Seattle to Banff Campsites, advice?

I would not recommend Rosbury PP for camping, there are a lot of other campground close by that are either Provincal Parks or Private that are far nicer.
It is in a heavily wooded area next to Wilson creek and Hwy 6. Although it is a nice little campground it doesn't get much if any sunlight. Also because of the long straight streach outside the campground on Hwy 6 you get a lot of motorcyle noise car noice and transport truck noise. It is one of the longest and best areas to pass slower vehicles. Hwy 3-A from Creston to Balfour then Hwy 31 to Kaslo then Hwy 31-A to New Denver and then Hwy 6 to Vernon is classed as one of the top 10 motorcycle rides in North America. Hundreds of mortocyles now thatbroute every day, somit really doesn't matter where you stay alongbthat route your going to hear them, however because of that long straight stretch,,,, and the windy roads leading up to it..... it gets load!
They have been cutting back some trees the last few years but it is still dark, and if it is cloudy, it will stay on the cold side of cool all day.
Others will like it however It is probably our least favorite campground around here.
Soup

Here are a handful of pictures taken during September 2012 thru the Kootenays along the routes of BC Hwys 6, 31a, 31, 3a and 3 that were recently mentioned ....I will just focus on the New Denver to Creston stretches here :

Rosebery Provincial Park - around 5 miles north of New Denver -
Real nice peaceful park along Wilson Creek :



Crossroads of BC Hwy 6 at BC Hwy 31a in New Denver :



BC Hwy 31a - the west portion of this route on the New Denver side is more on the windy and banked surfaced to give one an idea :



BC Hwy 31a - Showing the mountain peaks surrounding thru the area :



BC Hwy 31a - Robb Creek and trail bridge :




BC Hwy 31 - South of Kaslo near Ainsworth Hot springs....route follows along the west shore of Kootenay Lake :



Balfour Ferry Terminal Dock :



Driving onto the Osprey 2000 BC Ferry :



Leaving Balfour Terminal - entering Kootenay Lake :



Kootenay Lake - overlooking Balfour shore area :



Kootenay Bay Ferry Terminal Dock - total ferry route was around 30 minutes time :



BC Hwy 3a - Route follows the east shore of Kootenay Lake :





BC Hwy 3 - west end of Canyon St. in Creston :



I too would recommend this route for the leasure RV'er thru the Kootenays.

Lots of good advice so far, but I would like to add a few comments. Depending on where you enter Canada, Highway 3 has several passes on it. There is a fairly good climb out of Osoyoos going east to the interior plateau. There is another climb out of Christina Lake and a good downhill into Castlegar. You can choose there to go east through Nelson, and cross Kootenay Lake on the ferry. Should you choose this option, there are no more passes until entering Kootenay Park at Radium. Highly recommend staying at Kokanee Provincial Park west of Nelson. Shouldn't be issues with getting campsites in Sept. after Labour Day.
Should you choose at Castlegar to bypass the ferry route, there is another pass out of Castlegar over to Salmo, then Kootenay Pass south of Salmo. In hot weather, Kootenay Pass takes a toll on a vehicle's cooling system and you want to be sure of your brakes.

My Oh My, some excellent routes and suggestions on the Canada trip. Thanks so much, my itinerary will be so much better with this. I really like the idea of the ferry ride, not just to avoid the Kootenay Pass (tho that's a plus) but just to be doing something unique. Nothing like local knowledge to enhance a trip. Thanks to all!

From west to east up the Salmo / Creston ( Kootenay Pass) is where you need the coolant after the summit it drops fast for about 1 mile of so, and that's where you need the breaks working well. After that as Sue said it is a gradual drop into Creston.
There is also a small campground at Halcyon Hot Springs, as well McDondald Creek PP has a few sites with power now.
Another option is to take Hwy 3-A from Castlegar to the Playmore Jct with 6. Then flow that up to New Denver to the Jct with Hwy 31-A and follow it over to Kaslo down to Balfour, take the ferry across Kootenay Lake down to Creston where you join up again with Hwy 3.
It may be longer and a bit windy, but a heck of a beautiful drive.
Soup.

