Wapta Icefield, Continental ice field in Canadian Rockies, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada
The Wapta Icefield extends over 80 square kilometers across the Continental Divide in the Waputik Mountains, feeding multiple glaciers including Vulture and Bow glaciers.
The initial exploration of Wapta Icefield occurred in 1932, led by McCoubrey and the Neave brothers, marking the beginning of documented mountaineering in this region.
The name originates from the Cree language word meaning running water, reflecting the Indigenous peoples' connection to this glacial landscape and its waterways.
Five Alpine Club of Canada huts provide shelter for mountaineers traversing the icefield, requiring advance reservations and national park permits for overnight stays.
The Burgess shale fossil Waptia received its scientific name from this icefield, connecting paleontology to the modern geological formations of the region.
Location: Alberta
Location: British Columbia
GPS coordinates: 51.63330,-116.50000
Latest update: March 2, 2025 23:58
Burgess Shale
22.4 km
Peyto Lake
10.3 km
Takakkaw Falls
14.9 km
Howse Peak
23.5 km
Bow Glacier
5.5 km
Crowfoot Glacier
4.5 km
Peyto Glacier
6 km
Phyllopod bed
21.6 km
Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House
31 km
Mount Victoria
31.4 km
Waputik Icefield
8.2 km
Stephen Formation
22.4 km
Twin Falls Tea House
10.1 km
Siffleur Wilderness Area
30.6 km
Hector Glacier
17.3 km
Vulture Glacier
2.7 km
Cathedral Formation
27.4 km
Bow Glacier Falls
2.6 km
Mount Whyte
29.5 km
Mount Field
22.7 km
Angels Staircase Falls
13 km
Nanga Parbat Mountain
26.3 km
Twin Falls
10.3 km
Watermelon Peak
14.2 km
Mount Synge
22.2 km
Yoho National Park
26.5 km
Mount Whiteaves
23 km
Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site
23.3 kmReviews
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