 |
|
01-03-2025, 01:35 PM
|
#1
|
2 Rivet Member 
Woodinville
, Washington
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 75
|
Western Canada Summer 25
Hi!
We will be traveling from the Seattle area up into British Columbia, Alberta and perhaps Saskatchewan this summer. We've been to Banff and Jasper, and while we loved both, I think we're wanting to avoid the crowds and reservation challenges in those two parks. We'd love to hear any recommendations as to places to stay or things to see. We plan to be in Canada a couple weeks before dropping back into the U.S. and heading to the Jackson Hole area. We have a 27' 2024.5 Globetrotter and have been Airstreaming for over 30 years. Just the two of us and our 2 year old Golden Retriever. Thank you!
__________________
Kevin
2024.5 Globetrotter 27
2021 F150 Powerboost Limited
|
|
|
01-03-2025, 01:52 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master 
2019 22' Sport
Port Coquitlam
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 1,418
|
Porteau Cove - BC Parks
Juniper Beach - BC Parks
Okanagan Lake North - BC Parks
These are a few of the ones that I like. Book early as these tend to fill up quickly.
My wife has some spots in Alberta and Sask as we are heading that way in June
__________________
--------------------
Peter.
"Live Long and Prosper \\//" - Spock
|
|
|
01-03-2025, 09:34 PM
|
#3
|
2 Rivet Member 
Woodinville
, Washington
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 75
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by PB_NB
Porteau Cove - BC Parks
Juniper Beach - BC Parks
Okanagan Lake North - BC Parks
These are a few of the ones that I like. Book early as these tend to fill up quickly.
My wife has some spots in Alberta and Sask as we are heading that way in June
|
Thank you! I’ll look into them.
__________________
Kevin
2024.5 Globetrotter 27
2021 F150 Powerboost Limited
|
|
|
01-04-2025, 09:54 AM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master 
2019 22' Sport
High River
, Alberta
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,356
|
A few thoughts:
The interior of BC has lots of beautiful places. I’m partial to the Kootenay Lake area.
There are good alternatives to Jasper and Banff. Waterton Lakes National Park is excellent, and the crowds are a lot smaller.
Check out Kananaskis in Alberta, including. Mt. Kidd RV Park.
If you want to head farther east, Drumheller and Dinosaur Provincial Park have excellent exhibits of palaeontology.
If you enjoy rodeo, there are plenty of options including chuck wagon racing.
If you are prepared to do lots of driving, northern Saskatchewan is noted for its beautiful lakes.
|
|
|
01-04-2025, 10:26 AM
|
#5
|
Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 16,726
|
Hi
How far north do you want to go  ?
Stopping "short" of the Yukon and NWT is sort of a shame .....
Put another way:
Rather than making this an east - west sort of loop, make it more of a north - south loop. Up one side of the Rockies and back down the other side. Still lots of driving and great stuff to see. Just a different route plan.
Bob
|
|
|
01-04-2025, 10:59 AM
|
#6
|
4 Rivet Member 
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Charleston
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 407
|
Sandon, BC
__________________
Instagram @coasttocoastphotoatl
|
|
|
01-04-2025, 11:24 AM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master 
Currently Looking...
Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,811
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by kmayer
Hi!
We will be traveling from the Seattle area up into British Columbia, Alberta and perhaps Saskatchewan this summer. We've been to Banff and Jasper, and while we loved both, I think we're wanting to avoid the crowds and reservation challenges in those two parks. We'd love to hear any recommendations as to places to stay or things to see.
|
Lots to see in BC.
Suggest you think first about what route you want to take up towards Banff (even if you are not stopping in Banff). There are distinct regions with different attractions.
1) From Seattle, you are well positioned to take Hwy 99 from Vancouver along Howe Sound. Lots of water views. Porteau Cove is great, and there is lots to see in Whistler. From Pemberton you take the Duffy Lake Road across to Lillooet, and rejoin Hwy 1. This is cattle country, dry, and the site of our Gold Rush in the 1800s so some history to dig into. Hwy 1 continues east towards Alberta.
