Canadian Rockies Question

[spot1]

Wanted to know if anyone here has camped or visited the Canadian Rockies? Would like to learn about must see places, favorite campgrounds,
and best time of year to go. A friend recommended that we "must" go.

Information will be appreciated since we want to camp there during 2015.

Thanks,

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/5622/thread" timestamp="1419101012" author="@exploringcarolina"]Wanted to know if anyone here has camped or visited the Canadian Rockies? Would like to learn about must see places, favorite campgrounds,
and best time of year to go. A friend recommended that we "must" go.

Information will be appreciated since we want to camp there during 2015.

Thanks,

[/quote]We just went there in the summer and it was fantastic. We stayed at Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, and Waterton Lakes.

I'd definitely go in the summer as it doesn't even melt out fully until then. Waterton lakes was our favorite and we'll definitely be going back there (hopefully in 2015).

One piece of advice: their reservation system opens block of time a few months ahead of time and staggers them by location. Mark your calendar and set your alarm to book as soon as your desired dates open up because they fill up VERY quickly. Here are a few shots from the trip (we have hundreds more):


[attachment id="532" thumbnail="1"][attachment id="533" thumbnail="1"][attachment id="534" thumbnail="1"]

[spot1]

Tinkeringtechie,

Thanks!

Appreciate the heads up on the reservation system and places to camp. Nice photos, appreciate seeing them!

This will become another western camping adventure for us. Our last western camping adventure was a 4200 mile
trip to Wyoming during September.

[spot1]

Checked the Canadian Information center about camping and they said camping reservations would be accepted for the following campgrounds starting:

Jasper: 4-1-15

Banff: 4-2-15

Lake Louise: 4-2-15

Waterton Lakes: 4-7-15

[gnies]

Hi exploringcarolina, if you want to come to the Canadian East Coast on another trip, the Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick is really nice!  http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nb/kouchibouguac/visit.aspx   and the name of the campground is South Kouchibouguac here is the info about the campground:  http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nb/kouchibouguac/activ/ete-summer/avantpays-frontcountry/southkouch.aspx

[spot1]

Paul,

Thanks for the links!!!!  

Will visit the Canadian Rockies on our first Canadian camping trip during summer 2015 and Kouchibouguac National Park during our 2016 camping trips. Have many places to explore while camping in North America (can't wait).

Just finished installing four new stabilizers on the CampLite this afternoon.

 

[gnies]

[quote timestamp="1419283997" author="@exploringcarolina" source="/post/5645/thread"]Paul,

Thanks for the links!!!!  

Will visit the Canadian Rockies on our first Canadian camping trip during summer 2015 and Kouchibouguac National Park during our 2016 camping trips. Have many places to explore while camping in North America (can't wait).

Just finished installing four new stabilizers on the CampLite this afternoon.

 [/quote]
Let me know when you go to Kouchibouguac as I live 1 hour from there and could try to go at the same time to do a meetup   I go to that Park 3-4 times each year

[spot1]

[quote source="/post/5651/thread" timestamp="1419342295" author="@paul"][quote source="/post/5645/thread" timestamp="1419283997" author="@exploringcarolina"]Paul,

Thanks for the links!!!!  

Will visit the Canadian Rockies on our first Canadian camping trip during summer 2015 and Kouchibouguac National Park during our 2016 camping trips. Have many places to explore while camping in North America (can't wait).

Just finished installing four new stabilizers on the CampLite this afternoon.

 [/quote]Let me know when you go to Kouchibouguac as I live 1 hour from there and could try to go at the same time to do a meetup   I go to that Park 3-4 times each year[/quote]Paul,

Will do!!!!!

May be able to make it there during 2015, will see.

Started planning the route to the Canadian Rockies last night. Try to stay at State Parks & Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds as much as possible in the lower 48. During our last 4200 mile trip, everything worked almost as planned, except for staying at a couple unplanned campgrounds.

[gnies]

[quote source="/post/5653/thread" timestamp="1419346210" author="@exploringcarolina"][quote source="/post/5651/thread" timestamp="1419342295" author="@paul"]Let me know when you go to Kouchibouguac as I live 1 hour from there and could try to go at the same time to do a meetup   I go to that Park 3-4 times each year[/quote]Paul,

Will do!!!!!

May be able to make it there during 2015, will see.

Started planning the route to the Canadian Rockies last night. Try to stay at State Parks & Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds as much as possible in the lower 48. During our last 4200 mile trip, everything worked almost as planned, except for staying at a couple unplanned campgrounds.
[/quote]Sound like a good trip! I never went to the Canadian Rockies either will have to go sometime, maybe when I'll be retired

[david]

Well, I have never camped in the Canadian Rockies, but this might be an interesting story about that area:

Years ago, well many years ago, I made a two week business trip to Canada, starting in Montreal, continuing to Sarnia and winding up in Edmonton. For at least 4 plane legs I carried along a fishing rod because I planned to spend the weekend fishing in the Canadian Rockies during the final weekend. This was mid May.

So from Edmonton I headed my car towards Jasper which is at the northern end of the park. As I got closer it got colder until finally all of the lakes and ponds along the way were frozen. Well no fishing that day obviously.

I stayed in Jasper and explored the country side. Stopped at a magnificent lake surrounded by mountains that was totally frozen. That night I hooked up with a librarian convention in town and had a great time, all G rated of course.

Then I headed south towards Banff. Along the way the road hit a high point and I stopped to walk out to the glaciers. They were right on the side of the road. Further down I stopped at Lake Louise and checked out the magnificent resort built by Canadian Pacific during the late 1800s railroad era.

