Vancouver to Jasper
Feb 16th, 2007, 06:48 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Vancouver to Jasper
My wife are attending a convention on Vancouver Island in June and we want ot visit the Rockies. Can someone give me some tell me if I am crazy and maybe give me some more ideas? Here is our itenrary:
Sunday afternoon take ferry to Vancouver form the island and drive as far as we can. I think if I leave early enough I can make it to Kamloops. Spend the night and then head to Jasper. Spend the next three days in the area going hiking, visit the ice fields and maybe whitewater rafting. On Friday drive back halfway to Vancouver then Saturday the other half and finally fly out on Sunday. My questions are what are the prettiest routes to take? Waht shoudl we see in between. We are from Texas so we are used to long and hard drives. What are some suggested lodgings alogn the route or even at Jasper. I am looking up some ideas and would love some other ideas. Thanks for your help.
Sunday afternoon take ferry to Vancouver form the island and drive as far as we can. I think if I leave early enough I can make it to Kamloops. Spend the night and then head to Jasper. Spend the next three days in the area going hiking, visit the ice fields and maybe whitewater rafting. On Friday drive back halfway to Vancouver then Saturday the other half and finally fly out on Sunday. My questions are what are the prettiest routes to take? Waht shoudl we see in between. We are from Texas so we are used to long and hard drives. What are some suggested lodgings alogn the route or even at Jasper. I am looking up some ideas and would love some other ideas. Thanks for your help.
Feb 16th, 2007, 07:05 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From Vancouver take Highway 5 ( Coquihalla Highway Toll), to Kamloops, I personally if time permits continue on Highway 1 (Transcanada) to Banff via glacier national park and then 93A north to Jasper, if time does not permit then I would go direct via Hwy 5. If you are looking for hidden gems, call 1-800-Hello-BC, and they can suggest approved accommodation's, some are not in any tourist book, but still reviewed by tourism BC.
Cheers,
S
Cheers,
S
Feb 16th, 2007, 08:41 AM
#3
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,501
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Captain Kirk,
You could consider this itinerary.
SUNDAY – Catch ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. Take the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1) to Hope. Then turn onto the Coquihalla (C$10 toll) Highway (Hwy #5) to Kamloops. I think Kamloops would be a reasonable stopping point for the night.
MONDAY – Take the Yellowhead South Highway (Hwy #5) from Kamloops to Jasper. When you get to Clearwater, take the 2-hour detour into Wells Gray Provincial Park to see Helmcken Falls. You also might want to stop off in Mount Robson Provincial Park prior to reaching Jasper.
TUESDAY – From your Jasper base, do a half-day whitewater rafting trip, and explore Maligne Canyon.
WEDNESDAY – Drive the Icefields Parkway (Hwy #93) from Jasper to Lake Louise.
This is a very scenic route. If you were to drive straight through, it would take 3 hours at most. If you stop off at scenic lookout points, however, it can take the better part of a day. Minimal stops include Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, the Columbia Icefields (where you have the option of riding an Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier), and Peyto Lake.
You have the option of spending the night in Lake Louise, which is a small hamlet, or of driving on for another 45 minutes and spending the night in the larger town of Banff.
THURSDAY – From your Lake Louise or Banff base, visit Moraine Lake (9 miles from Lake Louise), the lake of Lake Louise (3 miles from the village of Lake Louise), and Banff townsite. Just outside of Banff townsite, you could ride the gondola up Sulphur Mountain.
When you drive back and forth between Lake Louise and Banff, you could take the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1) in one direction and the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy #1A) in the other direction.
Just off the Bow Valley Parkway is Johnston Canyon. I recommend you stop and see it. Walk at least to the Lower Falls. The Johnston Canyon parking lot gets very full in July and August, but should not yet be a problem in June.
The crown jewels of the Canadian Rockies, in my opinion, are the turquoise lakes. The very best lakes that you can reach without hiking are within a half-hour driving radius of Lake Louise. They are Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake, Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, and Lake Louise itself. It is for this reason that I believe you should include Lake Louise in your trip and not confine yourself to Jasper (beautiful though the Jasper area is).
FRIDAY – Drive west on the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1) through Golden and Revelstoke to Sicamous.
