Yoho - Banff - Jasper Late September - Reservations ???

....from observation, dump stations and potable water at the campgrounds are accessible and are pretty good about it.

My experience for September 2011, 2012, and 2013 in the area pretty much matches up with previous posts.....

All campgrounds I stayed at were no reservations no problem :

2011 - Lake Louise (elec hookups) two consecutive days
2011 - Whistlers (no hookups)


2012 - Tunnel Mountain I (no hookups)
2012 - Lake Louise (elec hookups)
2012 - Whistlers (no hookups)


2013 - Columbia Glacier (no hookups)
2013 - Tunnel Mountain I (no hookups)
2013 - Two Jack Main (no hookups)


Footnotes :

Whistlers (elec hookup) sites were full in 2011, 2012, and 2013

Tunnel Mountain II (elec hookup) sites were available in 2012 (which I declined), but sites were full in 2013

Tunnel Mountain III (full hookup) sites were full and or closed in 2011 2012 2013 if my memory serves right

Two Jack Lake sites were full in 2013....Two Jack Main was open final day of season before closing (only three sites were occupied including me)


So in other words, (other than Lake Louise campground with plenty of elec hookup sites readily available) for those that really need electric hookups elsewhere where campgrounds remain open during September...then I would recommend reservations.

We’re hoping to head that direction about that time. Are parks pretty good about letting you use the dump stations and filling drinking water? Don’t mind paying for it, just may need to use.

You will not have any problems finding space at Kickinghorse CG at that time of year, just be sure to arrive early in the day. I'm from Calgary and have been there dozens of times and have been Campground Host there for Parks Canada several times. There are hot showers, potable water and a dump station at this campground. At that time of year I like to camp in the big open meadow rather than in the trees to get some sun. The sites around the outside of the meadow have firepits but not the ones in the middle of the field.
Kickinghorse Campground info

Sorry to disagree with some of the other posters, but our experience was definitely not the same!!!!

Spent 3 weeks in BC and the Parks in Sept/Oct 2015. Lots of parks were closed after Labor Day, both the Nat Parks and the Provincial. We were able to find spots for every stop we made, but wasn't easy!! It was a beautiful fall, lots of colors, and lots of rental Class C's running around!! Many Europeans, many (can I say it??) orientals, a couple of caravans, and many private units!! It was very busy, a real zoo!!

Didn't make any reservations at any parks ahead of time, had to take what we found. Got a couple of nights at Redstreak NP, (only one loop open), found a couple of nights at Johnston Canyon near Banff (same, only one loop avail!!), only could get one night at Whistlers near Jasper (but fully open!!), and got a couple of nights at Wapiti open lot with elec (again, partially open!!). Rest of trip was in Provincial parks (that were open!!).

Hopefully you won't find it as busy as we did, but I'd be prepared!!! We were somewhat limited by our length (34ft trailer) and first trip up there, so we could only play it by ear!!

I live in Calgary and starting September it will be easy to go without reservations. My favour time of year to RV.

We spent the second and third week of September in the Canadian Rockies-- no reservations -- no problems. But we were almost exclusively dry camping -- no hookups.

TenOC: Your photos are beautiful!!!

When we went it was early to mid September. Tunnel Mountain was full, had to go to Two Jack Lake. That was full, but got a site at Two Jack Main. No problem in getting a site at Lake Louise, but Jasper - Whistler's full hookup section was full and dry sites were plenty. So it depends on what you are looking for.

We Did that trip starting Sept 14th 2017 There was no problem getting sites without reserving. Most campgrounds close at the end of Sept.