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07-25-2020, 12:08 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
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Glacier, Banff, Jasper - July or September?
There is so much good information here on these national parks, very helpful for choosing campgrounds, what to see, all that. We want to visit all these places either before or after the Alaska Caravan next summer, maybe spend 3 or 4 weeks. So that means mid-June/early July (crazy busy, according to those who've been there), or mid-September/early October. Less crowded is obviously better, but we'd probably have to hustle to get to Glacier before the campgrounds close. And snow is a concern by then. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance for your help.
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07-25-2020, 01:04 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,592
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We have enjoyed Jasper and Banff more in September, just a little less crazy. It will still be busy, you won't be the only one with that idea, but if school is back in that impacts visitor numbers.
Not sure what your route will be, but we regularly drove from Grande Prairie down Hwy 40 through Grande Cache and Hinton to get to Jasper, then the parkway to Lake Louise/Banff. Grande Prairie is just over from Dawson Creek, mile zero.
We live in Vancouver now, but have family in Calgary, so are through Banff every month or two. Ask away.
Jeff
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07-25-2020, 01:08 PM
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#3
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,617
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After the 2018 Alaska Caravan we spent a couple of nights in Jasper, Calgary and then Glacier. We had a little snow in Jasper, but crowds were down and it was a great time to visit.
__________________
Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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07-25-2020, 01:20 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2019 22' Sport
Port Coquitlam
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 1,321
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Hi Janice, If you are going to head to Glacier first, Are you going to travel stateside? Probably more highway choices down there. Then up into Alberta and west to Banff. There are few routes. Once you depart Banff, take the Icefields Parkway to Jasper.
Sounds like a great trip itinerary! I would certainly enjoy this route. We did this in parts on several trips. If you haven't been to Glacier before, the road to the top is quite something but leave the trailer at the trailer at the campsite.
You do have a short weather window when dealing with Alpine elevations. What Jeff said about the visitor numbers is bang on. It will still be busy in September. If you go earlier, you will run into the summer holiday kids and families so expect it to be packed in many places.
__________________
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Peter.
"Live Long and Prosper \\//" - Spock
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07-25-2020, 01:37 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2015 23' FB International
2007 19' International CCD
Steamboat Springs
, Colorado
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,020
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Try to fit Waterton in your itinerary. Glacier to Waterton, then highway 40 to connect to TransCanada to Banff/Tunnel Mountain campground.
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07-25-2020, 01:55 PM
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#6
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Trailer Sold, Waving
2019 26' Flying Cloud
Stettler
, Alberta
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,032
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Am I missing something? East side of Glacier, and the Canadian border, is closed to all non-essential travel.
__________________
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
2019 Airstream Flying Cloud 26RBQ
WBCCI #6679
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07-25-2020, 01:58 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,592
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Acheron2010
Am I missing something? East side of Glacier, and the Canadian border, is closed to all non-essential travel.
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Next year, 2021.
We don’t know that it will be open for tourists, but one can always plan.
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07-25-2020, 03:28 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcl
We live in Vancouver now, but have family in Calgary, so are through Banff every month or two. Ask away.
Jeff
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Jeff, well first, lucky you! Anyway, we'd like to find a place within an hour or two of Dawson Creek to relax, do laundry, clean the trailer, etc. before joining the caravan. Would Grande Prairie be a good place to do that? Can you recommend a campground? I like full hook ups if I'm scrubbing up the trailer, but that's not essential.
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07-25-2020, 03:38 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azflycaster
After the 2018 Alaska Caravan we spent a couple of nights in Jasper, Calgary and then Glacier. We had a little snow in Jasper, but crowds were down and it was a great time to visit.
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Thank you, Richard. Good to know. Friends from our unit were on the 2018 caravan with you, sounds like it was fabulous! I am beyond excited about this trip but as Acheron pointed - it all depends on the border opening back up.
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07-25-2020, 03:41 PM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steamy1
Try to fit Waterton in your itinerary. Glacier to Waterton, then highway 40 to connect to TransCanada to Banff/Tunnel Mountain campground.
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I'll certainly try to do that. A lot of others have mentioned Waterton, and there are many other side trips and lesser known places that are popping up. There is always another interesting place just down the road.
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07-25-2020, 03:53 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PB_NB
Hi Janice, If you are going to head to Glacier first, Are you going to travel stateside?
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Peter, I should have mentioned, we are leaving from Chicago. If we do this little excursion in September, should we still travel through the States to Montana and then hang a right? Google Maps sends us over the border in North Dakota, then through Sascatchewan and Alberta. I would like to see as much of Canada as possible because who knows if we will ever get back there again. Your advice is appreciated.
