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Open Roads Forum > RVing in Canada and Alaska

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zwicky

illinois

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Posted: 04/23/12 09:08pm

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Heading up to Banff area, need some suggestions on must see and do things. So far we will be going to the stampede one day, doing the gondola ride in Banff and probably the hot springs too. Thinking of driving up abit into on the icefields. What do we do while driivng the icefields? Are there places to get out and sightsee or areas to do some small hikes?
Also want to go to Lake Louise but really don't know what to do there? Any suggestions?
where are some areas for good hiking, have kids with us so long hike are probably not going to happen?
Any awesome places to eat?

thanks Jennifer

ReneeG

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Posted: 04/23/12 09:46pm

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Definitely take the tour of Athabasca Glacier at the Icefields Parkway visitor center. It's well with the ride up. When we went, we rode the Banff gondola and the one in Lake Louise which offered a meal along with the ride and it was a good meal too. Take a drive to Kicking Horse Pass to look at the Spiral Tunnels and since you've gone that far, continue on up to Takakaw Falls. At the start of this highway as you exit off Kicking Horse Pass, there's a dry campground that is small, but beautiful.

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paulj

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Posted: 04/23/12 09:49pm

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You can download the park guide that they give you at the park entrance. It describes many hikes, sights, and activities
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/brochures.aspx

eend

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Posted: 04/23/12 09:47pm

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We were just in Banff this past weekend, your best bet is to stay at Tunnel mountain campground, it is huge, you can have serviced sites,non service sites or just power, with a fire pit or without.
There is a bus that runs from the campground to town and it runs every 20 min or so.You can stroll down town Banff and shop, if it is rainy you can visit some of the museums like the White museum.

There are tons of hikes, just visit the Parks Canada info office down town Banff and they will set you up with some good hikes and places that you must see.

As for Lake Louise you can vist the Fairmont Chatau Lake louise, which is a very nice old hotel, overlooking the lake, from there you can hike up to the Agness tea house for tea and some baked goods it is a good hour hike into the mountains.

As for the Columbia Icefields it is a ways from Banff towards Jasper you can drive there either hike up the Icefileds or take one of those monster busses and get a ride up the mountain.

You may be better off staying at the Jasper campground and travel from there towards the Ice fields.

Also from Jasper head towards the west (province of Britsh Columbia)and go to Yoho national park, visit the natural bridge, Moraine lake, and Takakaw falls which is just amazing, stop in to Field for lunch at the Siding general store where they serve great food,all this is maybe an half hour drive from Lake Louise. Here is a link for Banff National park.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit1c.aspx

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RickSo

Alberta,Canada

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Posted: 04/23/12 10:40pm

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zwicky wrote:

Here is a link for Parks Canada reservations if you know the dates you will be in Banff.

Reservations

Tunnel Mountain trailer Park has a lot of closed sites for construction this year. Many good suggestion from other member's above. We go to Banff every May long weekend for the start of our RV'ing season.

Rick
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4*phun*2

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Posted: 04/24/12 05:38am

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Johnson Canyon is an easy hike.

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Tothill

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Posted: 04/24/12 08:03am

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The walk to the back of Lake Louise is almost level and very beautiful. My kids have been doing it since they were toddlers. If you have more energy you can hike up the the Tea House.

The Banff Gondola is worth the time and expense. Remember that the top is on the top of a mountain and there could be snow and ice up there. The last time we went there was a woman in heels trying to walk across the ice.

3 years ago in June the kids and I sat in the pool at the Hot Springs with snow falling on our heads.

Check out the Wild flour Bakery in Banff. Try the waffles for breakfast.

Eating out in Banff tends to be pricey, but the food is good too.

Enjoy your trip.

netjam

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Posted: 04/24/12 08:57am

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Not sure where you are staying in/near Calgary for the stampede. Calgary campgrounds leave a lot to be desired. There are 2 in Cochrane (half hour west) which are good.

zwicky

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Posted: 04/24/12 11:38am

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thanks for all the good suggestions. We are setting up camp in Canmore and plan to drive to some of these places. I think
I might be abit confused on where the icefields are. Can someone help me with that? Jasper is to far to drive for a day trip, will we be able to see some of the icefields just north of Lake Louise? thanks
jen