Need advice on Canada to Alaska route

[Son_of_Diablo]

We are planning our first RV trip to Alaska, leaving Wisconsin 5/20/15. I just need to know if this route is safe and what kind of mountain grades and low clearances I should expect.
We plan on crossing into Canada at Carway, AB, take Route 2 to Calgary.
Then take Route 1 Trans Canada to Lake Louise, AB.
Then take Route 93 to Jasper.
Then head west on Route 16 Yellowhead Hwy to Prince George, BC.
Then continue on Route 16 to our group meeting point at Hazelton, BC.

We will be towing a 36 ft 5er toy hauler, with an F350 dually gasser.
Uphill grades will be a challenge for the gasser.

[prstlk]

X 2 on milepost for all the choices. Keep the tank 1/2 full daylight travel watch for critters all major road are good. Watch for frost heaves ice field hwy nw will require new fillings.:) We left n idaho may 20th staying in Prince George t nite then on to Dawson


??

[explorenorth]

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:
From Stewart you can also walk (or drive--take the toad not the rig) to Hyder Alaska. If you are daring (or crazy) you can get Hyderized.

In the old days, the was a frozen human toe in the glass but for some reason they aren't allowed to do that any more!

Note that there is NO U.S. Border station here. Coming back into Stewart (Canada) there is. Or at least that was the case when we did the trip some years ago.

You're thinking of the Sourtoe Cocktail in Dawson City - which still uses a salted toe. Hyderization never did - I lived in Stewart in 1975 and have been going back fairly regularly ever since.

There is still no US border station there.

Murray

[tralertrash]

we came this route just a week ago. the cassiar has some difficult roads at the north end. just take your time and you will be fine. the regular rv parks were not open at the junction w the ak hwy, had to go into Watson lake at the downtown park to stay. good luck

[Canadian_Rainbi]

No problems. After Hazelton I presume that you are going west then north on the 37 to the Yukon. A detour to Stewart BC is worth a drive. From Stewart you can also walk (or drive--take the toad not the rig) to Hyder Alaska. If you are daring (or crazy) you can get Hyderized.

In the old days, the was a frozen human toe in the glass but for some reason they aren't allowed to do that any more!

Note that there is NO U.S. Border station here. Coming back into Stewart (Canada) there is. Or at least that was the case when we did the trip some years ago.

Here is a link to our blog describing Alaska and Round North America trip in 2010.

Have a great time.

[Uncle_Rj]

From the AB border to Jasper, your only concern regarding grade would be on Hwy 93 between Lake Louise and Jasper. There is a long steep climb just north of Saskatchewan River Crossing. Go in to Google Earth and check out the switchback a few miles north. There are a couple of other climbs/descents but none like that one.

I can not comment on the roads past Jasper.

[garyhaupt]

Your planned routing is great. There is traffic in the Calgary area, but that is really the only pinch point. There are hills to be driven, but none of them will concern you. You go up them...you come down them. There are no low overhead concerns. The volume of big trucks and large RV traffic denotes that.

Just a note....just before Hazelton is Smithers. You can overnight in the Safeway lot, on the right, no charge and the Wholesale Food store about a block before that, also on the right, is a great stocking up place.

Where in Hazelton are you meeting?


on edit..I forgot..you asked about safe. Are you asking about personal safety or road safety? I want to say...no need to worry, but I am guessing that that really does not address your concerns. As far as road safety...drive like your life depended on it. There are fools everywhere. The best tip you can follow is to take your time. People that hurry put themselves at risk. Of missing good stuff.

If you asking about personal safety...check the CDN regs about what you can and cannot have in your RV. Ask questions..phone the border people, don't guess. Otherwise, you have to camp and travel using your own best judgement. I never ever use campgrounds..I am the guy up a side road, or in a parking lot. I don't carry anything except a smile and a handshake. Never had a problem here or in the US. But..everyone is different. Ask a specific question..you'll get your answers.


Gary Haupt

[scrubjaysnest]

Get a Mile Post and read it cover to cover. We did that before our Alaska trip in 2010 and it was a great help. The different visitor centers through out Canada can give you road conditions.

[answerswillvary]

Moved to RVing in Canada from Roads and Routes

[2gypsies1]

RE: Uphill grades.....your whole trip up to Alaska will have some....not real biggies but it's definitely not flat.

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[stickdog]

We entered CA at Sweetgrass Mt so I can't help there, we did take the trip through Bamff NP and up through the Icefield Parkway there is only one long pull that slowed us down that's right before the Visitors Center.
Hope you have better weather than we had rain, snow, and fog. We didn't see much, maybe next time. Watch out for the Elk at Jasper they cross where they want to.

[GordonThree]

What do mean by "safe"?