Between Lake Louise and Golden you will drive through Yoho National Park. There are two detours there that are worthwhile. One is Takakkaw Falls (just before the hamlet of Field, British Columbia). The road to Tak Falls typically opens in late June, but the opening date varies, depending on snow conditions in any given year. I don’t know if it’ll be open at the time of your visit.
The other worthwhile detour in Yoho National Park is Emerald Lake, just after Field.
Between Golden and Revelstoke, you will drive through Glacier National Park, including Rogers Pass. This Glacier National Park is not to be confused with the better known park of the same name in Montana.
Sicamous is on the shores of the Shuswap Lake and has a reputation of being the houseboat capital of Canada. People come to the Shuswap Lake from all over the place. When we’ve been houseboating there, we’ve even seen the occasional boat flying the Confederate flag.
At some point I suggest you turn southwards and drive through the Okanagan Valley. This will provide you with a change from Kamloops, where you already will have spent a night en route to the Rockies.
If you feel you are running out of time, you could turn south at Sicamous. If you feel you have lots of time, you could continue west on Hwy #1 a bit further, to Salmon Arm. This drive would give you glimpses of the Shuswap Lake.
Whether you turned south onto Hwy #97A at Sicamous or south onto Hwy #97B at Salmon Arm, you will reach Vernon. At Vernon Hwys #97A and 97B merge to become Hwy #97.
Continue south on Hwy #97, through Kelowna to Penticton. There are a number of places where you could spend the night, including Penticton, Oliver and Osoyoos. Kelowna is the largest town on the shores of Lake Okanagan, and I personally prefer staying in one of the smaller towns.
SATURDAY – Drive south to the Crowsnest Highway (Hwy #3). Turn west on Hwy #3, and drive through Princeton and Manning Provincial Park to Hope. At Hope turn onto Hwy #1, and drive west to Vancouver.
Will you have seen Vancouver at the beginning of your trip? If not, spend this night in downtown Vancouver or in the West End (a mixed density residential neighbourhood between downtown and Stanley Park). Visit Stanley Park.
SUNDAY – Fly home.
More in next post.
You could consider this itinerary.
SUNDAY – Catch ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. Take the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1) to Hope. Then turn onto the Coquihalla (C$10 toll) Highway (Hwy #5) to Kamloops. I think Kamloops would be a reasonable stopping point for the night.
MONDAY – Take the Yellowhead South Highway (Hwy #5) from Kamloops to Jasper. When you get to Clearwater, take the 2-hour detour into Wells Gray Provincial Park to see Helmcken Falls. You also might want to stop off in Mount Robson Provincial Park prior to reaching Jasper.
TUESDAY – From your Jasper base, do a half-day whitewater rafting trip, and explore Maligne Canyon.
WEDNESDAY – Drive the Icefields Parkway (Hwy #93) from Jasper to Lake Louise.
This is a very scenic route. If you were to drive straight through, it would take 3 hours at most. If you stop off at scenic lookout points, however, it can take the better part of a day. Minimal stops include Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, the Columbia Icefields (where you have the option of riding an Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier), and Peyto Lake.
You have the option of spending the night in Lake Louise, which is a small hamlet, or of driving on for another 45 minutes and spending the night in the larger town of Banff.
THURSDAY – From your Lake Louise or Banff base, visit Moraine Lake (9 miles from Lake Louise), the lake of Lake Louise (3 miles from the village of Lake Louise), and Banff townsite. Just outside of Banff townsite, you could ride the gondola up Sulphur Mountain.
When you drive back and forth between Lake Louise and Banff, you could take the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1) in one direction and the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy #1A) in the other direction.
Just off the Bow Valley Parkway is Johnston Canyon. I recommend you stop and see it. Walk at least to the Lower Falls. The Johnston Canyon parking lot gets very full in July and August, but should not yet be a problem in June.
The crown jewels of the Canadian Rockies, in my opinion, are the turquoise lakes. The very best lakes that you can reach without hiking are within a half-hour driving radius of Lake Louise. They are Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake, Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, and Lake Louise itself. It is for this reason that I believe you should include Lake Louise in your trip and not confine yourself to Jasper (beautiful though the Jasper area is).
