TARDIS TIME TRAVELING ADVENTURE TO ALASKA
We spent 97 days on the road in the Tardis our time travel machine, a 21 foot 2011 Bengal Tiger Class “C” RV built in West Columbia SC by Tiger Adventure Vehicles, Provan Industeies,LLC. It is bigger on the inside.
Our travels covered 15,000 miles of the most spectacular scenery in
North America and the world.
The photos tell the rest of the story
What’s next? Who knows?
We are looking forward to many more great travels adventures in the future. I have another copy of this post ready to download with photos of the sites if you are interested let me know.
As some of you already know Holly & I traveled from Virginia to the 2013 Tiger Adventure RV Rally on our way to Alaska. We traveled from the Rally in Colorado to Valdez Alaska and then on up to the Arctic Circle. The following travel log includes all of our RV camping spots (Lat/Long & Elevations) for the trip along with a photo of each site & a short explanation of the sites & what you can see close by. Each RV Park or Campground includes the price per night (2013) and other information about the site. There were two RV park that we would not recommend & they are mentioned in Skagway & Anchorage. We learned a great deal about our Tiger & boondocking, Do’s & Don’ts on this trip. Now if we passes a dirt/gravel road in our travels heading off to our right or left we check them out. If there are no Mail boxes or No Trespassing signs posted we would check them out as possible overnight boondocking sites. Most went to Lakes, Rivers, or Gravel Pits, great places to stop for the night (see photos). The only problem is you are isolated, but we didn’t experience any problems. (Note; At all Wal-Mart stays we always went inside to check if it was OK to overnight). All rest areas along the Kansas interstate 70 are OK for overnight stops & patrolled by police. Hope this info helps those of you planning a trip to Alaska in the future. Our overall average cost per night was less than $7.00 per night. You can purchase showers at most recreation centers as you travel, check at visitor centers as you travel along. If you haven’t already got one ,you’re your Senior Pass before you leave ($10.00) It will save you a lot of $$$. Don’t forget your camera. We took over 20,000 photos on our trip. HAVE FUN
Our first stop was in New Mexico at El Prado, NM BLM Pilar CG .
($7.50 Per Night w/seniors pass) (36.47493,-105.73522 elev. 6939')
We camped there for 4 nights. Located on the edge of the Rio Grande River. Nice clean bathrooms & showers at a second campground ¼ mile down the road. From this location we were able to visit (Rio Grande Gorge Bridge) (Earthship Community) (Taos Pueblo) & (Ghost Ranch).
Salida area, CO BLM CG
Boondocking site (38.50788,-105.96018 elev. 6998') (Quite, No Facilities, good for one night, backed up to a river)
.
Leadville, CO
Boondocking site on Turquoise Lake.
(39.26649,-106.39314 elev. 10,035') (This site overlooked Turquoise lake with an active Osprey nest across the road from our boondocking site.) (Next day we were at Independence Pass elev. 12,095 ft. snow covered)
Nederland, CO
Boondocking site (40.040505,-105.52432 elev. 9215') (Roosevelt NF CO) (Tennessee Pass elev. 10,424 ft.)
Estes Park, CO Moraine Park CG
($10.00/night w/ senior pass) (40.36002,-105.59880 elev. 8206') (Peak to Peak Hwy) (ST Malo Stone Church)
Granby, CO American Land & Leisure CG
($16.00/night + $5.00 Park Fee) (40.18062,-105.89017 elev. 8494) (Lava Cliff elev. 12116 ft.) (12 ft. snow bank)
(Trail Ridge road & Alpine Visitor Ctr. Elev. 11,796 ft.)
