BC/AB Can this be done and still see the sites Clearwater, BC to Canmore, AB
Sep 19th, 2003, 11:38 PM
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BC/AB Can this be done and still see the sites Clearwater, BC to Canmore, AB
I not sure if the times are correct from mapquest. If anyone can give me a little better idea for the Canada part I sure would appreciate it.
Tue, Oct 21
1. San Jose,CA to Portland = 10 1/2 hrs.
Wed Oct 22
2. Portland to Kamloops, BC = 7 hrs, 48min
Thurs Oct 23
3. Kamloops to Jasper = 8 1/2 hrs
Snocoach closed on 20th.
Fri Oct 24
4. Jasper to LAKE LOUISE 5 hours
SAURDAY OCT 24
5. Lake Louise to Celista, BC(Lake Shuswap)= 6 hr. We stay in this area for a week.
I'm starting to worry if all this driving is going to be worth it. How dark is it going to be from Oct 21 to 25? Will we be able to have enough time to see the wonderful things I have read here. We have had to choose our motels because we have our dog with us. Marge
Tue, Oct 21
1. San Jose,CA to Portland = 10 1/2 hrs.
Wed Oct 22
2. Portland to Kamloops, BC = 7 hrs, 48min
Thurs Oct 23
3. Kamloops to Jasper = 8 1/2 hrs
Snocoach closed on 20th.
Fri Oct 24
4. Jasper to LAKE LOUISE 5 hours
SAURDAY OCT 24
5. Lake Louise to Celista, BC(Lake Shuswap)= 6 hr. We stay in this area for a week.
I'm starting to worry if all this driving is going to be worth it. How dark is it going to be from Oct 21 to 25? Will we be able to have enough time to see the wonderful things I have read here. We have had to choose our motels because we have our dog with us. Marge
Sep 20th, 2003, 12:15 AM
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Those estimated driving times are way too long!!
Kamloops to Jasper - 5 hours (even if you briefly stop a couple of times along the way for a break, and you may want to stop at Mt. Robson, especially if it is clear and you can see the top of the mountain).
Jasper to Lake Louise - if you drive without stopping, it takes about 2.5 hours. However, you will definitely want to stop at the many scenic viewpoints and at the Columbia Icefields, so plan for more time than that (I would allow for an hour stop if you want to walk to the toe of the glacier and then to take advantage of the facilities on the other side of the highway).
Lake Louise to Shuswap - we actually did this drive in August; it took approximately 4 hours to Sorrento on the Trans Canada highway (not including stops). From just past Sorrento you'll have to drive around the lake to get to Celista, I'm not sure how long that will take, maybe 20 to 30 minutes (?).
The one thing that may slow you down is the weather. If it happens to snow, which at the end of October is a real possibility in the Jasper to Lake Louise region, the driving times will naturally be much longer.
Were you also planning to visit Banff and Canmore? Banff is a 45 minute drive from Lake Louise, and Canmore is another 20 minutes past Banff.
Except for the marathon drives that you have planned in the US, I think that you can easily drive the distances that you have planned in the daylight hours. Jasper, the furthest north that you will be, gets about 9 to 10 hours of daylight (sunrise to sunset) at the end of October.
Kamloops to Jasper - 5 hours (even if you briefly stop a couple of times along the way for a break, and you may want to stop at Mt. Robson, especially if it is clear and you can see the top of the mountain).
Jasper to Lake Louise - if you drive without stopping, it takes about 2.5 hours. However, you will definitely want to stop at the many scenic viewpoints and at the Columbia Icefields, so plan for more time than that (I would allow for an hour stop if you want to walk to the toe of the glacier and then to take advantage of the facilities on the other side of the highway).
Lake Louise to Shuswap - we actually did this drive in August; it took approximately 4 hours to Sorrento on the Trans Canada highway (not including stops). From just past Sorrento you'll have to drive around the lake to get to Celista, I'm not sure how long that will take, maybe 20 to 30 minutes (?).