FRIDAY – Drive west on the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1) through Golden and Revelstoke to Sicamous.
Between Lake Louise and Golden you will drive through Yoho National Park. There are two detours there that are worthwhile. One is Takakkaw Falls (just before the hamlet of Field, British Columbia). The road to Tak Falls typically opens in late June, but the opening date varies, depending on snow conditions in any given year. I don’t know if it’ll be open at the time of your visit.
The other worthwhile detour in Yoho National Park is Emerald Lake, just after Field.
Between Golden and Revelstoke, you will drive through Glacier National Park, including Rogers Pass. This Glacier National Park is not to be confused with the better known park of the same name in Montana.
Sicamous is on the shores of the Shuswap Lake and has a reputation of being the houseboat capital of Canada. People come to the Shuswap Lake from all over the place. When we’ve been houseboating there, we’ve even seen the occasional boat flying the Confederate flag.
At some point I suggest you turn southwards and drive through the Okanagan Valley. This will provide you with a change from Kamloops, where you already will have spent a night en route to the Rockies.
If you feel you are running out of time, you could turn south at Sicamous. If you feel you have lots of time, you could continue west on Hwy #1 a bit further, to Salmon Arm. This drive would give you glimpses of the Shuswap Lake.
Whether you turned south onto Hwy #97A at Sicamous or south onto Hwy #97B at Salmon Arm, you will reach Vernon. At Vernon Hwys #97A and 97B merge to become Hwy #97.
Continue south on Hwy #97, through Kelowna to Penticton. There are a number of places where you could spend the night, including Penticton, Oliver and Osoyoos. Kelowna is the largest town on the shores of Lake Okanagan, and I personally prefer staying in one of the smaller towns.
SATURDAY – Drive south to the Crowsnest Highway (Hwy #3). Turn west on Hwy #3, and drive through Princeton and Manning Provincial Park to Hope. At Hope turn onto Hwy #1, and drive west to Vancouver.
Will you have seen Vancouver at the beginning of your trip? If not, spend this night in downtown Vancouver or in the West End (a mixed density residential neighbourhood between downtown and Stanley Park). Visit Stanley Park.
SUNDAY – Fly home.
More in next post.
Feb 16th, 2007, 08:46 AM
#4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,501
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WEATHER AND WHAT TO PACK
The weather in the Canadian Rockies is extremely variable. In the summer, daytime temperatures average 20 deg F, and night time temperatures average 45 deg F. However, it’s possible to experience temperatures as high as 90 deg F and as low as freezing. The weather can change from hour to hour, and over the course of a given day the temperature can change by tens of degrees. So you need to bring LAYERS of clothing with you.
You need lace-up walking shoes and socks. You need a sweater or long-sleeved fleece top. You also need a waterproof, hooded jacket that can serve as an outer shell. But, because you COULD also experience warm weather, you need a sun hat and sunglasses.
It’s a good idea to have a day pack in which to carry stuff while you’re walking – your wallet, sunglasses, water bottle, your spare jacket if you’re not wearing it, etc.
You can fill your water bottle from your hotel tap. However, do not drink untreated water from lakes and streams. Although cases have been rare, people have been known to contract Giardia lamblia from drinking untreated water in the mountains.
All restaurants in the mountains are casual at lunch time. You’ll see people wearing hiking boots into restaurants. At night moderately priced restaurants remain casual, but expensive restaurants go up a notch to smart casual.
ACCOMMODATION
About accommodation, what is your price range? Do you like large hotels, small hotels, chalets or B&Bs?
The weather in the Canadian Rockies is extremely variable. In the summer, daytime temperatures average 20 deg F, and night time temperatures average 45 deg F. However, it’s possible to experience temperatures as high as 90 deg F and as low as freezing. The weather can change from hour to hour, and over the course of a given day the temperature can change by tens of degrees. So you need to bring LAYERS of clothing with you.
You need lace-up walking shoes and socks. You need a sweater or long-sleeved fleece top. You also need a waterproof, hooded jacket that can serve as an outer shell. But, because you COULD also experience warm weather, you need a sun hat and sunglasses.
It’s a good idea to have a day pack in which to carry stuff while you’re walking – your wallet, sunglasses, water bottle, your spare jacket if you’re not wearing it, etc.
