel the mist. Takes five minutes and breaks up the drive perfectly. Kids go absolutely nuts for it.
Tangle Creek Falls, Alberta, Canada - 86 Reviews, Map
Stop here for a massive panoramic view of the North Saskatchewan River valley. Huge pullout with plenty of parking. I ate lunch here sitting on the tailgate and it was the most peaceful 20 minutes of my trip.
Big Bend Viewpoint
Hike this if you have an extra half day. About 4 hours round trip with views looking DOWN onto the Athabasca Glacier from above. Way fewer people than the glacier walk itself. Bring layers, it's exposed and windy up top.
Hiking The Wilcox Pass Trail: A Complete Trail Guide
Swing by this bright turquoise lake with the red-roofed lodge sitting on its shore. Looks like a postcard from the 1940s. Great spot to stretch your legs and take photos before continuing north to the glacier.
The Lodge At Bow Lake
Stuff I Wish Someone Told Me Before Going
Nobody mentioned altitude headaches, or that the glacier is shrinking visibly, or that cell service disappears for hours on the parkway. Here's everything I learned the hard way so your first trip goes smoother than mine.
Start drinking extra water two days before your trip. The Icefield sits around 6,500 feet and if you're coming from sea level, you might feel dizzy or get headaches. I popped ibuprofen proactively and felt fine. Don't ignore it.
The Best Ways to Prevent Altitude Sickness
Download the Jasper to Lake Louise map on your phone before you leave wifi. Cell service dies for long stretches on the Icefields Parkway. I missed a trailhead turnoff because my GPS went blank for 45 minutes.
Download areas & navigate offline in Google Maps
Make sure your roadside assistance is active before driving the parkway. It's remote, tow trucks take hours, and there are very few gas stations. I passed a stranded family waiting by their car and it looked miserable.
AAA Roadside Assistance & Towing Service 24 hours / 7
Stop for gas here no matter what your tank says. It's the only fuel between Lake Louise and Jasper, roughly 150km in each direction. I almost ran out because I figured there'd be another station. There wasn't.
The Crossing Gas station
Pick up a can before hitting any trails along the parkway. Grizzly and black bears are active in the area, especially summer mornings. I saw a grizzly 50 meters from the road near Sunwapta Pass. Not optional gear.
How to obtain bear spray in Jasper, Alberta for hiking
Bring some cash because the gift shop card reader went down when I visited. Small bills work best. They sell surprisingly decent glacier-themed souvenirs and hot drinks that taste incredible after standing on ice for an hour.
Jasper National Park Icefield Information Centre and Glacier Gallery