2) From Vancouver, you can take either the Fraser Canyon (Hwy 1), or the Coquihalla (Hwy 5) to Kamloops. We think of this more as a transit stretch. The Coquihalla is the more modern highway.
3) From Hope, or from points east in Washington State, you can enter the Okanagan Valley (Hwy 97). This connects from the US border up to Hwy 1 near Salmon Arm (the Shuswap region). The Okanagan Valley has lots of places to see. It is full of fruit orchards and wineries, lots of lake sites. We like Nk'mip campground in Osoyoos (Inkameep). Penticton has lots of camping, as do Kelowna (Bear Creek Provincial Park is very popular) and Vernon.
4) From Washington, you can connect up through the Kootenays towards Banff. Red Streak Campground in Radium Hot Springs is a favourite.
5) While Banff can be very busy, there are many other national park sites. Same mountain views, less traffic. Check out Yoho National Park, Revelstoke, Kootenay, etc. Canmore AB is also nice. You can ride bikes along the Legacy trail (paved) from Canmore all the way into Banff and avoid the vehicle traffic.
6) From the Banff area, you can come south from Calgary towards the US (we like Hwy 22 over Hwy 2, the main route); or drive across to Saskatchewan (check out Cypress Hills park) and then go south.
Have fun!
Jeff
|
|
|
01-04-2025, 12:58 PM
|
#8
|
2 Rivet Member 
2007 19' Safari SE
Marina
, California
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 41
|
Following along
|
|
|
01-04-2025, 04:38 PM
|
#9
|
1 Rivet Member 
2022 20' Basecamp
Oro
, Ontario
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 6
|
waterton Lakes national park - Crooked Creek Campground.(private) Ask for Murray.. Not luxurious but best camp around.. . Great base for some of the best hikes in Canada.. Less crowded than Jasper and Banff and cannot get any closer to USA... Close to Fernie BC as well. Another great spot..
|
|
|
01-04-2025, 07:02 PM
|
#10
|
2 Rivet Member 
Woodinville
, Washington
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 75
|
Wow. What great and thoughtful input! Thank you all for the much appreciated guidance. It’s been far too long since we’ve Airstreamed in Canada, and we are so excited about returning. I’m beginning to think we may spend more like 3-4 weeks there. Wonderful people and beautiful country. Our very first Airstream trip was in a new 1995 25’ Classic, and this will be in our almost new 2024 Globetrotter. Seems quite a fitting return.
__________________
Kevin
2024.5 Globetrotter 27
2021 F150 Powerboost Limited
|
|
|
01-04-2025, 08:22 PM
|
#11
|
2 Rivet Member 
2023 27' Flying Cloud
Hansville
, WA
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 38
|
Are you a Harvest Host member? We are and love the various places we have been. Last summer we crossed the border in Idaho and headed to Pincher Creek AB and stayed at "Heritage Acres." It is a museum of old farming equipment, restored buildings and they have acres and acres of stuff to look at.
We followed the transCanada highway to Niagara Falls in Ontario. As we went east stayed at the Gas City campground in Medicine Hat. Had reservations for Niagara Falls and just picked camp sites each day. Other great places we stayed at included Winnipeg Beach State Park, and several places along the north side of Lake Superior.
A couple of years ago we did the Jasper, Columbia ice Fields, Banff etc. On our way south we found another delightful Harvest Host also in Pincher Creek. Wild Coulee Canadian Horse Farm. Delightful host, took us on a tour around the farm, met the horses etc. Enjoy your travels.
|
|
|
01-04-2025, 10:40 PM
|
#12
|
4 Rivet Member 
Currently Looking...
Vernon
, British Columbia
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 269
|
Yoho national park. There is some first come first serve there if you get there very early, like 9 ish. Below is a copy and paste of our trip thru that area. This a couple years ago. Sorry to make you read the whole thing. Filter as needed. Hope it helps. Paste starts now.
