From Calgary: Columbia Icefield, Peyto & Bow Lakes Day Trip｜Canada

Overview:
Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park and the third in the world. Known for its turquoise lakes, majestic mountains, and stunning natural beauty, it offers easy access to the unspoiled wilderness of the Canadian Rockies. Spanning 6,641 square kilometers, the park features scenic valleys, glaciers, forests, and rivers—making it one of the most breathtaking mountain destinations on earth.

This morning we will depart from Calgary/Banff, travel along the Icefields Parkway, take a giant snowmobile to the 300-meter-deep Athabasca Glacier, and personally experience the remains of the Second Ice Age. Then we headed to Peyto Lake, a glacial lake whose turquoise waters attract a large number of nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. Then we will go to Bow Lake, when the lake water melts in the summer, the lake water turns a dazzling blue, and the tranquil lake water is like a mirror, with the surrounding mountains reflected in it.

Itinerary:
Calgary / Banff – Icefields Parkway – Ravenfoot Glacier (drive-by) – Bow Lake (20 minutes) – Peyto Lake (20 minutes) – Columbia Icefield (included for admission options and optional for tour-only options: Ice Explorer Snowcoach, 90 minutes) – Banff / Calgary

The Ice Explorer experience needs to be booked in advance. The tickets are not sold on-site. Guests without tickets will not be able to join the activity and may have idle waiting time while others participate. To make the most of your tour, we recommend securing your ticket at the time of booking.

Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North) joins the Community of Lake Louise in Banff National Park with the Town of Jasper in Jasper National Park. Give yourself a full day to travel one-way. It is one of the most scenic highways in the world.

Columbia Icefield Adventure – Ice Explorer
Check in inside the Glacier Discovery Centre, shuttle to the icefield transfer bay and board a massive Ice Explorer, purpose-built for glacier travel.

Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake is one of the most photographed lakes in the Canadian Rockies, known for its striking turquoise color and unique wolf-head shape when viewed from above. Located along the Icefields Parkway, this glacier-fed lake offers breathtaking views from the Bow Summit viewpoint — the highest point on the Parkway accessible by vehicle. A must-see stop for any nature lover visiting Banff and Jasper National Parks.

Bow Lake
Bow Lake is located approximately 30 minutes north of Lake Louise and off the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) in the Canadian Rockies. It is half a mile north of the Crowfoot Glacier. It sits at an elevation of 1,920 m (6,300 ft) and is one of the largest lakes at the Banff National Park. It is fed by the meltwater from the Bow Glacier in the Wapta Icefield. Bow Lake is a wonderful place for a picnic and to enjoy scenic breathtaking views.