Illecillewaet Glacier

The Illecillewaet Glacier is an ice field in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, covering a large mountainous area and reaching several thousand meters in elevation. It sits surrounded by steep mountain slopes, rocky ridges, and snow-covered peaks.

The glacier became known in the late 1800s when the Canadian Pacific Railway was built nearby and a famous lodge was established. This railway connection made the glacier easily accessible to travelers for the first time.

The name comes from an Okanagan First Nations language and means "big water", originally describing the river below. This indigenous connection shapes how people today understand and speak about this frozen landscape.

The area is reachable via marked trails in Glacier National Park, with access varying based on seasonal conditions and snow levels. During warmer months the trails are clearer and easier to walk, while winter visits require proper mountain gear.

Scientists have been taking measurements since the late 1800s, carefully tracking how the ice mass has shifted over the decades. These long-term records reveal clear patterns in how the glacier has changed in size and extent.