Community Forums

Super Thirty · 04-02-2017, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UTTransplant

We had originally decided to go to Canada this year, but we changed our minds due to anticipated crowds. Now we want to plan for 2018! I am making note of the recommendations for future use. We generally try to get walk-up campsites during the week and plan on reservations for weekends. We think we will stay 3-4 weeks. We are capable of staying off grid (with generator and solar) for about a week, but then we need to dump. We are also ok with cool temps at night if it means not battling crowds. What would be the best time to go? It seems a lot of campgrounds don't open until first or middle of June. How about late August or September? We don't want it too cold since we like to canoe too, and it would be a shame to head to Canada and not go canoeing!

You didn't say where you would like to go. We can be more helpful if we know where you plan to travel.

Possum · 04-02-2017, 10:12 AM

Why not do your trip this year and plan to arrive after the stampede. It ends July 17th?? and people disperse quickly. The Canada 150 events will not likely see any more tourists in our great country because those that RV have already been enjoying the vast country and those that don't RV are not suddenly going to buy a unit just to take advantage of free park access. It's not like you get to stay for free with the visitors pass. My brother lives near the Bow River and he isn't a fisherman but he claims he sees lots of people making out like bandits with fly rods. Lots to see and enjoy and there are so many interesting touristy sites a fun area.

UTTransplant · 04-03-2017, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super Thirty

You didn't say where you would like to go. We can be more helpful if we know where you plan to travel.

Like the OP, we were planning on Calgary, Banfd, and Jasper and the surrounding areas.

Super Thirty · 04-03-2017, 06:37 AM

Okay. Wasn't sure how far or where you planned to venture. I can't help you with that area but I'm sure there are others that can.

Ted Lambert · 04-03-2017, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Possum

Why not do your trip this year and plan to arrive after the stampede. It ends July 17th?? and people disperse quickly. The Canada 150 events will not likely see any more tourists in our great country because those that RV have already been enjoying the vast country and those that don't RV are not suddenly going to buy a unit just to take advantage of free park access. It's not like you get to stay for free with the visitors pass. My brother lives near the Bow River and he isn't a fisherman but he claims he sees lots of people making out like bandits with fly rods. Lots to see and enjoy and there are so many interesting touristy sites a fun area.

I agree.

What a lot of Canadians don't know that only thing that is free IF YOU BOOK AHEAD is the Park entry fee.
Once you get through the gate you have to pay for everything.
I have heard conversations where people are thinking they will go with no reservations and everything is free.

We usually stay in Jasper on our yearly pilgrimage to the coast of BC.
This year we are doing the northern route. Very senic.
As stated before lot's to see and do in Canada!
Enjoy!

Ted E · 04-03-2017, 07:23 AM

Try Mt. Kidd RV park in Kannanaskis (Canmore area) Large campsite in a wilderness setting with hookups. Beautiful area. Book fast, it may be full already.
Happy Camping,
Ted

BrianGlenn · 04-03-2017, 07:59 AM

I am in the Calgary area. Yes the campgrounds are busy from the July 1 to September long weekend and reservations are mandatory for weekends in the Provincial and National Parks near the mountains. Mount Kidd is very popular (it is in the Kananaskis Provincial Park) and it is a private run campground, leased on provincial government land. There are a number of other provincial parks (run by provincial government) on the government land as well as a few other private run, leased campgrounds in provincial parks. Most of these private and provincial run campgrounds have 90 day reservation windows; which means you cannot reserve until 90 days in advance of your arrival. You can book a total of 14 days from your arrival date.

TODAY April 3, is the day you can start to book arrival dates starting July 2 for provincial parks in Alberta. It is a 90 day rolling window.

The Banff and Jasper National Parks are owned and run by the federal government. These do not have the 90 day booking window and could be booked for any day in the 2017 camping season back in January; I booked my July trip to Banff Tunnel Mountain campground on January 12. They are probably already booked up until after the September long weekend.

Stampede is very busy area for Calgary (July 7-16, 2017). We are short of camping areas in Calgary area; there are private campgrounds in the surrounding towns which are OK for touchdown spots, and easy drives into Calgary for day trips if you plan to visit the world famous Calgary Stampede. The rodeo and events are great, the night time grandstand show and fireworks are fabulous.

The summers are always busy with tourists, especially when the Canadian dollar is less than the US dollar (this year). We see a LARGE number of US folks coming up from the states as the US$ buying power is 30% more right now. At the same time we see a large increase in Asia tourists as they usually have a large US$ portfolio and wealth. It will be busy this year, but not just because the Canada 150 birthday, more because the US$ is quite strong again against the CDN$.

As with everywhere, there are "tourist" spots and "out of the way" spots, with the later less busy. If you like the less busy, the Rocky Mountain House area of west central Alberta has a number of campgrounds with less tourists; there are some great hikes and the same spectacular scenery as you make your way toward the mountains. There is a good road connection (Highway 11) that connects to the Banff/Jasper highway 93, the Icefields Parkway. We have camped near Nordegg Alberta and driven to the Icefields area, Morraine Lake, etc for the day.

The weather in September is usually good, with sunny dry conditions, albeit a bit cooler. Here is a historical weather for Canmore, Alberta. Canmore is just outside the Banff National Park gate, on the highway from Calgary to Banff. Typical Mountain weather patterns on the east side of the Rockies in Alberta.

