2 weeks in Canadian Rockies - need some help!
May 14th, 2007, 04:14 PM
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2 weeks in Canadian Rockies - need some help!
Hi - I wrote in a while ago trying to decide whether to split up two weeks between the canadian rockies and glacier. Due to the answers I got I have decided to do 2 full weeks in the rockies. We love to kayak, day hiking and general touristy stuff. I have gotten a timeshare week in Canmore for my second week. The first week will start Labor Day weekend, which I realize may impact things.
I think from what I've read that I can do Banff, Lake Louise and that area from Canmore. How to break up the first week? I was thinking Yoho for the first two to three days - maybe less crowded over Labor Day than the others? Then to Jasper for the other half of the first week. Will this be long enough for Jasper? Can you experts tell me what you think? i think I need a month!
Thanks so much,
sue
I think from what I've read that I can do Banff, Lake Louise and that area from Canmore. How to break up the first week? I was thinking Yoho for the first two to three days - maybe less crowded over Labor Day than the others? Then to Jasper for the other half of the first week. Will this be long enough for Jasper? Can you experts tell me what you think? i think I need a month!
Thanks so much,
sue
May 14th, 2007, 07:32 PM
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Yoho less crowded? Not likely.
Why do you think it will be less crowded.
If the days are sunny, even the Iceline trail will have quite a few people on it.
Takkakaw Falls viewing area is full of people just about all the time in summer.
The parking lot at Emerald Lake can get very full, to the extent that there may not be a place without waiting.
Most of the glorious sights of Yoho are off the roads and up in the hills. Go there and you tend to leave people behind.
Why do you think it will be less crowded.
If the days are sunny, even the Iceline trail will have quite a few people on it.
Takkakaw Falls viewing area is full of people just about all the time in summer.
The parking lot at Emerald Lake can get very full, to the extent that there may not be a place without waiting.
Most of the glorious sights of Yoho are off the roads and up in the hills. Go there and you tend to leave people behind.
May 14th, 2007, 08:38 PM
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sueoz, what timeshare? We're going there this September as well, this time staying in a timeshare in Canmore (have been there a couple of other times, but didn't stay in Canmore). Since you have two weeks, you might also consider doing a daytrip to the Royal Tyrell museum in Drumheller. There are more dinosaur fossils there than you would ever believe. It's maybe 2-1/2 - 3 hours each way, but oh it is well worth the trip. Here's a link: http://www.tyrrellmuseum.com/
One afternoon, go sightseeing at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. There's a lounge, second floor I think, where you can get a nice view, have a glass of wine and an appetizer, and relax.
You'll get lots of advise from people more expert than I, these are just a couple of suggestions.
One afternoon, go sightseeing at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. There's a lounge, second floor I think, where you can get a nice view, have a glass of wine and an appetizer, and relax.
You'll get lots of advise from people more expert than I, these are just a couple of suggestions.
May 15th, 2007, 02:50 AM
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Hi again - Bob - I think I got the impression that Yoho was less crowded from some of the guide books I have. They suggested heading there to get away from the business of Lake Louise and Banff! So this is why this forum is so great. We always hike to get away from the people but I worry more about traffic getting there and back. Any suggestions?
The timeshare is Sunset Resorts. It had decent reviews and we mainly need a decent place to come back to after hiking all day.
Thanks,
sue
The timeshare is Sunset Resorts. It had decent reviews and we mainly need a decent place to come back to after hiking all day.
Thanks,
sue
May 15th, 2007, 08:20 AM
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Yoho National Park is less crowded partly because it has a much smaller stock of accommodation.
Field, BC is a small village or hamlet. It has a handful of B&B type places and one or two self-catering cabins, and that's about it.
Beyond that there is Emerald Lake Lodge. It's not exactly cheap, but it's a nice property in a secluded spot. It's true that a lot of day trippers visit Emerald Lake, but the lodge is set up in such a way that the day trippers don't interfere with it.
There also are a couple of back country lodges in Yoho National Park. Lake O'Hara Lodge and Twin Falls Chalet spring to mind. Lake O'Hara Lodge operates year-round, but it undoubtedly already is booked up for the Labour Day long weekend.
Twin Falls Chalet operates only in the summer. I don't know how long it keeps going. Even if it is open over Labour Day, it's probable that it's booked up. If it's open, and if it's not booked up, you should be aware that you have to do a fairly substantial hike to reach it. Once you get there, there is no electricity and no hot water. That said, some people claim they would be willing to walk barefooted over broken glass to avail themselves of Fran Drummond's wood stove cooking. My husband and I are going to find out this coming August if that's true. Based on Bob Brown's glowing reviews, we've made a reservation.
