3 week Canada BC trip - Sanity check
We are from Belgium and planning a three week RV holiday in Canada, starting in Vancouver. It's our first time in Canada or in an RV but we have roadtrip/camping experience (3 weeks in Iceland with a...
Forum Discussion
I did the Hill a decade ago, both ways, in a small SUV (like the Honda CRV), and even did some of the forestry side roads along the way. Coming down can be more of a problem than going up if you don't know how to use the brakes and engine braking - or the RV is heavy for its size.
For camping I suggest using BC Provincial Parks, and where those aren't available, BC 'rec sites'.
http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/
Also buy the relevant Backroads Mapbooks
https://www.backroadmapbooks.com/backroad-mapbooks/bc-backroad-maps/cariboo-chilcotin-bc-backroad-mapbook/cc-bc-backcountry-maps?___SID=U
You'll be able to find those in Vancouver.
Trying to do Jasper/Banff along with Bella Coola might be trying to do too much.
From Seattle I've driven to Port Hardy twice, once to do Cape Scott, and other to take the longer ferry to Prince Rupert. I'd allow 2 days at least for that leg (I've already seen the southern part of the island several times). A day to BCoola.
I think we did 4 nights near Bella Coola, at a private campground (Gnomes Home, which unfortunately is closed for renovation this year). While you can get to Williams Lake in a day, I'd recommend a night or two along the way. The Chilcotin is a unique area, perhaps the most remote part of BC without going to Alaska.
An alternative to going east to Jasper and Banff from Williams Lake is to explore south along the Fraser and over the mountains on 99 - past Whistler to the coast.
https://bellacoola.ca/
I used an earlier version of this `bellacoola` website plus the mapbooks when visiting the area.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jxiouXaLQ2UQce8w5
For camping I suggest using BC Provincial Parks, and where those aren't available, BC 'rec sites'.
http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/
Also buy the relevant Backroads Mapbooks
https://www.backroadmapbooks.com/backroad-mapbooks/bc-backroad-maps/cariboo-chilcotin-bc-backroad-mapbook/cc-bc-backcountry-maps?___SID=U
You'll be able to find those in Vancouver.
Trying to do Jasper/Banff along with Bella Coola might be trying to do too much.
From Seattle I've driven to Port Hardy twice, once to do Cape Scott, and other to take the longer ferry to Prince Rupert. I'd allow 2 days at least for that leg (I've already seen the southern part of the island several times). A day to BCoola.
I think we did 4 nights near Bella Coola, at a private campground (Gnomes Home, which unfortunately is closed for renovation this year). While you can get to Williams Lake in a day, I'd recommend a night or two along the way. The Chilcotin is a unique area, perhaps the most remote part of BC without going to Alaska.
An alternative to going east to Jasper and Banff from Williams Lake is to explore south along the Fraser and over the mountains on 99 - past Whistler to the coast.
https://bellacoola.ca/
I used an earlier version of this `bellacoola` website plus the mapbooks when visiting the area.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jxiouXaLQ2UQce8w5
