It's a bit of a drive from Banff Town (about two hours) to the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre across from the foot of the Athabasca Glacier, but you'll quickly find the views are well worth ...

You can even stand at the foot of the great Athabasca Glacier, which feels vast but is really just one of the six “toes” of the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains.

The Ice Explorer tours depart from the Columbia Icefield Discovery Centre, about 65 miles south of downtown Jasper, where travelers can park for free. Tours of the Athabasca Glacier are available ...