Anyway, back to the issue of which places are busy and which are not .......
The fairly busy TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1) cuts through Yoho National Park (and of course Banff National Park as well). In addition to that, as Bob said, the parking lots for Tak Falls and Emerald Lake are busy. But, as is the case with the rest of the mountains, you lose most of the crowds as soon as you start hiking.
It never ceases to astonish me how quickly we lose most other people when we hike. You don’t even have to “hike” in order to lose most other people. All you have to do is walk 25 yards into the forest. I’m not kidding.
I often use the example of the picnic spots at Moraine Lake. We came here from overseas 30 years ago. Over those years we’ve had a fairly steady stream of family and friends visiting us from abroad. One of the places we take EVERYONE is Moraine Lake. We invariably have a picnic there (and often it takes the form of a barbecue, as we have a portable little propane-operated BBQ).
The picnic spots are in the forest, immediately downhill from the parking lot. On even the BUSIEST day – and I’m talking really busy days like the Canada Day long weekend – we have never known all of the picnic tables to be occupied. There have been busy days when our group has been the ONLY one availing itself of a picnic table! The picnic tables are very nice, in that they are scattered through the forest at some distance from each other, so there is a lot of privacy. While we have had the picnic ground to ourselves, there has been a long line of tour buses disgorging passengers for the obligatory photo op at Moraine Lake.
More in next post .........
Field, BC is a small village or hamlet. It has a handful of B&B type places and one or two self-catering cabins, and that's about it.
Beyond that there is Emerald Lake Lodge. It's not exactly cheap, but it's a nice property in a secluded spot. It's true that a lot of day trippers visit Emerald Lake, but the lodge is set up in such a way that the day trippers don't interfere with it.
There also are a couple of back country lodges in Yoho National Park. Lake O'Hara Lodge and Twin Falls Chalet spring to mind. Lake O'Hara Lodge operates year-round, but it undoubtedly already is booked up for the Labour Day long weekend.
Twin Falls Chalet operates only in the summer. I don't know how long it keeps going. Even if it is open over Labour Day, it's probable that it's booked up. If it's open, and if it's not booked up, you should be aware that you have to do a fairly substantial hike to reach it. Once you get there, there is no electricity and no hot water. That said, some people claim they would be willing to walk barefooted over broken glass to avail themselves of Fran Drummond's wood stove cooking. My husband and I are going to find out this coming August if that's true. Based on Bob Brown's glowing reviews, we've made a reservation.
Anyway, back to the issue of which places are busy and which are not .......
The fairly busy TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1) cuts through Yoho National Park (and of course Banff National Park as well). In addition to that, as Bob said, the parking lots for Tak Falls and Emerald Lake are busy. But, as is the case with the rest of the mountains, you lose most of the crowds as soon as you start hiking.
It never ceases to astonish me how quickly we lose most other people when we hike. You don’t even have to “hike” in order to lose most other people. All you have to do is walk 25 yards into the forest. I’m not kidding.
I often use the example of the picnic spots at Moraine Lake. We came here from overseas 30 years ago. Over those years we’ve had a fairly steady stream of family and friends visiting us from abroad. One of the places we take EVERYONE is Moraine Lake. We invariably have a picnic there (and often it takes the form of a barbecue, as we have a portable little propane-operated BBQ).
The picnic spots are in the forest, immediately downhill from the parking lot. On even the BUSIEST day – and I’m talking really busy days like the Canada Day long weekend – we have never known all of the picnic tables to be occupied. There have been busy days when our group has been the ONLY one availing itself of a picnic table! The picnic tables are very nice, in that they are scattered through the forest at some distance from each other, so there is a lot of privacy. While we have had the picnic ground to ourselves, there has been a long line of tour buses disgorging passengers for the obligatory photo op at Moraine Lake.
More in next post .........
May 15th, 2007, 08:21 AM
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The only place in the mountains that I can’t stand in the summer is downtown Banff. The town is located in a very pretty setting, ringed by mountains. We feel that, for first time visitors, it is a “must see.” So, when we are touring those overseas rellies and friends around, we do visit the centre of Banff for their sakes. However, they can see what they need to see in about 3 hours, and that’s about my limit.
If I did stay in Banff townsite in the summer, I would prefer to stay in one of the properties that is on the outskirts of the town, e.g., Buffalo Mountain Lodge.
