Which national park in the Canadian Rockies is home to the Athabasca Glacier?

Jasper National Park is the national park in the Canadian Rockies that is home to the Athabasca Glacier. Located in Alberta, Jasper contains part of the Columbia Icefield, the high-elevation ice complex that feeds several major glaciers and rivers in the Rockies.

The Athabasca Glacier is one of the Columbia Icefield’s principal outlet glaciers, or “toes.” Its lower end lies close to the Icefields Parkway, making it one of the most accessible and visited glaciers in North America. Markers along the approach trail show how far the ice has retreated over time, offering a visible lesson in long-term glacial change.

Jasper was established as Jasper Forest Park in 1907 and became a national park in 1930. It is Canada’s largest national park in the Rocky Mountains and forms part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site. Banff National Park is nearby and also borders the Columbia Icefield, which can cause confusion, but the Athabasca Glacier’s principal location is within Jasper National Park.