Is the Columbia Icefield Skywalk Worth It? Our HONEST Opinion

The Columbia Icefield Skywalk, also known as the Jasper Skywalk or Glacier Skywalk, is a popular tourist attraction in Jasper National Park. The skywalk is a glass-bottomed bridge that juts out 35 meters (115 feet) from the edge of the cliff face, 300 meters above the valley floor. It is just north of the Athabasca Glacier, a popular stop on the Icefield Parkway, which is the most accessible glacier in the Canadian Rockies.
The entire experience is a kilometer-long walk that first moves along interactive displays. Guests learn about the natural processes that formed the Rockies, glaciers, and fossils. The highlight is walking across the glass-bottomed bridge at the end of the walkway.

The bridge is shaped in a large semi-circle that offers 270° views of the sweeping valley. Off in the distance, you can see the glaciers and admire the scale of Mount Athabasca, Andromeda, and catch glimpses of the Icefield high above Mt. Kitchener.
The Columbia Icefield Skywalk is heavily advertised and is a well-known stop to break up their drive between Jasper and Banff or a great turnaround point on the Icefields Parkway.
After many visits to the Columbia Icefield, we’ll share what to expect from the Columbia Icefield experience and our review of whether it’s worth a visit or not.
Is The Columbia Icefield Skywalk Worth It?

You guys know we always try to give it to you straight. We can’t help but wonder: What is the point of the Jasper Skywalk? For many visitors, I’d say save your money and skip the Columbia Icefield Skywalk and venture out on a hike instead, or book a more hands-on tour nearby like this Icewalk experience with Rockaboo.
While the views are enviable, they are not as jaw-dropping as some might expect. We regularly find and experience far better views on the free hikes in the Canadian Rockies, like the Parker Ridge or Boundary Lake hike nearby. Upon its initial launch, the Columbia Icefield Skywalk was called the Glacier Skywalk, but considering its limited views of glaciers, the name was changed to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk.


That being said, a nice feature of the Icefield Skywalk is its wheelchair accessibility; handicapped users who may not be able to hike can get some thrilling views. The only other area where it’s possible to do this is at the Banff Gondola, managed by the same company, so we applaud Pursuit for making natural beauty more accessible to all.
If you’re capable and enjoy hiking, it’s a no-brainer to forgo the skywalk, as hikes in Banff and hikes in Jasper and the surrounding area offer far better views than the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. If you want a memorable hike that takes a few hours, hike Parker Ridge, Boundary Lake, or Wilcox Pass nearby.

However, its wheelchair accessibility is notable for handicapped visitors, and they may find good value as hiking or climbing a mountain is not in the cards. That being said, we’d recommend the Banff Gondola over the Icefield Skywalk as the views are better, especially since you get a similar view to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk from the road.
Safety-wise, the walk on the glass-bottomed bridge is short but thrilling for many as they peer down on the valley far below. There is no need to worry about safety, as these glass panels are literally bulletproof and then some. If you’re scared of heights, it may make your heart skip a beat, as the view down to the valley floor 918 feet (280 meters) below can be dizzying. Every time we visit, kids are absolutely wowed by the Jasper Skywalk.

If you are short on time, or on a budget, the price or even your time is not worth the stop at Columbia Icefield Skywalk, in our opinion. A quicker option would be to park at the Athabasca Glacier and take a short walk to the Terminal of the Athabasca Glacier for free, which gives great views.

However, everyone is different, and if you want to walk on a glass-bottom platform, the Rockies are a great place to do it! If you’re traveling to the Canadian Rockies with kids, the Jasper Skywalk will likely get them excited as well! It’s also worth noting that all Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure Tours automatically include admission on the Skywalk!

If price is not a factor and you are already planning on booking the Ice Explorer Experience anyway (which includes the Skywalk ticket) then don’t skip it.
Pros
- It’s a great glacier learning experience.
- Kids are sure to be impressed.
- It’s included in every Columbia Icefield Adventure ticket (which includes the Ice Explorer)
- Wheelchair accessible
- Impressive engineering!
Cons
- Price
- Between the Ice Explorer vehicles, transportation, and Skywalk, the tour can easily take up 3 hours of time.
- The glass-bottomed section is not huge.
- It’s busy. Between 10-4, the skywalk sees many visitors.
- No parking at the Skywalk.
How Much Does the Skywalk Cost?

Tickets can be purchased separately or as part of the Columbia Icefield Adventure ticket, which includes the Ice Explorer and Skywalk. Multiple combo tickets are also available with Pursuit, which sometimes include attractions like the Banff Gondola, Lake Minnewanka Cruise, Maligne Lake Cruise or Golden Skywalk. It’s important to note that you cannot book the Ice Explorer Experience without the Skywalk experience.
Are There Deals?

- Go Off-Peak! Pursuit offers discounted tickets for those who go during off-peak times. Enjoy the afternoon light on the glacier daily after 3:30 pm and only pay $91 per adult and $59 for children.
- Pursuit Rewards Admission Alberta locals save on Columbia Icefield Skywalk admission with Pursuit Rewards.
Where To Book Tickets?

There are numerous places to book your ticket for this experience. First, we recommend checking out the Banff Jasper Collection Website, which will give you a rundown of all the offerings – this is the best place to spot a deal. Pursuit is the company that runs the tours; it is a legitimate operating company and there should be no hesitation in booking with them. All prices on their website are in Canadian Dollars.
- Tickets For The Columbia Icefield Adventure (including Skywalk)
- Tickets For The Columbia Icefield Skywalk Experience Only
You can also book full-day and individual tours through third parties like Viator and Get Your Guide. We often use these third-party platforms and find them intuitive. Make sure to pay attention to the conversion rate when booking. Often they displace prices in USD.
- Athabasca Glacier Snow Trip from Banff
- Jasper: Columbia Icefield Skywalk Admission
- Columbia Icefield Tour including the Glacier Skywalk
- Ice Explorer Glacier Tour and Glacier Skywalk on Viator
Columbia Icefield Tour including the Glacier Skywalk - Banff to Jasper One-Way Tour (with Columbia Icefield Stop)
- Jasper to Banff One-Way Tour (with Columbia Icefield Stop)
Plan Your Trip to the Canadian Rockies
- Recommended Experiences: There are many things to do in the Rockies, but our top recommendation is the Banff Gondola – a must do experience! If you want to get active, consider snowshoeing on top of the world. Lastly, enjoy nighttime in Banff on this Sunset and Stars Tour!
- Want an all in one tour? Pursuit is running this special Winter Wonder tour on weekends!
- Transport in the winter: If you don’t want to drive to Banff in the winter, we totally get it. To avoid this book with the Banff Airporter.
- Hotels in the Rockies: There are many places to stay, from luxury hotels to wilderness cabins. See all our favorites here.
- Get Around: We suggest renting a car to get around. You can search for rental cars on Rentalcars.com. For a campervan trip, you can check prices and compare on Outdoorsy.
- We can help you plan your 2025 trip to Western Canada! If you’re feeling overwhelmed by planning we can assist! We’ll personally go over your itinerary, hop on a 1 on 1 phone call, or create a bespoke itinerary just for you! See our services here.