Camping before/after the Osoyoos rally. Looking for ideas

[Jill]

After owning our trailer for a few years, we can finally attend the 2019 Escape rally. We will probably stay north of the border for a week or 2 before heading back to California. I'm just starting my research on places we should visit and thought I would ask here in case anyone has recommendations on places to see. I'm thinking stay in Kelowna for a few days and tour the area, then same for Banff/Jasper. Anything else we should see or favorite campgrounds in the area? Thank you in advance!

[Eggscape]

Kelowna is great...make sure you walk the waterfront along the lake. Also lots of wineries if your into that...
The best RV camp ground is Bear Creek Provincial park. It is across the lake from Kelowna and about a 10 minute drive. It is however very popular and first come spots end on May 16th. Everything after that date is by reservation.
Bear Creek Provincial Park - BC Parks
Feel free to stop by and talk to us at the event about anything that you might be interested in seeing in Kelowna and we will try and direct you accordingly. Or email us anytime...

[gbaglo]

Bunch of hot springs between Kelowna and Banff, if you're into that.

[Chris & Patricia]

British Columbia has many wonderful places to visit. If you have never been to Vancouver, it’s an easy 5 hour drive west from Osoyoos. East from Osoyoos, it’s all mountainous and following highway 3 east past Grand Forks through Christina Lake to the Kootenay region. Nelson is an interesting town to visit, quite quirky, and just outside Nelson is a great hike called Pulpit Rock which provides great panoramic views of the town. North of Nelson, yuh come to Balfour where you can take the free ferry across the lake to Crawford Bay and a nice drive down to Creston and Cranbrook to the East Kootenays and the Columbia Valley Including Invermere which is another beautiful area to explore. Just google “great sights of B.C.” there will be lots of highlights.

[cpaharley2008]

There are 4 UNESCO sites in Canada and one not too far East from Osoyoos- Head Samshed in Buffalo Jump on Lethbridge, maybe 1 days drive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ites_in_Canada

[Jill]

Originally Posted by Chris & Patricia

British Columbia has many wonderful places to visit. If you have never been to Vancouver, it’s an easy 5 hour drive west from Osoyoos. East from Osoyoos, it’s all mountainous and following highway 3 east past Grand Forks through Christina Lake to the Kootenay region. Nelson is an interesting town to visit, quite quirky, and just outside Nelson is a great hike called Pulpit Rock which provides great panoramic views of the town. North of Nelson, yuh come to Balfour where you can take the free ferry across the lake to Crawford Bay and a nice drive down to Creston and Cranbrook to the East Kootenays and the Columbia Valley Including Invermere which is another beautiful area to explore. Just google “great sights of B.C.” there will be lots of highlights.

These are all great ideas that we were not aware of. Thank you!! I also heard separately about Lake O'Hara. Going to put that on our schedule too!

[Jill]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

There are 4 UNESCO sites in Canada and one not too far East from Osoyoos- Head Samshed in Buffalo Jump on Lethbridge, maybe 1 days drive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ites_in_Canada

Thank you! This looks very cool and would be part of a reasonable return loop after Banff. This is all coming together very well thanks!

[Jill]

Originally Posted by Eggscape

Kelowna is great...make sure you walk the waterfront along the lake. Also lots of wineries if your into that...
The best RV camp ground is Bear Creek Provincial park. It is across the lake from Kelowna and about a 10 minute drive. It is however very popular and first come spots end on May 16th. Everything after that date is by reservation.
Bear Creek Provincial Park - BC Parks
Feel free to stop by and talk to us at the event about anything that you might be interested in seeing in Kelowna and we will try and direct you accordingly. Or email us anytime...

Thank you for the input. I've heard great things about the Canadian campgrounds and am looking forward to visiting

[h2owmn]

I was there more than 20 years ago w my kids. It’s an awesome place.

[AnJ]

Depending on your route, if you cross at the Aldergrove crossing, Fort Langley is less than a half hour away on the Fraser River (40 minutes west of Chilliwack). https://www.fortcamping.com/ <-- this is a very nice campground, where you can walk over the bridge into the village that has interesting little shops and restaurant options as well as The Fort National Historic Site. It also has access to Brae Island trail and Derby Reach or the Fort to Fort trail, all nice walking/biking trails. Fort Langley is a comfortable spot to stay if you want to access Vancouver for the day, but don't want to take the trailer, or if you wanted to do a day trip to Whistler, etc.
We love PV Ranch Getaways in Grand Forks if you decide to continue on Highway 3- it's about 30 minutes off the highway on a paved road, but absolute rural paradise camping in one of the 3 spots by their creek on their working ranch. Highway 3 is definitely a slower, winding highway to access the Rockies than Highway 1. There is no wildlife fence as there is on Highway 1, so you have to watch out for wildlife while driving. Lots of lovely little towns and beautiful scenery.
The Rockies are spectacular! We like to camp in the Trailer Court II in the Tunnel Mountain Campground of Banff National Park so that we can walk into town (30 min) or take the bus. Parking in the village can be crazy busy with stressful driving. There is lots to see on foot, including the Bow River Trail & Falls.
It is worth spending a day driving the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper. You can get a guide at the visitor's center and easily spend a day or two stopping at all of the stops along this beautiful stretch of highway, it's probably the nicest we have ever been on! Jasper also has at least 2 days worth of things to see.
Enjoy!
We are having fun looking at everyone else's suggestions... just winterized the trailer today, but already thinking of trip planning for next year!

[Fox hunt]

We went up towards Banff and then did the Ice fields parkway to Jasper after the rally last year. Many campgrounds were closed on the parkway because it was early and the bears were everywhere but we camped near Jasper and at lake Louise. Still early so less tourists.

[travdes]

If you don't mind a bit of a trek, Pacific Rim National Park (Greenpoint) is our personal favourite. But it's about a 6 hr drive, 90 min ferry, and 2 hr drive from Osoyoos.

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ
https://www.google.com/search?q=paci...w=1680&bih=867

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by travdes

If you don't mind a bit of a trek, Pacific Rim National Park (Greenpoint) is our personal favourite. But it's about a 6 hr drive, 90 min ferry, and 2 hr drive from Osoyoos.

And round trip ferry runs $340 for a 34' tow and trailer and two passengers.

[travdes]

Worth it :-)