Icefields/Jasper/Revelstoke ??'s

Deleted, started new thread!!!

Thanks for all the info! Still looking at different routes, then will be checking oot the camping!!

Any info on hwy 31 heading to Trout Lake?? Also, info on Glacier Creek Park??

Agin, thanks for all help and information.

I've camped at a lot of BC PP, but not with a long rig. But my impression is that most could handle you. You may not be able park and stay hooked up, but there should be room for the trailer and truck side by side.

Most PP have large 'industrial' grade gravel pads. A pull in teardrop or P shape is common, but campgrounds may also have pull through sites. They are on the average as large, if not larger, and Washington state parks.

In September you will have to consider fall closures. But those dates are available on PP web site. I've also been to campgrounds with partial closures, including sites with table slabs removed (for maintenance).

Getting a site on a waters edge is hit and miss, though campgrounds with a boat/canoe launch that you can drive to are more common. The parks website has maps with a enough detail for this.

BC (and Alberta) have 'rec sites', something akin to the US Forest Service sites. There is a web site, but in my experience the Backroads Mapbooks are the best source of information. Generally I've not been impressed. Most sites are better suited to pickup campers (with levelers). There's more room in open, cowpasture, sites in dry areas like the Rocky Mountain trench.

On my last trip up that way I crossed on Hwy 3 into Alberta, north on 22 and 50 to Kananaskis Country (Alberta PPs south of Banff), through Banff & Jasper, and back on Hwy 5 to Wells Grey PP and Hope. On earlier trips I poked around the Nelson area before going north to Revelstoke, and east to Banff, and back vie Kootenay NP, Radium and Hwy 93. There are lots of routes to choose from.

If by chance you go to the Big Horn Dam area(Abraham Lake)try not to get there on a long weekend because it will be frustrating trying to get a spot. Getting there in the middle of the week, you would stand a chance of getting a good spot. We were there last summer, in July, and the weekends were crazy with people waiting to get into spots. Great place but a lot of people are inconsiderate when they get on their quads and think they're at a raceway. It's very dusty. Great trails on the other side of the big dam. There's another place east of Nordegg, called Saunders, that is also great for dry camping. It's a fair drive out of Banff on Hwy 11 from 93.

profdant139 wrote:
Yes, there is boondocking in some areas, but these are often in actively-logged areas. The roads are narrow -- you want to be sure NOT to encounter loaded logging trucks, especially in a big rig. There are sometimes what they call "sweepers" -- long logs sticking out the back of the truck that swing across the roadway and smash into oncoming traffic, even if you have pulled off to the side. I don't want to be an alarmist, but make sure you know what you are getting into.

We are really getting off topic here but the logging trucks I have seen in recent years have multiple trailers with logs cut into 10-12 foot lengths and well contained by uprights so sweepers are not an issue. Maybe not the same everywhere but that is all I have seen.

Yes, there is boondocking in some areas, but these are often in actively-logged areas. The roads are narrow -- you want to be sure NOT to encounter loaded logging trucks, especially in a big rig. There are sometimes what they call "sweepers" -- long logs sticking out the back of the truck that swing across the roadway and smash into oncoming traffic, even if you have pulled off to the side. I don't want to be an alarmist, but make sure you know what you are getting into.

Are there many campsites near Revy? I plan on going in a couple weeks. I hate booking sites as I like to leave things open. We have a truck camper so we usually find a site but am I pushing my luck? Maybe I should get something for the weekend, usually don't have a problem during the week.

Lots of lakes, lots of sites: nice quiet lake sites for 53 feet, Hmmmm:h
Waterfowl Lakes is great but it appears to close Sept 7.
A bit off your suggested route but you might try Interlakes, in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country. A beautiful area, very busy is summer. Probably not bad in Sept. A side benefit would be a short drive up the Highwood Pass where the Latch trees would probably be turning yellow.
For boondocking between Jasper and Lake Louise you could turn East on Highway 11 at the Saskatchewan River Crossing and boondock along Abraham Lake. It is a long lake formed by a dam on the east end and the only boondocking area I am familiar with is by the dam. That would be about 35 miles from the Icefield Parkway. A further 15 miles would take you to Fish (Shundra) Lake which is much smaller.
You would have to check on site size but I think some would be OK When we were there a couple of years ago there were Ospreys and Bald Eagles fishing.
I can recommend lots of Lakes and Campgrounds but you would need a bit of driving between.

There are a lot of lakes of different sizes in the Kootenays which is east of Vernon, south of Revelstote , and west or Alberta South of Golden.
I pull a 34 ft 5th wheel all over the place so any paved Hwy will be fine. The issue is to finding that hidden lake that U.S. Guys haven't already found.
There are a lot of these lakes that you can camp right beside, however the free boondocking places are few and far in between, by a lake that is near a Hwy where your rig can get to.
I can give you a list of small campgrounds that are locked on the edge of lakes, but your in a campground. I do know of a couple lakes that you could park beside and camp for free, but those lakes are small and wouldn't take you very long to paddle from one side to the other. However you could camp right beside them for free.
Soup

Thanks for the replies received. As to "boondocking", I was aware that the Nat Parks don't allow that. I have edited my OP to show that. I am thinking aboot after the time spent in NP's as we return south to WA. We will be looking at many Provincial Parks going up and returning. Any links to such or to "hidden" or "secret" spots appreciated!!!