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07-25-2020, 04:21 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2019 22' Sport
Port Coquitlam
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 1,321
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I figured that you would be heading West from Illinois,
Sounds good, my sister and her family are in Southern Sask. they have been there for a few winters which start pretty early! You should wave to them as you cruise through their area
There is no question that the scenery you will see with be fantastic! Pretty flat in the prairies with a very big sky just like Montana so you can see some interesting weather systems building. The Rockies are spectacular!
In order to have the best opportunity to get some campsites, check the Provincial and National park websites to see how far ahead you can reserve and put those dates on your calendar. You need to be really quick as the sites get booked really fast quickly.
Where does the Alaska Caravan meet and travel to?
__________________
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Peter.
"Live Long and Prosper \\//" - Spock
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07-25-2020, 06:44 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,592
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Quote:
Originally Posted by janicemd
Jeff, well first, lucky you! Anyway, we'd like to find a place within an hour or two of Dawson Creek to relax, do laundry, clean the trailer, etc. before joining the caravan. Would Grande Prairie be a good place to do that? Can you recommend a campground? I like full hook ups if I'm scrubbing up the trailer, but that's not essential.
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If you are meeting up in Dawson Creek, GP is the best place to stock up and clean up. Grande Prairie is a regional distribution centre so has shopping and services far beyond what its population would suggest. Costco, etc, and all without Provincial sales tax.
We lived there, so never camped in town, but I recall the Rotary campground is convenient and was well regarded.
You could travel one way through Canada and the other via US 2.
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07-25-2020, 09:41 PM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
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Thanks for the recommendation, Jeff. It looks nice, and I like the "no sales tax" part!
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07-25-2020, 10:03 PM
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#15
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
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Thank you Peter, I'll look for those websites. I don't have the full itinerary yet, but it meets in Dawson Creek, and I know we'll go to Denali and the Kenai Peninsula. Not sure about anything else, and honestly - it doesn't even matter! Alaska and the Canadian Rockies are legendary.
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07-27-2020, 09:59 AM
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#16
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Ronald Witherspoon
1974 29' Ambassador
Shawnigan Lake
, British Columbia
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 27
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Highway 16 as a return option
We have camped in Banff/Jasper 15 times, we prefer early Sept. We have been in snow storms in both July and Sept. We would cross the prairies on 16 instead of 1 as the scenery is much better.
One also has more choices for camp sites. September during harvest on the prairies can have spectacular weather.
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07-28-2020, 05:02 AM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member
1991 34' Limited
Tucson
, Arizona
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 83
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Make reservations for Jasper. Last year we stayed in the overflow lot - a just like camping in Seward. Gravel and not much more. Need full tank of water going in as there is none for trailer trash. Dump station is just south of town.
Stayed at a smaller campground near the ice fields. No problem getting a space in mid July. Again, no hookups.
While visiting Waterton last summer we stayed at Payne Lake Campground just outside the park. Nice quiet spot. My cousin from Lethbridge says it’s his favorite fishing hole.
Payne Lake AB Parks Campground
Unnamed Road, Mountain View, AB T0K 1N0, Canada
https://goo.gl/maps/jcpvSJpyLNzoexcP8
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07-28-2020, 06:40 AM
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#18
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3 Rivet Member
2007 25' Safari
Rogers
, AR
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 180
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Our maiden trip was from Arkansas to Banff for Labor Day two years ago. I was told it wouldn't be busy so we didn't bother with reservations. We got the VERY LAST site in all of BNP at Lake Louise. We had to move to another the next day but it was great. Lake Louise was a great spot, electric only. Never needed A/C. Barely got to freezing at night.
West Glacier KOA RESORT was incredible
Only wish we would've stayed longer
__________________
2007 Airstream 25FB Safari LS - GY Endurance Prodigy Wireless - Andersen
2005 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 2500HD Duramax Allison
2008 Porsche Cayenne Turbo 500hp/516lb-ft
2014 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S 550hp/553tq
2005 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 5.3L built 4L60e, 40k Tru-cool
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07-28-2020, 07:53 AM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RWitherspoon
We have camped in Banff/Jasper 15 times, we prefer early Sept. We have been in snow storms in both July and Sept. We would cross the prairies on 16 instead of 1 as the scenery is much better.
One also has more choices for camp sites. September during harvest on the prairies can have spectacular weather.
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15 times! Lucky you! Do you think mid- to late- September is too late? Our caravan ends in Prince George around Sept. 13. I would like to spend a week in each place but that might be pushing it.
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07-28-2020, 08:04 AM
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#20
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3 Rivet Member
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
Chicago
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 102
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hikingsolo
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Agree about reservations, I'm researching campgrounds now. And I'm trying to sort out the booking windows. Anyway, thanks for the tip about Waterton. I will definitely check it out.
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