Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff
Jul 18th, 2013, 12:01 PM
#2
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And for the rest of the question I'll try not to accidentally post this until I'm finished ....
We want to stay several days to see the Canadian Rockies. We will be traveling to Alberta September 23rd and do not have any set time frame to get to Glacier.
1. Does it make more sense to stay in one RV camp or to start in Jasper and move every couple of days to Lake Louise and then to Banff? If we move the camper stays on the truck. If we stay at least 3 nights then we take the camper off and leave it at our camp site. And do you have recommendations on the campsites? We hook up water and 30 amp for electric or can be self contained if necessary.
2. How long should we spend in the area to see the sites? We are hard core amateur photographers interested in all wildlife and landscapes. We will hike short trails but no long hikes.
3. Do you have recommendations on what we really should see, roads to take, trails, any other activities for that time of year?
We would appreciate any help you can give us. This is a small part of our overall trip so I haven't spent a lot of time looking at an itinerary yet.
We want to stay several days to see the Canadian Rockies. We will be traveling to Alberta September 23rd and do not have any set time frame to get to Glacier.
1. Does it make more sense to stay in one RV camp or to start in Jasper and move every couple of days to Lake Louise and then to Banff? If we move the camper stays on the truck. If we stay at least 3 nights then we take the camper off and leave it at our camp site. And do you have recommendations on the campsites? We hook up water and 30 amp for electric or can be self contained if necessary.
2. How long should we spend in the area to see the sites? We are hard core amateur photographers interested in all wildlife and landscapes. We will hike short trails but no long hikes.
3. Do you have recommendations on what we really should see, roads to take, trails, any other activities for that time of year?
We would appreciate any help you can give us. This is a small part of our overall trip so I haven't spent a lot of time looking at an itinerary yet.
Jul 21st, 2013, 09:27 AM
#3
I'm in a similar situation only I was in Banff a couple of years ago and am a photog as well.
Drive the Lake Minnewanka loop road (directly across from Banff Townsite) early and late. We saw bighorn on the roadside several times. When you start on the road, take the very first right turn to Cascade Pond early morning. I went there a couple of times and nobody goes there. Spectacular scenery.
Drive slowly up and down Mt Norquay (also directly across from Banff Townsite) very early and late. I saw black bears there at both times.
Johnston Canyon. Two short hikes one after the other to two beautiful waterfalls. Obviously many more people at the first one as the second is about a mile past.
Moraine Lake. I went there several times at different times of the day. Much more beautiful than Lake Louise (on the same road as Lake Louise. Turn left about a mile before LL). Walk up the back of the "Rock Pile" to the left of the parking lot. Don't bother walking to the lake. This is the view on the old Canadian 20 dollar bill.
Get off the highway at Bow Summit. Short hike to Peyto Lake. Spectacular views.
Drive the Lake Minnewanka loop road (directly across from Banff Townsite) early and late. We saw bighorn on the roadside several times. When you start on the road, take the very first right turn to Cascade Pond early morning. I went there a couple of times and nobody goes there. Spectacular scenery.
Drive slowly up and down Mt Norquay (also directly across from Banff Townsite) very early and late. I saw black bears there at both times.
Johnston Canyon. Two short hikes one after the other to two beautiful waterfalls. Obviously many more people at the first one as the second is about a mile past.
Moraine Lake. I went there several times at different times of the day. Much more beautiful than Lake Louise (on the same road as Lake Louise. Turn left about a mile before LL). Walk up the back of the "Rock Pile" to the left of the parking lot. Don't bother walking to the lake. This is the view on the old Canadian 20 dollar bill.
Get off the highway at Bow Summit. Short hike to Peyto Lake. Spectacular views.
Jul 23rd, 2013, 02:32 AM
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We spent three nights in Banff and three nights in Jasper and loved both! Here is a link to our trip report with pictures and the highlights for our trip - I agree with the suggestions from Myer.
http://travelswithcurley.com/2013/02...adian-rockies/
http://travelswithcurley.com/2013/02...adian-rockies/
Jul 27th, 2013, 08:45 AM
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First thing you do when you get to Banff is check in at the Parks Canada Information Centre, and pick up maps, get updates on current park conditions, ask questions, and get them all expertly answered. The Mountain Parks are huge, and you will want to plan your time wisely, to get in what YOU most want to see and do. You might want to pick up a trails book, there are several that come well recommended.
There is enough distance between sights to see that you should switch campgrounds every 2-3 days, I suggest. You can't really drive the whole Icefields Parkway, see the sights, and take pictures, in one day, and you don't want to be going up and down multiple days, to get back to 1 campground. There is so much to see there, I have gone on 2 week vacations to the Canadian Rockies many times, and not been bored yet! Lots of campgrounds up and down the Icefields Parkway. In addition to what was said by other posters above, you could walk the Consolation Lakes Trail, access it from the Moraine Lake parking lot. Its not too long, fairly flat, and scenic, particularly near the end. Some trails leave you in bush with no views for miles, so try and avoid these.
