Planning a RV Trip to Alberta, Ca

[SnoKing]

We are in the planning stage for a RV trip from NW Washington to Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and the Calgary Stampede. We will be traveling with our 5th wheel and another couple in a Class C Diesel(small Frightliner). They have a condo at Sun Peaks so we know the route there well, and will take 5 on up to Jasper, and work our way south/east to the Stampede. RV parks near the Stampede do not get good reviews, so we are looking for local knowledge on things to see and places to stay. SNOKING

 

[Cummins12V98]

Sounds like a great adventure!

 

[Slow Six]

I haven't stayed at Calgary for a long time. There used to be a good RV park but it is closed. If you want a spot for stampede week I would suggest you book a soon as possible. I can understand the poor ratings but the places will do for a short visit. If you are doing the stampede you won't be at your site much any way. If you don't mind driving some of the small communities around Calgary have RV facilities.

 

[Shadrach]

What type of accommodations do you want and for how long of a stay? I'm 200 miles North but might be able to help you. Feel free to ask me any question about Alberta. I have lived here most of my life and travelled around it lots.

David

 

[SnoKing]

We will just do one or two days at the Stampede. Several of the near by parks have shuttle service. So things to do and see in the parks would be good. Snoking

 

[SnoKing]

Anyone have a guide or tips for non Canadians signing up with Parks Canada? Web site is pretty confusing. SNOKING

 

[Shadrach]

West of Calgary is Cochrane. Ranching town. Famous for McKays ice cream. Do you like back roads? If so continue West on Hwy 1A ( the old Banff Coach Road ) It goes thru the Morley Indian reserve and is narrow and windy road but gets you off the main Trans Canada Hwy 1. We like to stay at Bow Valley Provincial Park campground. We use it as a base camp and go West to Canmore and then into the National Park and the town of Banff. You can also go South from Bow Valley in Kananaskis Country. So much to see and do. Bow Valley Parkway is a nice drive. Johnson Canyon is nice with a walk way extending from the canyon walls and upper and lower falls. Lake Louise is beautiful. Of course the Gondola ride up the mountain is nice ( about 7400 feet above sea level ) and Upper Hot Springs ( hot pool ) in Banff is a popular spot. They are right beside each other.

Are you going to Jasper first? Then South on 93? Feel free to pm me.

David

 

[SnoKing]

Here is a first pass at a schedule. The 12th is senior day at the Stamplede, and we might drive in from Banff for it. SNOKING
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[mpaulson]

Here's the link to the page to start on for reserving. In searching this for you I just found out that the reservations start mid January this time around, in all the past years they have been in April! I had better get my plans in place by Christmas!!
-click the blue reserve online box on right
-choose language(annoying Canadian thing!)
-click the "MY RESERVATIONS"tab at the top
-you have to use "continue to GCKey" option as an international customer
-select english,,again!
-click on the small"register" for a new GCKey
-read the bla,bla,bla and "accept"
-fill in all the info and "continue"
-select "continue" on the next page
-fill in all your personal info on this page and hit "create account" at the bottom and they will email you the confirmation.
Then you can go back to the original link below and select the blue reserve online box again
-click "my reservations" at the top
-select "continue to GCKey" tab
-enter your user name and password and "continue"
-click "browse maps" at the top and you can pick the campgrounds, rv size and dates etc. here.
-then hit "reserve" and you will get an email in a bit with the confirmation info and a bar code etc. print these and bring them with you to give tot he people at the campground gates so they can scan them and send you in.
Hope this helps. It's a lot of steps to get set up with the GCKey, but once it's done it's easy.


http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/voyage-travel/reserve.aspx

BE ONLINE AT 8:00 ON THE DAY IT OPENS IF YOU WANT FULL HOOK-UP SITES OR WITHIN AN HOUR YOU WILL NOT GET THEM!
Seeing the dates that you will be in the Alberta you will be in the thick of summer holiday start ups so you for sure need to be on the ball come opening day. You can scout site before hand and click on the map of the campgrounds and actually see pictures of the particular site to see what it looks like. Write down the site numbers that you would like so that on reservation day you know which sites would be acceptable for you so you are not wasting time in the panic mode trying to pick them.

