The Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff is a bucket-list experience that brings you to the core of the Canadian Rockies in order to reach the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Suppose that you are standing on a glass floor, 918 feet above the valley of the Sunwapta, with ancient glaciers and rugged mountain ranges stretching up to the eye. In case you are planning your visit this guide would take you through to all you need to know to make it to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff. It is between the directions to drive and guided tours that we have got you covered.

The Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff Ultimate Road Trip: Self-Drive.

To most tourists, renting a car is the best option of experiencing the Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff. This will provide you the liberty to have a lack of stop at the famous destination points such as the Peyto Lake or Bow Lake on the way.

Route and Distance

The Banff and Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre are approximately 185 kilometers (115 miles) apart. The Highway 93 North also known as the Icefields Parkway,will be usedfor most of your time. The road is constantly tabulated as one of the most attractive drives in the world.

Travel Time

Under normal conditions, the drive occupies between 2.5 and 3 hours. When touring the Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff, a full day is however one of the budgets. A 3 hours trip will turn into a 5-hour adventure between the wildlife and the potential traffic.

Taking a Guided Tour

In case you desire to spend more time looking at the scenery, rather than focusing on the road, taking a guided tour would offer you a good chance at getting to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, a scenery view of Banff.

Comfort: Hotel pick up and drop off from Banff is provided in most of the tours.

Professional Knowledge: Professional guides tell tales of the geology, history of the area as well as its wildlife.

Calm and Collected: There is no worry about driving up mountains or parking vehicles at crowded viewpoints. Others are the Colombian Icefield Adventure that tends to combine the Skywalk with a ride in the giant Ice Explorer bus onto the Athabasca Glacier. It is a smooth experience of the Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff without having to deal with the logistical headaches.

Shuttle Services and Public Transport

Although it does not have a city bus running along this route, it does have private shuttle services. There are other companies, such as Brewster Expres,s which run regular coach services that link Banff with the Jasper region which make stops at the Icefield Discovery Centre. An alternative to travelling to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff is the use of a shuttle, which is cheaper than any personal tour, but is more organized as compared to a self-driving tour. All you need to do is check their seasonal schedules because this service is normally operational between May and October.

Crucial Stops on the Icefields Parkway

You are even heading to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk and Banff as you head there, the trip is also important as the place. The following are three locations that you would not dare to miss:

Lake Louise: 40 minutes of Banff is the first point that one must visit to get a cup of coffee and see the green water.

Bow Lake: It is a beautiful roadside lake, which forms a flawless replica of the Crowfoot Glacier.

Peyto Lake: It is a short upward hiking trail that takes one to a spot where there is an outlook of a wolf-like-shaped lake.

The fact that these stops are included makes indeed visit at the Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff an experience close to a Rocky Mountain adventure. To avoid the traffic jams and spend more time at the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, it is advisable to take into consideration the following tips on a practical basis:

• Check the Weather: It is also very cold and windy at the Columbia Icefield when compared to the town of Banff. In July, the snow or a freezing breeze blowing off the glaciers is not rare. Dress in layers!
• Grab Your Tickets in Advance: One attraction site is the Skywalk. You can be assured of your favourite time slot, so be sure that when you leave, you have booked your tickets over the internet. This is particularly critical in July and August months which are the high season months.
• Fuel Up in Banff: The number of gas stations along the Icefields Parkway is very low. Also, be sure to fill your tank prior to starting your trip to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff because the single fuel station that is located at the Saskatchewan Crossing is often very costly.

Making it to the Discovery Centre

When you reach Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, you cannot use your personal car and reach Skywalk directly. The official shuttle will be the one to board and you have to park in the Centre. These shuttles operate in intervals of 15-30 mins and will ferry you to the glass platform in the short distance. This system manages to keep the area immaculate and the streets empty so that visiting the Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff is a relaxing.

Why the Skywalk is Worth It?

You will be asking yourself whether the long drive is worth it. The response is a resounding yes!! The view atop the glass floor corresponds to the look of the Canadian Rockies in such a way that you never think of having such a glimpse in a forest path or through a car window. It is a thrill of pure adrenaline and natural beauty that is terrifying. To visit Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff is the most prominent point in the vacation of many people in Canada. Instruction It is a lifetime experience whether you drive or are in a group and experience the soaring peaks and the deep Sunwapta Valley.

Conclusion

Along the winding roads of the IceFields Parkway to the jolting extents of the glass walkway, the trip to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk from Banff is a long-standing necessity in Canada. Fill your camera, take a warm jacket, and prepare to have the adventure of a lifetime.