More questions about the Canadian Rockies

[S-n-L]

Hello everyone and thank you in advance for your help,

Here are some questions:

1. We would like to arrive in Jasper NP on Tuesday September 3rd, just after the US Labor Day holiday and leave September 21st. Would the parks be less crowded at this time compared to earlier in the summer?

2. We are planning to come from the Vancouver area driving on route 1 to route 5 north then route 16 east in to Jasper NP. We then will head south along route 93 to Banff. Are there any issues taking our 45 ft motorhome with toad on any of these roads? We are 65 feet in total length.

3. Most importantly could you make recommendations for rv parks or places to stay with our 45-foot coach. I am aware that Whistlers campground in Jasper NP is closed for the 2019 season.

4. We are a bit confused about the rv parks/campgrounds in the area. Which parks are full hook ups, electric/ water only or dry camping. In the dry camping areas can you use a generator and is a dump and water fill close?

Thank you,
Stuart & Leslie

[S-n-L]

Paul,

Thank you, great info.
Stuart

[paulj]

S-n-L wrote:
Sidehillsoup,

We are comfortable with narrow, twisty and mountain roads. We have driven some of the most challenging roads in the US.

I would love to hear what you are thinking about.

Stuart

I suspect he's thinking about Hwy 3 the rest of the way across the province, with possible variations.

East of Osoyoos is a significant climb to a plateau. A gentler drop to the Kettle River valley (where it meets 33 from the north), a loop north around a historic mining district at Greenwood (Kettle River loops in Washington in this area). Another good climb after Christina Lake. It crosses the Columbia River at Castlegar (or Trail). After Salmo it crosses the highest highway pass in BC. The pass east of Creston is gentle, as is Crowsnest into Alberta.

3A takes you through Nelson and along slower lake shores, but avoids the big pass. There are other routes around Kootenay Lake and neighbors. 31 past Trout Lake in the north is gravel, but the rest are generally easy driving - more curves than climbs.

Instead of 3 into Alberta you can take 95/93 north to Radium Hot Springs and Kootenay NP into Banff NP.

But if you do Crowsnest into Alberta you can take 22 and 40 through a very scenic backdoor to Banff.

[S-n-L]

Thanks

[SideHillSoup]

Ok.... give me a couples days... busy snowmobiling.... ( grin)
Soup.

[S-n-L]

Sidehillsoup,

We are comfortable with narrow, twisty and mountain roads. We have driven some of the most challenging roads in the US.

I would love to hear what you are thinking about.

Stuart

[SideHillSoup]

I wouldn’t worry to much about snow in September however is does happen. Our oldest daughter lived between Calgary and Banff for many years. I can recall sitting on her sundeck looking at the fresh snow on the Rockies over Banff, and that was August 1st. Just do like everyone else does if it snows, just sit tight for a day or two and usually it will melt, and then carry on.

- As for my other route, how you at traveling on a bit narrower, winder and hillier than the major Hwy route that I talk about in my first post?
If this isn’t something to your liking I won’t go into a bunch of details on it.
This other route is traveled by RV’s of every size, including the size of your rig and toad, every year as well as transport trucks of every size imaginable, so it is safe and paved, just different.
Soup.

[S-n-L]

Thank you for so much great information.

Trigley, thank you for the links.

Sidehillsoup, your suggestions look great and we are considering the route you recommended. I would be interested in hearing about the "other" route you suggested in your post. We are all about the scenery.

We are considering alternatives for timing; one being postponing the trip until 2020 when Whistler opens back up. Also, may consider going earlier in the season, mid to late August, to avoid the possibility of snow. Snow makes us nervous in our rig.

You folks are great!!

[Kevinwa]

September is one of my favourite times of year in the mountains. Be sure to pack for all weathers. We went a few years back to jasper sept 17 and there was a foot of snow the day we arrived. Two days later it was 32 Celsius. Huge swings. There is plenty of stuff to do no matter the weather. Hiking and hot tubs if it’s cool. Beaches and river rafting if it’s warm. Lots of good mountain biking if you are into that. If mountain biking use the trailforks app, as it is the most helpful for finding the type of ride you are after.

Camping for a large rig may be more difficult to find with whistlers being closed for the year. Wapiti has some stalls sized to fit with electric. Without whistlers I think the only full hook up option is the koa in Hinton. Snaring is a cute little rustic campground and the riverfront stalls fit larger rigs, it is first come first serve and no hookups or dump station. Wabasso has lots of larger stalls, but I think they close sept 7 most years.
Parks Canada’s reservations for the year open sometime in January and everything fills up fast (within a few hours). But if you don’t get what you want keep looking as the date nears because lots of people book extra and then cancel.
Personally I love jasper, and am sad that I probably won’t make it there this year due to so many other places I also want to see...

