We’ve fairly well exhausted the PNW (other than for a few days at the coast) and two extended trips to the Southwest US has pretty much exhausted us on that part of the country.
We’re now casting our eye northward to the western provinces of our neighbor. Before continuing, I’ll say the following:
*I’ve been over the Alcan three times, including twice as an adult.
*We’ve driven the Dempster to Inuvik.
*We’ve visited both Vancouver and Victoria.
*We will likely not be venturing east of Glacier.
*We have not spent much quality sightseeing time in Canada, despite our highway travels.
*Our time is our own, and we have no problem with spending a month on the road.
*We have passports and are aware of pet and firearm restrictions.
*No requirement for hotels.
Canada is celebrating 150 years of their park system, so entry is free this year. Seems like a good time to see the sights, like Banff, Jasper, Glacier, etc. I’ve considered the Cassiar Highway, but probably not on this trip.
Questions:
*What time of year is generally best to visit in terms of tourist density and weather?
*Are campground reservations difficult to get in the summer/early fall?
*Given the parks mentioned above and other possible options, can you prioritize them in what you feel would be a logical order, and what could be skipped?
*Anything to avoid?
Banff is always busy but it will be insane this summer as will most of the National Parks. Reserve your spots now, they go fast despite the plethora of sites. Hit Banff during the Calgary Stampede (July 7-16) as the crowds are diminished at that time.
Parks Canada is your friend here as you plan and reserve.
I prefer Jasper as it is a bit more rugged and less touristy.
Sites to see around the Rockies:
Around Banff: Paint Pots, Radium Hot Springs, dinner/ one night stay at Storm Mountain Lodge, Banff Park Museum. Sulfur Mountain hike (You can take the gondola up and/or down but it usually quite busy), Grizzly House in the Banff townsite for fondue/hot rock dinner.
Jasper: Mt Edith Cavell , Gondola ride, Miette Hot Springs, Sunwapta Falls, Dinner at Oka Sushi (Best sushi I have ever had) in the Jasper Park Lodge.
Waterton: Prince of Wales Hotel and Lake Waterton tour (Very American friendly) , Waterton townsite is a quaint walkabout.
Lake Louise: Good for a walk around and maybe the glacier tour. I’ve never done it though my wife has. I’m not good with line ups.
I’d start at Jasper and make my way down the ice-field parkway. A day trip to Radium/ Storm mtn off Hwy 63 and then Banff. Waterton is beautiful and if you’re a photographer you’ll fill an SD card with shots that would make Ansel Adams proud. I’ll answer any questions as best I can.
A day trip to Canmore or Calgary is worthwhile as well.
Seconding that you’d better reserve asap. It can be hard to get a good site at the best of times, and this year it will be particularly hard to get into the National Parks.
Yeah I’m going to concur with the plan and book now crowd. I would also agree that Banff during the Stampede is a fairly low season however keep in mind that this year it’s only a week after the actual 150th birthday so that’s going to keep things a little nuts.
Banff is lovely year round with the hot springs and lots of wintery stuff to do so if you’re not as addicted to warm weather an earlier visit could get you lower crowds. May and June are wildly diverse in weather but since you’ve got the option of a longer visit that might be a good time for a visit.
Lake Louise is beautiful, if you’re a photographer it’s a must see early morning activity before people disturb the serenity.
Also if you’re doing a day trip out of the mountains on the eastern side a must visit is Cochrane Alberta, if for no other reason - for ice cream.
If you’re looking for a longer trip in that direction, Drumheller for the Dinosaur park, the Calgary Zoo is a particularly nice one and just walking along the park system along the Bow River is a lovely way to spend a day. I’d also say that even though I’m not a crowd fan, a one day visit during stampede for a pancake breakfast (not great food hilarious atmosphere) and to watch a chuck wagon race is not a bad idea either. People are nuts but happy so crowd watching during Stampede is a fun experience.
I know Waterton quite well, as it is my “local” park, and I go fairly often.
Waterton is often called “Banff without the tourists,” but in summer, it may be best to think of it as “Banff with slightly fewer tourists.” Parking in the townsite can be difficult in summer, but the town is small enough that once you find a place to park, you can walk all over it easily. It is a nice little town, with interesting restaurants and shops, plenty of places to picnic, and it also has a campground. As everyone else has said, reservations are best made early. Deer are a common sight in the town, and I’ve even seen bighorn sheep in it once or twice.
The Prince of Wales is worth a look. Watch your hats, as it is situated on an often-windy bluff, and parking is limited, so you may have a walk to the building through the wind. It features a dining room, a pub, and afternoon tea overlooking the lake, but if you don’t feel like those, the lobby with its soaring ceiling and artifacts and pictures on the walls is still worth seeing. It is one of those grand old railway mountain hotels (the only one in the Canadian Rockies that was not built by a Canadian railway, interestingly).
One of my favourite places to go in Waterton is Cameron Lake. The road is winding, but I’ve seen more than a few grizzly bears along it–keep your camera handy. There are a number of hiking trails along the road, and at the lake; and they are for all abilities, ranging from “long and difficult” to “short and easy.”
If you want to try to stick to this summer but avoid the crowds, just don’t book in national parks (there are loads of others) and try some of the more off-the-beaten-path ideas here (like, if you don’t want to face the crowds at the Stampede, Red Deer’s Westerner Days is much smaller but also a fun event.)
I appreciate the comment. We’re not big on crowds, nor rodeos (we went to the Pendleton Roundup: meh). More out of the way places that are photogenic are more to my liking. We may have to give the Cassiar a go after all.
, Waterton townsite is a quaint walkabout.