Parker Ridge Trail near Columbia Icefields is a good one, but a bit strenuous, not too long but a 750 ft. climb. Nice views up there, things you can't see from the highway, I have seen lots of mountain goats there. As always for wildlife, look for them early and late. You should see lots of elk, deer, bighorns, and less so, goats. Maybe moose also, but bears are an unexpected bonus, in my experience. Wildlife are much less skittish in the parks, than anywhere else, of course, so you may be able to get some shots that you would need a huge amount of patience (and time) to get anywhere else.
Near Jasper, take the road that approaches Mt. Edith Cavell, there are nice places for hiking around up at the end of that road, and some beautiful views. Drive the road to Maligne Lake, take the boat cruise there. Spectacular scenery. Maligne Canyon is interesting, similar to Johnston Canyon but less developed.
Make sure you spend some time at Waterton Lakes National Park, on the Canadian side of Glacier Park. Its kind of like a mini-Banff Park for scenery, but a lot less crowded. A fair bit of wildlife there, too.
Hard to get sunrise/sunset pictures in the mountains, you have to pick your spots, and the multi-hued lake colors are usually better around mid-day, on sunny days (polarizers on!).
You will run into tourists from all over the world there, for good reason. There really isn't anything else quite like it!
There is enough distance between sights to see that you should switch campgrounds every 2-3 days, I suggest. You can't really drive the whole Icefields Parkway, see the sights, and take pictures, in one day, and you don't want to be going up and down multiple days, to get back to 1 campground. There is so much to see there, I have gone on 2 week vacations to the Canadian Rockies many times, and not been bored yet! Lots of campgrounds up and down the Icefields Parkway. In addition to what was said by other posters above, you could walk the Consolation Lakes Trail, access it from the Moraine Lake parking lot. Its not too long, fairly flat, and scenic, particularly near the end. Some trails leave you in bush with no views for miles, so try and avoid these.
Parker Ridge Trail near Columbia Icefields is a good one, but a bit strenuous, not too long but a 750 ft. climb. Nice views up there, things you can't see from the highway, I have seen lots of mountain goats there. As always for wildlife, look for them early and late. You should see lots of elk, deer, bighorns, and less so, goats. Maybe moose also, but bears are an unexpected bonus, in my experience. Wildlife are much less skittish in the parks, than anywhere else, of course, so you may be able to get some shots that you would need a huge amount of patience (and time) to get anywhere else.
Near Jasper, take the road that approaches Mt. Edith Cavell, there are nice places for hiking around up at the end of that road, and some beautiful views. Drive the road to Maligne Lake, take the boat cruise there. Spectacular scenery. Maligne Canyon is interesting, similar to Johnston Canyon but less developed.
Make sure you spend some time at Waterton Lakes National Park, on the Canadian side of Glacier Park. Its kind of like a mini-Banff Park for scenery, but a lot less crowded. A fair bit of wildlife there, too.
Hard to get sunrise/sunset pictures in the mountains, you have to pick your spots, and the multi-hued lake colors are usually better around mid-day, on sunny days (polarizers on!).
You will run into tourists from all over the world there, for good reason. There really isn't anything else quite like it!
Jul 27th, 2013, 09:05 AM
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Whoops, I forgot to mention taking a very short side trip into Yoho Park, which is just a few miles from Lake Louise. Make sure you go into Emerald Lake, where you could walk around the lake, there is a trail there. Very scenic lake views with mountains all around, and another unique lake color! You may even be lucky enough to have some have some canoeists "pose" for you, as canoes are always nice in the foreground.
Also, visit Takakkaw Falls near there, take a little hike to get some great, high waterfall shots (usually better in the afternoon).
You might want to save visiting the adjacent Kootenay Park for your next visit, when you have more time!
Also, visit Takakkaw Falls near there, take a little hike to get some great, high waterfall shots (usually better in the afternoon).
You might want to save visiting the adjacent Kootenay Park for your next visit, when you have more time!
Jul 27th, 2013, 05:13 PM
#9
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Thanks Kanunu for the information. I've booked a Jasper campsite for 3 nights. We will see the sites up there and then gradually head south. It appears that Banff doesn't take reservations for campsites that late in the year so I'm hoping it means most campsites or RV parks will have openings and we can just decide how far to travel and then stop for the night. We definitely plan on stopping at Waterton too. I'll have to check the map and see where Yoho is and if we can make it there too. Wildlife photography is our hobby and we take it very seriously! I look forward to seeing what wildlife we find in Canada. We are newly retired and have no set date to be back home in Texas so we will just decide what we do as we head south! Thanks again.
