hi...going to glacier and then waterton...then up the trans=canadian highway possible to jasper...but need some help. years ago i did this trip alone in my vanagon and had no problems getting around. however, this time in class c 25' subaru outback towed and husband. i thought perhaps we should find a nice cammpground and leave the camper and take the car on day trips...ice fields. banff, lake louise, perhaps jasper. WHERE TO STAY that would give us good access to all of that. accepting all ideas and suggestions and past experiences. thanks so much.
We live in Rocky Mtn. House which is about 2 hrs from Calgary, Banff, Lake Louise. Camping somewhere around Banff and doing a day trip to L.L. is a good idea however if you have a lot of time keep your camper with you as there are lots of things to do in each location. If you are heading up #93 (Banff/Jasper highway) definitley keep your camper as there are many stops along the way. You wont have any trouble with 25' C. We have a 39' A and wouldn't think twice about taking it. Google "Tourism Alberta" for lots of good info.
Have a great time.
Garth
We visited the Canadian Rockies last year and stayed in four different campgrounds: Bow Valley Provincial Park, Lake Louise (Banff), Wilcox Creek (Jasper) and Whistlers (Jasper). With the exception of a single night in Wilcox, we spent numerous days in each allowing us to visit many different areas of each park without moving too often. The distances are too great to see very much without being based out of several different areas.
If you want to park the camper and drive, I think the Lake Louise campground would be a good choice as it is fairly central, easy day trips to the most popular sights anyway. Jasper would be a long day trip but do-able.
While you could do what you suggest out of Lake Louise a day trip to Jasper does not do it justice. Take your class C and spend your time on shorter trips and sightseeing.
Someone mentioned the Kananaskis. You could go up highway 22 and cut across at Longview to #40. Very nice drive. If you are going in the next few days just make sure #40 is open as it is seasonal.
GeeksRUs wrote: After you leave Waterton, don't miss going to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, a World Heritage Site. http://www.head-smashed-in.com/
+1 on that,we really came to know how sacred the Indians view the land they live on and the animals they hunt and how in tune they were with the environment ,fascinating place.
"Second star to the right, and straight on till morning."
There are many nice campgrounds in Banff and probably Jasper as well. There was also a nice little campground in Okotoks (south of Calgary). Don't recall the name though. While in Banff, I'd stop at Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnson falls, HooDoo's, the gondola in Banff was neat as well. Think we saw more wildlife near Johnson falls or over by Two Jacks Lake.
Big Sky Garden Railway in Nanton has a pretty neat outdoor model train display.
Highway 40 from Longview to Kananaskis opens June l5 -- we tried to do it last weekend and had to go the long way around. Caution: we were lucky to get a spot at Mt Kidd RV park as it was a Sunday evening but they said they are all booked up for every weekend in July and August and I assume once school is out later in June, it will also be booked on weekdays.
We are leaving for Banff / Jasper july 2, traveling in the world's smallest class c style rv (Tiger XL , Chevy Astro Van chassis). We don't usually need hookups , we like rustic or remote spots, but we don't have awd or 4x4.
We do have : 200w solar, 2 golf cart 210ah batteries, 1kw inverter, 12v Vitrifrigo compressor fridge,50 amp battery charger, cassette toilet , fantastic fan , and are self contained with shower.etc. We have dash and a furnace, Travasak and extra down comforter.
We have passports and a Canada Insurance card, drivers licenses and current registration, we don't drink , smoke cigs or anything else, don't own guns , have no pepper spray or tasers or flare guns etc.
Arizona plates, we travel at 55mph / 90 kph max steady speed and show courtesy to truckers and faster moving vehicles.
We have a CB and 150w linear , cell phones (but havent set up service for Canada - maybe buy a pre pay phone up there?) , one phone is an iphone and we will have one Mac laptop - so I could get a usb wireless connection device .
We don't need constant internet but would like to check email at least once a day.
I have Tmobile wireless hotspot service for short range wifi.
We like to hike, ride road bicycles, take pictures, and when the conditions are right, I've been known to slap on my speed inline skates to get in some road miles.
Our tentative plan:
Arrive in Banff (or Calgary) about july 7 , 1 week around Banff / Jasper , slide over to Vancouver Island, slide down to the San Juans on a Canadian ferry (my experience is the Canadian ferries are nicer, the food is better), and then down the coast .
We think about 2 or so weeks in Canada
Looking for advice, input, suggestions from friendly Canadians or Canada savvy Yanks.
Our rig is 9 ft tall, 16 ft long, 78 inches wide, 6000 lbs , regular gas 16mpg average.
Lived and traveled extensively overseas, last off shore trip was 2 months rv rental in Europe in 2007 - 2/3 of the time we drycamped (free, not paid spots)
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