In the summer, however, I much prefer staying in the Lake Louise area. The village of Lake Louise is just a small hamlet. A relatively affordable, but still decent, property in the village is Mountaineer Lodge. Lake Louise Village also offers the expensive, but luxurious, Post Hotel.
A note about the village of Lake Louise. It is not actually that busy in summer. The tourists head to the LAKE of Lake Louise, which is 3 miles (5 kilometres) away.
A few minutes from Lake Louise, out in the forest, is a very pleasant chalet-style property called Baker Creek Chalets. The chalets are self-catering, but there also is a pleasant restaurant onsite. Baker Creek Chalets is located just off the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy #1A), which is an alternative way of getting from Lake Louise to Banff townsite.
Half way between the village of Lake Louise and the lake of Lake Louise, so approximately 1.5 miles from each, is another chalet-style property called Paradise Lodge and Bungalows. It too is pleasant.
Moraine Lake Lodge is an expensive, but excellent, property. Moraine Lake is at the end of a side road, 9 miles (14 km) from Lake Louise. Although they are not self-catering, the accommodations take the form of chalets overlooking the lake. The Moraine Lake parking lot is VERY busy, but you would be out hiking all day anyway, so that shouldn’t bother you. The lake and the lodge are dead quiet when the day trippers have left. The mornings, before the day trippers arrive, are magical. Moraine Lake Lodge has a naturalist on staff. That person takes guests on complimentary guided hikes if they wish.
My husband and I are fond of Deer Lodge. It’s a small hotel that is a stone’s throw from the lake of Lake Louise and Chateau Lake Louise. But it is not for everyone. It’s a quirky little old building (well, old by the standards of the Canadian Rockies). The stairs creek, and there is no elevator to the second floor. The regular rooms are miniscule, and they don’t have phones. I recommend the Tower Rooms or, better still, the Heritage Rooms. They are larger, and they have phones.
Then there is Field, which I mentioned before.
More ...........
If I did stay in Banff townsite in the summer, I would prefer to stay in one of the properties that is on the outskirts of the town, e.g., Buffalo Mountain Lodge.
In the summer, however, I much prefer staying in the Lake Louise area. The village of Lake Louise is just a small hamlet. A relatively affordable, but still decent, property in the village is Mountaineer Lodge. Lake Louise Village also offers the expensive, but luxurious, Post Hotel.
A note about the village of Lake Louise. It is not actually that busy in summer. The tourists head to the LAKE of Lake Louise, which is 3 miles (5 kilometres) away.
A few minutes from Lake Louise, out in the forest, is a very pleasant chalet-style property called Baker Creek Chalets. The chalets are self-catering, but there also is a pleasant restaurant onsite. Baker Creek Chalets is located just off the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy #1A), which is an alternative way of getting from Lake Louise to Banff townsite.
Half way between the village of Lake Louise and the lake of Lake Louise, so approximately 1.5 miles from each, is another chalet-style property called Paradise Lodge and Bungalows. It too is pleasant.
Moraine Lake Lodge is an expensive, but excellent, property. Moraine Lake is at the end of a side road, 9 miles (14 km) from Lake Louise. Although they are not self-catering, the accommodations take the form of chalets overlooking the lake. The Moraine Lake parking lot is VERY busy, but you would be out hiking all day anyway, so that shouldn’t bother you. The lake and the lodge are dead quiet when the day trippers have left. The mornings, before the day trippers arrive, are magical. Moraine Lake Lodge has a naturalist on staff. That person takes guests on complimentary guided hikes if they wish.
My husband and I are fond of Deer Lodge. It’s a small hotel that is a stone’s throw from the lake of Lake Louise and Chateau Lake Louise. But it is not for everyone. It’s a quirky little old building (well, old by the standards of the Canadian Rockies). The stairs creek, and there is no elevator to the second floor. The regular rooms are miniscule, and they don’t have phones. I recommend the Tower Rooms or, better still, the Heritage Rooms. They are larger, and they have phones.
Then there is Field, which I mentioned before.
More ...........
May 15th, 2007, 08:22 AM
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Lake Louise is between 45 and 50 minutes’ drive west of Banff townsite. Then Field is another 20 minutes’ drive further west of Lake Louise.
I personally think that either Lake Louise or Field would make a good base. They would put you in the centre of prime hiking territory and gorgeous scenery. It especially would make sense to stay in the western part of Banff National Park or even further west in Yoho National Park if you were going to be staying further east, in Canmore, during your second week.