The one thing that may slow you down is the weather. If it happens to snow, which at the end of October is a real possibility in the Jasper to Lake Louise region, the driving times will naturally be much longer.
Were you also planning to visit Banff and Canmore? Banff is a 45 minute drive from Lake Louise, and Canmore is another 20 minutes past Banff.
Except for the marathon drives that you have planned in the US, I think that you can easily drive the distances that you have planned in the daylight hours. Jasper, the furthest north that you will be, gets about 9 to 10 hours of daylight (sunrise to sunset) at the end of October.
Sep 20th, 2003, 03:27 PM
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The timing from San Jose to Portland is quite accurate...with no sightseeing. Just wanted to share my input on *that* leg of the journey. (Did something similar to that stretch in May.)
Is there any way you could slow down on the initial part of the trip through Jasper & Lake Louise? Seems like a lot of driving w/little opportunity to sight-see, on that first half of your trip. Do I understand correctly, that you then have a week in Celista, at the end? Any chance to borrow a few days from there, to savor the Jasper/Lake Louise sights more? Just wondering...
Have a great trip...
if you've never been to the region...no matter what you can 'grab' for time, it's worth it!
Is there any way you could slow down on the initial part of the trip through Jasper & Lake Louise? Seems like a lot of driving w/little opportunity to sight-see, on that first half of your trip. Do I understand correctly, that you then have a week in Celista, at the end? Any chance to borrow a few days from there, to savor the Jasper/Lake Louise sights more? Just wondering...
Have a great trip...
if you've never been to the region...no matter what you can 'grab' for time, it's worth it!
Sep 21st, 2003, 03:24 PM
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Hi, I tried Yahoo maps and got better miles and times. I'm trying to adjust the times so we can slow down and enjoy. Thanks for the help with the adjustments. So now it's:
1. We can get to Vancouver, WA 10 1/2 hrs. With staying on I-5 we can get further in the same am't of time. Hope this will help someone in the future.
2. Vancover to Clearwater, BC = 9 hrs
Spend time in Gray Wells Park next day. Understand it might be better than Jasper etc.
3. Clearwater to Jasper = 4+ hrs with Mt. Robson stop. Should we spend the night???? in Jasper.
QUESTION: Can we see some of the sites on Icefileds Pky by car? ex. Athabasca Falls. I'm making this trip just for the glacier. Or do you have to take a tour? It looks like we should not spend the night in Jasper and just keep going and spend the night in LL. This is drving me crazy.
Borealis: I was going to spend the night in Canmore then thought it might add too much and we should only go as far as LL. That's something that you did this same trip to Shuswap. The gal at Celista (St. Ives) said it might be about 7 hrs from Banff.
R - We had thought about that depending on the advice I get here. In the beginning it was so hard just to know how far we could drive.
I hit something and hope I have edited this. Sorry if not. Thanks you for taking the time to help me. This trip is very important to me and I want to see all that weather will permit. I'll call their tourism office tomorrow. But please help where you can. Marge
1. We can get to Vancouver, WA 10 1/2 hrs. With staying on I-5 we can get further in the same am't of time. Hope this will help someone in the future.
2. Vancover to Clearwater, BC = 9 hrs
Spend time in Gray Wells Park next day. Understand it might be better than Jasper etc.
3. Clearwater to Jasper = 4+ hrs with Mt. Robson stop. Should we spend the night???? in Jasper.
QUESTION: Can we see some of the sites on Icefileds Pky by car? ex. Athabasca Falls. I'm making this trip just for the glacier. Or do you have to take a tour? It looks like we should not spend the night in Jasper and just keep going and spend the night in LL. This is drving me crazy.
Borealis: I was going to spend the night in Canmore then thought it might add too much and we should only go as far as LL. That's something that you did this same trip to Shuswap. The gal at Celista (St. Ives) said it might be about 7 hrs from Banff.
