Athabasca Glacier

An outlet glacier of the Columbia Icefield, one of the most studied ice masses in the world. The Athabasca Glacier feeds the Athabasca River (Arctic watershed) and is accessible from the Icefields Parkway via Ice Explorer tours from the Glacier Discovery Centre.

The glacier has been in continuous retreat for over 100 years. Ice at its centre reaches depths comparable to the Eiffel Tower’s height, yet it provides a tangible example of cryospheric decline. American and allied armies used the Columbia Icefield for mountain warfare training during WWII.