Glacier NP and Banff August 2017

[tooth ferry]

Is Aug. bad crowded time in Canada as it is in So.Dak., Wy, Mont.? When does school start back in Canada? Going to do Yellowstone- Grand Tetons just after Labor Day and wanted to do Canada first to catch Glacier etc.before snow.

[twindman]

I have never tried it but have read other's accounts and Yellowstone thins out a LOT after Labor Day.

[washley1]

In 2012 we hit BC and Alberta in August. There were lots of folks, but not as bad as I thought there might be. We did well with finding campgrounds with little advance, and and tourist spots in Jasper, Banff, and Lake Louise were not completely overwhelming. We spent most of that August in the west, then shot across to Toronto before turning south to home. Best trip we ever took.

[Ronthecanadian]

Canada is celebrating it's 150 anniversary in 2017. All national parks are free access next year for Canadians, it may apply to international travellers. So expect crowds especially in that area. I would expect pre-booking to be necessary.
We are also expecting to be travelling and enjoying this country of ours.
Enjoy the Banaff/Jasper area, it is spectacular. Check the Government of Canada national parks website

[mlh]

My favorite time to see YSNP is in September after Labor Day. The crowds are gone the park is still open. All the restaurants are open until the 15 th. You might see things on the way to Yellowstone and arrive in the park after Labor Day. My favorite CG in the park is Madison. It's on the Madison River. The elk should have started to bugle, if there is any left. There has been less and less elk every time I've been in Yellowstone since the wolves were introduced.
Lynwood

[DarMar]

IMHO everyone should see Banff and Jasper in their lifetime, you simply won't regret it. Our last visit was Easter weekend 2016(spring break) and Banff was crazy busy, tour busses and all. Of course this was prime skiing time.

To avoid the crowds we now stay at Canmore which is just a beautiful 15 minute drive in the mountains to the east of Banff. You can see and do everything from there.

We seasonal just at the edge of a National Park in Manitoba and the town site is very busy there even in a normal year during the period of July 1 until the September long weekend (Sept.4 this year)and after that the crowds drop off substantially. After that is when most schools start back.

There has been ALOT of news coverage already this year over the expected huge increase in tourist and traffic that will be experienced in any of our national parks. When Parks Canada first opened it's website to order the free passes it basically crashed and burned. The townsites in the parks as well are now becoming concerned with how to handle all the increased traffic and what effects it will have on the park system itself and the wildlife.

If you don't mind crowds I can guarantee you won't be alone much until after the Sept. long weekend. Enjoy!!!

[twindman]

Tunnel Mountain II campground in Banff has Full hookups and very nice and large sites. Under some big trees in some places.