Is Sept too late for visiting Canadian Rockies?
Planning to visit Canadian Rockies in Sept 2016, driving a 30 ft class A, will it be too cold?
Forum Discussion
I know it is a little late responding on this thread, as everyone posted is spot on....
I will add my perspective on it :
First of all, I only have granted three weeks off for vacation time, which is during the month of September as my line of work requires that no one gets vacation time during the summer months, and that generally includes September.
With only three weeks off a year to contend with, and weighing any options of locations within my reach of other places by road I have never been to (in this case only Canada applies here), I was doing research on this region in 2011 and other RV.Net members stated September is a great time to visit the area for the handful of reasons and made this trip for three consecutive years (2011 2012 2013) along different routes and sidetrips and definitely planned for a fourth time trip which has not happened the past two years now (although I was enroute and on the way there both times).
If it was my choice, I rather take June or July off for vacation bar none.
However, by the time I reach the Parks Canada Mountain region of this general area....I only have 4 to 6 days to enjoy it before having to turn around and head back home in time to return to work.
The crowds in Banff and Jasper during September are about medium at best as it is the winding down of the tourist season and a far cry of the gigantic crowds of June thru August....September in this area is a steady crowd, but not bothersome nor does it seem too overcrowded in any way.
In 2013 I arrived in Jasper during (Labor) Labour Day weekend early September and got a taste of how crowded the Canadian Rockies Parks are during peak season....I will never make that mistake again.
Parks Canada does close down a few campgrounds during September and leave just a handful of them available, so it's like a little more distant driving depending where you are at in between which is not that big of deal.
What's nice is you do not generally need reservations for campground sites during September with the exception of Whistlers at Jasper..... and that's only IF you are looking for power hookups.
I stayed at these campsites at Banff Nat'l Park with no problem of any reservations during September :
Tunnel Mountain I
Tunnel Mountain II
Two Jack Lake
Lake Louise ......spacious (even easy for large vehicles) one way pull thru in-out sites with plenty of power hookups, but beware of the fast noisy trains nearby)...a set of earplugs does the trick for me but may not work for others.
I stayed at these campsites at Jasper Nat'l Park with no problem of any reservations during September :
Whistlers (no electric hookups) -Plenty of elk around during September (can be aggressive) as they are loud with constant mating calls almost as loud the trains in Lake Louise campground so keep that in mind and know your surroundings when venturing in the campground area especially at night.
Icefield Centre (parking lot -no fee)
Weather wise it can be hit and miss but that does not happen too often during the three Septembers that I visited, and the most harsh weather areas when coldfronts or windyfronts were present were along the higher elevations on the Icefields Parkway, and that either happened for one day or didn't happen at all....you will want winter and or raingear for these moments.
I will say about 70 percent of the time during the first three weeks of September in the Canadian Rockies area is actually quite pleasant and seems like July weather in the Alaska Interior so it is a treat for me, I rarely turned on the camper furnace as it wasn't hardly cold at night for me, comparing to the overnight freezing temps I have to deal with upon leaving Alaska and the Yukon and returning back having to rely on the furnace to keep somewhat from getting cold inside the camper.
I have been on the upper terminal of the Lake Louise skilift resort, on top of Sulphur Mountain at the Banff Gondola, and on top of the upper terminal of the Jasper Tramway terminal (which timed perfect with the first snow there after the weatherfront moved on) and was clear as a bell with great views as I timed it right of when to go to those type places, but did bring gloves and warm gear on the windier and cooler days in those higher regions.....The one day on top of Sulphur Mountain was clear, no wind and plenty warm on September 17 as you did not need any coat or gloves, that's how nice that day was !
Each year I was visiting the different places around all four Rocky Mountain National Parks (other than the designated campgrounds which are the only areas permitted for overnight parking) that I had not previously visited as I mentioned I only have 4 to 6 days to spend there by the time I arrive in my old camper rig and never rush a camping trip or try to remain on a schedule because crappy weather days or potential road closures and construction areas can create plan B or plan C rerouting situations or cancellations.
I would like to thank all the members from 6 years ago for posting how great September is to visit this area which gave me the idea and the incentive to visit somewhere new with the limited timeframe and the great distance I have to travel within reach, and kept me coming back again and again.
