Directions

[CLarence39]

Looking for someone that has driven from colorado to Alaska - we will meet up with a group at Dawson Cr. BC. Please send directions if you have driven this route. ASAP Big "Thanks" CL

[NukeRef]

This is the route we took last year:

Colorado Springs to Ft Collins via I-25
Ft Collins to Douglas, WY via I-25
Douglas to Buffalo, WY via I-25

From Buffalo we went to the FMCA Rally in Gillette, then continued to Sheridan, WY via I-90.

Sheridan to Billings, MT via I-90
Billings to Livingston, MT via I-90 and US-89 where we spent a week enjoying the Yellowstone area.
Livingston to Great Falls, MT via US-89
Great Falls to Lethbridge, AB via I-15 and CN-4
Lethbridge to Cochrane, AB via AB-3, AB-2, AB-201 and AB-1A
Cochrane to Hinton, AB via AB-22 and CN-16
Hinton to Grande Prairie, AB via AB-40
Grande Prairie to Dawson Creek, BC via AB-43 and Hwy-2

[CLarence39]

Any special areas to avoid on roads?

[Gordon Dewald]

I have not driven the exact route, however there are a few things to consider.

If you are a stampede fan and near Calgary near the beginning of July it might be worth a stop for a day or two of the rodeo. Calgary is just east of Cochrane.

After Cochrane you may want to go west to Banff National Park (gate fee) and travel up the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) from Lake Louise to Jasper. It is one of the most scenic drives (144 mi) in North America.

Then head east on Hwy 16 from Jasper to catch Hwy 40 just west of Hinton and continue on to Grande Prairie.

If shopping is what you would like to do is head north from the Calgary/Cochrane area to Edmonton to stop at West Edmonton Mall (largest mall in North America and 10 largest in the world). From there it is easy access to Hwy 16 and on to Hinton and Hwy 40.

I would suggest the Ice Fields Parkway as a must see. If you are returning the same way you could do one on the way up and the other route on the way back to Colorado.

Whichever you choose you will have a great trip.

[NukeRef]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

...

If you are a stampede fan and near Calgary near the beginning of July it might be worth a stop for a day or two of the rodeo. Calgary is just east of Cochrane.

After Cochrane you may want to go west to Banff National Park (gate fee) and travel up the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) from Lake Louise to Jasper. It is one of the most scenic drives (144 mi) in North America.

Then head east on Hwy 16 from Jasper to catch Hwy 40 just west of Hinton and continue on to Grande Prairie.

<snip>
I would suggest the Ice Fields Parkway as a must see. If you are returning the same way you could do one on the way up and the other route on the way back to Colorado.

Whichever you choose you will have a great trip.

Agreed.

We were there right after the floods last year and even the locals were unsure of the road conditions. That's why we went around Calgary on the East side, and that's why we didn't go up the Icefields Parkway on the way to Dawson Creek. The road from Cochrane to Canmore was iffy at the time.

We stayed at the KOA in Hinton for a couple of days and included a day trip to Jasper National Park.

We did the Icefields Parkway on the way back to the Lower 48 ... It's a beautiful drive, and not as harrowing as some might say.