On our trip to Alaska with our 28'5er, we plan on arriving via Rte 2 from NY in early/mid June. Would like to visit the 3 parks, spending a week to 10 days before heading for the AK hiway. Any suggestions on routes & campgrounds? And, are reservations necessary in June? Thanks.
We were not able to visit Glacier in June (road closed by snow) but did enjoy Banff and Jasper. See our trip log for more info.
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2004 Ford 350 Super Duty 2W Dirve Long Bed PU
2008 327RLT Montana Mountaineer 35 ft. 5th wheel 2005 Alaska and other Trip Logs
Make your tally of National Parks 5 by going from Glacier (east side) north into Alberta to Waterton N.P. and then from Banff NP - Lake Louise cg ( this cg is the most central from which to explore) take a day tour of Yoho NP - Emerald lake and Takkakaw falls at least.
Coming out of Waterton, at Pincher Creek go west about 5 miles and north on Highway 22 to Cochrane and west on #1 (the Trans Canada Highway). Or turn at Logview on #40 to tour through Kananskis Country to hook up with the TCH.
Yes - be prepared for some lesser road closures (as in not-yet-cleared) for snow in June anywhere in the Rocky Mountain west.
PM me anytime forr more detail.
If you want to see the best part of Canada's mounatin parks, follow this route:
- coming in from the south, crossing at the Cheif Mountain Border crossing (North on Interstate #89 thru Babb, MT, then turn left (heading NW) to the border on Highway #17. Once you cross the border, you can check out the Glacier NP (US side) and Waterton NP (Canada side). Both are beautiful.
- Next, go north thru Pincher Creek, AB on Hwy #6. Then turn left onto Hwy #3 (Crowsnest HWY) and go thru the Crowsnest Pass area many amazing things to see including Frank Slide/Turtle Mountain. Then go north on Hwy #22 to Longview, turn left onto hwy #541 and go north thru Kananaskis Country (incredible scenery) on Hwy #40.
- Hwy #40 dead ends at Hwy #1 (TransCanada Hwy) where you turn left (west) toward Banff. You can check out Banff, then go north on hwy #93 (Icefields Parkway - more incredible scenery - trust me), where you can ride in a "monster truck bus" and drive out onto a glacier. Once you get to Jasper, you're on your own to go north from there as I'm not as familiar with the area north of Jasper.
If you follow the route I've described, you'll see the best of the Rockies in Canada.
Have fun.
TT is a 2004 Cougar 301 BHS -- (6580# Dry, 9000# wet)
TV is a 2002 Dodge CTD 2500HD 4x4 w/3.55
Being replaced by a: 2007 Dodge/5.9L Cummins 3500 SRW Megacab 4x4/3.73 PICTURES
ELIM 3000 Gen
Collision Reconstructionist
The above mentioned routes are indeed spectacular.
BEWARE: HIGHWAY 40 THROUGH HIGHWOOD PASS IS CLOSED FROM DEC 1 to JUNE 15 EACH YEAR. I am not certain but I don't remember any signage until you get to the winter gate and then you must backtrack to #22 at Longview or # 1 depending on your direction of travel.
That being said, it is our favourite way to access the mountains from the east.
Have a safe and enjoyable trip.
Brenda
Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.
cruiserjs, i am planning on the same route you described in July.
I have a 41' MH pulling a 16' toad (pl see signature).
Is this combo going to be a problem while driving thru the described
route?
There are some steep grades in the route I posted (I've driven it all with my combo). I did wish I had an exhaust brake a time or two, bet I got the brakes pretty hot.
On hwy #40 through from Longview to Kananaskis is the Highwood Pass. This is the highest elevation of any paved road in Canada at ~7200'. There would be some challenging grades for a rig that big, but none are much more than 10%. I think the Highwood pass is 7% for 3 miles or so.
ib516, although i have an exhaust brake on a cummins ISC 330, i weigh rather heavy at 33000 lbs (loaded MH) + 4250 lbs (toad). I guess i have to make sure my water tanks are all empty and any junk i carry is being hauled by the toad (it can take another 1000lbs) and drive SLooooWLY....
Highwood pass is a very good highway. Not crowded with wide lanes with and plenty of pulloffs The emergency lane is continuous and wide along the highway. It's very beatuiful.
It was kind of disappointing to me since I love a huge challenge of a monster mountain highway. The challenge never happened because it was easy. But it was very very very beautiful. I've been all over the Canadian rocks and love this area. No park entrance fees, great camping etc.
caymann wrote: ib516, although i have an exhaust brake on a cummins ISC 330, i weigh rather heavy at 33000 lbs (loaded MH) + 4250 lbs (toad). I guess i have to make sure my water tanks are all empty and any junk i carry is being hauled by the toad (it can take another 1000lbs) and drive SLooooWLY....
what was your typical speed going up/coming down?
The Highwood Pass and the highway north and south of it is all hills. You're either going up or down. It runs right through the mounatins. The steeper/more challenging grades though, were between Banff and Jasper on the Icefields Parkway. I got down to 45 mph or so a few times. I had to back out of the throttle due to rising EGT as my Cummins is modified. I had the temp gauge up to 212*F or so a few times too with the cooling fan roaring away. I run at about 18,500 - 19,000# GCW.
Even if you have to take it slow, its well worth the drive. The only stretch of paved road I have ever been on that compares to those two for extreme "heaven like" scenery is the "Going to the Sun Road" in Glacier NP in the USA (Montana).
The steepest/most challenging pull for me was the twisty, pedestrian lined (on that busy day) hill to Lake Louise. It even has a sign at the bottom warning that it is so steep and twisty that "oversized vehicles" may want to turn around at the bottom and not attempt it. I made it, but it was a tug. My trans got to 250* as it was a very slow climb due to sharp turns, steep grades, and cars and people lining the roadside. My TT/TV combo has got to be 60' long if it's a foot. TT is 34', truck is a long box and is right around 21', then I have the hitch length and a bike rack on the back of the TT.
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