———————————————————————————
Yoho
Hi folks. Angela and I just finished a couple week great circle trip from the okanagan valley, up to YOHO, back tracking a bit to Golden and then on to Kootenay national park and then coming home thru the Monashee summit and on thru the Slocan highway back to the Okanagan. With all the side trips it was just under 1900 kilometers, so not a ton of driving this time.
So yes, this is a good route, but you have to be okay with taking a couple ferries as there are a couple lake crossings involved.
We started off with an overnight stay in Golden to touch base with a cousin and then on to Yoho national park for the main event. There are a few campgrounds in Yoho...all unserviced so you need to be self sufficient. They have potable water in many locations and a common sani-dump. Good shower facilities from what we are told although we didn't use them as we are self contained in the trailer. Here are a few pics of the campground and a few of the hikes we did in the area. We were there for 5 days but actually should have stayed 7 as we had to skip a few hikes. Oh well, now we have a reason to go back. We chose an open field site so we could see the mountains but the majority of the sites are in thick forest.
That's us waaay off on the right.
All set up for the long haul with spare water jugs and our trusty little 2 kw propane generator to charge the trailer battery. We have solar on the trailer roof but the weather was not always sunny and we were next to the tall trees which made for a short solar day. We ran the genny for about 1/2 an hour a night starting on day 3. We missed the generator hours (5-7) on day 5 so we just plugged the trailer into the tesla and left it in camp mode for the night. The water pump was starting to sound a little sluggish down around 11.8 volts.  Not ideal but it works.
This is a view from within the campground. No idea on the name of the mountain. Sorry.
This old bake oven is also in the campground. Lots of railroad and mining history here. And yes you can hear the train in the distance in the campground. Its not that loud.
This is the centennial trail head in the campground itself. Its a nice easy 3 or 4 kilometers depending where you start. Carry bear spray and make noise.
Emerald lake hike. Maybe 5 kilometers depending on where you start.
Hike into Wapta falls. I'm picking and eating thimble berries. Bears love these things so we were on the look out.
This is tatakwa falls. Easy hike in. Maybe a kilometre max.
This is Radar the wonder dog. He is 13 years old and does all the hikes with us. We named him after our old air force trade. We bring him even on 8 and 10 kilometre hikes but I carry him in a pack when he gets tired. Angela and I are in our sixties. He is technically 91 years old in dog years. I hope I'm in as good a shape as he is when I'm 91
For those towing with an electric vehicle like us there are DC fast charge facilities at the Yoho visitors centre about 5 minutes from the campground. We popped out to it the afternoon we arrived and sucked up a few electrons while we were getting trail information. The little historic town of field is right there as well and worth walking around. It took us about an hour last year when we walked the town. Mostly bed and breakfasts' now. This is also a big ski area in winter. We also stopped and charged the last night before we hit the road for Kootenay national park as we burned thru a lot of electrons driving up the yoho valley and into Lake Louise in Alberta. This is a BC hydro station so super reliable...albeit a little slower than many. They are apparently updating it this year to a faster unit. Not complaining. BC hydro is doing a great job of populating the more out of the way highways in BC.
We went on to Radium and Kootenay national park where we hiked some more but it got smoky there because of forest fires so we moved on to Fort Steele where we hung out for a few days and took in some history. I'll put those pictures up another time. This was our charge stop in Radium which was again right outside the park. BC hydro is getting better at making these accessible for small trailers.
In fort steele we planned on just renting a 30 amp site but the campground lady noticed we were towing with a Tesla so she offered to upgrade us to a 50 amp site for an extra 10 bucks per night so we could charge on site. We normally just don't plug in the trailer and charge on the 30 amp pedestal at 24 amps but it was hot and we wanted to use the AC so we said sure. We have a special adapter for this situation although we rarely use it. A 14-50 to two TT30 receptacle splitter. The car got one for its 24 amp draw and the trailer got the other leg for its higher load. Worked out great, and it saved us a stop at the supercharger in Cranbrook. We sucked up about 55 kwh that night so it probably would have been about the same cost as the supercharger anyway.
After fort steele we made our way to Kaslo for a few days. Great hiking and lots of history but we again got chased out by the smoke after a few days. Nice little town though.
One welcome surprise was the Kaslo campground literally last week installed 2 x FLO networked EV charge units at the bath house. I think we were one of the first campers to use them. Handy. 2 bucks an hour. We were all charged up by bedtime on the first night. Nice to see more campgrounds doing this. Not a big deal for us with our little 82 kwh battery but will be nice for the EV trucks coming out with their bigger batteries. (thinking of you Dan  )
On to crawford bay and on the ferry across Kootenay lake. We felt very small next to that logging truck.
We stayed in one more campground after the monashee summit and I think this is the picture but not really sure. They all start to look the same after awhile. Anyway, it was a nice spot and we had a little down time before heading home the next day. The smoke returned as we returned to our beautiful okanagan valley but we had some rain today and its getting better now.
Hope you enjoyed the pics...and i hope I didn't screw up the order of the pics.
Safe camping all.
J and A
|
|
|
01-08-2025, 10:35 AM
|
#13
|
1 Rivet Member 
2024 28' International
Regina
, Saskatchewan
Join Date: Aug 2024
Posts: 10
|
Saskatchewan’s Prince Albert National Park
Waskesiu lake and town site are very nice in summer if you are heading that way. Tall pines. Wildlife. Hiking. Bear spray is a must just in case. Not a problem at the beach or walking from the campsite into town. There is a small well stocked grocery store.
|
|
|
01-08-2025, 11:06 AM
|
#14
|
4 Rivet Member 

2023 23' International
Calgary
, Alberta
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 342
|
Western BC and Alberta
Lots to see - We live in Calgary Alberta and here are a few of our favourites:
Fernie Provincial Park - Great Flyfishing
Waterton National Park - Great Hiking
Writing on Stone Provincial Park - Native culture and geological wonders
Cypress Hills Provincial Park - Oasis in the Prairies - Stay on the Saskatchewan Side
Grasslands National Park - not your usual park - bison
Kananaskis Provincial Park - Great hiking - Mount Kidd was mentioned in an earlier post but Boulton Creek is great too.
Some other options:
Radium Hotsprings
Mount Revelstoke - stay at the KOA but hike the wildflower meadows.
NK MIP Osoyoos
As well the Alberta - Saskatchewan Airstream Club is hosting the National Stampede Rally that starts early July. It should be a lot of fun. Check out ACI’s website.
|
|
|
01-08-2025, 01:27 PM
|
#15
|
Rivet Master 
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Sequim
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 562
|
Many terrific suggestions above. I may have missed it, but if your travels bring you anywhere near Nelson it’s a wonderful little town (the setting for “Roxanne”). There’s a terrific municipally-owned & operated campground walking distance to downtown, the waterfront and airport.
Lovely dining, bakeries, pubs, and arts.
|
|
|
01-09-2025, 12:51 AM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master 
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Sequim
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 562
|
“Bear spray is a must just in case. Not a problem at the beach or walking from the campsite into town. There is a small well stocked grocery store.“
Reminder for anyone not familiar with crossing the US - Canada Border:
(1) It IS acceptable to bring Bear Spray across the US - Canada border (either direction) as long as the container is clearly labeled by the manufacturer as “Bear Spray”. Any other similar compound not so labeled is considered a weapon and is not allowed.
(2) If anyone in your party has EVER received a DUI conviction you will not be allowed to enter Canada. DUI is a felony in Canada. There is a complex procedure to overcome this obstacle but be sure to do your homework BEFORE showing up at the border. It happens that US citizens drive long distances and are turned away because of an old prior DUI that occurred years earlier and is fully resolved in the US.
|
|
|
01-09-2025, 07:29 AM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master 
2020 28' Flying Cloud
2017 23' Flying Cloud
Hiawassee
, Georgia
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,481
|
A few ideas
Hi. When we went to Alaska last summer we were advised by a lady running the campground in BC to avoid the border crossing in Blaine, WA and go a few miles east to WA 539(?) and cross there. She said it was less busy and “more friendly “. It worked out for us and wasn’t out of our way.
