Hello all,We're traveling up from the states to visit the Banff NF and Jasper NF in August of this year.My wife and I have made reservations camp at the Banff National Park - Village 1 campground around the first of August and also at the Jasper NP Pocohantas campground mid-August. Our traveling friends planned ahead and were able to secure reservations at the Banff Lake Louise Hard-sided campground at Lake Louise. Now it’s completely full for the dates we should be joining them.Question: Are there any boondocking/dispersed camping areas or other options for camping in the Lake Louise area with a 30’ self contained Class A motorhome for 3 nights around Aug 3rd to Aug 5th? Many thanks

Like American national parks, the Canadian national parks don't allow rv camping outside of established campgrounds. If you want to park your motorhome and do some backpacking, you can get a backcountry permit and camp "in the woods."See here:https://thecampsiteblog.com/2013/05/09/top-5-backcountry-campgrounds-in-banff/and here for more details:http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/randonee-backpacking.aspx

FWIW, we've overnighted at Brewsters Car Park Icefields Carpark area where the big people transporters leave out to the Glacier that's receding more and more each and every year. Also at Sunshine Ski area car park (usually in the winters when skiing for a couple of days or so there.Not sure if any of that helps you :)

GordonThree wrote:Like American national parks, the Canadian national parks don't allow rv camping outside of established campgrounds. If you want to park your motorhome and do some backpacking, you can get a backcountry permit and camp "in the woods."See here:https://thecampsiteblog.com/2013/05/09/top-5-backcountry-campgrounds-in-banff/and here for more details:http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/randonee-backpacking.aspxUnfortunately the wife and I are seniors and have back problems, so hiking is out :( But thanks for your reply......I'm wondering if the Lake Louise campsite might have an overflow area to park the Class A when their campsites are all reserved

Hi racorman,They do have an overflow area. I'd phone and ask.There are no boondocking sites in the Park.https://freecampsites.net/#!lake+louise

Well now....it so happens I have Boondocked up in the Banff area. No, not IN the park, but there is a place.......if you were to Google Ghost Lake, Alberta....As for Jasper...BC has a couple pretty nice offerings out of the main Jasper area. One is Lucerne but a couple more are listed as well.http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/mt_robson/#VehicleAccessibleCampingGary Haupt

Boon docking Near Lake Louise in Banff NP | Good Sam Community

fishing2
Explorer
Jun 27, 2016
We parked in back of the Husky gas station one Sat. night last July.
Happy camping
Dennis
Johndeere4955
Explorer
Jun 27, 2016
They do have sights at Lake Louise that are first come first serve, not all are reservable. Also about 25kms north of Lake Louise is Mosquito Creek campground which is a non service, first come first serve campground that would have some spots for a 30 ft camper.
trigley
Explorer
Jun 26, 2016
As others have stated there is (or at least was) an overflow area just east of Lake Louise. I would check.
If you want a campground there is Kicking Horse in Yoho which is first come first serve. Not sure if they have a size limit. It is near the railway but so is Lake Louise.
Does Lake Louise reserve all their sites or do they keep some for first come? I stayed in the overflow once then went in the campground early in the A M but that was several years ago.
accsys
Explorer
Jun 26, 2016
crosscheck wrote:
accsys wrote:
#2 is the overflow area. It is 3.4 miles from the Lake Louisa exit. I believe #1 is a parking lot for one of the trails.

You are correct with #2. #1 is not a trail head as there is no bridge across the Bow River. Maybe a put in for canoes or a rest stop.

Dave

Could be just a rest stop as there is a restroom and a couple of picnic tables there. There is also a road for the park service to use going back to a work area which can also be accessed by the road across from the overflow area.
canadafan
Explorer
Jun 26, 2016
There used to be an overflow campground for Waterfowl Lake called Silverhorn about 56km north of Lake Louise but I don,t know if they still open it.

Monarch about 16km west of Lake Louise in Yoho NP acts as a basic overflow campground for Kicking Horse campground.

Boondocking in the parks is not allowed but you may be able to find somewhere around Canmore about 30km east of Banff. There are some provincial and private campgrounds along Highway 1 just east of Canmore.
crosscheck
Explorer II
Jun 26, 2016
accsys wrote:
#2 is the overflow area. It is 3.4 miles from the Lake Louisa exit. I believe #1 is a parking lot for one of the trails.

You are correct with #2. #1 is not a trail head as there is no bridge across the Bow River. Maybe a put in for canoes or a rest stop.

Dave
accsys
Explorer
Jun 26, 2016
#2 is the overflow area. It is 3.4 miles from the Lake Louisa exit. I believe #1 is a parking lot for one of the trails.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jun 26, 2016
Folks who live in the towns are given two passes. Friends and family have to pay for a pass.

GordonThree wrote:
Do the people that live in these towns have to buy a park pass too, or can they pass on the pass? What about their kids, what about friends / family coming for a visit?
Racorman
Explorer
Jun 26, 2016
I wonder if #1 or #2 is the overflow area for this campground?
GordonThree
Explorer
Jun 26, 2016
Come to think of it, I did run across a guy living in the park out of his 2500 pickup. He was from California, he had sold his business and had been living low profile all over the last ten years. I didn't ask how he avoided getting harassed by the police, but it must be possible. Of course, a pickup with a simple topper is a lot less conspicuous than a a class A rv.

That got me thinking, it's a National park, but there are towns INSIDE the park. Do the people that live in these towns have to buy a park pass too, or can they pass on the pass? What about their kids, what about friends / family coming for a visit?