I'll be in Glacier,Montana July 1-5 2017 and want to see the Ice Fields-Banff to Jasper and want to stay at Lake louise if possible..Now wehave no reservations plus the big 150 this yr, So where could we stay for a few nights to use as a base to site see, any help thanks we decided to go only a few weeks ago being this trip was planned not so long ago...

We are currently near Jasper in Hinton, AB. Jasper to Banff is about a 4 hour drive on the icefield Road. Might be too far to do both from one site. We are at the KOA in Hinton, about a 45 minute drive to the Icefield Parkway entrance from here. Lake Louise is beautiful. If that is your focus, try to find a place near Calgary. Otherwise, Jasper is beautiful but not an easy day trip from Banff. Good luck!

Thompson Creek Campground is located on Highway 11 about 15 mins East of Highway 93. It is less than a one hour drive to the Columbia Icefield from the campground and about 2 hours to Banff or Jasper.

Things are going to be pretty tight with it being Canada's 150th Birthday and the Calgary Stampede happening at the same time as your planned icefields, Baniff, Jasper visit.Good luck as it would be a shame to miss anyone of these places on your trip.Unfortunately we live in the southern interior of BC otherwise you would be more than welcome to use our driveway as your home base.

We spent a few days at a campground in Canmore (can't remember the name), not far from Banff, and toured the lower half of the Parkway. We then moved up to the Hinton KOA for a few days and toured the upper part of the Icefield Parkway.

We were there two weeks ago and it was the highlight of a two-month trip. We stayed at the big park hookup campgrounds, Banff Trailer Court and Jasper Whistlers. They were full, but I'd keep checking online as people do cancel.If/when you go to Lake Louise, go very early in the morning. The lakes are stunning but parking lots fill early. There are many, many Asian visitors in cars and tour buses. Same was true at Peyto Lake on the Parkway - parking lot so full we couldn't get in. Came back when we drove southbound early on a Sunday and got lucky.If you go up to Jasper, book the Whistler Mountain tram ahead. We didn't, thinking we'd wait for good weather. Waited in line on a Saturday for a half hour and then learned there would be a further 1.5 hour wait. We had clouds and rain off and on, but sun out often. We had two chances (going up and back down) to get nice photos. It's a spectacular area.

Plan to see Ice Fields Pkwy July 6-12, Whats it like Now.?

morley
Explorer
Jul 06, 2017
trigley wrote:
wantabe351 wrote:
we did it, made reservations..I made a list and my wife got on the phone, we have 2 spots. In Radium and in Cline river, so were happy now and can relax.We were able to do 3nights in radium and 4 nights in Cline River enough time to sight see and relax...Thanks to all your help and ideas..

Great move. Highway 11 to David Thompson Resort, Cline River is a good
road through a nice area overlooked by most travellers. As much as possible try to fill up at both ends of the Icefield Parkway as Saskatchewan River Crossing is very expensive. But it is there if you need it.

Totally agree about fuel costs at Saskatchewan River Crossing, paid $1.54 per litre for diesel there last July.
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Jul 05, 2017
A couple places real close to David Thompson resort.
Abraham Lake (man made lake) on Highway 11 is worth having a look at, also the hike to Siffleur Falls is quite interesting.
trigley
Explorer
Jul 05, 2017
wantabe351 wrote:
we did it, made reservations..I made a list and my wife got on the phone, we have 2 spots. In Radium and in Cline river, so were happy now and can relax.We were able to do 3nights in radium and 4 nights in Cline River enough time to sight see and relax...Thanks to all your help and ideas..

Great move. Highway 11 to David Thompson Resort, Cline River is a good
road through a nice area overlooked by most travellers. As much as possible try to fill up at both ends of the Icefield Parkway as Saskatchewan River Crossing is very expensive. But it is there if you need it.
wantabe351
Explorer
Jul 04, 2017
we did it, made reservations..I made a list and my wife got on the phone, we have 2 spots. In Radium and in Cline river, so were happy now and can relax.We were able to do 3nights in radium and 4 nights in Cline River enough time to sight see and relax...Thanks to all your help and ideas..
hedge
Explorer
Jul 01, 2017
rexlion wrote:
I liked Emerald Lake best of all the lakes (was there decades ago though). Takkakaw Falls was interesting too.

Nice area but that's not along the Icefields parkway.
rexlion
Explorer
Jul 01, 2017
I liked Emerald Lake best of all the lakes (was there decades ago though). Takkakaw Falls was interesting too.
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Jul 01, 2017
If you want to go to Banff and Jasper your best bet would be Thompson Creek campground. It is 15 mins east of the Icefields Parkway, half way between Banff and Jasper.
Real nice rustic campground with big 100 year old lodgepole pines.
Mountaineer42
Explorer
Jul 01, 2017
wantabe351 wrote:
if I could dry camp here and there it would work for us. Just to get a spot to drop the 5th wheel and drive around for 2 or even 3 days if that crowded so we can see the sites would be great...are there over flow dry camp places? If you know of some please pass them on to us..Towing a 34' 5er around isn't fun..Thanks

Your chances of finding a place for a 34' 5er in a regular campground without reservations are slim to none, and Slim just left town! HOWEVER, there are a couple places along the Parkway that would work for you. First place would be the overflow campground just south of Lake Louise.....it is just a big gravelpit without services but you should be able to find a place to park for a night or two. From there you can drive back to Banff (take Hwy 1a for a more relaxed drive), you can take the free shuttle to Morraine Lake and you can visit Lake Louise. Then, move on to Silverhorn Creek campground, 50 kms north of Lake Louise. This is normally just an overflow campground but you will likely be able to find a spot here. Nothing great, but it is a place where you can stop overnight, and you can go back 8 kms to see Peyto Lake without the hassle of pulling into a crowded busy parking lot with your 5th. Then, move on to the Icefields Centre RV Campground, 111 km north of Lake Louise. This is a paved parking lot that is used as a campground because there is nothing else nearby that RVers can use. Again, no services, but there is room for 100 RVs. From there you can do the Columbia Icefields tours and hikes...one of my very favorite areas! Then move onto Jasper. I have no suggestions there, as it will be BUSY and I seldom travel there. One thing to remember is to arrive at your destination EARLY!! If you think you can arrive at 5:00 or 6:00pm and find anything anywhere, you will be sadly disappointed.
p.s. I live here and have traveled the area for 40 years.
Flyboy320
Explorer
Jul 01, 2017
DaveG39 wrote:
If you don't mind dry camping, Lake Louise has a dry overflow just south of town on west side of Hwy 1. There is a large parking area at the north end of the parking lot at the icefields visitor's center. Small charge self pay. Can use that to see the Athabasca glacier areas. Have stayed at both.

Good suggestions for you to Dry Camp....
wantabe351
Explorer
Jun 30, 2017
if I could dry camp here and there it would work for us. Just to get a spot to drop the 5th wheel and drive around for 2 or even 3 days if that crowded so we can see the sites would be great...are there over flow dry camp places? If you know of some please pass them on to us..Towing a 34' 5er around isn't fun..Thanks