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Old 12-21-2011, 12:38 PM   #1
Bruce Lenhardt
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Travel through Banff National Park??

We are planning a trip next summer to the Northwest to include northern California, Oregon, and then on to Canada to visit Banff National Park. The motorhome of the friends that we travel with is not a real power wagon and doesn't do well on steep mountain roads. My question is-have any of you traveled through Banff National Park from west to east on Canada 1? If so, how steep are the grades? Is it a tough pull?
 
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Old 12-21-2011, 02:08 PM   #2
HamRad
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Bruce & Janette,
We took a similar trip a few years back. Our destination was Banff NP. There are a number of mountains to cross but Canada has done well with their roads. We pulled the Monty with no particular trouble. While I remember "in general" I don't recall any awful grades. But there are a number of them to cross. We entered Canada at the Sumas crossing and hit the Canada 1. Then just headed east. At Hope we changed from the 1 to the 5. Then on to Kamloops where we spent a few nights. Then back to highway 1 and on eastward. Another place we enjoyed was Revelstoke. Spent a few nights there and enjoyed the area. Anyway you get the idea. Have a great trip and enjoy. Dennis
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Old 12-21-2011, 05:29 PM   #3
sapest
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Rogers Pass is a 6% grade. Kicking Horse Pass & the Coquihalla are both 8%. If you use those routes. I have seen many TV's & other RV's on the side of the road, spewing steam. My 2 cents, these are steep mountain roads.
More info here: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/popular-topics/faq.htm.
On the other hand, the "most dangerous road in Canada" - Hiway #1 around Golden, is now almost completely rebuilt & MUCH more friendly to both man & beast.
Don't forget it's not just about getting to the top, you have to go down the other side too. Spend as much time & effort on checking the brakes as you do checking the cooling system. Keep right, keep your flashers on, & your speed down & all will be well. You will be in line with all the pro's who drive the big rigs & know how to handle this road. Have fun & enjoy your adventure. If you are going to more than one NP, consider the pass for the whole Parks system. It might be cheaper for your party.
-Steve
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Old 12-21-2011, 08:34 PM   #4
HamRad
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Steve,
Thanks for the specific info regarding the grades. I remember Rogers Pass because I'd read about it and we stopped at the top for a few minutes. They have a nice little Park Station there and a lot of good RR history for those interested. I never saw even one rig "steaming" on the side of the road. That could be because I was driving so intently! I also remember the road at Golden. We had stopped for lunch there and we noticed a lot of construction signs as well as equipment. Then as we left headed east we jumped right into the middle of the construction itself. They were moving entire mountains to improve this section of road. It was very slow going so we never got slowed down by the grade. I could tell by what preliminary work they had done that the new route was going to greatly improve the traveling in this area. By now I would think they should be completed or very very close to completion. And as Steve has said watch the downhill too. What you go up you got to come down. Just take your time. With the newer rigs designed to tow / haul should have no trouble at all. My truck does not have that feature but I do have a 4.88 rearend with heavy duty brakes (15 inchers) plus an extremely stiff frame. Between these features and driving slowly we've had no trouble.

I also would buy the Whole Park System next time. If you stay for a week or so in the Banff and or Jasper areas the Pass should more than pay for itself.

Take a good camera and plan to pull off the road to take picture after picture. To travel 50 miles may take you half a day or more. The reason being that you will be stopping often to see "something"! And there are plenty of "somethings" to see! We enjoyed every minute of our trip and didn't even do Jasper (which we later found our from friends was ever lovelier)!!

Just about 125 km will get you from Banff to Calgary. Calgary is a major metro city. And if you are a dinosaur person like me then you must visit the World Clas Dinosaur exhibit in Drumheller. It is the worth the entire cost of your visit to Canada just to see it! You'll understand if you are into dinosaurs at all! Again have a great trip and keep on enjoying. Dennis and Mary Kay
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Old 12-21-2011, 09:43 PM   #5
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The previous posters gave you good info, we live in Kamloops and know the area very well.
If you have the time, drive the Icefields Parkway, between Banff and Jasper, one of the most beautiful drives in the world and easily done in an RV. Fuel up before you go as the gas station at Saskatchewan Crossing is expensive, even by Canadian prices! And do stop at the Icefields Interpretive Centre and walk on the glacier or take a Snow Coach tour or even a helicopter ride over the glaciers, there's a huge RV parking lot there so no worries about parking.
http://www.icefieldsparkway.ca/
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Old 12-22-2011, 12:45 AM   #6
HamRad
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Pete & Terry,
We enjoyed Kamloops. It was a big surprise to drive into this large city out on the plains of Canada. We had no idea what to expect. We stayed at rustic CG about 4 or 5 miles south of town. We didn't mind the few miles drive to get into town. Lots of nice restaurants and even found the casino. And donated a few $$$.