Some thoughts,
Brian

UTTransplant · 04-03-2017, 10:04 AM

When do the families with children start clearing out of the parks? In the US, most schools start in the middle to end of August, but the park crowds start to get thinner by early August as people need to get home and putting things together for school. I am thinking we might go in mid-August through mid-September in 2018. We live in Utah, so that would be three to four days getting to our starting point, 3 or 4 weeks in Canada, then head home over 3-4 days, depending on where we end up. Definitely want to see the National Parks, but there are some great looking Provincial Parks too.

BrianGlenn · 04-03-2017, 12:19 PM

We have a short summer here in Canada. Most Western Canadians camp hard right up to September long weekend.

Brian

SoonToBeFT · 04-03-2017, 01:52 PM

FWIW, we live South of Calgary 10mins from the Somerset/Bridlewood C-Train. We have had several RVers enjoy boon docking at our quite peaceful acreage (large drive around Tarmac Driveway with Island). We are located less than 2 mins off the main Hwy 2 coming in Personal Message if you are interested.

Now onto Okotoks a little further south west than us = always has a boil advisory when they have had flooding. Seems they often have water issues which has in turn restricted their growth considerably on building etc. Nice area on the Sheep River there.

Cochrane is a about 40 mins from DT Calgary to the West (about 20mins from the edge of North Calgary) There is a really neat Pie Shop in the town there if you are passing!! If you love horses, go to Griffin Valley Ranch NW, and you can pay for insurance as one in your personal group to go off on your own group or as a group with a leader with others. Pretty neat, and we'd stay on the Ghost River bend in Cochrane area personally with the RV, or can dry camp at Griffin Valley Ranch if riding.

Canmore just this side of Banff National Park = neat town that straddle both sides of the highway (TransCanada or 16th Avenue in City known as). We typically do a loop through Kananaskis when RVing locally from Longview entry up through Hwy 40, camping at Peter Lougheed, Spray Lakes etc coming in through to Canmore which is just outside of Banff National Park with wonderful views of the Three Sisters Mountain Range.

Banff - We will typically stay for "convenience only!" at Tunnel Mountain. Interesting to take a walk through the town, check out the free museum with all the Taxidermy animals etc. Banff Springs Hotel certainly worth checking out whilst there, as well if it's your cup of tea the Gondolo, Two Jack Lake/Lake Minnewanka, and heading towards Lake Louise for us we take the other loop via Johnston Canyon and stop there!

Lake Louise = CG right on the railway tracks. Stayed there one night in the 90's with no sleep whatsoever due to the trains blasting and tracks right besides us and never again personally (to each their own). Lake Louise has an overspill area for those needing it. Of course no trip would be complete without "You can feel the breeze on Lake Louise". Whilst in the area, Banff, Yoho, Jasper, etc, or as travelling, you may want to check out Emerald Lake, Peyto Lake, Morraine Lake and up to a dozen more, but they are our favourites for kayaking/canoing and just plain old sitting on a rock and contemplating for a while.

Columbian Icefields = we boondock/dry camp as you wish, here FOC.

GoneWithTheWynns.com and RoadslessTraveled.us on their blogs did some fabulous write ups and photos from their FT travels up here over the past couple of years = check them out for some great advice.

OK, so for Calgary, there is just tons to look see and do. Expect Hotels, CGs etc to triple their prices during Stampede season = that's why many dry camp/boondock at acreages, Casinos, Walmarts etc, as the population more than doubles. A friend, WomanOnTheFly (not sure if she still does it, or has moved down to the Crowsnest Pass), would take folks out in her boat on the Bow River just minutes from where we live here off Dunbow Road, DeWinton, AB. In Calgary you might like to check out Heritage Park (14th St), Princess Island Park & The Eau Claire District Downtown, Glenbow Museum, China Town (cross Centre Ave Bridge over the Bow), and our Zoo is really quite neat and big for a day trip with a picnic. To the North East of Calgary if Dinosaurs and unusual terrain (feels like walking on the moon might!), check out Drumheller.

Hope some of the above helps. Offers there if you want somewhere to dry camp/boondock for a while.

fisher99 · 04-03-2017, 02:06 PM

Thanks, to all of our friends up north, for all of this terrific information! Not only on campgrounds but things to see and do. We will definitely be taking advantage of some of the sights listed on our trip!

UTTransplant · 04-03-2017, 02:33 PM

I second the thanks. However I am not familiar with the term "September long weekend". Is that Labour Day? When does school generally start in Canada, or does it vary too much to generalize? Weekends in the US are hit hard all the way the way through September or even October, but it is more weekends than during the week. It is one of the reasons we generally go for reservations on weekends

BrianGlenn · 04-03-2017, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UTTransplant

I second the thanks. However I am not familiar with the term "September long weekend". Is that Labour Day?

Yup, First Monday in September. Schools vary, but they are back in during the first part of September, sometimes before Labour Day, sometimes right after if Labour Day falls on the first couple of days of September. For 2017, first day of school in Calgary is September 5, day after Labour Day.

Brian

WownFlutter · 04-03-2017, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonToBeFT

Columbian Icefields = we boondock/dry camp as you wish, here FOC.

What do you mean by "boondock free of charge" at the icefields...in the parking lot of the visitors center? Do they allow that? I didn't think there was any free overnighting anywhere in the national parks, even the horrible gravel parking lot overflow "camping" has a nightly fee...