You can fill your water bottle from your hotel tap. However, do not drink untreated water from lakes and streams. Although cases have been rare, people have been known to contract Giardia lamblia from drinking untreated water in the mountains.
All restaurants in the mountains are casual at lunch time. You’ll see people wearing hiking boots into restaurants. At night moderately priced restaurants remain casual, but expensive restaurants go up a notch to smart casual.
ACCOMMODATION
About accommodation, what is your price range? Do you like large hotels, small hotels, chalets or B&Bs?
Feb 18th, 2007, 01:04 PM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We went to this area on our honeymoon middle of last June. The drive past the Icefields is pretty but I sure would not recommend spending the time or money going on the tour.
Jasper was our favorite. Ended up spending a few extra days there. Banff was too touristy for us. Too many people
It is a spectacular area. I have many photos on the web if you're interested.
Jasper was our favorite. Ended up spending a few extra days there. Banff was too touristy for us. Too many people
It is a spectacular area. I have many photos on the web if you're interested.
Feb 20th, 2007, 07:40 AM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Judy,
Thanks for the info. As far as accomadation I would prefer to keep in between 75 USD to 100 USD but if you have any ideas that go over that please let me know and as far as what we like we are very flexible.
Thanks for the info. As far as accomadation I would prefer to keep in between 75 USD to 100 USD but if you have any ideas that go over that please let me know and as far as what we like we are very flexible.
Feb 20th, 2007, 09:31 AM
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,501
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cptkirkh, that is a very low budget for Western Canada.
You probably would be able to find a motel in Kamloops for that price.
In Jasper your best bet is private home accommodation (PHA) or a B&B. You can use this website to search for a PHA or B&B that has the amenities you want (but let me warn you that on a trip that is as quick as yours, Jasper East and Hinton are too far out of the way):
http://www.stayinjasper.com/html/mem...lectlocation=0
In June 2006, my husband and I spent C$148 at Homestead Inn, which is a clean and friendly but modest motel-style property in Banff townsite. Red Carpet Inn also is a clean and decent, but modest property in Banff.
Another town for you to consider as a base from which to explore the Lake Louise / Banff area is Canmore. It's just outside of Banff National Park, 15 minutes' east of Banff townsite. There you could look into Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge, Drake Inn or Bow Valley Motel.
Lake Louise tends to be more expensive than Banff or Canmore. However, you could enquire what the folks at Mountaineer Lodge are charging.
I don't know what accommodation to suggest in the Okanagan Valley (Kelowna - Penticton area). In July 2007, my husband and I spent a night at the Days Inn in Penticton. It was clean and comfortable, and the staff were friendly to us. However, there was nothing unusual about it, and it cost C$168 if I remember correctly. Admittedly that was at the height of the summer season, in July. Prices in June may be a little softer.
If you're travelling on a budget, I suggest you think twice about activities that cost money (Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefields, gondola rides to the tops of mountains, cruises across lakes). The Rocky Mountains are spectacular even if you don't spend extra money in them. Admission to scenic lookout points like lakes, waterfalls, and canyons is free.
If you have a collapsible cooler, I suggest you bring it with you. When my husband and I travel, we often have picnic lunches. Quite aside from the fact that it saves a bit of money, we have eaten in some of the most beautiful "restaurants" in the Rockies (that is, some of our picnic spots have had spectacular views).
If you want to eat at a restaurant that would represent a splurge for you, it would be cheaper to eat there at lunch time than at dinner time.
Hope that helps.
You probably would be able to find a motel in Kamloops for that price.
In Jasper your best bet is private home accommodation (PHA) or a B&B. You can use this website to search for a PHA or B&B that has the amenities you want (but let me warn you that on a trip that is as quick as yours, Jasper East and Hinton are too far out of the way):
http://www.stayinjasper.com/html/mem...lectlocation=0
In June 2006, my husband and I spent C$148 at Homestead Inn, which is a clean and friendly but modest motel-style property in Banff townsite. Red Carpet Inn also is a clean and decent, but modest property in Banff.