[trigley]

SideHillSoup wrote:
Don’t take Hwys 5 or 16, for my other reasons including the ones listed above.
Take Hwy 1 east from Vancouver to Hope, then take Hwy 3 east from Hope to Osoyoos.
From Osoyoos take Hwy 97 north through the Okanogon Valley ( wine country) to just north of Enderby then Take Hwy 97-A to Sicamous where you again join up with Hwy 1 east.
Follow Hwy 1 through Revelstoke over Rogers Pass and on to Golden and over Kicking Horse Pass and to Lake Louise.
Now I differ from a lot of people where I love driving the Ice Field parkways between Lake Louise and Jasper in both directions. You will see stuff on the return trip that you wont see on the way up. It is one of the most beautiful drives anywhere and should be seen going both directions.
Also there isn’t a main Hwy in BC or Alberta that you won’t fit on comfortably. There are hills (mountain passes) all over BC, so don’t be surprised.
There are a lot of other routes that you could take to get to the Alberta Rockies other than the one I suggested, which is by far more scenic than Hwy 5 period.
If you want to hear about another route to get across southern B.C., which has far less traffic the route I suggest, and has, mountain lakes, river valleys, creeks and mountain the entire route, let me know.
Enjoy what ever you decide to do.
Soup.

Yes, if you are prepared to take the extra day and mileage this is a much more scenic route.
Far too many years ago we lived in Hinton and would make several round trips to Calgary each year. We would take the Icefield Parkway
both ways irregardless of the season, and would always notice something different. I wouldn't hesitate to do it both ways.

[pianotuna]

Another little tidbit. The Petrocan gas station at Lake Louise is often 5 or 6 cents cheaper per liter for fuel (gas in my case), than the Husky station. That works out to about 20 cents cheaper per US gallon.


Fuel in B.C. is a LOT more expensive.

[SideHillSoup]

Don’t take Hwys 5 or 16, for my other reasons including the ones listed above.
Take Hwy 1 east from Vancouver to Hope, then take Hwy 3 east from Hope to Osoyoos.
From Osoyoos take Hwy 97 north through the Okanogon Valley ( wine country) to just north of Enderby then Take Hwy 97-A to Sicamous where you again join up with Hwy 1 east.
Follow Hwy 1 through Revelstoke over Rogers Pass and on to Golden and over Kicking Horse Pass and to Lake Louise.
Now I differ from a lot of people where I love driving the Ice Field parkways between Lake Louise and Jasper in both directions. You will see stuff on the return trip that you wont see on the way up. It is one of the most beautiful drives anywhere and should be seen going both directions.
Also there isn’t a main Hwy in BC or Alberta that you won’t fit on comfortably. There are hills (mountain passes) all over BC, so don’t be surprised.
There are a lot of other routes that you could take to get to the Alberta Rockies other than the one I suggested, which is by far more scenic than Hwy 5 period.
If you want to hear about another route to get across southern B.C., which has far less traffic the route I suggest, and has, mountain lakes, river valleys, creeks and mountain the entire route, let me know.
Enjoy what ever you decide to do.
Soup.

[trigley]

1 Labour Day is also a holiday in Canada. We just spell it different.;)
It will be quieter than the peak period but still can be quite busy, particularly if the weather is decent. This year was cool and wet.
Jasper will be an issue with Whistlers closed. As others have said you might consider Mount Robson or Hinton.
Larch trees turn colour in Sept and this can draw a lot of people to the Lake Louise area, particularly on a nice weekend.
2 Taking highway 1 to 5 leaves 2 options. Hope or Kamloops. Taking highway 5 from Hope takes you over the Coquihalla which BarabooBob described. Continuing on #1 to Kamloops avoids the big hills and adds at least 90 minutes (by car). It is not the road the
Coquihalla is, has more bends as it follows the Fraser Canyon, but is still a decent highway.
As others have said Highway 5 is less scenic overall but does make a significant time and mileage difference.
3 & 4 Jasper and Banff campground information is attached. Restricted generator hours are on the Jasper website.
If you want to stay between Jasper and Lake Louise you have can park at the Icefields parking lot or possibly you could exit the Parks on highway 11 and stay at the David Thompson Resort
I said possibly because I don't know their closing date.

[obgraham]

In my recent experience, Jasper/Lake Louise was quite busy in September, and I expect that right after Labor Day will still be busy. I would try to be sure you have reservations.
We could not get a Res in Jasper when we wanted, but quite enjoyed Mt Robson Provincial Park, a huge CG just outside Jasper to the west. Spacious sites and hookups available.
I agree that Hwy 5 is pretty boring, but sometimes you go where you need to. At least you are taking the Icefields back down south. We had planned to stop at Wilcox Creek, halfway down Icefields Parkway, but there was a couple of feet of snow on everything there, in September! (Wilcox Creek is not suitable for a 45 footer!)

[Orion]

I would definitely not take Hwy 5 between Kamloops and Jasper as much of it is SO boring. Instead go up to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway and return on the same road.
It one of the world's most scenic roads, it looks different from the opposite direction, and you double your chances of seeing it in good weather.
It is well worth doing it twice!