You are right about the road from Banff to Jasper. We must have stopped twenty times between Banff and the Columbia Icefields! We were constantly stopping to look at a waterfall cascading down the mountainside. Or drive out to see one more pretty little lake. And what made the trip even better was very little traffic. You'd better hurry if you want to see and walk on the glaciers. They are receding at an alarming rate.

The next time we visit we hope to make it up to Jasper and of course visit the Icefield once again. We also did not visit Edmonton and we'd like to do that. Met nothing but nice folks on our Canada swing. Eh! Happy Trails, Dennis
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Old 12-22-2011, 07:50 AM   #7
Bruce Lenhardt
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Thanks for your comments and information. Sounds like a bunch of things to do and see in that area. Getting more excited after reading your suggestions. Is early June too early to visit that area and not be bothered by snow??
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Old 12-22-2011, 08:45 AM   #8
Sinterior
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Dennis, thanks for the comments regarding Kamloops! I know the CG you stayed at, and in fact we store Monty in their storage yard when not using it.
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Old 12-22-2011, 09:22 AM   #9
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I live in Calgary where I have driven that highway many times and hundreds of times between Field BC and Calgary. The others gave you some pretty accurate info about the highway. The Coquihalia (highway 5) between Hope and Kamloops has some steep grades. Rogers Pass will be downhill eastbound thru several snowsheds that have limited visibility so the speed limit is 70 kms (about 40 mph) so it's no problem. Kicking Horse Pass will be uphill from Field to the Continental Divide where I can't recall any RV being overheated in the hundreds of times I've been on that hill.

As already mentioned by it's well worth the time to go to the Columbia Icefields about a couple of hours north of Lake Louise on highway 93. The exit to the Icefields Parkway (highway 93) is just a little west of the Lake Louise exit but it's easy to spot. A park pass is mandatory to drive the highway so they have a booth at the beginning that will sell you one... http://www.explorerockies.com/columbia-icefield/ Excellent scenery on that highway too...

Snow in June shouldn't be an issue... I've seen it snow in July and August but it's gone as fast as it came so its rarely an issue for the roads...
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Old 12-22-2011, 09:22 AM   #10
Sinterior
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Bruce Lenhardt

Thanks for your comments and information. Sounds like a bunch of things to do and see in that area. Getting more excited after reading your suggestions. Is early June too early to visit that area and not be bothered by snow??
Bruce and Janette, you should be OK in early June, but some campgrounds don't open until mid to late June.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/visit9b.aspx
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/visit/camping.aspx

One of the Tunnel Mountain CG has a spectacular almost 360 degree view of the Rockies, but I forget which one, and also notice some National Campgrounds have no hookups and others have electricity only

I hope the links help you with more info.
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Old 12-22-2011, 10:56 AM   #11
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Since you'll be traveling north thru CA; OR and WA to the Banff area I suggest you consider the following route which is easy on both TV and 5er. Take Highway 1 east to Highway 5 then north to Kamloops. This route will take you through Chilliwack, Hope to Kamloops then head north from Kamloops on Highway 5 to Clearwater, Blue River and Valemount. A few miles north of Valemount you'll run into Highway 16. Take it east To Jasper. Once you've marvelled at the majestic beauty that is the Jasper area head south on Highway 93 to real live glaciers, Lake Louise and Banff. I've hauled my trailer over this route several times and find it easy, relatively straight and north of Kamloops, pretty darn level. I don't recommend Highway 1 east from Kamloops. It's just not all that nice.
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Old 12-22-2011, 12:34 PM   #12
Bruce Lenhardt
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Moutard2, Thanks for the proposed "easier" route. Sounds like a good deal as I think we do want to go to Jasper. I'll check it out. I'm all for taking it easy on the 5er and TV especially since our traveling friends would like to avoid steep, long pulls.
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Old 12-24-2011, 03:28 PM   #13
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I would definitely recommend the Jasper National Park. We stayed at (I am pretty sure) Whistler Campground. I know it had water and electricity - maybe sewer. It is the best campground in a park I have been in. It had large sites with very tall, shady trees. Also was only maybe 2-5 miles from town, I think. We could have spent another few days if time had permitted.
Happy Trails!
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