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Offered languages
- English
Winter's best kept secret.
Walk onto Abraham Lake's crystal ice and stare down at thousands of methane bubbles frozen in time. The bubbles reveal themselves once the lake freezes clear, typically from late December into February, and your guide tracks ice conditions daily so you see the lake at its best. Then explore the quietest stretches of the Icefields Parkway and walk or snowshoe to our favourite lookouts. Hot drinks in hand while the Rockies put on their best winter show.
★ Banff's top-rated tour provider, with 5,000+ five-star reviews and four Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice awards.
Highlights:
❄ Frozen methane bubbles of Abraham Lake
❄ Peyto Lake viewpoint on a snowy forest trail
❄ Picnic lunch: gourmet sandwich, fruit, and a baked treat
Why book with Radventures:
▸ Max 10 guests in a premium van, never a coach
▸ Banff-born, independently owned
▸ 1% of every booking protects the places you explore
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Itinerary
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Icefields Parkway (Pass by)
Your local guide plans each day's route on the day. Every morning, we check the weather, road conditions on the Icefields Parkway, and the ice on Abraham Lake, then choose the order of stops so you see each one at its best. Dress for a full day outside in freezing temperatures. Wear warm layers, a hat and gloves, and waterproof winter boots. Conditions in the mountains can change quickly. The stops below are a sample of where the tour may go.
Admission ticket free -
1Abraham Lake
Walk out onto the frozen surface of Abraham Lake, just east of Banff National Park, where methane bubbles freeze in stacked white layers beneath clear ice. Your guide finds the best patch of ice for the day, so you can see and photograph the bubbles up close.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
2Peyto Lake
At Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway, your guide fits you with snowshoes or ice cleats and shows you how to use them. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. Follow a snowy forest trail to the Peyto Lake viewpoint, where the lake's famous wolf-head shape sits below a ring of peaks and glaciers. The walk is optional but well worth it: an easy to moderate 1.5 km (0.9 mi) round trip, about 45 minutes.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included -
3Bow Lake
At 1,920 m (6,300 ft), Bow Lake is one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park and the source of the Bow River. In winter it freezes into a wide white plain beneath Crowfoot Mountain, with the Bow Glacier, part of the Wapta Icefield, spilling down the peaks above it.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Banff National Park
Every full-day tour includes Abraham Lake, Peyto Lake, and Bow Lake. Along the way, your guide may add extra stops based on the weather, road conditions, and recent wildlife sightings. These could include Waterfowl Lakes, Herbert Lake, Cline River Falls, or a quiet roadside pullout with a view worth stopping for.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Guests who wish to participate in snowshoeing will need to be free of mobility issues.
- Children 5 and under are unable to join our small group adventures.
- A fresh picnic lunch from one of our local favourites, with a turkey sandwich by default. Have a preference or dietary restriction? Reach out and we'll sort you out with an alternative.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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