Saratoga, WY Saratoga Lake CG WY
($10.00 w/electric $7.00 w/o electric)(41.46878,-106.78729 elev. 6822') (Grand Encampment Museum)
Pindale, WY
Boondocking site near Pinedale WY
(42.95395,-109.75903 elev. 8128')
Jackson, WY
Boondocking site Teton NF
(43.63457,-110.55650 elev. 7052') (Museum of the Mountain men) (Jackson Hole WY)
Moran, WY Colter Bay CG
($10.00/night w/ Seniors pass w/o hookups) (43.91095,-110.64645 elev. 6809') (Grand Teton NP) (lots of buffalo)
Yellowstone NP, MT Canyon CG Yellowstone NP
($10.00/night w/ Seniors pass w/o hookups)(44.53638,-110.43698 elev. 7780') (Waterfalls) (Old Faithful Geyser)
Yellowstone NP, MT Bridge Bay CG Yellowstone NP
($10.00/night seniors w/o hookups)(44.53638,-110.43698 elev. 7780')
(Mud Volcano Area) (Upper & Lower Falls) (Tower Gen. Store) (Buffalo & Bears)
Cody, WY Ponderosa CG
($31.50 full hookups) (44.51824,-109.07289 elev. 5396') (Clean Bathrooms, Showers, Laundry, Electrical hookups) (Buffalo Bill Historical Ctr.) (A must see, may take 2 days)
Cody, WY
Boondocking site off Bear Tooth Hwy WY
(44.95628,-109.80807 elev. ??) (Buffalo Bill Historical Ctr.) (View from our boondocking site)
Island Park, ID
Boondocking site (44.67054,-111.31310 elev. 6962') (Upper area of Yellowstone) (Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces) (Buffalo – Fox –Prong Horned Antelope) (View from our boondocking site)
Dillon, MT
Boondocking site (Near Bannack SP)
(45.15533,-113.03830 elev. 5932') (In the middle of nowhere) (Red Rock Pass Rd-Dirt/gravel) (Southside Centennial Rd –Dirt/gravel)
West Glacier, MT Glacier NP West Apgar Loop “C” CG
($10.00/night no hookups w/seniors pass)(48.52520,-113.98156 elev. 3) (Lake McDonald Lodge) (Road to the Sun, Logan Pass, restricted to 21' max Length) (on return trip we were able to ride up and back in 10 passenger van, Not Bad.
Browning, MT Rising Sun CG East Glacier NP
($10.00/night w/o hookups seniors ~ Two Tigers in same campsite $5.00 each) (48.69396,-113.52279 elev. 4527')
Browning, MT Rising Sun CG East Glacier NP
($20.00/night w/o hookups w/ seniors pass)(48.69396,-113.52279 elev. 4527') (on to Many Glacier NP)
(Grizzly Bears – Coyote – Deer – Prairie Dogs) (Waterfalls)
Pincher Creek, AB Canada Waterton Springs RV Park
($20.00/night w/o hookups) 49.13555,-113.84541 elev. 4292') (Clean bathrooms, Showers, Laundry) (Waterton Glacier International Peace Park) (Canada Park Pass for one year covering all parks $115.00) (Red Rock Canyon)
Cranbrook, BC Canada Mt Baker RV Park
($27.41/night w/o hookups)(49.50883,-115.76116 elev. 3030'
(Camp ground in town) (Frank Slide Interpretive Ctr.)
Radium Hot Springs, BC Canada
Boondocking site (outside of Radium Hot Springs BC)
(50.63222,-116.12370 elev. 3126') (Cranbrook Farmers Market)
Yoho NP, Field, BC Canada Kicking Horse CG
($27.40/night w/o hookups)(51.42464,-116.43096 elev. 4310') (Kootenay Rockies) (Lake Louise) (Spiral Train Tunnels)
(Takkakaw Falls – one of the highest in Canada – switchback road)
Malakwa, BC Canada Beardale Castle Riverside CG
($20.00/night ~ Two Tigers in same campsite $10.00 each) (50.99975,-118.69258 elev. 1272')
(No Hookups) (Northern Lights Wolf Ctr.) (Revelstoke Dam Tour)
Pinantan Lake, BC Canada Paul Lake Provincial Park CG BC
($16.00/night no hookups) (50.74915,-120.11571 elev. 2920')
Horsefly, BC Canada Horsefly Lake CG BC
($21.00/night)(52.38448,-121.28733 elev. 2570') (Right on lake)
(The Chasm Deep gorge) (Mile Post 100)
Vanderhoof, BC Canada Cobe Lake CG BC
Boondocking site(53.95653,-123.56221 elev. 2531’)
(Log Tourism Discovery Ctr. – awesome) (Kayaking on lake)
(Log Tourism center is a must see if you are in the area)
Lake Kathlyn, BC Canada
