Hi,
We will be leaving NJ for Alaska on June 8. We want to visit Glacier NP and Banff/Lake Louise/Jasper on our way, mid-June. A couple of nights at each, with a 38' DP w/toad. 2 adults, no kids, prefer hook ups but can do w/out. We will arrive from the east.
Can we make 1 cg as a home base for Banff/Lake Louise/Jasper, or would you suggest moving?
Do you suggest reservations?
Any idea when Going to the Sun road will be open in Glacier? We will probably arrive around June 15 or so. Will the "going to the sun" bus be running in June?
Thanks for any and all help!!!! Kathy
'02 KOUNTRY STAR DP
'04 PT CRUISER INFERNO RED
LUCKY THE TRAVELIN'BLACK CAT
KOA in Glacier is wonderful and not like any other KOA I have stayed at. It is well off the road in a beautiful wooded setting with lots of grass and open space. Pool and facilities are very nice, and it is very quiet at this campsite. Views of mountains from certain locations in the park. The Going to the Sun Road shuttle picks up at the office, and is the only park that has that feature. GTS Road opens in June. Check with NPS for exact date. Enjoy your stay it is a great part of the country, and very scenic even getting there.
IMHO the best 'central" spot for enjoying Banff National Park is the lake Louise cg. From there it is easy to go back to the Banff town (if you need to) and enjoy Lake Minnewanka circle, Highway 1A back to banff (Bow River parkway), Yoho N.P. and of course the Icefields Parkway to Jasper takes off right there.
Other special sights from L.louise - Moraine lake, the Chairlift, of course the actual Lake Louise and jus over the hillin Yoho - Emarald lake and Takkakaw falls.
PM me anytime for more details/info. L.Louise cg requires reservations virtually all summer long!
John
We enjoyed Tunnel Mountain Campground in Banff, but I agree Lake Louise may be more centrally located. I have no knowledge of it, so can't comment on quality. Jasper is too far away to visit from Banff or Lake Louise, so move there in the MH. We also stayed in the NP there, at Whistler Campground. They have hook-ups but no reservations. We have stayed one night in dry camp area, then were in line early the next day to get into a hook-up site. It's a lovely park, and Jasper is wonderful. Lots of scenery and wildlife nearby. We've never failed to see bears around there, and the elk take over the sidewalk downtown.
Not sure how you plan to go to Alaska, but I'd suggest going up on the AlCan Highway and coming back via the Cassiar Highway. Gives you different scenery and, best of all, a chance to stop in one of the quirkiest and most interesting places around...Hyder, AK. In July/Aug, the salmon are returning to spawn in Fish Creek. This brings in bears and eagles by the droves, and the Forest Service has a boardwalk that allows you to safely get very close. Amazing experience. Also near Hyder, some of the prettiest glaciers anywhere. (I want to go back.)
The opening of GTTS Road depends on snow volume. It is sometimes late June or even July. Check the Glacier web site for status. If it's open, the shuttles will be running. It will surely be open part way by 6/15. Don't forget to visit Two Medicine Valley, Many Glacier Valley and Waterton Lakes NP in Canada. All of these are more convenient to reach from the KOA, as opposed to the west side of Glacier.
In Glacier you will have two sides to choose from. We stay at the KOA on the east side and North American on the west side - the KOA on the west side is probably the best there but they are WAY overpriced.
We love Tunnel Mountain in Banff. Whistler taking reservations?! Great news!
Be prepared in Canada - we love it but prices for fuel and food will be about 30% or more higher.
Be safe.
Lauren - DW Barbara - "Aussie" Terrier, Sadie
2006 Mobile Suites 32TK3 with TrailAir
2006 Chev 3500 3LT Ext Cab 4x4 360HP Dmax 6 Spd Allie
Just an FYI... Whistler (British Columbia) is approx. 750 miles from Banff National Park (Alberta)
I can recommend Tunnel Mountain or even Bow Valley. They both have hook-ups (not waste though).
The drive through the Rockies is truely amazing. Even though I have lived here for 20 years it never ceases to amaze me when traveling through them. I lived in Colorado for 5 years and loved the Rockies there but the maountains in Banff and Jasper just seem bigger. I guess its ebcasue you drive through the Colorado Rockies at 5-6,000 feet and through the Alberta Rockies at 2-3,000 feet.
In any case, watch out for shopping in Banff, VERY expensive. Also, please, please, please watch out for the Elk, they can do some damage! I know! If there is a bull with a few cows around stay WAY clear, they see almost anything as a threat to their harem. Given the time of year you are coming through as well, there should be a lot of bear out and we have had a bad run with the Cougars lately too.
As far as diesel prices go, you can expect to pay approx. $1.27 a liter ($4.94 CDN$ or $5.04 US$ per gallon) as of today. The Canadian Media is aniticpating regular gas to be $5.84 US / Gal. by the summer, diesel around $6.00 a gallon.
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