Hi all,

Has anyone driven from Kalispell/Whitefish, MT to Lake Louis / Field, BC or vice versa? This would be for end of June. What's the best route ? Is the drive scenic ?

The itinerary is to fly in and out of Calgary; want to visit Waterton, Glacier, and continue up to the Canadian Rockies, over a period of two weeks.

Thank you in advance for sharing your driving experience between Glacier and Field.

I'm curious as to why Field is one of your destinations. It really isn't much more than a spot to stop for gas or a bite to eat at a truck stop. The town is very tiny and the only way to get to it is via the Trans Canada highway. The scenery is nice but it's not a "destination" the way Lake Louise is.
Glacier, Waterton and the Rockies are very scenic.
Coming north from Kalispell you might want to take Hwy 93 up though Fairmont and Radium and continue on it to Lake Louise/Banff. Or veer off on the 95 at Radium and head to Golden which is west of Lake Louise. You'd then get onto the Trans Canada and head east (through Field) to Banff, and from there back to Calgary.

Thanks for the direction and sorry for the confusion. We want to travel in a circle of the parks, staying in Waterton, Glacier, Field, Jasper, and Canmore.

Stephen Creek Guest Cabins in Field will be our base for travel around Lake Louise / Yoho NP.

Can the drive be done in one day ? Of the two, which one is more scenic ?

Your question is interesting -- best route? Rephrase that to only route without driving 200 miles out of your way, or going back across the Sun Road, north to Pincher Creek, and then north via Peter Lougheed Park to the Trans Canada Highway near Canmore.

It can be done in one day. The trip is without feature until you reach Kooetney NP in BC unless you deviate from your route. The way I have done it is to cross the border at Roosville and take BC 93 north to its junction with the Trans Canada at Castle Junction. Then turn left, north and west on the Trans Canada, as you travese Kicking Horse Pass.

The other option is to continue on BC 95 from Radium Hot Springs to Golden and turn east on the Trans Canada to Yoho National Park and Field.

I suggest doing Kooteney at one time or the other. There are several nice hikes in the park, particularly Stanley Glacier, which is more a hike these days to the Stanley Glacier Basin.

I would be a little careful what I had in my car at the Roosville crossing.
The last time I went north into Canada there we had to eat all our plums!!

The ascent out of the Rocky Mountain
Trench from Golden to the flat area of Yoho is spectacular as you follow the canyon upstream.

The Rocky Mountain Trench is geologially a very significant feature of the earth's surface, but if you don't know about plate tectonics, I suppose it is of little interest to you. Suffice it to say, the Columbia River flows in Trench and it marks the end of the North American tectonic plate. Everything else to the west came from someplace else so that people in BC would have a place to live.

The other route from Radium Hot Springs through Kootenay is very scenic as well because you come down the Big Hill from the crest of Kicking Horse Pass into Field. There is a viewpoint for the Spiral Tunnels.

Also there is a turn along the route to both Emerald Lake and Takkakaw Falls.
If you don't see both of those, you have wasted an opportunity.

Thanks Al for sharing your insights.

We will be spending 4 nights in Field for the purpose of exploring Lake Louise and Yoho. Emerald Lake and Takkakaw Falls are on top of the list.

Now I'm leaning toward driving through Kootenay and will consider the hike to Stanley Glacier, if time permits. Will save Golden & the Rocky Mountain Trench for one of the other days. What time does it get dark in late June ?

Any other recommendations around the Field / Golden area ?

thanks much!

>>>What time does it get dark in late June ?<<<

Nearly 10.00 p.m.

In Calgary, for example, official sunset time in late June is 9.55 p.m.

Where are you staying in Field?
As you may know, it is very small.
There is not a "real" grocery store there.
There is a cafe, the Truffle Pig.
The trains come and go frequently! But they are more reassuring than annoying.

Judy, thanks for the sunset time. I was worry that we might be driving in the dark around 9PM.

