Vacation Trip to Glacier NP and Banff
Feb 10, 2016 12:25:27 #
My wife and I are planning a vacation trip to Glacier NP and Banff/Jasper NP. We have the time to be there for as long as we want and are currently looking at about 10 days in the area, perhaps a little longer. We will be driving from the Midwest. We are both familiar with mountain driving.
We plan to take as many daylong or less hikes as we can with the hope of getting good pictures. The following is a list of trails/destinations that we are considering so far:
Avalanche Lake
Apgar Lookout
Cyclone Lookout
Scalplock Lookout
Hidden Lake
Many Glacier Road
Cracker Lake Trail
Lake Josephine/Lake Grinnell
Swift Current Pass
Grinnell Glacier Ranger Tour
Going to the Sun Highway
Ptarmigan Tunnel
Apikami Falls
Siyeh Pass Trail
St. Mary's Falls & Virginia Falls
Rose Creek Trail
Upper Two Medicine Lake
Scenic Point
Aster Falls
We haven't even begun to think about the Canadian parks in terms of anything but driving yet.
Any comments or suggestions about the list? Any additions?
Thanks.
We plan to take as many daylong or less hikes as we can with the hope of getting good pictures. The following is a list of trails/destinations that we are considering so far:
Avalanche Lake
Apgar Lookout
Cyclone Lookout
Scalplock Lookout
Hidden Lake
Many Glacier Road
Cracker Lake Trail
Lake Josephine/Lake Grinnell
Swift Current Pass
Grinnell Glacier Ranger Tour
Going to the Sun Highway
Ptarmigan Tunnel
Apikami Falls
Siyeh Pass Trail
St. Mary's Falls & Virginia Falls
Rose Creek Trail
Upper Two Medicine Lake
Scenic Point
Aster Falls
We haven't even begun to think about the Canadian parks in terms of anything but driving yet.
Any comments or suggestions about the list? Any additions?
Thanks.
Feb 10, 2016 12:45:13 #
willmscr wrote:
My wife and I are planning a vacation trip to Glac... (show quote)
Get some bear spray. Grizzlies abound.Mamma Griz are very protective of their young in the spring.
Canada happily lets you bring in bear spray but not the much smaller and weaker people pepper spray. Go figure.
It is much cheaper online.
First week in June is a great time for bear in the Canadian parks. They love the dandelions.
Don't miss Moraine lake near Lake Louise. Much prettier.
There is a nice hike at Lake Louise up to a lookout.
Feb 10, 2016 12:51:11 #
Keldon
Loc: Yukon, B.C.
I can help with any of the Canadian Parks, just tell me what you're interested in and ask any questions you may have, either as a PM or for general forum consumption.
Feb 10, 2016 12:53:43 #
Thanks for the information about the bear spray. We plan on having some. I was aware of the need.
MtnMan wrote:
Get some bear spray. Grizzlies abound.Mamma Griz are very protective of their young in the spring.
Canada happily lets you bring in bear spray but not the much smaller and weaker people pepper spray. Go figure.
It is much cheaper online.
First week in June is a great time for bear in the Canadian parks. They love the dandelions.
Don't miss Moraine lake near Lake Louise. Much prettier.
There is a nice hike at Lake Louise up to a lookout.
Canada happily lets you bring in bear spray but not the much smaller and weaker people pepper spray. Go figure.
It is much cheaper online.
First week in June is a great time for bear in the Canadian parks. They love the dandelions.
Don't miss Moraine lake near Lake Louise. Much prettier.
There is a nice hike at Lake Louise up to a lookout.
Feb 10, 2016 12:56:31 #
From personal experience of having 6 nights in the Canadian Rockies, 3 in Jasper NP and 3 near Banff NP, as part of our 2008 vacation I would like to recomend
In Jasper NP - The Maligne Canyon walk
In Banff NP - The walk to the teahouse at Lake Agnes (from Lake Louise).
Both are roughly 1/2 day walks (out and back) and not serious hiking.
Driving is not a problem, even for those, us down under, who are used to driving on the other side of the road.
We loved Jasper NP, however we thought Banff NP was just a little too intense and crowded - even in september.
Would have loved to do the walk to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse .............
Edit:
+1 on the Moraine Lake suggestion.
In Jasper NP - The Maligne Canyon walk
In Banff NP - The walk to the teahouse at Lake Agnes (from Lake Louise).