Another town for you to consider as a base from which to explore the Lake Louise / Banff area is Canmore. It's just outside of Banff National Park, 15 minutes' east of Banff townsite. There you could look into Rocky Mountain Ski Lodge, Drake Inn or Bow Valley Motel.
Lake Louise tends to be more expensive than Banff or Canmore. However, you could enquire what the folks at Mountaineer Lodge are charging.
I don't know what accommodation to suggest in the Okanagan Valley (Kelowna - Penticton area). In July 2007, my husband and I spent a night at the Days Inn in Penticton. It was clean and comfortable, and the staff were friendly to us. However, there was nothing unusual about it, and it cost C$168 if I remember correctly. Admittedly that was at the height of the summer season, in July. Prices in June may be a little softer.
If you're travelling on a budget, I suggest you think twice about activities that cost money (Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefields, gondola rides to the tops of mountains, cruises across lakes). The Rocky Mountains are spectacular even if you don't spend extra money in them. Admission to scenic lookout points like lakes, waterfalls, and canyons is free.
If you have a collapsible cooler, I suggest you bring it with you. When my husband and I travel, we often have picnic lunches. Quite aside from the fact that it saves a bit of money, we have eaten in some of the most beautiful "restaurants" in the Rockies (that is, some of our picnic spots have had spectacular views).
If you want to eat at a restaurant that would represent a splurge for you, it would be cheaper to eat there at lunch time than at dinner time.
Hope that helps.
Feb 20th, 2007, 10:34 AM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What about blue mountain lodge in Banff? Have you heard anything about them? Yeah I know we are keeping kind of cheap so if we went up in price to 100 to 200 a night waht prospects are there?
Feb 21st, 2007, 02:48 AM
#11
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've driven most of those roads in the past couple of years and think you should have no problem. They are modern highways and the grades are modest with few if any switchbacks. Unless you have absolutly no experience driving something larger than a compact car, you should have no problem with a small RV.
Feb 21st, 2007, 07:57 AM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,944
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are you aware that there are big mountains much nearer to Vancouver?
Depending on the maps you are using, you might see the topgraphy, but more than likely, not.
The winter olympics ina few years are b eing held in and near Vancouv er; there are big enough mountains for this, and that means big enough mountains for lots of tourists, too.
It really is a long drive from Vancouver to Banff and Jaster, and delightful as both places are, I'd suggest a bit of a rethink on your trip, since you are already on the west coast of British Columbia.
Look for info on Whistler, British Columbia, to get an idea of the scope of the Coast Mountains.
Depending on where you are on Vancouver Island for the meetings, you might find some other areas well worth a day or two, too. Tofino and the far west coast of Vancouver Island is fascinating, and ab out as different from any part of Texas as you'll find in North America.
And you can head into the interior of British Columbia, without going as far as the Alberta b order, and see other fascinating scenery.
About driving in the mountains -- the roads are good from Vancouver to Banff and JAsper, so driving is no problem,. And the scenery is great as you drive along, so there's no real need to stop often to take int eh views. But, that said, you might have a b etter time, and see more in detail rather than just driving by, if you stayed within B.C.
BAK
Depending on the maps you are using, you might see the topgraphy, but more than likely, not.
The winter olympics ina few years are b eing held in and near Vancouv er; there are big enough mountains for this, and that means big enough mountains for lots of tourists, too.
It really is a long drive from Vancouver to Banff and Jaster, and delightful as both places are, I'd suggest a bit of a rethink on your trip, since you are already on the west coast of British Columbia.
Look for info on Whistler, British Columbia, to get an idea of the scope of the Coast Mountains.
Depending on where you are on Vancouver Island for the meetings, you might find some other areas well worth a day or two, too. Tofino and the far west coast of Vancouver Island is fascinating, and ab out as different from any part of Texas as you'll find in North America.
And you can head into the interior of British Columbia, without going as far as the Alberta b order, and see other fascinating scenery.
About driving in the mountains -- the roads are good from Vancouver to Banff and JAsper, so driving is no problem,. And the scenery is great as you drive along, so there's no real need to stop often to take int eh views. But, that said, you might have a b etter time, and see more in detail rather than just driving by, if you stayed within B.C.
BAK
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jahnsart
Canada
6
May 16th, 2017 05:49 AM
