Glacier National and Banff

It would be a shame to miss out on the glories of staying inside Glacier NP for paltry benefits like RV hookups. I recommend you make sure you have the battery capacity to dry camp a couple days (learn to conserve power if you haven't already) and stay in the Many Glacier campground. They don't take reservations and not all sites will fit a Class A, but that time of year you could make an arrival night reservation at the St. Mary KOA and get up early the next morning to grab a spot at Many Glacier. Folks are often leaving by 7:00am and you can just grab the spot as people vacate and go back to the entry post to pay/claim it. FAR superior campsites and the only NP CG that has showers in walking distance (at Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge).

There is a great book in hikes in the Canadian Rocky Mountain area parks. I just sent mine to Goodwill a few weeks ago but check Amazon to see if you can get one.
We were told to get good bear spray before we went hiking.
We saw bears while we were hiking but none were ever close enough to us that we had to use it. We also saw wolves, elk and moose. Have camera ready. Had such a wonderful time we went two years in a row.
We were in a tent for four weeks each time 14 and 15 years ago. As we did not need electricity we had to trouble finding sites.

A few years ago friends got turned back at the border because they did not have the "yellow insurance card". Even with his insurance cards and copy of the policy it was not acceptable. They spent the rest of the weekend in Montana while
waiting for the local state farm office to open to transfer his info to the yellow
card.

So a few years when we travel to Banaff I had my yellow card and was never asked for it. I did ask someone about the yellow card and was told it proof from you insurance you meet Canada insurance standards which are different in
the US.

I would talk to your agent and get a yellow card.

A few years back we took the trip from Edmonton to St. Ignace with no freeways, just staying on back roads. I would also recommend the Columbia Ice Field tour. The trip is great.

GordonThree wrote:

FULLTIMEWANABE wrote:

As a heads up, Lake Louise CG we will never by choice stay at again as many of our friends have said as well, trains go through all night long tooting their horns and you get zero sleep, just saying.

I like the trains. It's neat hearing the whistle echo off the canyon walls. Guess it helps that I live near train tracks myself, so the sound was not "new" for me :)

We too liked the trains which is why I forgot to mention them!

FULLTIMEWANABE wrote:

As a heads up, Lake Louise CG we will never by choice stay at again as many of our friends have said as well, trains go through all night long tooting their horns and you get zero sleep, just saying.

I like the trains. It's neat hearing the whistle echo off the canyon walls. Guess it helps that I live near train tracks myself, so the sound was not "new" for me :)

Lynn0527 is right, best camping times here after August and kids back at school, as for climate, this past weekend we were baking in 29 Deg plus weather camping at Little Bow PP on Lake McGregor catching tons of Walleye but yesterday and today we are shivering a little due to the rain and big temp drops. There is a saying for a reason "If you get bored of the weather here wait 10 mins", bring layers and you will totally enjoy.

Kids leaving tonight in 36ft A series RV for WATERTON LAKES (4 nights/3 days) and going to stay at the Townsite campground for ease their first trip with their puppy. If you are doing Glacier and coming into AB then do try and get one or two nights in Waterton to explore some hikes and around town and lakes (nice video on the gov website for Waterton Lakes).

Glacier St Mary's very popular and they do a courtesy shuttle bus on the going to the sun road (check when season operating!). If you can take that over one or two days do so, you will be able to take in the scenery instead of white knuckling your drive on the switch backs and drops. If you have time worth staying a couple of nights and preferably more on each side of Glacier.

Banff is very touristy in the town now, but do try the Magpie and Stump for great mexican food and Coyotes for steak, as well they have a really neat museum in town worth more than an hour of your time and when we were last there donations for admission.. Banff Springs Hotel is a must see and do being very iconic of the area. You will be about half hour to 40 minutes from Lake Louise here worth a look see at the Chateau and Lake (enquire to see photos of our ice carvings which are huge draw in the winter months), also if you have time to go a little further afield, Johnston Canyon around 1A Loop off the main Transcanada and if still time the two most beautiful lakes we feel in Canada are Moraine and Emerald Lakes. If you have a kayak/canoe or rent one it's wonderful feeling out there on the lakes in the NP, especially when school is back in :) :) :)

Of course there are hot springs, aerial view lifts, Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake loops and much more to see and do around Banff.

On your route up through AB try to follow the cowboy trail and if time permits try to head towards Bragg Creek and onwards into Kananaski's country for a half day or maybe an overnight = Elbow Falls, forget me not pond, Allen Bill pond, rafting elbow river, and beautiful scenery and wildlife abounds in K' country. We affectionately refer to it and Hwy 40 as our back yards.

Another route would be to come in via Longview and take Highway 40 up to Canmore = beautiful scenery and will be close to Spray Lakes and the area where stunning back drop wedding photos are taken on that side of Canmore. You will hit gorgeous mountain ranges heading into Banff like Three Sisters and many others.

As a heads up, Lake Louise CG we will never by choice stay at again as many of our friends have said as well, trains go through all night long tooting their horns and you get zero sleep, just saying. What we do now is go visit Lake Louise and other nearby lakes/attractions and then head up to the Columbia ice fields not far away and if we are Jasper bound usually will do an overnight boon docking at the base of on the Icefields parkway. Think it's Brewsters that organize the Cats out to the ice fields although we typically hike out to them in past years.

You have a truly wonderful trip planned with options to hit the most stunning scenery. So much to see and so little time! "Come feel the breeze on Lake Louise".

jolooote wrote:
I believe Now-a-days that you need a PassPort to enter Canada.?

More importantly, you need the passport to re-enter the United States.

I believe Now-a-days that you need a PassPort to enter Canada.?

louiskathy wrote:

ULTRAGOLFER wrote:
We are planning a trip from Michigan to Glacier National Park and Banff after Labor day. Looking for places to stay and any helpful tips We have a class a with tod

After Labor Day quite a few things close up for the season.
Don't be surprised if you have snow... might not come down to the valley floor but Going-To-The-Sun highway might get some on it.

I prefer the east side. We stayed here. Johnsons is a Good Sam cg

How long are you planning to stay... are you interested in hiking info?

Huh, I live in Calgary and prime camping starts after Labour Day, the parks are slower, quieter and much more enjoyable when August is over. Best time to come.

You have a good month to enjoy the campgrounds.