US/CA Border Tour - Page 3

Vermilye · 08-05-2019, 10:22 AM

One more possibly useful info - the cell coverage in the area is pretty bad, but near the ski area there is a building on the right (going down) that has a forest of antennas. For some reason, I was able to post a couple of pages of my journal that had been on hold while parked in front. Good Verizon; didn't check AT&T.

I usually stay at Silver Lake County Park in Maple Falls at the start of the part of the highway that goes up the mountain.

Picture Lake:

RF Paul · 08-14-2019, 08:23 PM

Still looking for recommendations? I’d suggest a short side trip north of Hwy 2 in Wisconsin to the town of Bayfield and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Lake Superior at its finest. Quaint little town with a beautiful campground right on the big lake. Take the Ferry to Madeline Island and have a beer at Tom’s Burned Down Bar.

padlin · 08-14-2019, 08:30 PM

Will be taking recommendations till we leave, next summer. Thanks

Jim Bennett · 08-14-2019, 08:56 PM

Bob, you mentioned Banff. There is this place 1 hr east that is worth visiting, Calgary. A few great things to see and some really nice folks there.

It would be great to meet up with you two again.

padlin · 08-15-2019, 05:26 AM

Excellent, I'll drop you a note when it gets closer.

cpaharley2008 · 08-15-2019, 06:12 AM

Great picture there Jon!

Mike Lewis · 08-15-2019, 07:22 AM

Yes, that's a nice photo, Jon. Is Maple Falls worth photographing?

I miss the Pacific Northwest. Looking forward to my next visit out there.

stephen99 · 08-15-2019, 08:08 AM

If you will be crossing the bridge across the Straits of Mackinaw to pick up 2 on the other side a good option for dinner and a campground would be to stop at Lehto's Pasties for a taste of genuine Yooper food and then continue on for a few miles to Brevort Lake campground.

Dave Walter · 08-15-2019, 08:45 AM

My son lives and works as a mountain guide in Banff National Park (and nearby areas), so we spend a fair amount of time visiting Banff National Park. I have to tell you that Banff-Lake Louise area is literally a zoo in July and August months. The crowds are super large and the attractions are difficult to see at times because of that. A friend that I work with was at Banff over the August long weekend and he was disappointed that there were lineups 30-100 people long at some locations to take pictures (of mountains and waterfalls)! We were in Banff on the same weekend but left for home before the traffic got too bad leaving the park. We did see bumper to bumper traffic heading west and extending the entire way from Calgary to Banff. The traffic on Stoney Trail in Calgary was even backed up for about 2km waiting to turn west onto Hwy #1 into Banff. If you want the best Banff experience, I would highly suggest that you visit in other months besides July/August!

Vermilye · 08-15-2019, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Yes, that's a nice photo, Jon. Is Maple Falls worth photographing?

I miss the Pacific Northwest. Looking forward to my next visit out there.

I don't know - I've never been to the falls. Here is a link to info about it.

There is one on the way up the My Baker Highway. Nooksack Falls:

padlin · 08-15-2019, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Walter

My son lives and works as a mountain guide in Banff National Park (and nearby areas), so we spend a fair amount of time visiting Banff National Park. I have to tell you that Banff-Lake Louise area is literally a zoo in July and August months. The crowds are super large and the attractions are difficult to see at times because of that. A friend that I work with was at Banff over the August long weekend and he was disappointed that there were lineups 30-100 people long at some locations to take pictures (of mountains and waterfalls)! We were in Banff on the same weekend but left for home before the traffic got too bad leaving the park. We did see bumper to bumper traffic heading west and extending the entire way from Calgary to Banff. The traffic on Stoney Trail in Calgary was even backed up for about 2km waiting to turn west onto Hwy #1 into Banff. If you want the best Banff experience, I would highly suggest that you visit in other months besides July/August!

An early guess puts me @ Whistlers Aug 19-26, heading south from there. For the holiday weekend of Sept 7th we would be at Many Glacier which doesn't take reservations. Hadn't thought of it being a holiday, will have to come up with a backup plan in case we can't get into Many Glacier.

We dislike crowds of any sort but they're hard to avoid when you want to travel for long periods.