Get a Parks Canada pass.
Investigate requirements for getting your dog into Canada and back to the US. Last summer USDA tried to implement an unduly complex process for bringing a dog into the US. Even applied to US dogs returning from Canada. I think they backed off on their silly routine but it’s worth checking. BTW the border people never even asked about our dogs in the various border crossings we made.
Enjoy your trip!
|
|
|
01-09-2025, 08:54 PM
|
#18
|
2 Rivet Member 
Woodinville
, Washington
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 75
|
Thank you all for the additional tips! We will pack bear spray, parks pass and check into the border crossing with out little four legged friend. Non drinkers, so ok on the no dui!
__________________
Kevin
2024.5 Globetrotter 27
2021 F150 Powerboost Limited
|
|
|
01-09-2025, 11:26 PM
|
#19
|
Rivet Master 
Currently Looking...
Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,811
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by KK4YZ
Hi. When we went to Alaska last summer we were advised by a lady running the campground in BC to avoid the border crossing in Blaine, WA and go a few miles east to WA 539(?) and cross there. She said it was less busy and “more friendly “. It worked out for us and wasn’t out of our way.
|
There are multiple crossing points to choose from. From Seattle or the I5, the main crossing in Blaine is Peace Arch/Douglas. It is also the busiest. A good alternative is the Pacific Crossing, from SR543. It is also known as the truck crossing, as commercial vehicles are required to use it. It is the one we use most frequently, even if we are staying on Hwy 99 in BC. There are traffic signs that give the wait times as you approach, or you can view it online. Here are the northbound wait times.
SR539 crosses into Aldergrove, it is a little further east.
The Sumas/Huntingdon crossing is a little further east again, and if you are heading east on Hwy 1 in Canada, gets further past the Lower Mainland traffic.
Both of these last two can be faster if you are coming from the I5 and heading east in BC. Just depends on the day.
Jeff
|
|
|
01-10-2025, 08:16 AM
|
#20
|
Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 16,726
|
Hi
As long as we're making a boarder crossing list:
1) Check the current regulations on food. Oddly enough they do change from time to time and vary based on the state / province you are headed to / from. Not quite being up to date may mean standing at the crossing eating that quart of cherries you bought a half hour ago ( We did that one back in 1959 ....).
2) Allow time in your schedule for the crossing. You never know what sort of traffic there will be at any crossing. You also might get stopped and searched. It's a random thing and not all that crazy (at least going into Canada). It might well add an hour to the process. Tired, rushed, late, and way past meal time is *not* a good combo for crossing the boarder.
3) Have your paperwork all in one place. It's best to have some sort of folder or bag for it. If you have to "come inside" then it all can easily come with you. If the vehicle is being searched, you can have it with you to answer any questions. (You can't go into the vehicle while it's being searched). Yes that last part applies more to a van than a trailer.
3) If you have prescription meds, have a copy of the prescription with you. It might get asked about. More importantly, even though it's not going to be valid "on the other side" it will make getting one that *is* valid a whole lot easier. You never know when those pill fall off the table and wind up in the ... (I think you get the picture  ),
4) Canada has different rules on knives that the US. If you have a folding knife that can be opened with one hand, read up on those rules.
5) Coming up with "cute" answers to the basic questions they ask is not a good idea. One of the kids on the bus got a lecture on that back in 1963. It's still true today.
6) A driver's license will get you into Canada. They're fine with that level of ID. To get back into the US, you will need a passport (or passport card). That may not be all bad, Canada is a nice place  .
Is this a complete list? Not even close. There are all sorts of weird and wonderful little rules going each way. Bumping into one of them is possible, but highly unlikely.
Fun !!
Bob
|
|
|
 |
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|

Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|