Every year when my tax refund comes along I like to take a week or so off of work and go on a vacation. This year, as i’ve just moved to the Pacific Northwest, I found myself considering possibly taking a road trip into the western areas of Canada (BC, Alberta, Yukon etc.) and doing some exploring and camping out around the time of the summer solistice. Before I start making any concrete plans, though, I need to know more about travelling in that part of the world, so in my search for knowledge I turn once again to this board for advice.
-What kind of documentation/vaccinations, if any, would I need before crossing the border?
-To save money, I was considering camping out along the way rather than getting hotel rooms, especially if I head out to any of the more remote areas. I know that in remote parts of Alaska you’re allowed to pull off the highway and set up camp where you might - is there anything like that in Canada, or would I have to seek out designated campgrounds?
-I plan on sticking to numbered highways all the way if possible, but I imagine that services must be pretty sparse in some of the more northern areas. What can I expect in the way of that?
-Any recommendations on places to visit/things to see?
Get yourself a copy of The Milepost. It covers all aspects of Alaska and western Canada including camping, roads, restaurants, gas stations, fishing, etc.
If you’re travelling in western Canada one road you should really take is the Icefields Parkway, a North-South road running between Lake Louise and Jasper. It’s a couple hours west of Calgary. The most spectacular views I’ve ever seen, it runs through mountains and glaciers. From October until may there are no services along the route, but it’s only around 250 kilometers, so a full tank will get you end to end easily. I don’t know about camping regulations.
As a US citizen I have always been able to cross the boarder into Canada with just a drivers license, but I usually take my passport with me just in case. If you don’t have a passport your birth cirtificate should work.
4 years ago I drove the Alaskan Hwy from Dawson Creek to Fairbanks. I second getting the milepost book. It’s amazingly accurate and covers all the major roads in the area not just the Alaskan Hwy. There is just too much to see to list them but my favorite was this place in Muncho Lake. they offer photo tours by float plane and you can stay in one of their outpost lodges for the total wilderness experience. Lake Louise is awesome as well.
It will add some time to your trip but I would recommend taking the ferry back. You can get on in Alaska and then take it all the way down the coast. It stops in some beautiful American and Canadian cities and will allow you to see places you couldn’t possibly drive to in one trip.
20 years ago (man that’s a long time), myself and some friend drove from California to Alaska (and around Alaska). So this information may be a bit dated, but I think a lot will still be accurate:
I seem to recall only needing to show a driver’s license when crossing the border. And on other trips to Canada, I only recall having to show ID when I was coming back in to the US.
As to the camping, it seems that once you get about 1/3 of the way through BC (1/3 north of the US border), it’s pretty much camp where-ever you want to. Especially once you get on the Cassiar hwy (alternate to the Al-Can hwy), you can simply pull over where-ever there’s room and camp. I don’t know about the legality. But my impression was that even if there were laws, no one was enforcing them. We pretty much did this all the way through BC and into the Yukon. Should you decide to go that far, this appeard to also be true in Alaska. In some areas there are regular campgrounds, but there are also just a lot of open spots (we spent 3 nights in what would be considered a “pull out” in Alaska when we ran into some car trouble).
Now that it’s all paved, I believe services are not much of a concern on the Al-Can. They were a bit sparse on the Cassiar back in '84, but it was never an issue. It would be helpful to have a gas can along.
Around about 1/3 up BC and all the way into Alaska, the bugs get to be pretty bad (in the summer, at least). The mosquitos start coming out in full force, and there are also these really nasty gnats and no-seeums. Be prepared. Headnets are livesavers. And be sure you have no shortage of DEET. Also make sure your tent doesn’t have any holes, and is equipped with no-seeum proof netting (not just mosquito netting).
As to things to see, there are tons of lakes to stop in at along the way. Lots of great fishing. One place up in the Yukon that comes to mind is Kluane park. This is in the southwest corner of the Yukon, and the park straddles over to the US (in Alaska, it’s the Wrangell-St. Elias park). Very scenic.
If you are into fishing, you’ll be in heaven. Trout, Dolly Varden, and of course, salmon (during the runs). Some of the best tasting trout I’ve ever had. And you just can’t beat fresh caught salmon. But be prepared to pay for some rather expensive fishing licenses. I don’t know if it has changed, but in BC in particular, there’s the basic freshwater license. But then there was this “special waters” add-on permit that pretty much covered any place you’d want to fish ! I seem to recall that the Yukon was a bit more reasonable.
I’d have to dig through my notes to name more specific places. But this should get you started.
Regarding camping, assuming you’re gonna head up around/through the Rockies, you’re going to be in a National Park - you can NOT camp anywhere you want - you’ll have to arrange for a camp ground. That being said, you’ll be able to access the national/provincial campgrounds for a few dollars a night ($12cdn at most, I think), and they’re beautiful - heavily treed, amenities such as a flush toilet, and showers, and you’ll be safe from interference from ner-do-wells, or wild life, which can be a very real problem in the rockies (can anyone say Grizzly bear?)
You don’t need any particular vaccinations, but bug spray is a must - we do generally get a few cases of West Nile in this neck of the woods, and that’s a pretty surefire way to ruin your trip. A US passport will get you in and out of the country with no problem, provided you have no felony convictions.
I’ve driven as far north as north of Hinton, AB, which is fairly far, and there were rest stops along the way. Further north of that, they do tend to thin out; however, those are still trucking, logging, oil field routes, so you’ll be able to find gas stations and food.
Regarding camping on the side of the road NOT in a provincial or National park - I’ve never actually seen anyone doing it, but I don’t know if that’s because you’re not allowed, or because nice campgrounds are pleantyful and cheep.
I second the reccomendation to The Milepost. About 10 years ago my family drove from CA(lifornia) to Alaska, through BC and Yukon. Alkan highway was very fun, as was the cassier highway. If you can make it, I highly suggest the little town of Hyder, Alaska. It sits on the AK/canada border, and they use Canadian money. Nice little town with a lot of character.
