Canadian Rockies this summer

[simjue]

Hi: Currently planning a summer trip from Virginia with primary goal of touring the Canadian Rockies. This will be our 4th trip out west, but first to include Canada. Will probably trailer to someplace in Montana and then head north on the east side of Glacier NP to Banff and Jasper area. Then west and south through Kamloops and back south to west side of Glacier. Looks like some real good rides. Will probably spend a couple days or so in the Banff/Jasper area. Any thought on not to miss sites/rides appreciated as well as good, but reasonable places to stay in and around Banff and Jasper (if they exist). Also, we are looking at mid to late August for the trip assuming not to much danger of snow in Canada? Thanks for your suggestions.

[2Alpha]

Originally Posted by simjue

Hi: Currently planning a summer trip from Virginia with primary goal of touring the Canadian Rockies. This will be our 4th trip out west, but first to include Canada. Will probably trailer to someplace in Montana and then head north on the east side of Glacier NP to Banff and Jasper area. Then west and south through Kamloops and back south to west side of Glacier. Looks like some real good rides. Will probably spend a couple days or so in the Banff/Jasper area. Any thought on not to miss sites/rides appreciated as well as good, but reasonable places to stay in and around Banff and Jasper (if they exist). Also, we are looking at mid to late August for the trip assuming not to much danger of snow in Canada? Thanks for your suggestions.

You are safe from snow during that time frame, in fact the weather is normally in the 80-90s. Try booking hotels in Canmore 10 minutes from Banff, it's still expensive but it is cheaper. You are going to have a great time, the one road that all the locals ride is from Calgary through the highway 40 route through Kananskis. You could leave Calgary take this route and still end up in Banff in about 3 hours.

If you let me know when you are going to be here I can try booking a day off and be your personal tour guide. If a Sunday works for you, we have the weekly informal bike meet in Bragg Creek which would be a great addition to the route I listed as it is only 15 minutes out of the way.

On a Sunday, I could easily round up 10 other friends to ride with if you wanted to meet some locals.

Steve

[2Alpha]

I forgot to mention our National HOG Rally is being held here in mid August if you are interested.

First beer is on me.

[Canpipeline]

Check out Canmore for a place to rest. It's 20 minutes from the Park Gates and they have beautiful condo's for rent. I use Expedia to book my rooms. It's not as expensive as staying in Banff and there are a few good watering holes as well.
Riding the old highway is a lot more fun than the main highway #1. It's two lane and has a lot of twists and turns, careful for the wildlife!

[skydrifter]

I did that same ride entering Canada just north of Kalispell MT on Highway 93 and up to Radium Hot Springs and into Kootenay NP . We stayed in some little rustic cabins at Vermillon Crossing .A sales clerk at Cranbrook BC Harley shop told us about the cabins they were great.
We went on the next day to Canmore to stay in a condo. Like Canpipeline said take the old highway 1A instead of Highway 1 all the way to Lake Louise .From there you can head north to Jasper watch out for wildlife Elk, deer ,bear and we even saw a pack of wolves late afternoon while on the road to our cabin in Kootney NP. From Jasper you can take 5 south to Kamloops .Its beautiful ride and I can't wait to do it again I would do it earlier then Sept. it was cold in a few spots and I would stay off Highway 1 as much as could, too many trucks .Have fun be safe....

[simjue]

Thanks for the info. Looks like we won't be getting to the area until sometime during the week after the HOG Rally, but we are probably more into riding and seeing all we can of your beautiful area in the time available. I know we want to spend at least a few days in and around the NP's, but am not sure how your park passes work. Does one pass get you into all the connecting parks or do you get multiple passes? Are they good for the day or longer? I think we will probably loop out of Jasper on 5 down through Kamloops on the way back to the States? Thanks again. Ride safe.

