Night 1
Bow Hut in the Canadian Rockies
This hut is operated by the Alpine Club of Canada and provides basic accommodations in a stunning location.
Hiking the Wapta Icefields
Prices
Highlights
Hike across the gorgeous, remote Wapta Icefields
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.
Hiking the Wapta Icefields Itinerary
Day 1 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.
- Overnight Location
- Bow Hut in Canadian Rockies
- Distance
- 3-5 hours, 7km, 400m elevation gain
- Meals
- Lunch, dinner
Day 2 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.
- Overnight Location
- Peyto Hut in Canadian Rockies
- Distance
- 4-6 hours, 6km, 550m elevation gain
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 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!
- Overnight Location
- None
- Distance
- 9km, 400m elevation gain
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch
Hiking the Wapta Icefields Price and Dates
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:
Accommodation on the Hiking the Wapta Icefields Tour
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.
Night 2
Peyto Hut in the Canadian Rockies
This hut is operated by the Alpine Club of Canada and offers you the chance to sleep among the mountains with basic facilities.
Hotels on Standard Tour
What’s Included in the Hiking the Wapta Icefields Tour?
Meals
2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners, and snacks during hikes 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
- Meals, drinks, or 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 of $17/day except for vegetarian meals, which are not surcharged
- Any 3 dietary restrictions together will incur a $31/day surcharge
Frequenty Asked Questions about Hiking the Wapta Icefields
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 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners, and snacks during hikes 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.
Reviews
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Stephen L.
I’ve been using 10A route guides for a while, but had never booked a tour. My wife and I booked a self-guided hike in Greece and were so impressed with how we were able navigate the route without a guide with the detailed and easy to follow itinerary. We enjoy travelling independently, and 10A made that happen.
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I was going through a tough time and really needed a getaway so I decided to book a tour through 10Adventures. My trip to Peru changed my life in so many positive and eye-opening ways. I am so thankful for the kind, empathetic team at 10Adventures.
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Travel companies have had to go through a lot during the pandemic but 10Adventures were super flexible and accommodating nonetheless. I had to cancel my tour in France due to the pandemic. 10Adventures was great and let me reschedule for a later date!
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Whenever I’m looking for my next adventure 10Adventures never fails. Their routes all over England are my main go to for exploring and I have only had great experiences booking both guided and self-guided trips in Europe and South America with them. I am looking into Africa next.
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I tend to have a lot of questions before travelling and was so happy to find that the team at 10Adventures responded to every single one of my inquiries in a timely fashion. I was never left waiting and waiting for a response. This was much appreciated!
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Erika S.
I just got back from backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, and WOW. What an unreal journey! The alpine meadows, waterfalls, and the lakeside camping spot were memorable highlights! I wonder what other tours 10Adventures has to offer. That one went so well that I am now convinced I need to book another!
Robert D.
I'm not a big fan of traveling because of my fear of flying, but my girlfriend convinced me to go on the Aurora Borealis Tour in the Yukon. I will never forget the mesmerizing northern lights. Such a romantic (and cold) getaway. I would highly recommend it.
Monica L.
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Why 10Adventures?
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Tour Difficulty
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.
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
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