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Hiking the Wapta Icefields

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Hiking the Wapta Icefields
From $695USDBook Now
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3 days from $695USD
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Bow Lake near Icefields Parkway
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If you want to access terrain enjoyed by few, the Hiking the Wapta Icefields tour is the ideal chance to escape your routine and seek the mountains. This hiking adventure in the Canadian Rockies departs from stunning Bow Lake to leave everyone else behind, travelling deep into the mountains.

Crossing the Wapta Icefield, you’ll spend your days hiking across vast glacial ice and admiring the spires of mountains that surround you on all sides. Completely surrounded by unbeatable mountain scenery, you’ll leave cell service behind and explore like the first adventurers did! For a trek that’s as beautiful as it is rewarding and refreshing, choose the Hiking the Wapta Icefields tour.

Canada, North America
Happiness promise

Hiking the Wapta Icefields

Hike across the gorgeous, remote Wapta Icefields
4.60
(93 reviews)
3 days from $695USD
Easy quote
Duration
3 days
Season
Jun-Sep
Activity
Walking
Type
Guided, Scheduled
Accommodation
Mountain huts
Difficulty
Moderate (3/5)
From $695USD (see prices for this tour)
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National Geographic
Guardian
FodorsTravel
Time
Backpacker
National Geographic
Guardian
Bow Lake near Icefields Parkway
Personalized Service
Let our experienced travel advisors plan your perfect adventure

If you want to access terrain enjoyed by few, the Hiking the Wapta Icefields tour is the ideal chance to escape your routine and seek the mountains. This hiking adventure in the Canadian Rockies departs from stunning Bow Lake to leave everyone else behind, travelling deep into the mountains.

Crossing the Wapta Icefield, you’ll spend your days hiking across vast glacial ice and admiring the spires of mountains that surround you on all sides. Completely surrounded by unbeatable mountain scenery, you’ll leave cell service behind and explore like the first adventurers did! For a trek that’s as beautiful as it is rewarding and refreshing, choose the Hiking the Wapta Icefields tour.

rating
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
Trip highlights

Gain access to incredible parts of the Canadian Rockies that few travellers get to see.

Hike across a vast undulating glacial landscape completely surrounded by high mountain peaks.

Sleep in mountain huts each night that have housed hikers and adventurers from all over the world.

Unplug, leave your phone behind, and just focus on the experience of hiking in the Rocky Mountains.

We are Australian
We know Adventure
10Adventures only does Hiking, Cycling and Adventure Holidays. Its our mission to help you explore the world!

Trip map

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Day by day itinerary
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Day 1
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Meet in Canmore, Bow Lake and Bow Hut
The tour begins in Canmore, where you’ll meet the team and go over your equipment. Drive to Bow Lake and begin hiking to Bow Hut, following the lakeshore up to the nearby river flats. Cross a boulder bridge over a river gorge to pick up the mountaineer’s trail, hiking past moraines and forest into a spectacular cirque. A final ascent brings you to Bow Hut, which has magnificent views of the surrounding mountain valley.
Distance 3-5 hours, 7km, 400m elevation gain
Overnight Location Bow Hut in Canadian Rockies
Included Meals Dinner
Day 2
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Bow Hut to Peyto Hut
Rise early today, wasting no time in heading out towards Peyto Hut. You’ll hike the gentle slopes of the Bow Glacier underneath Mt. St. Nicholas, reaching the flat expanse of the Wapta Icefield. With a stellar panorama to enjoy, you’ll find Peyto Hut. Depending on the conditions, you may be able to hike a bit further today if you’d like to. Rest up and enjoy a night surrounded by summits and glacial ice.
Distance 4-6 hours, 6km, 550m elevation gain
Overnight Location Peyto Hut in Canadian Rockies
Included Meals Dinner
Day 3
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Peyto Hut to Peyto Lake
Today will be mostly downhill as you descend the glacier. Stepping across white ice, see how glaciers preserve the past, observing rocks, needles, and ice coming to the surface that are hundreds of years old. The glacier is retreating every year and your guide will be able to show you just how large and magnificent it once was. Traverse the top of a moraine before descending into the valley below, reaching the gravel flats near Peyto Lake. Emerge near the lake and celebrate the end of your trek!
Distance 9km, 400m elevation gain
Overnight Location None
Included Meals None

Why book with 10 Adventures?

We know adventure

Founded by experienced travellers, active and adventure vacations are all we do.

Experience the trip of a lifetime organized by a team of travel specialists who combine knowledge and passion for adventure travel.