Bob, we will be staying at the Stephen Creek Guest Cabins. Didn't find much review on this property, but it was the only accommodation around Lake Louise / Field that offers a kitchette for a reasonable rate of $150.

http://www.stephencreekguestcabin.com

I know the area well, having stayed there more times than I can remember. I know where the cabin is, but I have never looked in it.

If you drive to the Truffle Pig, look for a house with a BIG rock in the front yard.
That is the Spiral Tunnel Guesthouse where I have stayed several times.

Let me suggest that if you plan on cooking that you come by way of Golden rather than through Kootney for the simple reason that you need to stop at the iGA market in Golden for food.

The market in Lake Louise village is not much.

If you don't want to do that, stop in Radium Hot Springs or earlier where you can find a real grocery store.

You may have to invest in a small styrofoam ice chest to keep cold stuff in.

We usually stop in Canmore but you will not be coming through Canmore.

Golden is not that far, but it is about a 40 minute drive.

One option is to get enough food to make do, and then drive to Banff or Golden to stock up. But that is going out of your way. It is easiest to get all you need on the way in.

Last year we stayed at Lake O'Hara and went to Banff to shop before we went to our apartment in Field.

Field is a good base. You can easily drive from Field up the Icefields Parkway for a half day, and use the other half coming back. I have put in quite a few 12 - 14 hour days out there I have put in out there admiring the scenery.

I don't know how much into hiking you are, but Yoho has the best trails around.

The Iceline Trail is an exceptional one.
It is demanding on the ascent, and you need good boots with lug soles to keep good footing.

I suggest two publications to enhance your enjoyment of the trip:
Ben Gadd's Handbook of the Canadian Rockies is a fabulous book for all aspects of the natural aspects of the Rockies. It has everything from geology to wildlife to wildflowers to climate.

Bart Robinson and Brian Patton have written a hiking guide that is now in its 7th edition: The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide. I don't think a visitor can do much on the trails without it.
I have bought several copies of it over the years, and the 7th edition stays within easy reach of my computer keyboard. It is simply the best hiking guide in English that I have seen, even better than Kev Reynolds classics on Switzerland.

There is a golden opportunity there for you. And to be honest abuot it, I suggest you hurry up the Waterton-Glacier part and get to the Canadian Rockies! (And yes I have been to both more than once.)

And I think you will like Calgary. It is one of my favorite cities in the world because of many reasons.

Bob, thanks for the information about iGA market in Golden for food. We plan on bringing an ice chest and stocking up on food in Calgary before departing for Waterton and Glacier (I should check with the rental car company at YYC if we can drive the rental car into US). So we'll probably stick with the Kootenay route. We do plan on driving by Golden during our stay in Field and might as well re-stock before heading up to Jasper; or are there decent market in Jasper town?

We love hiking and it's from this forum where I read that Yoho has some of the best hikes. Will definitely look into the two books you suggested since you're a regular there.

Just to answer your last question jd2jc, there are good markets in Jasper. There is an IGA there and you will be able to find lots of fresh fruit and veggies from street vendors, much of it will have been recently driven in from B.C.

If you are flying into Calgary, I have found that life is easier if you have your passport. If you have minor children and both parents are not on this trip, you may need a letter from the other parent. Lacking a passport, then be sure to have your birth certificate and a picture ID issued by a state agency.

You raise a very interesting question about an American driving a Canadian rental car into the States. I have done that a few times, and the only border station where I have gotten the 3rd degree was at Sweetgrass in Montana. (I knew I was in for it when the guy looked at my passport and then asked me my name. Although I had also handed him the rental contract as well, he also asked "Whose car is this?" So with passport and rental contract in hand, I get those two questions!! We went on from there: "Why is an American driving a Canadian car? How are you going home? Why did you fly into Calgary? Why are you flying home from Calgary? Why are you driving into the USA?)