R - We had thought about that depending on the advice I get here. In the beginning it was so hard just to know how far we could drive.
I hit something and hope I have edited this. Sorry if not. Thanks you for taking the time to help me. This trip is very important to me and I want to see all that weather will permit. I'll call their tourism office tomorrow. But please help where you can. Marge
Sep 21st, 2003, 07:54 PM
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Hello Marge,
Yes your trip is a lot of driving, but if you like being on the road, most of the way is very scenic, so the time passes quite quickly.
I think the estimate of 9 hours from Vancouver to Clearwater is way too long even if you are planning to drive the Trans Canada (highway 1) from Hope to Kamloops.
The best (fastest) route is the Coquihalla (highway 5, a toll highway)a multi-lane divided highway with a speed limit of 110 km/h (approx 69 mph), and it will take you from Hope to Kamloops in about 2 hours (longer only if you are hauling a trailer or driving an RV).
Vancouver to Hope tends to be rather tedious, and if you starting right from downtown Vancouver it will take approx 1 3/4 hours (less time if you are coming into Canada around Abbotsford).
Clearwater is approx 130 km (80 miles) north of Kamloops, it'll take about 1 1/2 hours to drive.
So if you add it up, that takes you to about 5 1/2 hours total driving time Vancouver to Clearwater.
Just a word of explanation - we live in Alberta and drive this route frequently. I have friends who make the drive all the way from Jasper to Vancouver in 8 hours!!!
Personally I like Jasper - it has sentimental appeal for me because that's where we spent our honeymoon (in the winter = February - it was gorgeous, lots of snow etc.)
Jasper (the town) is smaller and quieter than Banff, but it is the headquarters for Jasper National Park, so it's the best place to get information about the park highlights (the information office is on the main street = Connaught Drive).
To see the waterfalls (Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls), you do have to park your car and walk (there are trails around each), but if all you want is a quick peek, you can do each in about a 10 minute stop.
Yes you can see the Columbia Icefield from the highway - it is massive!! (in fact, you can't miss it unless rain, snow or fog obscure visibility). There are snocoach tours to the top of the glacier, although I don't know if they run at this time of the year.
I can't tell you much about Wells Grey -sorry - we haven't visited that area at all.
The travel time estimate from the lady at Celista seems a bit long; as I wrote earlier, we drove from Lake Louise to Shuswap Lake in about 4 hours this summer, and Banff is only another 45 minutes from Lake Louise.
(In my "other" - non-travelling - life, I am a scientist, and so even on holidays I am a notorious note-taker and number cruncher!! - that is why I am so sure about my estimates
!!)
Both Banff National Park and Jasper national park have websites, all you have to do is a Google search and you will find lots of information. (the "Where in ...." people also publish tourist guides to Jasper and Banff and they have a website as well).
Have a great trip!!
Yes your trip is a lot of driving, but if you like being on the road, most of the way is very scenic, so the time passes quite quickly.
I think the estimate of 9 hours from Vancouver to Clearwater is way too long even if you are planning to drive the Trans Canada (highway 1) from Hope to Kamloops.
The best (fastest) route is the Coquihalla (highway 5, a toll highway)a multi-lane divided highway with a speed limit of 110 km/h (approx 69 mph), and it will take you from Hope to Kamloops in about 2 hours (longer only if you are hauling a trailer or driving an RV).
Vancouver to Hope tends to be rather tedious, and if you starting right from downtown Vancouver it will take approx 1 3/4 hours (less time if you are coming into Canada around Abbotsford).
Clearwater is approx 130 km (80 miles) north of Kamloops, it'll take about 1 1/2 hours to drive.
So if you add it up, that takes you to about 5 1/2 hours total driving time Vancouver to Clearwater.
Just a word of explanation - we live in Alberta and drive this route frequently. I have friends who make the drive all the way from Jasper to Vancouver in 8 hours!!!
