Vancouver, BC to Alaska info needed
Hi folks, I am in the early stages of planning a road trip north from our new home in Vancouver, BC. We are looking to spend about 14 days in total around June, July, August 2013. We want to camp (Pic...
Forum Discussion
paulj wrote:
For a 2 week trip, I'd second Gary's Bella Coola suggestion. For example, from Vancouver you could:
cross to Vancouver Island
drive north to Port Hardy (doable in 1 day, but you'd see more with 2 nights)
BC ferry to Bella Coola
2 or more nights in the valley (great hiking if you can take forest roads)
up The Hill to Williams Lake (more like the Alaska Hwy than the Yukon)
south to Lillooet
Sea to Sky via Duffy Lake and Whistler.
I took 2 months to visit Alaska from Chicago. Since moving to Seattle I've taken a number of 2 week trips to BC, but haven't gone north of Prince Rupert.
Incidentally Vancouver to Prince Rupert is 1500 km, 2 full driving days by most standards. On one trip, to Prince Rupert and QC Islands, we took 5 days to get up there, and 5 to get back, with 6 days on the Islands. The return did include 2 nights at Wells Gray.
Or how about making Whitehorse your turn around point:
Vancouver Island, Port Hardy - Prince Rupert
PR to Skagway
Skagway to Whitehorse
return via Cassier and Prince George
I'd prefer to have 3 weeks for that loop.
Hi Paulj thanks for the info, this is great to have such detailed feedback. We did just recently spend some time on the Island around Mt. Washington and Cowichan Valley camping. We also spend a lot of time in and around Whistler and Birkenhead and Garibaldi. I also travel to Fort St. John a lot for work. Overall we havent seen all the areas you mention but have been near most of them. This is the reason I had thought perhaps hopping on the ferry and shooting as far north as i can get initially and then just exploring on the drive back down south may be a good option. But i also understand that since i have never done it then it may take longer. So in that light I am also now considering the route east to Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise, etc as an option as well. Keep that advice coming, i appreciate it all! I really like the outdoor activity advice you give about where we can get some hiking in because we want to hike and fish as much as possible along the way.
