“Wapta Ice Run”, 24km trail run with glacier crossing (Wapta Icefield)

Unbeatable views keep you constant company as you run across centuries-old glacier ice, soft dirt trails, breathtaking alpine lakes.

The Wapta Icefield spreads out across the Continental Divide in the Waputik Mountains, a range in the Canadian Rockies.

It is shared between the great national parks of Banff and Yoho, the former is the oldest national park in Canada, dating back to 1885, while the latter is the second oldest and home to wonderful natural landscapes.

We begin the trip on the terrific shores of Bow Lake, a flat 2-km warm up before we smoothly ascend on well-maintained trails. A further 7km and 400m in elevation then takes us to Bow Hut that is located near Bow Glacier.

Then we’ll ascend into the alpine environment around Nicholas Peak on rock slabs. Here are breathtaking panoramas of the park.

We’ll switch our footwear to micro-spikes and head on out onto the blue ice of the Wapta Icefield. For those who are up for the extra challenge, we can move our way up to the peak of Mount Thompson (3,100 meters), which presents spectacular scenery.

Then it’s downhill as we’re flanked by flowing waters gushing past Peyto Hut, before the ice fades and we regain the soil and mud trails through an incredible background of rock and waterfalls.

Potential runners don’t need previous glacier experience, yet you should be comfortable running on uneven terrain with a small running bag and searching for adventure.

Get in touch now to reserve your place on the Wapta Icefield for an adventurous 24-km trail run that includes a glacier crossing.