Mount Andromeda

Overview

About Mount Andromeda

A broad, glaciated summit rising to about 3,450 m, Mount Andromeda sits on the Columbia Icefield right above the Icefields Parkway near Sunwapta Pass. It’s one of those mountains you can admire from the road, but to actually stand on top you’ll be in full-value alpine terrain—snow, ice, and rock.

Why stop

Classic Skyladder route on a true Columbia Icefield peak
Easy logistics from the Icefields Parkway and Icefields Centre parking
Huge views over the Columbia Icefield and neighboring giants

Heads up

Not a hike—glacier travel, cornices and crevasses require real skills
Weather, wind and whiteouts can shut things down fast

Andromeda is a classic objective thanks to its mix of straightforward access and real mountaineering. The famed Skyladder is the headline route, and the summit delivers sweeping views across the Columbia Icefield, with Mount Athabasca, Snow Dome, and the Saskatchewan and Athabasca Glaciers all on display.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy it’s special

Map

Where it is

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SightMount Andromeda52.17666, -117.23167

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Mount Andromeda

Plan a pre-dawn alpine start to catch firm snow and calmer winds.
Use the Icefields Centre upper parking lot as a common staging area.
Expect a corniced summit ridge—identify and stick to safe travel lines.
If you lack glacier and rescue skills, consider a guided ascent.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Aim for stable high-pressure windows and start well before dawn for firm snow and lower hazard.
Prime periods can feel busy; going early helps beat both the sun and the crowds.
For photography from the road, clear mornings bring crisp light on the icefield; in the afternoon, shadows add definition to the glaciers.

Getting there

Parties commonly stage from the upper parking lot at the Icefields Centre, heading out in the dark for an alpine start. There’s no built-out trailhead on the mountain itself; you transition quickly from roadside staging to glaciated terrain.

8 active Jasper alerts

ClosureWildfire-impacted areas and facilities closedStay out of closed wildfire-impacted areas and facilities in Jasper National Park; closures protect public safety after the 2024 wildfire and remain in effect while recovery and safety work continues.Official details
Closure93A (Wabasso Road) no through travel during roadworkFrom mid-October to early November 2026, plan for 93A (Wabasso Road) to be accessible from the south entrance only; no through travel is expected during roadwork.Official details

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A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Jasper Tour Guide

Your drive to Mount Andromeda, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Jasper National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Jasper audio tour

Recorded for this area

Reading the Ice

Listen

“That deep blue color in the ice is no illusion. The ice is so dense it absorbs every other color of light, reflecting only the blue.”

Plays on the road 2.3 km from Mount Andromeda in the Parkwolf Jasper Tour Guide.

More about Mount Andromeda

What you’ll seeFrom the summit ridge, expect a panorama of icefields, seracs and crevassed glaciers in every…

From the summit ridge, expect a panorama of icefields, seracs and crevassed glaciers in every direction. Even from the Parkway, Andromeda’s glaciated flanks make it a photogenic anchor of the skyline.

Routes and terrain (high level)Standard lines involve glacier travel and snow climbing; the Skyladder is the best-known.

Standard lines involve glacier travel and snow climbing; the Skyladder is the best-known.
A typical finish includes reaching a false summit then traversing a corniced ridge to the true top—serious terrain that demands disciplined travel choices.

Safety and skillThis is a mountaineering peak with objective hazards: crevasses, serac exposure,…

This is a mountaineering peak with objective hazards: crevasses, serac exposure, avalanche-prone slopes, fierce winds, and quick-to-develop whiteouts. Teams need solid glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and navigation chops. Guided ascents are common when conditions are in.

WildlifeThe upper mountain is mostly ice and rock, so wildlife sightings are limited; expect more…

The upper mountain is mostly ice and rock, so wildlife sightings are limited; expect more action down near the Parkway than on the climb itself.

HistoryNamed in 1938 after Andromeda of Greek mythology by a former Alpine Club of Canada president,…

Named in 1938 after Andromeda of Greek mythology by a former Alpine Club of Canada president, the peak has long been a staple goal for Rockies alpinists.

Nearby amenitiesThere are no facilities on the mountain.

There are no facilities on the mountain. Parking, food, and flush restrooms are at the Columbia Icefields Centre; a nearby campground provides basic services.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Jasper

All Jasper wildlife maps

174 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

43 sightingsCaribouMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

40 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

12 sightingsCanada LynxMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

315 sightingsMooseMost seen around 6 AMSighting map

1,028 sightingsElkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Jasper. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.