Both are roughly 1/2 day walks (out and back) and not serious hiking.
Driving is not a problem, even for those, us down under, who are used to driving on the other side of the road.
We loved Jasper NP, however we thought Banff NP was just a little too intense and crowded - even in september.
Would have loved to do the walk to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse .............
Edit:
+1 on the Moraine Lake suggestion.
Feb 10, 2016 12:59:45 #
Thanks.
I especially appreciate the comments of difficulty and duration.
I especially appreciate the comments of difficulty and duration.
Feb 10, 2016 13:10:19 #
Feb 10, 2016 13:12:25 #
Keldon
Loc: Yukon, B.C.
Do you know what time you'll be there? Will you be camping and if so, using an RV or tenting?
There will be fewer people in May and early June plus you'll have a better chance to see wildlife, especially bears. Jasper is much less crowded at any time, more relaxed.
There are also several other National Parks in the area that have some manificent scenery and fewer people. Robson, Yoho, Kootenay etc.
There will be fewer people in May and early June plus you'll have a better chance to see wildlife, especially bears. Jasper is much less crowded at any time, more relaxed.
There are also several other National Parks in the area that have some manificent scenery and fewer people. Robson, Yoho, Kootenay etc.
Feb 10, 2016 13:52:05 #
We are planning to be there starting in mid-July. That's just the way our schedule works out.
We are planning to stay in motels. We are not campers nor RVers.
We are planning to stay in motels. We are not campers nor RVers.
Feb 10, 2016 14:06:03 #
Keldon
Loc: Yukon, B.C.
Well you've picked the best time weatherwise but the worst as far as busiest. Luckily, once you're out of the towns(Banff & Jasper) there are many areas you can go to get away, although Banff is more difficult to do so.
To avoid people as long as possible and see some gorgeous mountain scenery, after leaving Glacier NP take Hghwy 89 north to 17 and cross into Canada and into Waterton Park. Very pretty. Take #6 to Pincher, turn West to #22. North to Longview and west on #541 intto Kananaskis Country. Very rugged country but a great road, lot's of wildlife and few people. Continue North up to Highway #1 (Trans-Canada) From there its a half hour drive through Canmore and on to Banff. Stop at the Canmore Tourist Centre for brochures and maps of the area. Great hikes around there.
To avoid people as long as possible and see some gorgeous mountain scenery, after leaving Glacier NP take Hghwy 89 north to 17 and cross into Canada and into Waterton Park. Very pretty. Take #6 to Pincher, turn West to #22. North to Longview and west on #541 intto Kananaskis Country. Very rugged country but a great road, lot's of wildlife and few people. Continue North up to Highway #1 (Trans-Canada) From there its a half hour drive through Canmore and on to Banff. Stop at the Canmore Tourist Centre for brochures and maps of the area. Great hikes around there.
Feb 10, 2016 14:08:21 #
Feb 10, 2016 14:19:45 #
Keldon
Loc: Yukon, B.C.
The Kananaskis area is a region that is almost ignored by anyone not from Alberts and yet it had hundreds of trails and scenery rivalling Banff.
willmscr wrote:
Thanks for the detailed route.
Feb 10, 2016 14:22:08 #
Willmscr - Certainly a gorgeous area overall. But if it were me, I'd cut your long list in half, picking a nice assortment, and leave time to simply ENJOY the general beauty as well as unexpected photo ops that are certain to arise. There's an apocryphal story about a guy who visits Disney World with his wife and four kids. They see it all from top to bottom, totally immersing themselves. Satiated, they get on the plan to return home whereupon he collapses and dies. Take time to smell the grizzly bears...
Feb 10, 2016 14:25:50 #
The list is still in development. These are the places we thought about going. Now, comes the hard part -- winnowing them down to a manageable number.
I am hoping for some comments about the specific destinations and paths to them that will help us choose.
I am hoping for some comments about the specific destinations and paths to them that will help us choose.
Feb 10, 2016 14:35:48 #
TheDman
Loc: USA
If you really want to see the serious backcountry stuff and take in what I consider the greatest view in North America, don't forget Assiniboine Provincial Park. It's a 17 mile hike out of Canmore, however they also have a helicopter that runs 3 days a week to the lodge out there. Once at the lodge, you're just a couple mile hike from this view:
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