Top 10 Glaciers in Canada
Canada has more ice than any country except Antarctica, Greenland and Russia. Most of that ice sits in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and British Columbia coast ranges; tourist-accessible ice clusters along the Icefields Parkway in Alberta and the West Coast fjord-and-icefield country of BC.
1. Athabasca
The most visited glacier in North America. The "Ice Explorer" snowcoaches from the Icefields Discovery Centre drive onto the ice from May to October.
2. Columbia Icefield
The mass that feeds Athabasca and several other outlets, including Saskatchewan and Stutfield. The Glacier Skywalk gives a stomach-dropping balcony view.
3. Saskatchewan
One of the Columbia's southern outlets, less visited than Athabasca and better for quiet moraine walks.
4. Bow
Hangs above Bow Lake on the Icefields Parkway. Reached by a half-day hike to the Bow Hut shoulder.
5. Peyto
Famously turquoise meltwater feeds Peyto Lake just below the glacier. Roadside viewpoint plus longer hikes to the snout.
6. Salmon
A tidewater glacier in BC's Misty Fjords region, accessible by floatplane from Stewart/Hyder. One of the few easily reached calving glaciers in Canada.
7. Bear
Reached from Bear River road north of Stewart. Famous for the access through old hydro infrastructure.
8. Berg
A small but striking glacier at the base of Mount Robson's north face. Visible after a multi-day backcountry trek; the proglacial Berg Lake is one of Canada's iconic colour-shift lakes.
9. Kaskawulsh
A vast Yukon glacier in Kluane National Park that famously shifted its meltwater drainage in 2016 (the "river piracy" event). Flight tours from Haines Junction.
10. Lowell
Another massive Kluane glacier, monitored after several historic ice-dam outburst floods. Visited mostly by flight tour.
When to go
Mid-June to late September for Icefields Parkway access. The Saskatchewan side is plowed year-round but storms can close it in winter. Yukon flight tours run July to early September.
See them all in one view
Filter to Canada on the interactive map to see the Icefields Parkway cluster, the BC tidewater glaciers and the Yukon giants of Kluane.