At the crossing between Cardston and East Glacier and between Waterton and East Glacier, I never was asked any questions even though it was the same situation. I was driving a rental car from Calgary and I was crossing into the USA.

The situation seems to be hit or miss.

The border official at Sweetgrass was downright surly. He even told me my insurance was not any good in the States because I was driving a Canadian rental vehicle. Interesting, because before leaving home I had raised that specific point with a senior claims rep for my insurance company. He assured me I was OK; that my insurance was valid. But the border official proclaimed himself more expert than the senior claims rep.

I suppose it never dawned on the border guy that he was looking like an idiot by asking those questions, nor do I have any idea what kind of informaton he thought he would obtain by asking me that series of idiotic questions.

To preclude, hopefully, the type of grilling I got, I suggest you get a note from your rental agent in Calgary saying that you have permission to drive the car into the US. Of course, you may not need. Let us hope so.

In contrast, the Canadian officials have never asked me for any documentation. I find them professional and courteous at all times.

The only time I ever saw the Canadian border officials react was when a man driving a funky van responded inappropriately to the usual questions about alcohol, tobacco, and firearms.
He said he had enough boom boom in his van to blow up that end of Alberta and enough hootch to get all the Indians drunk.

As I drove away, the assembled forces were thoroughly inspecting the van. The insides were rapidly becoming the outsides, even the spare tire. I did not hang around to see if the tire came off the rim.

Every time I have crossed into Canada, I looked directly at the border official and answered every question as directly and as truthfully as I could. As a result I have never had any problems at all except for the time we had to eat 8 plums!!

Hi there...I saw that you stayed at the Stephen Creek Guest Cabin in Field. We have a reservation for 3 nights in early Sep. How was your experience? Much train noise? Was it a good base for seeing Yoho, Lake Louise area, Jasper, etc. That's what we're hoping! I'm very curious about your stay there...thanks. Diane

any way to get jd2jc's email address so I can ask her directly about the Stephen Creek Guest cabin? I'm hoping for some first hand advice about staying there. I have this concern about the trains during the night!!

While reading this post, I started questioning my choices for an upcoming trip. We are booked to stay at the Emerald Lake Lodge near Field for a portion of our trip next week to the Rockies. Is it too isolated? Seemed from the website to be in a beautiful locale and only a short dive from Lake Louise, such that it would be a fine base for exploring that area for a few days. Thoughts? Thanks in advance?

>>>>>>While reading this post, I started questioning my choices for an upcoming trip. We are booked to stay at the Emerald Lake Lodge near Field for a portion of our trip next week to the Rockies. Is it too isolated? Seemed from the website to be in a beautiful locale and only a short dive from Lake Louise, such that it would be a fine base for exploring that area for a few days. Thoughts? Thanks in advance?<<<<<<

I don't think you should second guess your decision. I feel you've made a good choice. You said you would stay at Emerald Lake Lodge for <b>a portion</b> of your trip. I wouldn't suggest staying at ELL for two weeks. Actually I wouldn't suggest staying in any one spot in the Rockies for two weeks. In order to get the best out of the area, you do need to move around a bit. However, if you'll be staying at ELL and also staying in at least one other place, you should achieve a good balance.

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, we are only staying at ELL for 3 nights then on to Canmore and the Bear and Bison Inn.

Just recently read about the Lake O'Hara Lodge on this forum, but it doesn't have rooms with king, or even queen size, beds and the baths are shared in the lodge. We are king bed/ private bath types of people. It appears we may drive a bit to find interesting resturant or variation on hikes from ELL, but none of the drives sounds daunting.

Sorry vacation queen for not replying to your question promptly. I don't know how to set up my account to receive e-mail notification for questions or messages I initiated.

For what it's worth, we loved our stay at the Stephen Creek River Cabin =)

Just wondering what both jd2jc and vacation queen thought about the Stephen Creek guest cabin...or does anyone else know anything about it?