So the answer I will disclose to the topic would be : No, it is not too late for visiting the Canadian Rockies in September upon my perspective and other posted comments.
I will add my perspective on it :
First of all, I only have granted three weeks off for vacation time, which is during the month of September as my line of work requires that no one gets vacation time during the summer months, and that generally includes September.
With only three weeks off a year to contend with, and weighing any options of locations within my reach of other places by road I have never been to (in this case only Canada applies here), I was doing research on this region in 2011 and other RV.Net members stated September is a great time to visit the area for the handful of reasons and made this trip for three consecutive years (2011 2012 2013) along different routes and sidetrips and definitely planned for a fourth time trip which has not happened the past two years now (although I was enroute and on the way there both times).
If it was my choice, I rather take June or July off for vacation bar none.
However, by the time I reach the Parks Canada Mountain region of this general area....I only have 4 to 6 days to enjoy it before having to turn around and head back home in time to return to work.
The crowds in Banff and Jasper during September are about medium at best as it is the winding down of the tourist season and a far cry of the gigantic crowds of June thru August....September in this area is a steady crowd, but not bothersome nor does it seem too overcrowded in any way.
In 2013 I arrived in Jasper during (Labor) Labour Day weekend early September and got a taste of how crowded the Canadian Rockies Parks are during peak season....I will never make that mistake again.
Parks Canada does close down a few campgrounds during September and leave just a handful of them available, so it's like a little more distant driving depending where you are at in between which is not that big of deal.
What's nice is you do not generally need reservations for campground sites during September with the exception of Whistlers at Jasper..... and that's only IF you are looking for power hookups.
I stayed at these campsites at Banff Nat'l Park with no problem of any reservations during September :
Tunnel Mountain I
Tunnel Mountain II
Two Jack Lake
Lake Louise ......spacious (even easy for large vehicles) one way pull thru in-out sites with plenty of power hookups, but beware of the fast noisy trains nearby)...a set of earplugs does the trick for me but may not work for others.
I stayed at these campsites at Jasper Nat'l Park with no problem of any reservations during September :
Whistlers (no electric hookups) -Plenty of elk around during September (can be aggressive) as they are loud with constant mating calls almost as loud the trains in Lake Louise campground so keep that in mind and know your surroundings when venturing in the campground area especially at night.
Icefield Centre (parking lot -no fee)
Weather wise it can be hit and miss but that does not happen too often during the three Septembers that I visited, and the most harsh weather areas when coldfronts or windyfronts were present were along the higher elevations on the Icefields Parkway, and that either happened for one day or didn't happen at all....you will want winter and or raingear for these moments.
I will say about 70 percent of the time during the first three weeks of September in the Canadian Rockies area is actually quite pleasant and seems like July weather in the Alaska Interior so it is a treat for me, I rarely turned on the camper furnace as it wasn't hardly cold at night for me, comparing to the overnight freezing temps I have to deal with upon leaving Alaska and the Yukon and returning back having to rely on the furnace to keep somewhat from getting cold inside the camper.
I have been on the upper terminal of the Lake Louise skilift resort, on top of Sulphur Mountain at the Banff Gondola, and on top of the upper terminal of the Jasper Tramway terminal (which timed perfect with the first snow there after the weatherfront moved on) and was clear as a bell with great views as I timed it right of when to go to those type places, but did bring gloves and warm gear on the windier and cooler days in those higher regions.....The one day on top of Sulphur Mountain was clear, no wind and plenty warm on September 17 as you did not need any coat or gloves, that's how nice that day was !
Each year I was visiting the different places around all four Rocky Mountain National Parks (other than the designated campgrounds which are the only areas permitted for overnight parking) that I had not previously visited as I mentioned I only have 4 to 6 days to spend there by the time I arrive in my old camper rig and never rush a camping trip or try to remain on a schedule because crappy weather days or potential road closures and construction areas can create plan B or plan C rerouting situations or cancellations.
I would like to thank all the members from 6 years ago for posting how great September is to visit this area which gave me the idea and the incentive to visit somewhere new with the limited timeframe and the great distance I have to travel within reach, and kept me coming back again and again.
So the answer I will disclose to the topic would be : No, it is not too late for visiting the Canadian Rockies in September upon my perspective and other posted comments.