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With over 600 tours across 30+ countries, we specialize in self-guided tours.

Combine the freedom of travelling on your own with the confidence that all of your logistics are taken care of.

Packed with value

Get everything you need for your next vacation with one easy booking.

We take care of accommodations, luggage transfers, gear rentals, and more - so you can focus on making memories.

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4.60 (93 reviews)
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Dates and prices

This guided hiking tour in the Canadian Rockies is run as a fixed-departure tour where you’d be joining a group, however, custom private tours can be organized for those willing to travel with their group only (please contact us with your preferred date and the number of people in your group and we will create the itinerary just for you). Please note that due to very high demand and limited availability in campgrounds it is necessary to plan your trip a long time in advance.

Prices below are per person:

StartFinishDurationPlaces LeftPrice

2025-06-20

Canmore, Alberta

3 days / 5+ Spaces Left

2025-06-22

Canmore, Alberta

35+
$695USD

2025-07-11

Canmore, Alberta

3 days / 5+ Spaces Left

2025-07-13

Canmore, Alberta

35+
$695USD

2025-08-01

Canmore, Alberta

3 days / 5+ Spaces Left

2025-08-03

Canmore, Alberta

35+
$695USD

2025-08-30

Canmore, Alberta

3 days / 3 Spaces Left

2025-09-01

Canmore, Alberta

33
$695USD

2025-09-19

Canmore, Alberta

3 days / 5+ Spaces Left

2025-09-21

Canmore, Alberta

35+
$695USD
What’s included

Meals

2 dinners are included.

Accommodations

Accommodations for 2 nights are included.

Transportation During the Tour

Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from Canmore. You will be transferred from Canmore to the trailhead.

Also Included

  • Excess luggage storage

Not included

  • Flights
  • Breakfast, lunch and snacks
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional excursions
  • Visas if required
  • Anything not mentioned as included
  • GST (5%)

Optional Extras

  • Special dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, allergies, and more) will incur a fee (except for vegetarian meals, which are not surcharged)

Accommodation for Hiking the Wapta Icefields

This tour is based in mountain huts. Sleeping areas are communal and the facilities are basic. There is no running water, but you will gather water as needed.

In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.

Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
There are no single rooms available on this tour as all accommodations are communal. The minimum group size is 4 people, so please contact us about joining an existing group if you are a solo traveller.

Non-Standard Cancellation

  • 60 days or more prior to departure: the cancellation fee will be 10% of the total trip cost (at least $150 CAD).
  • 59 days or less prior to departure: the cancellation fee will be 100% of the total trip cost. 
Frequently asked questions

How hard is the Hiking the Wapta Icefields tour?

We rate this tour as a 3/5. You will hike between 3 and 6 hours per day with moderate elevation gain. While travellers should have some hiking experience and a good level of fitness, this tour does not require any special mountaineering skills.

Do I need a visa to travel to Canada?

Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.

Are meals included on the Hiking the Wapta Icefields tour?

2 dinners are included.

Do I need insurance?

Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip. Please verify that your insurance covers the included activities on this tour. Get your Travel Insurance.

How do I get to Canmore to start this tour?

Fly into the Calgary International Airport (YYC). We recommend you rent a car as there is no included transportation between Calgary and Canmore on this tour. Canmore is about an hour from Calgary.

Is the Hiking the Wapta Icefields tour guided?

Yes, you will be learning from and supervised by an experienced guide.

Where does the Hiking the Wapta Icefields tour end?

The tour ends in Canmore.

What do I need to bring?

You will be provided with crampons, mountaineering ice axes, climbing harnesses, helmets, and all other technical equipment. Please bring:

  • Mountaineering boots (must be crampon compatible, available for rent)
  • Multi-day pack (60–75 litres, available for rent)
  • Water bottle
  • Sunglasses (wrap-around style to protect from the glare of snow and ice)
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sunscreen, SPF lip balm
  • Camera
  • Headlamp with fresh batteries
  • Blister kit
  • Earplugs
  • First aid items like band-aids and ibuprofen
  • Personal toiletries including hand sanitizer
  • Compass
  • Trekking pole (highly recommended)
  • Music player and lightweight reading material (optional)

Do I need special vaccines to travel to Canada?

Check with your family doctor.

Are there any travel restrictions for Canada?

Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.

When is the best time to travel to Canada for this tour?

The best time to visit the Rockies for this tour is the summer (July-mid September) when the weather is generally sunny and warm.

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Why travellers choose this tour
At 10Adventures, it’s easy to make memories with the following six optional inclusions on this tour:
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