Vancouver-Jasper-Banff-Lake Louise-Calgary
Hi all, My wife and I are planning a road trip (camping in my pickup along the way) leaving Vancouver, BC June 28th making our way northeast toward Jasper, Banff, and Lake Louise and arriving in Calg...
Forum Discussion
It sounds like you are not concerned with hook-ups of any kind, so I will recommend a few stops. The Okanagan Valley area has lots to do, but as someone else said, will be very busy, especially as you will be starting out right on the long weekend. I would also say head up north of Kamloops on highway 5 and stop at Wells Grey Park north of Clearwater. There is a visitor's center right where you exit off highway 5, so stop there to get information. It is around an hour to drive in. Several hikes, and scenic waterfalls to see, and a good campground on the river at the lower end of Clearwater Lake.
If you don't stop there, it was also mentioned that there is a provincial campsite at Mount Robson, and a little further along another smaller one on a lake a few miles from Jasper Park. Stopping here would give you an advantage to arrive in Jasper early in order to get a campsite there. Keep in mind again that the weekend of June 29-July 1 is likely to be extra busy in the parks.
There are several campsites between Jasper and Banff that are available on a first come basis, so you may want to start early and stop early. One of the nicest is at Waterfowl Lakes about 50 km north of Lake Louise. If you hike, there are two hikes to alpine lakes right from the campsite area. Of course, there are many scenic views and short hikes all along the highway. Take the short side road into the Peyto Lake viewpoint a few km. south of Waterfowl Lakes.
If being right near Banff is not important, I like the campground at Johnson's Canyon, about 25 km. west of Banff, along the old highway, (1A I think it is), or Two Jack Lake which is east of Banff townsite.
Many things to see and do in the parks, and if you still have time, you could head towards Calgary and go into the Kananaskis Provincial Park in Alberta. Have a great time, and enjoy the stampede.
If you don't stop there, it was also mentioned that there is a provincial campsite at Mount Robson, and a little further along another smaller one on a lake a few miles from Jasper Park. Stopping here would give you an advantage to arrive in Jasper early in order to get a campsite there. Keep in mind again that the weekend of June 29-July 1 is likely to be extra busy in the parks.
There are several campsites between Jasper and Banff that are available on a first come basis, so you may want to start early and stop early. One of the nicest is at Waterfowl Lakes about 50 km north of Lake Louise. If you hike, there are two hikes to alpine lakes right from the campsite area. Of course, there are many scenic views and short hikes all along the highway. Take the short side road into the Peyto Lake viewpoint a few km. south of Waterfowl Lakes.
If being right near Banff is not important, I like the campground at Johnson's Canyon, about 25 km. west of Banff, along the old highway, (1A I think it is), or Two Jack Lake which is east of Banff townsite.
Many things to see and do in the parks, and if you still have time, you could head towards Calgary and go into the Kananaskis Provincial Park in Alberta. Have a great time, and enjoy the stampede.