Make sure your coolant and brakes are in good order for the Salmo-Creston (a.k.a. Kootenay Pass) section of Hwy 3. The road climbs from an elevation of 2000' to 5800' over about 15 miles eastbound, then the descent back to 2000' at Creston is much more casual over a longer distance.

It is scenic and a nice drive; just take your time.

If you enjoy some quieter areas, the trip along Kootenay Lake is nice but would add some miles to your journey. The Slocan Lake and Upper Arrow Lake areas are also pleasant.

SideHill neglected to mention you can camp (power n water) AT the Nakusp Hot Pool..which is kinda neat. You soak..then wander back to your RV for a nap...then go back for more. It is only for the strongest amongst us.


Gary Haupt

A lot of the reservation sections of the BC Parks will close after Labour Day weekend, but the first come sites are usually still open. Most of the campgrounds will pull the plug towards the end of September. however there are a lot of us retired people that ravel I. September which they will stay open for.

At Christina Lake check out the BC Parks campground at Gladstone (Texas Creek) it is up above the lake and the sights are large well shaded.
Maybe think about heading north on Hwy 3-A towards Nelson at Castlegar and check out the many campgrounds on Kootenay Lake,
Also you can take the longest free ferry ride in the world across Kootenay Lake at Balfour and you would pop back out to Hwy-3 at Creston thereby bypassing one of the highest mountain pass open year round in Canada "Kootenay Pass"
Or:
Once at Balfour you can take Hwy 31 to Kaslo and checkout the drydocked paddle wheeler Moyie, and pass Ainsworth Hot Springs on the way. Then take Hwy 31-A over to New Denver and stop at the Ghost town of Sandon which is off to the left on a well mainatained gravel road.
There is a comunity campground on the lake shore of Slocan Lake at New Denver which you shouldn't have a problem getting a site o. The lakes edge during the week in September. There is also a small community campground in Silverton also on the shores of Slocan Lake 2 Kms south on Hwy 6.
After New Denver take Hwy 6 north past Summit Lake to Nakusp. There are two campgrounds at Summit Lake one is a BC Parks campground and the one next tomit is a private campground cLled Three Islands reapportionment. Both are on the shore of the summit lake . Three islands resort do t take credit cards or debit cards, cash only.
There is also a beautiful BC parks campground onnthe shores of Arrow Lakes ( Columbia River) called McDonald Creek Probincal park. Well over 1/2 the campsits are on the lake shore and in the trees. It is 10km south of Nakusp on Hwy 6
There is also the Nakusp Hot Springs you can visit while in Nakusp.
From Nakusp take Hwy 23 north towards Revelstoke. You will cross the Arrow Lakes at Galena Bay / Shelter Bay. All inland ferries in BC are free.
On the way between Nakusp and the Ferry is Halsyon Hot Springs resort. With the pool high above the the Arrow Lakes, quite the view.
From Revelstoke you will join Hwy 1 east to Golden and on to Lake Louise.
A great trip no matter witch way you go,
Soup.

If you decide to stay at the Kimberley Riverside campground there is an extensive network of bike/hike trails right across the road from the campground. The campground office would have a map or could tell you where to find one.

If you camp at the Lake Louise campground, the hikes to the two tea houses are well worthwhile. The teahouses were built by the CPR for their hotel guests but now cater to hikers. The Agnes lake teahouse is closest but if you are a reasonably strong walker you can hike to Agnes lake, up over the beehive and down to the trail to the Plain of Six glaciers teahouse, then back down the trail to Lake Louise. Spectacular hikes with a stop for tea and scones along the way!

Just a thought to check and see if whatever campground you were planning to stay at is going to be open after the middle of September. We went that way and a lot of them had closed for the winter. The one at Midway was open and nice and clean. It has clean showers and is on the river.