[fxstc80]

If you're heading to Banff on Hwy 1 don't stop at the park entrance and pay then. Wait until you ride the Icefields Pwy, you must have a pass and they are available at the north and south gates. This is the only time I was asked for a pass. They are good for only 1 day and it's $20.
Plan on a full day from Banff to Jasper. There is only 1 place for fuel about half way so start with a full tank. If the sign says waterfall or falls, STOP. Also stop at Parker Ridge and the Columbia Icefield. The parkway has the most stunning and pristine mountain scenery I've rode. If you have never been to Glacier before consider touring it first. Don't miss Johnston's canyon and Moraine lake. Lake Louise is a given. There is a place called Bumpers Inn on the edge of Banff that's only $100 per night. Not bad for Banff.
St Mary MT might be a good jumping off point. It's kind of quiet on the east side. There are a couple of motels and a small travel center. Just north on 89 there's a good hole-in-wall homemade pie joint and a great dive bar and grill about 3 miles north of St mary called 2 sisters.
Hope this helps

[Dragan]

If you're going to spend more than a day or two in the Parks, it may be worthwhile
to buy a seasons pass. They are good for one year and valid
for all Canadian National parks.

I live in Calgary too, and there are a couple of things you
need to know about the Banff/Jasper area
-bring warm clothes. It's nice during the day, but can drop into
the 40's at night
-don't feed the bears. You WILL see them, they are NOT afraid
of humans and they WILL kill ya, tourist or not. Nuff said.
-bring extra memory cards for your camera. The Banff-Jasper
parkway is one of the Worlds truly spectacular rides.
-practice stretching your mouth. You will be saying "WOW!l"
an awful lot. Get into condition, we'd hate to see you leave
with a sore face ;^)

[simjue]

Thanks guys for all the info. It now appears that early Sept. will start the trip as my wife just had some surgery which will cause a couple weeks delay. Hopefully the weather will still be good. Have been thinking the annual park pass may be the best deal. One question is one pass good for both like in the states or do we each need our own pass? Will plan to wear the leathers for the cool nights. Several batteries and SD cards will be packed for the camera. Looking forward to seeing the Canadian Rockies.

[Dragan]

Each vehicle has to have a pass, I believe. I'm heading to Banff on Thursday for the day, I'll ask at the Park gates
Wayne

[david107]

When you are at Lake Louise ride on up to Lake Moraine it's not far and you won't regret it.
Glacier will knock your socks off. It did mine.

[berserker]

Last year went to Glacier, then Banff and Jasper, trip of a life time.

At Glacier I stayed at the Evergreen Motel, 7 miles from entrance. Bar and restraunt across the street. About 2 miles west of it, another bar Packer's roost.

About $70 a night for a cabin, which you really don't need but its nice.
www.evergreenmotelglacier.com/

The place I stayed at in Jasper, was cheaper if you booked on line, 10%

[Dragan]

In Banff yesterday. $9.80 per adult, per day for a park pass or $68 for a years pass.

Remember my mentioning weather extremes? When I got into Banff yesterday morning, it was 75 degrees, sunny....beautiful day. By the time I left to head home at 4:30, the rain was just starting to fall. Before I got to the park gates ( about 10 miles), I was looking for the Arc. You know, the one that fella Noah built??

POURED rain, all the way back to Calgary. Temperatures dropped into the 50's, wind picked up...I went from being too warm in a mesh jacket to having my armor on, with the cold weather liner, plus a rainsuit on top of it. I was still cold this morning.

BUT....Dang.....It was sure pretty!
Wayne

[berserker]

Some people say Banff is very touristy. Ya, but it was still cool. It is a bigger town, international. Jasper is smaller. I enjoyed both.

I was surprised how much it cost for the Canadain parks, and you pay by the day. Not like the US, where you get a week pass. Was around $70 for 3-4 days for both of us. You pay per person too not bike. They take credit cards luckily.

[simjue]

Thanks Guys. That is how I read the park pass info. Per person, per day. Sort of sucks, but Oh well. Also looks like the leathers are in order for early September. Looking forward to the ride.