Personally I like Jasper - it has sentimental appeal for me because that's where we spent our honeymoon (in the winter = February - it was gorgeous, lots of snow etc.)
Jasper (the town) is smaller and quieter than Banff, but it is the headquarters for Jasper National Park, so it's the best place to get information about the park highlights (the information office is on the main street = Connaught Drive).
To see the waterfalls (Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Falls), you do have to park your car and walk (there are trails around each), but if all you want is a quick peek, you can do each in about a 10 minute stop.
Yes you can see the Columbia Icefield from the highway - it is massive!! (in fact, you can't miss it unless rain, snow or fog obscure visibility). There are snocoach tours to the top of the glacier, although I don't know if they run at this time of the year.
I can't tell you much about Wells Grey -sorry - we haven't visited that area at all.
The travel time estimate from the lady at Celista seems a bit long; as I wrote earlier, we drove from Lake Louise to Shuswap Lake in about 4 hours this summer, and Banff is only another 45 minutes from Lake Louise.
(In my "other" - non-travelling - life, I am a scientist, and so even on holidays I am a notorious note-taker and number cruncher!! - that is why I am so sure about my estimates
!!)Both Banff National Park and Jasper national park have websites, all you have to do is a Google search and you will find lots of information. (the "Where in ...." people also publish tourist guides to Jasper and Banff and they have a website as well).
Have a great trip!!
Sep 21st, 2003, 10:30 PM
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Hi Borealis,
I have just spent loads of time on TravelAlberta.com and have a little better understanding of where things are and things we won't have time for.
If we get to Jasper earlier enough we hope to have time to go to Athabasca Falls & Mount Edith Cavell then back to Jasper for the night.
Thanks again for the update on mileage. This will be a just beautiful drive.
Marge
I have just spent loads of time on TravelAlberta.com and have a little better understanding of where things are and things we won't have time for.
If we get to Jasper earlier enough we hope to have time to go to Athabasca Falls & Mount Edith Cavell then back to Jasper for the night.
Thanks again for the update on mileage. This will be a just beautiful drive.
Marge
Sep 23rd, 2003, 02:09 AM
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Yes, I'd vote for an overnight in Jasper. As you noted, there's plenty to see there! (for several nights..but I understand your time constraints) I agree w/Borealis, that the Falls you mention, are car stops, but quite brief to walk to, if you need to hurry. If not, you might want to spend a half hour at these.
I believe the drive to Maligne Lake is about the time you gave here, or on your other posting. That's my recollection from our other trip, years ago. We'll be there in a few weeks, but I won't be able to post feedback to you, 'til too close when you leave, probably.
Lastly, as far as the SnowCoaches go...I believe they close around Oct. 20. Here's a link to more info...
www.brewster.ca/attractions/icefieldcontact.asp
You probably already have that, but I'd give them a call to confirm this season's dates. We drove the Parkway in the past & it's just gorgeous from your car, even. We didn't have time to do the coaches...and didn't feel 'cheated' in the slightest. So, if you can't do those...I still think you'll feel like the drive was MORE than worth it, no matter what. (unless the weather is socked in or rainy...but, that's just out of anyone's control) ;-) Good luck to you, Rosemary
I believe the drive to Maligne Lake is about the time you gave here, or on your other posting. That's my recollection from our other trip, years ago. We'll be there in a few weeks, but I won't be able to post feedback to you, 'til too close when you leave, probably.
Lastly, as far as the SnowCoaches go...I believe they close around Oct. 20. Here's a link to more info...
www.brewster.ca/attractions/icefieldcontact.asp
You probably already have that, but I'd give them a call to confirm this season's dates. We drove the Parkway in the past & it's just gorgeous from your car, even. We didn't have time to do the coaches...and didn't feel 'cheated' in the slightest. So, if you can't do those...I still think you'll feel like the drive was MORE than worth it, no matter what. (unless the weather is socked in or rainy...but, that's just out of anyone's control) ;-) Good luck to you, Rosemary
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