Campgrounds near "day-hike-able" glaciers in BC?

Besides the ones that have been mentioned:

1)Glacier NP, a)Perley Rock and b)Glacier Crest both take you to the Illecelliwaet Glacier.c)Hermits across the valley takes you up to Rogers Glacier(steep trail)

2) Mt. Begbie, Revelstoke, the most popular hike for fit types in the area. At 4800' to the glacier, it may be too far for you but worth the views on the way up and down.

3)Kootenay NP, a)Tokumm Creek- Fay Hut.Glacier above. Start at Marble Canyon.b) The Rockwall, small glaciers can be accessed in a long day by hiking certain parts from the highway.

4)Yoho NP,a) Start at Takkaka Falls and proceed up Yoho valley. Toes of the Wapta Icefield can be accessed via a scramble to Daly and Yoho glaciers. b) Iceline trail will take you to the Emerald glacier.

5) This is more coastal but well worth the time. a)From Squamish, drive logging road up Brohm Ridge. Hike to Warren Glacier under Mt. Garibaldi. Same area as where Mrs. Crosscheck is sitting in our profile.
b) Whisler/Blackcolm, take lift up to Blackcolm glacier.
c) Hike up Wedgemount creek trail and to Wedgemount glacier.
d)Jofre Lakes PP, hike past the upper lakes and after the ridge,bear left and climb to the Tszll glacier.

6) Smithers BC, a)Hudsons Bay Mt.,Kathlyn glacier. 3 hour rough hike to the ice. Easy walk up to the the top, almost no cravasses.
b) Babine PP, Hike to hikers cabin(Joe L'Orsa cabin) in Silver King Basin,with minimal gear and next day, access a number of small glaciers.

7. Stewart.BC, a)Bear glacier, beside road.b) Salmon glacier, on the way to the old Grand Duke mine, beside road.

There are literaly 1000's of remnant glaciers on the north facing BC mountains but by their nature of survival,heavy forestation, higher elevations and high snow packs make them much more difficult to access in a day especially if it is in a wilderness area which much of BC,s mountains are.

In Europe, their glaciers are so accessible that all you need to do is plunk down the money and a huge gondola will take you and your high heels up to a tea house next to a spectacular glacier. Not so easy in BC.

Better start backpacking.Its much easier than you think and it opens a huge world of wilderness experiences.




Asulkan trail,Glacier NP




Perley Rock, Illecillewaet Glacier, Glacier NP

Dave

Kokanee Glacier is a good days hike I did it as a kid, however have done it since it has become a well known hike, and a provincal park. There are for three different routes to get up to the Glacier some longer than others .
I like the accessing the area from Kokanee Creek side.
Google (Kookane Glacier Provincial Park)
The are also Glaciers up the Slocn Valley in the Vahalla Provincial Park, which you can see from Kokanee Glacier.
Soup

I can rcommend Illecillewaet campground in Glacier NP you can hike to the glacier from here but do check the open/close dates since they are weather dependant at this altitude.

Trevor

Powder pig wrote:
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I believe the parks service offers escorted hikes onto the Athabasca glacier across from the Icefields visitors center.
....

I have been on this tour, it is top notch. My advise is to get there at opening time and take the first tour of the day.

Glad to hear you won't venture onto glaciers w/o professional help, meaning hiring a mountain guide. You might consider this option for a safe hike out onto a glacier. Any certified Canadian mountain guide could offer some suggestions for a safe guided excursion and most have equipment for rent.

A few suggestions for you which might work:
In the Bugaboos the hike to the Conrad Kain hut and above takes you close to one glacier and to the toe of another small glacier above the hut. Involves climbing a couple of ladders but it is a good trail with hand cables/chains on some narrower sections. Lovely place and within your set limits.

Near Jasper the hike to the Edith Cavell area (assuming it is open again as an icefall event closed the road early in the season) takes you close to the Angel glacier where ice falls into a small lake.

The Mount Robson trails take you across Berg lake from some very active glaciers and the hike beyond Berg lake is along side of and above the very large Robson glacier. Is beyond your preferred distance limit, long for a day trip, especially including the return the same day.

In the Roger's pass area the hike to the Asulkan hut takes you close to glaciers, especially if you proceed above the hut to the edge of the glacier.

The Plain of Six glaciers hike at Lake Louise goes up the morrain beyond the tea house and offers spectacular yet safe glacier views.

It is possible to hike from the big bend south of and below Sunwapta pass along an old road to the lake at the toe of the Saskatchewan glacier. Great views here of several glaciers.

The hike up the climber's trail (steep trail in spots but within your limits) takes you to the toe of the North Glacier on Mount Athabasca.

I believe the parks service offers escorted hikes onto the Athabasca glacier across from the Icefields visitors center.

If you drive up Horsethief creek west of Radium and take the Farnham creek road to the locked gate you can hike up the remainder of the road to the site of the training camp for skiing (now closed and abandoned I believe). Continue up the road beyond the camp to the Farnham glacier on their access road.

If you continue up the Horsethief creek road to the end then hike the road and trail to Lake of the Hanging glaciers you can hike along the East side of the lake to the place where a glacier ends in ice cliffs in the lake itself.

Hope this rather long set of descriptions helps.