Boondocking site(54.82577,-127.27596 elev. 2611') (at Twin Falls)
(Twin Falls)(Tintagel – Stone from Cornwall England) (Huge fishing pole)
Port Edward, BC Canada Kinnikinnick CG
($28.00/night w/electric)(54.22925,-130.28896 elev. 91') (Clean Bathrooms, Showers, laundry)
(Gitwangak - Totem Poles & St. Paul’s Church) (Prince Rupert)
Kitimat-Stikine A, BC Canada
Boondocking site(55.60891,-128.61957 elev. 1094') (Bonus Lake BC Recreation Site) (Prince Rupert)
(Bald Eagles Prince Edward)
Kitimat-Stikine A, BC Canada
Boondocking site(56.60089,-129.65395 elev. 1678') (South of Bell on RT37) (Glaciers)
(Stewart BC & Hyder AK) (Seafood Express Eat at the School Bus Diner in Hyder)
Stikine Region, BC Canada
Boondocking site(59.59237,-129.218989 elev. 2130') (French Creek Rec. Site) (Mosquitoes really bad)
(Moose on lake) (Jade City)
Unorganized, YT Canada
Boondocking site(60.14282,-130.22160 elev. 2790') (Gravel pit west of Watson lake)
(Northern Lights Ctr.) (Watson Lake Sign Forest)
Whitehorse, YT Canada High Country CG
($21.00 w/o hookups)(60.68279,-135.06178 elev. 2428') (Airplane wind vane) (Black Bear on Hwy)
(Bear’s Paw Quilts)
Skagway, AK Garden City RV Park
($20.00/night w/o hookups, overflow parking)(59.46197,-135.30670 elev. 34') (Clean bathrooms Showers, Laundry) (Emerald Lake YT)
(Carcross Village YT) (Robinson Roadhouse Historic site YT) (Yukon Suspension Bridge)
(Port of Entry Skagway AK) ( Parking down town Skagway no problem)
(Mountain View RV Park $30.00/night was THE PITS Dirty bathrooms & showers - stay away from it if possible)
Haines, AK Chilkat State Park
($10.00/night no hookups) (59.14063,-135.37221 elev. 224') (No hookups, Clean Bathrooms)
(Car Ferry Skagway to Haines) (Whales) (Water falls)(Kayaking) (Haines fish Packing Co.)
Haines Junction, YT
Boondocking site (60.83029,-137.74203 elev. 2763') (gravel pit NW of Haines Junction)
(Bald eagles) (Fish catcher) (Million Dollar Falls) (Haines Junction)
Northway, AK Lake View CG (No Fees)
Boondocking site(62.96452,-141.64075 elev. 1750') (50 miles north of Beaver Creek – first come) (Tetlin NWF)
Tok, AK Sourdough CG
($31.50 w/electric)(63.31123,-143.00626 elev. 1711')
(Clean bathrooms,Showers, Laundry, Full or Partial Hookups, Good Family RV Park)
(Colorful cemetery) (Worthington Glaciers & water falls)
Valdez, AK Bayside RV CG
($27.00 w/o hookups) (61.13043,-146.34170 elev. 9')(Clean Bathrooms, Showers, Full Services)
(Wrangell ST. Elias NP) (Copper Center Loop) (Fish Hatchery) (Grizzly Bear & Cubs)
Copper Center, AK Squirrel Creek State REC. Site BLM CG
($15.00/night no hookups)(61.66682,-145.17543 elev. 1539') (River on one side an lake on the other)
Palmer, AK Matanuska Lake CG
($10.00/night no hookups) (61.55230,-149.22621 elev. 158') (Clean bathroom No Hookups)
(Local auto show) (Musk Ox Farm)
(Centennial Park RV CG in Anchorage NASTY BATHROOMS & SHOWERS - avoid if possible)
Palmer, AK Big Bear RV Park CG Palmer AK
($22.50/night all services)(61.56016,-149.29324 elev. 181') (Clean Bathrooms, showers)
(McHugh Creek Chugach SP) (Road to Seward)
Trapper Creek, AK Denali NP South Overview CG
($10.00/night no hookups)(62.59183,-150.23975 elev. 565') (Clean Bathrooms, No Hookups)
(Iditarod Trail Race HDQTRS) (Hatcher Pass Dirt Road) (Denali sunset photos)
N Slope Haul Rd, AK Arctic Circle CG
Boondocking site(66.55794,-150.79230 elev. 1351') (Alaska Pipeline) (Finger Mountain)
(Dalton Highway – Paved/dirt/gravel)
Tok AK Sourdough CG (2ND STAY)
($31.50 w/electric) Tok AK
(63.31123,-143.00626 elev. 1711') (Clean Bathrooms, Showers, Full Services)
(The Knotty Shop) (Moose in lake)
Whitehorse, YT, Canada Wal-Mart