Jul 28th, 2013, 09:06 AM
#10
I posted above several days ago but didn't give you a link to my photos on my trip to Banff and others locations.
www.travelwalks.com
I will be in Banff and Jasper for a very short amount of time after spending a week in Glacier National Park across the border in Montana.
In addition to the places I mentioned (since I was there a couple of years ago), I have a few things listed for Jasper.
As kanunu mentioned Cavell and Maligne Roads appear to be locations for relatively short hikes, early and late wildlife and spectacular scenery. They are both just south of the town of Jasper. One on either side of the highway.
I'm leaving for Glacier NP (US) in a week and will be in Banff & Jasper in about two weeks.
Since you can't double tag a trip report for two countries and my time in Banff & Jasper is so short, it will be part of my Glacier report tagged for Montana.
And eventually photos will be posted on the above site.
www.travelwalks.com
I will be in Banff and Jasper for a very short amount of time after spending a week in Glacier National Park across the border in Montana.
In addition to the places I mentioned (since I was there a couple of years ago), I have a few things listed for Jasper.
As kanunu mentioned Cavell and Maligne Roads appear to be locations for relatively short hikes, early and late wildlife and spectacular scenery. They are both just south of the town of Jasper. One on either side of the highway.
I'm leaving for Glacier NP (US) in a week and will be in Banff & Jasper in about two weeks.
Since you can't double tag a trip report for two countries and my time in Banff & Jasper is so short, it will be part of my Glacier report tagged for Montana.
And eventually photos will be posted on the above site.
Jul 29th, 2013, 08:08 AM
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I think what you need to do is some research PHayden.
"This is a small part of our overall trip so I haven't spent a lot of time looking at an itinerary yet."
A 100 people could respond here, most listing the same dozen things to see/do and the odd one adding somewhere less common. What you would end up with is a guidebook from which to try and choose which interested you most.
Instead of that, you could just buy and read a guidebook or do some online searching for free.
You could spend months in Jasper/Banff/Lake Louise/Yoho, photographing wildlife every day. You say you have no tim limit but contradict that by saying, 'see if we can make it there too'. Of course you can, YOU'RE RETIRED now.
It can take a while for new retirees to change their mindset from scheduling things to playing it by ear. The only thing you should pay attention to is the weather. Other than that, move when you feel like it, don't ask 'how long should I allow in X'.
"This is a small part of our overall trip so I haven't spent a lot of time looking at an itinerary yet."
A 100 people could respond here, most listing the same dozen things to see/do and the odd one adding somewhere less common. What you would end up with is a guidebook from which to try and choose which interested you most.
Instead of that, you could just buy and read a guidebook or do some online searching for free.
You could spend months in Jasper/Banff/Lake Louise/Yoho, photographing wildlife every day. You say you have no tim limit but contradict that by saying, 'see if we can make it there too'. Of course you can, YOU'RE RETIRED now.
It can take a while for new retirees to change their mindset from scheduling things to playing it by ear. The only thing you should pay attention to is the weather. Other than that, move when you feel like it, don't ask 'how long should I allow in X'.
Jul 30th, 2013, 04:42 PM
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TWCurley, as great as Glacier is, and I have been there several times, its hard for me to fathom that someone might actually pick visiting Glacier over Banff/Jasper. If you can, find a way to cover them all. By the way, don't forget Waterton Park.... all great spots!
Jul 31st, 2013, 03:11 AM
#14
kanunu,
I can easily see someone picking Glacier over Banff/Jasper. Not to take anything away from B/J but the views are just very different.
A lot of the mountain-type views in Banff are distant while you have the feeling of being much closer in Glacier.
Having said that I can also see a place for both and more.
I do have a bit of an issue with tourist towns in the middle of parks but maybe that just takes some getting used to.
Unfortunately, the park I would have the most trouble returning to is Yosemite. While it has some beautiful features, I find it the most commercial park.
Everything appears to be set up to have you buy a ticket for something. Also, I hate the way parking is set up in many ways. Just too bad.
I can easily see someone picking Glacier over Banff/Jasper. Not to take anything away from B/J but the views are just very different.
A lot of the mountain-type views in Banff are distant while you have the feeling of being much closer in Glacier.
Having said that I can also see a place for both and more.
I do have a bit of an issue with tourist towns in the middle of parks but maybe that just takes some getting used to.
Unfortunately, the park I would have the most trouble returning to is Yosemite. While it has some beautiful features, I find it the most commercial park.
Everything appears to be set up to have you buy a ticket for something. Also, I hate the way parking is set up in many ways. Just too bad.