 

[SnoKing]

Here's the link to the page to start on for reserving. In searching this for you I just found out that the reservations start mid January this time around, in all the past years they have been in April! I had better get my plans in place by Christmas!!
-click the blue reserve online box on right
-choose language(annoying Canadian thing!)
-click the "MY RESERVATIONS"tab at the top
-you have to use "continue to GCKey" option as an international customer
-select english,,again!
-click on the small"register" for a new GCKey
-read the bla,bla,bla and "accept"
-fill in all the info and "continue"
-select "continue" on the next page
-fill in all your personal info on this page and hit "create account" at the bottom and they will email you the confirmation.
Then you can go back to the original link below and select the blue reserve online box again
-click "my reservations" at the top
-select "continue to GCKey" tab
-enter your user name and password and "continue"
-click "browse maps" at the top an d you can pick the campgrounds, rv size and dates etc. here.
-then hit "reserve" and you will get an email in a bit with the confirmation info and a bar code etc. print these and bring them with you to give tot he people at the campground gates so they can scan them and send you in.
Hope this helps. It's a lot of steps to get set up with the GCKey, but once it's done it's easy.


http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/voyage-travel/reserve.aspx

Thanks I will give that a try. I got the account created. Thanks SNOKING

 

[mwilson]

There are also "Provincial Parks", I see there are a few in Alberta. I use a couple of New Brunswick Provincial Parks during the summer. Different website I believe.

Just an observation while taking a coffee break, maybe of no use but wanted to toss it out there.

Mike.

 

[Shadrach]

Heading South from Jasper you will travel down Hwy 93 " The Icefield Parkway". Just South of Jasper you can drive up ( without a trailer ) to Mount Edith Cavel http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/mount_edith_cavell_hike/mount_edith_cavell_hike.htm It is a short but steep hike from the parking lot. When I was there this summer I saw the glacier "calf" into the small lake at it's base. I remember seeing this happen on a cruise to Alaska but I had never seen it happen in the mountains before. Athabasca Falls is nearby as well http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/Athabasca_Falls/Athabasca_Falls.htm. As you head South towards Banff you will come across the Columbia Icefields. Here you can go for a ride on a Tundra bus onto the glacier or go on a guided walk on it. Since I can walk on ice and snow any day during the winter I passed on this.

Peyton Lake is another beautiful spot to check out http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/Peyto_Lake_Hike/Peyto_Lake_Hike.htm Lake Louise of course is a beautiful lake and you can walk around it if you wish.

When travelling from Banff to Waterton you can go South on Hwy 40 thru Kananaskis and then onto Hwy 22. This will take you onto the Highwood Pass ( 2206 metres high or 7237 feet ) or go further East and thru Bragg Creek and then onto Hwy 22. Both are scenic in their own way. Black Diamond is famous for it's cheese. http://www.blackdiamond.ca At Okotoks there is Hugh rock left from the glacier retreat http://www.history.alberta.ca/historicsites/. When we were kids you could climb on it but now you can't. The SW corner of Alberta can be VERY windy. There are wind farms all over the area. The Prince of Wales Hotel at Waterton is an interesting place. I have been in the dining room when it was windy outside and seen the chandelier sway. You can take a boat down the lake and cross the border into Montana without a passport. It would takes days to reach US civilization on foot from where you can get off. You can hike up the "Bears Hump" by the hotel. It is a small mountain that looks like the hump on Bear's back http://mywaterton.ca/do/the-bears-hump/wat16c8236d9d2249411. Red Rock Canyon is nearby and is interesting http://www.watertonpark.com/gallery/redrock.html

While I'm sure you have checked out a lot of these places I have included links so that other can see some of what we have to offer in Alberta

David