Do not bother going to the east part of Banff National Park (Johnston Canyon, the town of Banff, etc.) during the Labour Day weekend. You’ll have a chance to do that when you’re based in Canmore and when things have quietened down a bit.
Be sure to visit Kananaskis Country from your Canmore base. Drive down Hwy #40 beyond Kananaskis Lakes so that you can see the beautiful Highwood Pass.
Also, as Sludick said, you could do a day trip to the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. Bypass Calgary’s traffic by driving Canmore – Cochrane – Airdrie – Beiseker – Drumheller. It would take you just under 3 hours to drive to Drumheller. Although it would be quite a long day trip – say 9 or 10 hours all in – it would be infinitely worthwhile in my opinion. It’s fortunate that you’d be able to go there after the Labour Day weekend, when the museum would have quietened down. It’s very busy in the summer, and especially on summer weekends. Watch out for the opening times. During the winter it’s closed on Mondays. But, if memory serves me correctly, the winter hours kick in only after Canadian Thanksgiving (second Monday in October).
You could spend a lifetime in Jasper National Park, but half a week is enough for an introduction.
I have not mentioned the big luxury hotels (the Rimrock and the Banff Springs in Banff and Chateau Lake Louise). They are impeccable hotels, but my taste does not run to big hotels. I’ve stayed at the Rimrock and Chateau Lake Louise. Now that I have the T-shirts, I have no desire to stay at either of them ever again. I’ve been to weddings at the Banff Springs Hotel, and I think it’s the ultimate wedding venue. But, aside from its exquisite suitability for weddings, I have no desire to stay there either. But there are other travellers who are very fond of those three hotels. So, if you are curious about them, I’m sure there are people who would be willing to discuss them.
Hope that helps.
I personally think that either Lake Louise or Field would make a good base. They would put you in the centre of prime hiking territory and gorgeous scenery. It especially would make sense to stay in the western part of Banff National Park or even further west in Yoho National Park if you were going to be staying further east, in Canmore, during your second week.
Do not bother going to the east part of Banff National Park (Johnston Canyon, the town of Banff, etc.) during the Labour Day weekend. You’ll have a chance to do that when you’re based in Canmore and when things have quietened down a bit.
Be sure to visit Kananaskis Country from your Canmore base. Drive down Hwy #40 beyond Kananaskis Lakes so that you can see the beautiful Highwood Pass.
Also, as Sludick said, you could do a day trip to the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. Bypass Calgary’s traffic by driving Canmore – Cochrane – Airdrie – Beiseker – Drumheller. It would take you just under 3 hours to drive to Drumheller. Although it would be quite a long day trip – say 9 or 10 hours all in – it would be infinitely worthwhile in my opinion. It’s fortunate that you’d be able to go there after the Labour Day weekend, when the museum would have quietened down. It’s very busy in the summer, and especially on summer weekends. Watch out for the opening times. During the winter it’s closed on Mondays. But, if memory serves me correctly, the winter hours kick in only after Canadian Thanksgiving (second Monday in October).
You could spend a lifetime in Jasper National Park, but half a week is enough for an introduction.
I have not mentioned the big luxury hotels (the Rimrock and the Banff Springs in Banff and Chateau Lake Louise). They are impeccable hotels, but my taste does not run to big hotels. I’ve stayed at the Rimrock and Chateau Lake Louise. Now that I have the T-shirts, I have no desire to stay at either of them ever again. I’ve been to weddings at the Banff Springs Hotel, and I think it’s the ultimate wedding venue. But, aside from its exquisite suitability for weddings, I have no desire to stay there either. But there are other travellers who are very fond of those three hotels. So, if you are curious about them, I’m sure there are people who would be willing to discuss them.
Hope that helps.
May 16th, 2007, 04:36 PM
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Judy - thank you so much once again for the very detailed answer. We are not into the very big luxury hotels either so I am interested in your recommendations. From your answer I think you are saying that I will have plenty to do when based in Canmore with Banff and Kananaskis so that combining Lake Louise and Yoho at the beginning of my trip would be a good idea??? If I am based at one of the ones you recommended near Lake Louise (like Baker Creek Chalets) will that put me in easy driving distance to Yoho's hiking?
We also are bird watchers and I read that there are great birding excursions on the Columbia river. Do you know anything about that and would that be within range?
I know just what you mean about getting away from the crowds just by taking a stroll! We did Yellowstone starting on a Labor Day weekend and other than Old Faithful and a few other big tourist sights - we just had to walk a little and had places to ourselves. Glad to know this is similar.