Dave Walter · 08-15-2019, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by padlin

An early guess puts me @ Whistlers Aug 19-26, heading south from there.

You may want to check with Parks Canada. Whistlers Campground in Jasper is closed until further notice for reconstruction. I have heard (and I could be wrong) that Whistler's CG may be closed for entirety of 2019 and 2020. Of course there are other options for camping in Jasper NP, but you should book early to guarantee your spot (https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/ChooseLanguage.aspx)

padlin · 08-15-2019, 02:25 PM

Sheesh! Thanks for the heads up. Needing to make certain reservations way ahead is why I'm figuring this out now. Any recommendation for a replacement for Whistlers?

caddoster · 08-15-2019, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

You can't pull a trailer on the road to Lake Louise, so when you are in Banff, visit Lake Louise while you are unhitched. I found this out when I tried to visit the lake when going from Banff to Jasper in 2017. I had to skip Lake Louise.

You can park the trailer at the Lake Louise shuttle parking lot next to the trans Canada highway - I think one exit before Lake Louise exit if coming from Banff. That place also happened to be the overflow Lake Louise campground (self contained only). From there you can take the shuttle up to Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and back. During peak season the Lake Louise parking lot is full at like 9am and it's really not worth driving up to the lake anyway...

Quote:

Originally Posted by padlin

Sheesh! Thanks for the heads up. Needing to make certain reservations way ahead is why I'm figuring this out now. Any recommendation for a replacement for Whistlers?

We camped at Wapiti campground across the way from Whistlers this year. It works for us.. but then we liked all Park Canada's campgrounds that we camped in so far

Dave Walter · 08-15-2019, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by padlin

Sheesh! Thanks for the heads up. Needing to make certain reservations way ahead is why I'm figuring this out now. Any recommendation for a replacement for Whistlers?

For pre-booking Jasper National Park, Wapiti is probably your best choice right now, I have stayed there many times and is ok (a bit well used). Wabasso is also ok, but is a bit further from the town of Jasper. Pocahontas is also ok but is quite a drive to near the East park boundary (which is ok if you are visiting the Miette Hot Springs).

Mike Lewis · 08-15-2019, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vermilye

There is one on the way up the My Baker Highway. Nooksack Falls:

Signs at Nooksack Falls warned that photographers had been killed after climbing the fence for a better view. I took them at their word and settled for photographing the Nooksack River nearby.

Lanark Camper · 08-17-2019, 06:33 AM

We just returned from a loop driving from Ottawa to Victoria. We picked up our 17B in Chilliwack along the way. We returned from Vancouver Island through the San Juan's, landing in Anacortes WA.
Drove back mostly on highway 2. Enjoyed North Cascades and Glacier very much. Glacier has a free shuttle service we found very useful. North Cascades wasn't too busy, Glacier was a zoo.
I enjoyed driving back on highway 2. Mostly 70 mph, 2 lanes, little traffic, no shoulder, areas without fuel for 90 miles. Lots of little white crosses along the roadside. Check your tires, oil, fuel, no houses, no services, no cell in some long stretches.

Enjoy, safe travels, Bob

Jim Bennett · 08-17-2019, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Walter

You may want to check with Parks Canada. Whistlers Campground in Jasper is closed until further notice for reconstruction. I have heard (and I could be wrong) that Whistler's CG may be closed for entirety of 2019 and 2020. Of course there are other options for camping in Jasper NP, but you should book early to guarantee your spot (https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/ChooseLanguage.aspx)

I thought it was just this year from when they made the decision to close it completely to do the work

padlin · 08-17-2019, 10:05 AM

Just says "Whistlers Campgrounds closed for reconstruction until further notice" at the PC web site. It does however say that Cannabis is now legal.

emers382 · 08-17-2019, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lanark Camper

I enjoyed driving back on highway 2. Mostly 70 mph, 2 lanes, little traffic, no shoulder, areas without fuel for 90 miles. Lots of little white crosses along the roadside. Check your tires, oil, fuel, no houses, no services, no cell in some long stretches.

True but that's just 2 in MT, just into ND at Williston it becomes four lane 65 mph, through to Cass Lake MN then back to two lane.

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