Alaska - 2023
Sorry for the long post! I did a search on this forum and others prior to asking... My wife and I are recently retired and are planning on making the trip to Alaska next summer. We have a multitu...
Forum Discussion
I agree, if you plan on being someplace on a Long Weekend either have a reservation or stay where you are until the long weekend is over especially in the southern 1/2 of BC. ( Prince George south)
Since Covid, Banff / LL and Jasper campgrounds have been packed.
If you plan to stay ( camp) in Banff / Lake Louise / Jasper reservations are HIGHLY recommended especially if you plan on being there June through September.. Those three areas have four National Parks, Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks, it is the #1 tourist destination in Canada. Reservations for the National Parks of Canada open in early January and the fill up fast, so I recommend between now and the first the Banff through Jasper campgrounds have your days in those parks figured out and book as soon as the reservation windows opens.
NOTE; there are no private campgrounds in any Canadain NP.
Parks Canada
After that I wouldn’t make any reservations except in Dawson City Yukon as there is one campground ( Gold Rush City) which is downtown Dawson City and you can walk everywhere in town from there. Caravans and large groups of RV’s can show up and book the campground fast.
Another thing to do is buy the Mile Post travel book, it’s a must have for your first adventure north.
Always fill the top 1/2 of your fuel tank, give you a chance to streak ask the locals about interesting sights near by, and a chance to walk around your rig checking tires and bearing temps…etc…
Go north (up)to Alaska from Dawson Creek BC as MilePost is basically laid out that way and my wife found it very interesting that places to pull off the Hwy were listed as well as sights to look for that were coming up.
Also the Fish should be running at Fish Creek at Hyder Alaska (BC Hwy 37) Cassiar Hwy, meaning you can go into Stewart BC / Hyder Alaska and view the bears feeding on the Salmon run which is usually August / September. My wife was raised in Stewart and said it’s a must see when in the area if your there at the right time of year.
Also you can drive up past Hyder, back into Canada ( BC and see the Salmon Glacier.
Note: there is only 1 boarder station and that is a Canadian Boarder Crossing coming back into Canada from Hyder, there is no USA boarder building / people period.
I agree tour the Lower 48 states on another trip and concentrate on Western Canada and Alaska on this trip.
Note: most Canadians don’t refer to Hwys by catchy nicknames, that’s a tourist thing, most of us go by the Hwy numbers. However those names like the Alaska Hwy ( not the Al-Can) and the Cassiar Hwy are becoming more common.
Have fun on your adventure
Soup.
Pictures are from Banff & Kootenay NP a few winters ago ( spring)
Since Covid, Banff / LL and Jasper campgrounds have been packed.
If you plan to stay ( camp) in Banff / Lake Louise / Jasper reservations are HIGHLY recommended especially if you plan on being there June through September.. Those three areas have four National Parks, Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and Jasper National Parks, it is the #1 tourist destination in Canada. Reservations for the National Parks of Canada open in early January and the fill up fast, so I recommend between now and the first the Banff through Jasper campgrounds have your days in those parks figured out and book as soon as the reservation windows opens.
NOTE; there are no private campgrounds in any Canadain NP.
Parks Canada
After that I wouldn’t make any reservations except in Dawson City Yukon as there is one campground ( Gold Rush City) which is downtown Dawson City and you can walk everywhere in town from there. Caravans and large groups of RV’s can show up and book the campground fast.
Another thing to do is buy the Mile Post travel book, it’s a must have for your first adventure north.
Always fill the top 1/2 of your fuel tank, give you a chance to streak ask the locals about interesting sights near by, and a chance to walk around your rig checking tires and bearing temps…etc…
Go north (up)to Alaska from Dawson Creek BC as MilePost is basically laid out that way and my wife found it very interesting that places to pull off the Hwy were listed as well as sights to look for that were coming up.
Also the Fish should be running at Fish Creek at Hyder Alaska (BC Hwy 37) Cassiar Hwy, meaning you can go into Stewart BC / Hyder Alaska and view the bears feeding on the Salmon run which is usually August / September. My wife was raised in Stewart and said it’s a must see when in the area if your there at the right time of year.
Also you can drive up past Hyder, back into Canada ( BC and see the Salmon Glacier.
Note: there is only 1 boarder station and that is a Canadian Boarder Crossing coming back into Canada from Hyder, there is no USA boarder building / people period.
I agree tour the Lower 48 states on another trip and concentrate on Western Canada and Alaska on this trip.
Note: most Canadians don’t refer to Hwys by catchy nicknames, that’s a tourist thing, most of us go by the Hwy numbers. However those names like the Alaska Hwy ( not the Al-Can) and the Cassiar Hwy are becoming more common.
Have fun on your adventure
Soup.
Pictures are from Banff & Kootenay NP a few winters ago ( spring)