Boondocking site(60.73252,-135.06989 elev. 2088') (Stayed 3 nights waiting for Tiger window repair) (Beaver Creek Visitor Ctr.) ( SS Klonddike Stern Wheeler) (You can pick up a 3 day visitor pass from the visitor center, and park without paying meter fees)
Unorganized, YT, Canada
Boondocking site(60.17504 -129.81091 elev. 2876') YT (78 km west of Watson Lake
(Backed up to nice small lake – only 2 other sites at this location)
Northern Rockies B, BC Canada
Boondocking site(58.80112 -125.50983 elev. 2388') (East of Toad River) (Moose on lake)
(Watson Lake Sign Post Forest) (Bison, Big Horned Sheep, Young Elk on Road)
Trout Lake NWT, Canada
Boondocking site(60.00822 -122.94949 elev. 1463')(Gravel pit north of NWT border)
(Crossing the border from Yukon into Northwest Territory road went from paved to Gravel-dirt)
Wonowon, BC Canada
Boondocking site(56.98450 -122.20200 elev. 2958') (Gravel pit south of FT Nelson) (Black bear on side of road) (Ft Nelson Museum) (Not much of a view but a cheap night boondocking site)
Hythe, AB, Canada
Boondocking site(55.39699 -119.73758 elev. 2605') (On lake west of Grande Prairie) (Followed a dirt road, found site on lake) (Moose) (Ft St John Metal Bear) (Dawson city Mile Post 0.00 for Alaska Hwy) (Great sun set over the lake)
Greenview No. 16, AB, Canada
Boondocking site (53.92560 -118.81387 elev. 3738')
(South side of Bridge next to Muskag River south of Grande Cache)
(Giant Beaver) (Alberta information CTR.)
Jasper, AB, Canada Wilcox Creek CG Jasper NP
($15.70/night w/o hookups)(52.21881,-117.17724 elev. 6777') (Elk) (Athabasca Falls) (Columbia Icefield)
Okotoks, AB,Canada Wal-Mart
Boondocking site (50.70523,-113.97131 elev. 3496')
(Lake Louise) (Black Bear) (Banff) (Calgary) (Calgary still recovering from floods)
West Glacier, MT West Glacier CG Overflow Parking
($10.00/night w/o hookups)(48.52250,-113.98280 elev. 3227') (US Border) (Deer) (Blackfoot Nation) (Into Montana)
(Took 10 passenger van (free) up to Logan Pass There is a 21 foot length limit to drive up.
The van ride was perfect, allowing us to sightsee on the way up and back down)
East Glacier Park, Mt Forest Service CG MT
($5.00/night w/ seniors pass)(48.31800,-113.35145 elev. 5264') (Road to the Sun) (Logan Pass by free 10 Person van)
(White mountain goats) (Waterfalls – Deer – Prairie dogs)
Sentinel Butte, ND Buffalo Gap Rec. Area
($3.00 w/senior pass, no hookups)(46.95237,-103.67476 elev. 2589')
Bowman, ND Butteview CG
($15.00/night w/o hookups) (Clane bathrooms & showers)
(46.17892,-103.37360 elev. 2974') (Bison)(Theodore Roosevelt NP Badlands) (Enchanted Hwy – Steel sculptures)
Rapid City, SD Sheridan Lake CG
($12.00/night + $2.00 for each dog per night)(43.97140,-103.47042 elev. 4698') (located on lake) (Geographic Center of USA)
(Boondocks 50’s town – Cow w/gun) (Prong Horned Antelope)
Wall, SD Sage Creek CG Badlands NP SD
Boondocking site (43.89363,-102.41565 elev. 2572') (Mount Rushmore NM) (Wall Drugs)
(Crazy Horse Monument) (Red Ass Rhubarb Wine Prairie Berry Winery)
Alliance, NE Sunset Motel & RV Park
($27.50 w/electric) (Clean Bathrooms & showers)
(42.09675,-102.85355 elev.3961') (Badlands NP) (Mountain goats) (Carhenge)
York, NE Wal-Mart York NE
Boondocking site (40.82858,-97.59486 elev. 1650')
(Sandhills Journey)
Davenport, IA Wal-Mart
Boondocking site Davenport Iowa
(41.55898,-90.62267 elev. 699')
Crawfordsville, IN Wal-Mart
Boondocking site Crawfordville IN
(40.01196,-86.90906 elev. 796') (Hen House Restaurant)
Hurricane, WV Wal-Mart
Boondocking site (38.44102,-82.02119 elev. 761')
(SEE SAME WRITE-UP WITH PHOTOS SIMILAR POST)
"TARDIS" time travelers
2011 Ford F350 4X4 Super Cab Bengal Tiger
David & Holly Fox
Chesapeake, Va.