Banff/Jasper
 

Last night, I enjoyed browsing this bulletin board. Today, it appears differently. Now, I see CANADA and then a question and answer appears in the middle of the screen. Last night, I was able to browse a variety of notes on Bannf & Jasper and could see all the titles in order to pick the ones that were things that I was interested in.

1. Any idea how to change the screen settings? I couldn't figure it out.

My question - we had planned to have three nights in Banff (or Canmore) and then explore both Banff and Jasper. However I've quickly discovered that that was probably way too optimistic.

2. Is it unrealistic to use Canmore as a base and then drive up to Jasper and back in the same day? I am thinking so.

My new thinking is to drive from Regina to Jasper via Edmonton (rather than the southern route to Banff). Then we'd spend two nights in Jasper.

(spend night before in Jasper after driving from Edmonton)

Day 1 - cruise on Maligne Lake
Jasper Tramway
look at the Jasper Park Lodge

Day 2 - drive the Icefields Parkway to Banff on the way - do the Athaabasca Glacier
stay in Banff or Cranmore

Day 3 - look at Chateau Lake Louse and Banff Springs hotel
Banff Gondola

Then we would spend a second night there or leave for Glacier.

3. Am I missing anything not to be missed? Do the revised plan make more sense than driving the Icefields Parkway twice?

4. We are considering the Canadian Rockies Chalets in Banff. Is anyone familiar with them?

Debbie

Also does anyone have any comments on Sumwapta Falls Resort in Jasper? Is it OK?

Thanks - Debbie

Yes, the "Alberta Circle Tour" is a better was of seeing the Rockies. It would be a very tiring day to drive the Icefield Parkway both ways on one day, especially if you were making a lot of stops to see the sights along the way (and there are lots of those!!).

Here are some of my thoughts about your trip:

You COULD - if you were really determined and had a very early start (6 a.m. ) drive all the way from Regina to Jasper (it would take about 11 hours). However, a better pace is to drive Regina to Edmonton on your first day, and to book accommodation on the city's west end. That way, the next morning after breakfast, you will be on the highway heading west in no time, and 3.5 to 4 hours later will arrive in Jasper townsite. There are a nimber of nice motels on the west end of Edmonton, including some near West Edmonton Mall (plus the Fantasyland Hotel right in the mall).

For your "home base" in Banff National Park, you could stay in Banff or Lake Louise, or even in Canmore just outside of the National Park - any of the three is centrally located enough. However, if you also want to see Yoho National Park, it might be better to use Lake Louise as a base - not as much driving.
Lake Louise to Banff is a 45 minute drive.
Banff to Canmore is a 10 to 15 minute drive.

If you are driving back to Regina through Calgary, I would suggest making the short detour north-east to visit Drumheller, the Badlands and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology.

And instead of driving east on the Trans Canada - drive to Cypress Hills (just south of Maple Creek) - there is a very pleasant small resort there, in the lodgepole pine covered hills (highest elevation west of the Rockies). Then drive home south through Eastend and Shaunavon etc. - there is some very interesting and unique countryside around there - we have even seen antelope on the road "out in the middle of nowhere", while exploring southwest Saskatchewan.

Have fun, and happy trails!!

Debbie - Sunwapta Falls is aapproximately 55 km south of Jasper townsite. We have never stayed there, but have stopped at the Falls, visited the souvenir shop, eaten at the cafeteria, it was busy but OK. The accommodation looks fine from the outside, but otherwise I can't comment, sorry.

Thanks for your quick reply.

We plan to drive back through the northern United States and spending a day at Glacier on the way. We will be ending up in the Midwest.

We are thinking that the route through Edmonton would be best - and maybe we could make a "quick" stop at the mall just to have seen it.

Debbie

Hello Debbie,

In addition to the excellent information that Borealis has given you, here are a few other attractions to consider.

Maligne Canyon, which is just outside of Jasper townsite, on the way to Maligne Lake, is lovely. It's worth walking into it a little way.

Although Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls are nice, and I do recommend stopping to see them, my favourite stop on the Icefields Parkway is Peyto Lake Lookout.

My favourite attraction in the Lake Louise area is Moraine Lake. It's 14 km from Lake Louise.

If you have the time to drive a short distance west from Lake Louise into Yoho National Park, do have a look at Takakkaw Falls and Emerald Lake.

I'm not familiar with Canadian Rockies Chalets, so I did an Internet search for the property. I found it was in Canmore, 20 km east of Banff, rather than in Banff townsite. There's nothing wrong with Canmore, but I thought you should be aware that the property is not actually in Banff.

Sorry, I don't understand the problem you were having with this web site. I don't remember experiencing the scenario you've described. I hope the site has returned to normal for you.

Hope you have a good trip.

Judy - Thanks so much for your response. When I was browsing last night, I read many of your very detailed notes and you are great! I'll print out the notes to take with us.

Debbie