Again - thanks for the help.
sue
We also are bird watchers and I read that there are great birding excursions on the Columbia river. Do you know anything about that and would that be within range?
I know just what you mean about getting away from the crowds just by taking a stroll! We did Yellowstone starting on a Labor Day weekend and other than Old Faithful and a few other big tourist sights - we just had to walk a little and had places to ourselves. Glad to know this is similar.
Again - thanks for the help.
sue
May 16th, 2007, 06:28 PM
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>>>>>>From your answer I think you are saying that I will have plenty to do when based in Canmore with Banff and Kananaskis so that combining Lake Louise and Yoho at the beginning of my trip would be a good idea???<<<<<<
Yes.
>>>>>>If I am based at one of the ones you recommended near Lake Louise (like Baker Creek Chalets) will that put me in easy driving distance to Yoho's hiking?<<<<<<
Yes.
>>>>>>We also are bird watchers and I read that there are great birding excursions on the Columbia river. Do you know anything about that and would that be within range?<<<<<<<
I don't know much about it. I think the area to which you're referring includes Lake Windermere. But, from Lake Louise, it's two hours' drive to Invermere.
In a way it's a shame that you have booked a solid week in Canmore. I expect that, by doing that, you got a fairly good deal. I do sympathize with what I think is your reasoning. But, given your interests, and if money was no object, the ideal might have been to split your time more or less equally amongst 4 places -- Jasper, Lake Louise/Field, Invermere and Banff/Canmore.
Yes.
>>>>>>If I am based at one of the ones you recommended near Lake Louise (like Baker Creek Chalets) will that put me in easy driving distance to Yoho's hiking?<<<<<<
Yes.
>>>>>>We also are bird watchers and I read that there are great birding excursions on the Columbia river. Do you know anything about that and would that be within range?<<<<<<<
I don't know much about it. I think the area to which you're referring includes Lake Windermere. But, from Lake Louise, it's two hours' drive to Invermere.
In a way it's a shame that you have booked a solid week in Canmore. I expect that, by doing that, you got a fairly good deal. I do sympathize with what I think is your reasoning. But, given your interests, and if money was no object, the ideal might have been to split your time more or less equally amongst 4 places -- Jasper, Lake Louise/Field, Invermere and Banff/Canmore.
May 17th, 2007, 02:29 AM
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"We also are bird watchers and I read that there are great birding excursions on the Columbia river. Do you know anything about that and would that be within range?"
You might want to try Columbia River Safaris based in Golden BC for a wetland float trip on the Columbia River. They also offer jet boat trips.
http://www.canyonjet.ca/packages/wet...ldlife-safaris
You might want to try Columbia River Safaris based in Golden BC for a wetland float trip on the Columbia River. They also offer jet boat trips.
http://www.canyonjet.ca/packages/wet...ldlife-safaris
May 17th, 2007, 06:47 AM
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Most timeshares book by the week; I expect that's why sueoz has a full week in Canmore. We have also stayed in a Canmore timeshare for a week. During that time, we went to Drumheller, Radium Hot Springs, Yoho, Lake Louise, and various spots in Banff. There was plenty of time for day hikes. The elk were out on the Banff golf course in all their autumn splendor, so we got some great pictures of them menacing the golfers (from a safe distance!!) We also took in the cheesy-but-funny Oh Canada Eh! show and spent some time in Canmore shopping and dining. Although, we ended up leaving a day early, as some bad weather was coming in and we needed to get over Rogers Pass to get back to Vancouver.
May 17th, 2007, 03:51 PM
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Thanks AGAIN. Yes - the timeshare costs me nothing which will help considerably for the rest of the trip. Sludick - thanks for the feedback on what I can do from Canmore.
AND - if we love it there like I think we will - we'll be back!
laverendrye - I will check out the bird watching float - sounds like a good possibility.
Judy - thanks for everything.
sue
AND - if we love it there like I think we will - we'll be back!
laverendrye - I will check out the bird watching float - sounds like a good possibility.
Judy - thanks for everything.
sue
May 18th, 2007, 03:09 PM
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sueoz, if you do end up going down towards Radium Hot Springs, don't miss the house of the crazy woodcarver. It's right where the road you will be on (93) dumps out onto 95. It's on the left, and there is a German restaurant across the street on the right. It's quite a sight. If he's in, you can go in and purchase something -- he mostly carves from "downed" wood (he is/was a volunteer firefighter). We have several small items of his in our house. He is quite eccentric, though, so be prepared. And, being eccentric, his hours are unpredictable. We enjoy seeing his goats run along the top of his compound.
