Between Osoyoos and Glacier?

Steven M · 03-25-2017, 12:57 PM

Picking up the 21 on the 23rd of May and heading to Nk'Mip for the rally and planned to depart the 28th. Heading to Glacier National Park where the camping doesn't start until the 1st of June. Looking for recommendations on where to stay while traveling from Osoyoos to Glacier. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Catchlight · 03-25-2017, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven M

Picking up the 21 on the 23rd of May and heading to Nk'Mip for the rally and planned to depart the 28th. Heading to Glacier National Park where the camping doesn't start until the 1st of June. Looking for recommendations on where to stay while travelling from Osoyoos to Glacier. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Congratulations on acquiring you new 21'! We travelled from Chilliwack to Glacier N.P. (in Montana, not BC) via the Crowsnest Highway (BC3) right after picking up our 21' in 2014, and drove the route both ways in 2016.

We liked Manning and Fernie Mountain Provincial Parks, and loved Waterton Lakes National Park. In Glacier N.P. we camped at Apgar, and enjoyed it, too.

Waterton Lakes, one of the great Rocky Mountain parks, is not to be missed, in our opinion. We stayed at the Townsite campground, which is nestled beside the town of Waterton. It has a spectacular setting and is quiet at night. You would be wise to reserve ahead for Waterton here: https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/Home.aspx

Last fall we stayed at Fernie RV Resort, a new CG just north of Fernie. It costs more than Fernie Mountain, but is in a beautiful, quiet setting yet is an easy walk or cycle to all attractions in the fascinating town of Fernie. It has the most private and luxurious bathrooms we've ever encountered in a campground. http://ferniervresort.com/

Highway 3, the Crowsnest, is our favourite route in BC because of light traffic, beautiful scenery, good camping options, and interesting towns. We haven't camped near Nelson or Rossland because we have friends with driveways in both towns, but we recommend stopping at either, particularly Nelson which is bigger and has more going on.

You can drive from Osoyoos to Nelson in a medium-length day, and from Nelson to Fernie in another. That just leaves a short day from Fernie to Waterton, if you choose to go there. Driving from Waterton across the border and into the east side of Glacier N.P. just takes a couple of hours.

Regarding towing your new Escape, the 6% and 8% grades of Alison Pass, Anarchist Mountain, Kootenay Pass, Paulson Pass, and the Crowsnest will give your tow vehicle a good workout. We've towed our 21' over those passes with a V6 4Runner and a V8 Tundra. The 'Runner had to work pretty hard, particularly on Kootenay Pass; the Tundra did it all without breaking a sweat.

Have a great trip!

cpaharley2008 · 03-25-2017, 05:30 PM

nice pictures...

Catchlight · 03-25-2017, 05:36 PM

The photos are borrowed, Jim. Mine aren't as good!

cpaharley2008 · 03-25-2017, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catchlight

The photos are borrowed, Jim. Mine aren't as good!

Well, I guess you could have taken them, just as well....

Steven M · 03-25-2017, 05:42 PM

Brent/Cheryl, Thanks, for the tip. Would you do the drive in one day or two?

Catchlight · 03-25-2017, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven M

Brent/Cheryl, Thanks, for the tip. Would you do the drive in one day or two?

Steven, if you're looking for the fastest route from Osoyoos to Glacier N.P. you would be better to cross into the USA south of Creston rather than go through the Crowsnest. Your towing style might vary, but we find a five hour day is plenty when we're towing, so that would mean two days minimum from NK'MIP to Glacier. We add about 20% to Google's time estimates when we have 5000 pounds of Escape's artistry on our hitch. https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Apgar....0385922?hl=en

Steven M · 03-26-2017, 07:55 AM

Brent/Cheryl,
Thanks for the tip. Anita and I decided to go for the thrills

, 6%and 8% grades, and are heading to Waterton Lakes NP with a one night stop at Champion Lake PP to break up the trip. Those pictures and the Canadian Parks website sold us. Thanks again.

escape artist · 03-26-2017, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven M

Brent/Cheryl,
Thanks for the tip. Anita and I decided to go for the thrills

, 6%and 8% grades, and are heading to Waterton Lakes NP with a one night stop at Champion Lake PP to break up the trip. Those pictures and the Canadian Parks website sold us. Thanks again.

Hi: Steven M... Great choice!!!

The thrill ride for us was Hwy#6 leaving Waterton Lakes to the US border. Here's our pic of the lake and our campsite in town CG. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

Catchlight · 03-26-2017, 12:21 PM

You'll enjoy that route, Steven M. There are hikes of every length and degree of verticality near Waterton, including a 10-mile trek down the remote west side of Waterton Lake into Goat Haunt, Montana (population 3 in summer). When we arrived, a young Homeland Security officer popped out of his cabin and demanded to see our passports. He was friendlier once he verified that we were legit, and he and the two park rangers rode the boat back to Waterton with us, as Goat Haunt is miles from the nearest road and gets its staff and provisions via Canada.

Here's a shot of downtown Goat Haunt, one of Cheryl arriving via the suspension bridge, a local traffic sign, some sweet light during the boat ride back, and a view of the town of Waterton.

emers382 · 03-26-2017, 01:19 PM

Re Brent and Cheryl's recommendations. We too are planning a trip home from Osoyoos looking at heading to the Crowsnest Pass, was looking at parks yesterday and noted that Mount Fernie Provincial Park is not officially open for camping until June 1, although you can camp in one loop with no services before that.

Adrian

Mike & Donna · 03-26-2017, 01:33 PM

Seeing all the beautiful pictures, I think you will have a very enjoyable drive enroute to GNP. II I am, sorry to say, a little jealous

Enjoy your trip.

emers382 · 03-26-2017, 01:34 PM

Brent and Cheryl

Just wondered about your suggested route, where you said Osoyoos to Nelson, then Fernie. Is it better to go up to Nelson rather than stay on Hwy 3 from Castlegar to Creston. We've only been along Hwy 3 once back in 1978 so memory of the route is sketchy!

Adrian

gbaglo · 03-26-2017, 01:52 PM

Nelson is out of the way. Castlegar is more direct.
Nelson is neat little town ( hippy haven ) with a municipal camp ground downtown ( full in the summer ). We had a hard time finding a site nearby.

Catchlight · 03-26-2017, 05:54 PM

Nelson might not be worth the one-hour side trip for someone trying to "make time" to another destination, but it would be fun for folks wanting a hit of Sixties counterculture, heritage homes, interesting independent shops, great craft beer and ales from the Nelson Brewing Company, and live music at the Hume--one of the nicest bars anywhere. For a preview watch Roxanne, with Steve Martin and Darryl Hannah. The fire hall where Martin's character worked is still in use. The New York Times heaped praise on Nelson in a big feature story last year.

You may also like: