ItstheJourney

Also wondering if we should make a special effort to move around our lodging dates to stay here. Would like to stay somewhere along the Parkway...and, will be getting a late start from Yoho area. (5pm) Thought staying at Bow Lake would be interesting...could hike it in the morning.

But currently they are booked solid on the date we'd be interested...w/little hope of openings as they have a very strict cancellation policy. We could switch dates around, but makes everything a tad more complicated.

Has anybody here stayed there before?
The Icefields Chalet hotel would be another option, but seems to not have much character. (be a bit sterile)

Is Num-Ti-Jah worth it?

brookwood

Hmm. I don't think Num Ti Jah is worth doing major surgery on your plans.
The Crossing is near there. It is more of a normal motel. It certainly is not as expensive. Our room was a little small, but it gave us a chance to get an early start and do the glacier buggy trip before driving on to Jasper.

The lake itself is highly visible from the view point as is the glacier. The hike I suggest is the one to the Bow Glacier Falls. It takes some effort to get up there, and the falls are quite spectacular.

The Icefields Chalet offers nice rooms, and good views of the glacier.
Sterile? No more so than other places out there.
My son stayed here and liked his accommodations.

WanderingRose

If we'd like to hike at Bow Lake to the Falls, lighting better early or late in the day?

How long do you think it is from there to the Crossing or Icefields Chalet??
Thanks so much for your input

brookwood

Bow Lake and Falls are on the north slope of the mountains around there.

Lighting is a problem because the direction in which look is to the south. The sun will never be truly at your back. As a result, I always take my sunshade for my camera lens.

The walk to the falls is hard to predict. If you are a fast hiker, I would say 90 minutes from the lodge.
It depends on where you terminate it!!
Some people like to scramble up the falls.

The trail skirts the outwash plain of the retreated glacier and it can be muddy as x.

There are a few very steep pitches on the trail despite the fact that you gain less than 500 feet going out there. It seems like you gain 400 feet of the total in about 100 steps.

The time from there to Jasper is about 3 hours or less. It depends on where you stop. The distance from The Crossing to Jasper is only 95 miles or so.

Bow Falls to the Crossing is a short trip. Perhaps 35 miles?
Certainly no more than 40.

WanderingRose

Thanks, Brookwood! Sorry to add a question to this thread, but we too are interested in exploring around Bow Lake.

bob_brown

Bow Lake is in the valley and the glacier is above it. Bow Falls are west of the lake and to get to them for a closer look, you must cross the outwash plain. It is a flat low area.

I think the falls are worth the effort.

Before you select where you want to go, and firmly make up your mind, let me suggest acquiring a copy of the Candian Rockies Trail Guide by Patton and Robinson. This classic is in its 7th edition last I heard and it will tell you better than any other source about the hikes in the whole area.

I don't leave home to visit the Rockies without it. It is available in the area. I think I got one of my copies at the bookstore in Lake Louise village, wwhich is a very good bookstore by the way. Full of good stuff about the Rockies.

Or, if you are coming from the other way, I hope the giftshop in the visitor center for Yoho NP has it as well.

You also can find the book on the web. Don't fool with Amazon; it hasn't figured out how to get it. Try
www.canrockbooks.com

WanderingRose

Thanks so much, Bob & Brookwood.
Based on your prior recommendations, Bob, I already placed a special request "hold" at the Library for this title. They'll be borrowing it from out-of-state. Fun!

bob_brown

One thing I like about the Patton and Robinson book is the good estimates on distance and elevation gain.

You need to read the text to find information about stream crossings where you have no bridge.

No bridge means you wade across. I try to avoid those trails. Some hikers carry sandals or jogging shoes to slip on but they are more dedicated that I am.

Another walk I like is Stanley Glacier in Kooteney. The glacier is only a big chunk of ice these days, but the valley is full of waterfalls. You can wander around to get closer tothe falls once the trail becomes vague. Not much chance of getting lost because you are in a bowl.

WanderingRose

Glad to hear Stanley Glacier is well worth doing. Would love to do a highlight hike in Kootenay, as last time, we only drove through. (w/a quick stop at Olive Lake/Pond)

Haven't even seen the Paint Pots there yet. Looking forward to it!
Will probably have that book in hand by next week. (just in time for our trip w/in a few weeks)

Will let others know where we end up borrowing the book from, in case others would like to do similar.

bob_brown

Last year, the area around the pots and Marble Canyon was not open. A forest fire burned the bridges at Marble. Hopefully, the parking area has reopened.

I am not sure the paint pots are worth a lot of time given all the other options out there.

Marble Canyon is one of those limetone slot canyons that is like 100 meters deep in place and very narrow. Similar ones are at Mistaya and lake Maligne east of Jasper.

I mentioned Stanley Falls only because it is one of the short and good ones in Kooteney.

We ended up there one day after we pulled into the Johnston Canyon parking lot only to find parking fruitless. There were about 8 vehicles circling the lot waiting for someone to pull out and cars were parked in some unusual places.

It reminded me of the local situation on football Saturdays when people put SUV's of the Tahoe size in a place about right for a Beetle.