Columbia Ice Field, Jasper

The remnant of a vast glacier that once covered the region, Columbia Ice Field takes the crown as the largest of its kind in the area. Surrounded by some of the park’s highest peaks, the expansive ice field feeds numerous rivers with its meltwater, including the Columbia and Fraser rivers in the western part of North America. Head for the ice field’s visitor center to learn more about the process of glacier formation and movement; from there, you can explore the only accessible part of the ice field, which reaches a thickness of 350 m (1,148 ft) in places. Be sure to bring your camera, as you’ll get a sweeping view of the mountains around you, nine of which stand at a height of more than 3,000 m (9,852 ft). Make Columbia Ice Field a centerpiece of your Jasper National Park vacation itinerary, and find what else is worth visiting using our Jasper National Park trip builder.