The scenery along that road is some of the most dramatic I have ever seen in the world. You drive along a valley surrounded by 10,12 and maybe 14,000 foot peaks.

I heard on the radio that Sunshine ski area was still open and it was only a few miles south. When I drove up all I could see was a mostly empty snowless parking lot. I walked up to the gondola and asked where was the snow. The operator said that you got on the gondola and up a couple of thousand feet there is plenty of snow.

So I stayed in Banff that night, bought a pair of gloves and went back to Sunshine the next morning. It was magnificent at the top of the gondola. It really was Sunshine- 40 degrees, sunny and my light jacket and gloves did the job. Had a great day skiing at the only ski area open in North America.

Then back down to Banff and over to Calgary to catch a plane home, with my unused fishing rod still in tow.

It is a long haul from Connecticut but if I lived closer I would go back to camp in a heartbeat.

David

[spot1]

Paul,

We are retired and feel like children in a candy store when exploring all the beautiful places in North America.

David,

That sounds like an adventure. We can't wait to explore some of the areas you mentioned during next July or August.

Took a point & shoot camera to Yellowstone & Grand Tetons and managed to have enough good shots to make a couple calendars.
Will invest in an SLR camera for the Canadian trip. Still have my Canon AE-1 program 35MM camera, but need to bite the bullet
& purchase a nice digital camera.

[sandyu]

Anyone had any experience taking a pet with them across the border.

Plus a totally different question.  Is there a bug issues up there during June and July. I thought misquotes were bad up there during the summers or is that just certain parts of Canada.

[gnies]

[quote source="/post/6152/thread" timestamp="1421894028" author="@kybrowns"]Anyone had any experience taking a pet with them across the border.

Plus a totally different question.  Is there a bug issues up there during June and July. I thought misquotes were bad up there during the summers or is that just certain parts of Canada. [/quote]
For the bugs it's different which area you go and which period of the year and which time of the day, there is a lot of factor, if it rained and it's humid they are usually more. Some cities have program to reduce the quantity of bugs. It's usually more bad when it start to be dark, but usually you are good if you use a bug reppelant with deet. I live in New Brunswick, Canada. But in general it's usually more at night than during the day.

[bobbie56]

We live in Calgary (for over 50 years), so for us, a trip to Banff is a quick weekender. Last year we went up to Jasper (bit more than a weekend, but still a short drive). Waterton been there too (not recently though).

All of these, make a reservation. When, well that depends, I would say late June, early Sept (as this avoids the crowds a bit), but any time in the summer. PS July 1 is "Canada Day" Banff would be the best place to be for that.

Waterton, camping is right inside the town, lots of great natural areas to see. The lake has a great cruise back into the "United States" and with no border crossing, you can even walk across if you want. Just make sure you return.

In Banff, Tunnel Mountain is the camp ground to stay in, you have 3 options:

[ul type="disc"][li]Full hookup[/li][li]Electrical Only[/li][li]Dry[/li][/ul][div]
The full hookup is a nice area, each site is separated by a few trees, but I have not used it in almost 20 years. Electrical Only, parking lot, enough said. Neither of these allow fires.

The Dry was our area of choice, fires (with fire wood included), this is camping!

Things to do / see in Banff: The hot springs, very nice. Gondola also nice, great view, pray for clear weather. And of course the town itself, lots of shops, and things to see.

Lake Louise, there is a campground there, but it is not that big. I would just do a day trip (it's only 1/2 hour from Banff) to see this area.

Next head to Jasper (use the "Parkway") and plan on taking a full day (even though it is only 4 hours away or less). There are just too many things to see along the way. The Columbia Ice Fields and Skywalk being the big ones. The road has a couple of steep sections, just be aware, but not too worried. Weather does play a factor here as it is closed in winter, and at times in spring / fall. Another check mark for mid summer.

Jasper, well from a natural beauty stand point, second to none. There are several campgrounds in the area, Whistler or Wapiti depending on Power / dry. Use that as your base, and a short drive any direction will take you to so many things. The tram, great view from the top of a mountain. Trip to Maligne Lake, great, check out the canyon, and of course the lake is beautiful (perhaps a cruise to Spirit Island). Jasper is also a "Dark Sky Preserve", star gazing is one of your must do's and for that the later part of the summer / early fall are your best choices (as it does not get "dark" around June/early July.

With all of these, wildlife fun is included free of charge, so don't leave things lying around.

A visit is expensive, you have the camping fees as well as the national park pass. Thing to note, buy an annual pass if you will be in the area more that 6 days. There is a reason they say that Banff means "Boy ain't nothing for free!" Mind you the Canadian dollar is now down, so come on up.

More information? Well, just drop me a note, I can help out

As for us, we will be starting the season (in late April or early May, whenever the snow stops (which sometimes is never)) with a Banff trip as that will be our first time there with the 21RBS. After that, we are looking at heading down for a Yellowstone, Grand Canyon "Land Cruise".

[/div]

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/6152/thread" timestamp="1421894028" author="@kybrowns"]Anyone had any experience taking a pet with them across the border.

Plus a totally different question.  Is there a bug issues up there during June and July. I thought misquotes were bad up there during the summers or is that just certain parts of Canada. [/quote]Yeah, we've brought out dog over the border a few times. All you need is a current rabies certificate and you should be set. The Canadian national parks are much more pet friendly than US national parks.

There were some mosquitos, but not too bad.