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All Canada Alberta Jasper Columbia Icefield Skywalk
AO Edited

Columbia Icefield Skywalk

With a floor made of thick glass, this observation deck offers a full view of Sunwapta Valley's mountains and rivers.

Jasper, Alberta

Added By
Ashawnta Jackson
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  Mike Seehagel / Pursuit Banff Jasper Collection
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About

Jutting out about 115 feet (35 meters) from a cliff face, with a thick glass bottom, the Columbia Icefield Skywalk offers a clear view of Jasper National Park’s Sunwapta Valley 918 feet (280 meters) below. As one of the project’s engineers put it, “It’s surreal to be projected off a sheer cliff face with nothing but glass under your feet.” And, yeah, probably so. But the Skywalk also offers a chance to see the park from a whole new angle.

Opened in 2014, the Skywalk is a u-shaped observation deck that spans 1,312 feet. Along the way, interactive stations offer stopping points to learn more about the glacial formations surrounding the area, and the wildlife that call the area home. It was constructed of steel, glass, and wood, and was built into the cliff’s bedrock. It was designed to change with nature, so rather than using paint, designers planned for the structure to blend in with its surroundings as it rusts and weathers.

Each step is another view—the Sunwapta River flows below; waterfalls tumble over the cliffs; mountains cut a jagged line across the sky. Maybe the most fascinating sight is the Snow Dome, one of two hydrological apexes in North America, “a single point where three different watersheds meet.” Snowmelt from the 11,339-foot (3,456-meter) mountain eventually drains into three different bodies of water: the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans.

“We want you to connect, learn about the glaciology, learn the biology and the ecology of the area,” a spokesperson for the Skywalk told the Toronto Sun when the attraction first opened. “The Sunwapta Valley was formed over three million years. If you just look at it you never realize that."

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Mountains Landscapes Glaciers Glass National Parks

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Ticket prices fluctuate from day to day, between $25-$30 per person. Alberta residents can receive a discount on tickets. Very crowded on the weekends.

Temporarily closed but will reopen in May 2025.

 

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Added By

Ashawnta

Edited By

vagabondblonde, hmarie, Michelle Cassidy

  • vagabondblonde
  • hmarie
  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

September 4, 2021

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Sources
  • https://www.reminetwork.com/articles/pushing-boundaries-structural-glass/
  • https://torontosun.com/2014/06/17/albertas-new-glacier-skywalk-an-incredible-adrenaline-rush
  • https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2013-10-07/maphead-mount-snow-dome-canada-ken-jennings
Columbia Icefield Skywalk
Icefields Pkwy
Improvement District No. 12
Jasper, Alberta, T0E 1E0
Canada
52.259042, -117.277036
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Nearby Places

Athabasca Glacier

Jasper, Alberta

miles away

Columbia Icefield

Alberta

miles away

Castleguard Cave

Alberta

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Jasper

Jasper

Alberta

Places 3
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Athabasca Glacier

Jasper, Alberta

miles away

Columbia Icefield

Alberta

miles away

Castleguard Cave

Alberta

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Jasper

Jasper

Alberta

Places 3
Stories 1

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