Community Forums

thewanderer · 06-16-2013, 03:45 PM

Has anyone traveled the Icefield parkway from Banff, AB to Dawson Creek, BC? Looking for feedback. Our destination is the Alcan highway to Alaska. We are planning on leaving NE Ohio on Jun 22 and take our time to Alaska and return.
Thank you,

the wanderer

Norm & Pat with the wonder dogs Louie and Marci.

Ray,IN · 06-16-2013, 08:22 PM

Drove it last year. It was a very good highway compared to most 2-lane highways in the lower 48.

Stan.Birch · 06-16-2013, 09:08 PM

Dispelling all of the lengendary hockum about Alaska Highways, our experience in Alaska, is that Alaskan highways are in FAR better condition than anything you will find anywhere south of Alaska in Canada or the lower 48. Even the "infamous" (so-called) "Top of the World Highway" is a total non-event.

The most significant event on the "Top of the World Highway" is Dawson City!! Although we seldom rest more thatn a night or two in any one location, we spent more than a week at Dawson City!! The Government of Canada has done an absolutley marvelous job encouraging travellers to spend more than a mere day in Dawson City. Shades of the Wild West and the Goldrush; with most of the major attraction-attendants wearing National Parks of Canada kind of uniforms and insignias!! A totally wonderful effort on the part of the Canadian Government, and a truly wonderful place to enjoy a week or two.

Unfortunately/fortunately, we had to leave early for a date with destiny: the birth of our very first granddaughter!!

Miss an event like that, and you'll be up to your chin in total doo doo for the rest of your life!!

TdogKing · 06-17-2013, 06:27 PM

We just traveled it from Radium Hot Springs all the way to Dawson City about 2 weeks ago. Canada does a great job of putting Flags/Cones out when the road needs repair. Tok to the border in the Yukon was pretty rough but not impossible. Basically drive no faster than you can stop quickly. The price of Gas in Canada is more shocking than the frost heaves ($6a gal) ! In Dawson City it had rained for 2 days and nobody seemed to know or have the same story about conditions on the Top of the World Highway. I drove to the ferry crossing and looked at vehicles coming from Chicken and decided I didn't want to take that chance with my MH so we drove back to Whitehorse and continued our Journey to FAirbanks, Denali, Anchorage etc. if you have any other questions just ask. We are having the time of our lives, been here a month and have a month to go.

new rver · 06-18-2013, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thewanderer

Has anyone traveled the Icefield parkway from Banff, AB to Dawson Creek, BC? Looking for feedback. Our destination is the Alcan highway to Alaska. We are planning on leaving NE Ohio on Jun 22 and take our time to Alaska and return.
Thank you,

the wanderer

Norm & Pat with the wonder dogs Louie and Marci.

get mile post book for info drive slow have fun.
safe travles bob,linda & missy

George Schweikle · 06-18-2013, 05:22 AM

We drove the icefields parkway way back in 1979 with our first motorhome. This is a very scenic drive, and we rented a tape in Bannf that could be returned in Jasper. This was so long ago, it was an 8 track, and I remember it was rented at a drugstore. The instructions were to turn the tape on at different mile markers; where it would describe what you were seeing. This was a great addition to the trip; I wonder if something like this is available today?.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thewanderer

Has anyone traveled the Icefield parkway from Banff, AB to Dawson Creek, BC? Looking for feedback. Our destination is the Alcan highway to Alaska. We are planning on leaving NE Ohio on Jun 22 and take our time to Alaska and return.
Thank you,

the wanderer

Norm & Pat with the wonder dogs Louie and Marci.

Stan.Birch · 06-18-2013, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TdogKing

In Dawson City it had rained for 2 days and nobody seemed to know or have the same story about conditions on the Top of the World Highway. I drove to the ferry crossing and looked at vehicles coming from Chicken and decided I didn't want to take that chance with my MH so we drove back to Whitehorse.

We found the trek from Tok to Dawson City rather uneventful. The road was well maintained hard surface sand, and smooth all the way.

Although we usually don't spend a lot of time in any one place, Dawson was the exception. We spent a full week there, enjoying all of the many attractions crafted to keep tourists there for more than a night or two. Dawson City is basically an unofficial Canadian National Park, with most of the events and tourist attractions in the area being run by people wearing a National Parks ranger uniform. And they have done a great job of keeping a legendary part of Canada's history alive, instead of allowing Dawson Creek to become an abandoned ghost town.

I'm one of those guys who can't figure out how to post pictures to this forum, but here are links to a few pics of Top of the World Highway:

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=7A665...692F73B1%21207

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=7A665...692F73B1%21206

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=7A665...692F73B1%21208

RV735 · 06-18-2013, 07:58 PM

We traveled Banff, AB to Dawson Creek, BC and beyond in 2012. See our blog starting in Banff: RVGR8escape. The major issue we had on the Alaskan Highway was spending 5 days waiting in Watson Lake for the 200 feet long by 30 feet deep section of the road to be replaced. The road washed out in front of use because of the many days of rain and snow melt.

Safe travels and The Joy Is In The Ride.

ImagineIF · 06-18-2013, 08:06 PM

We didn't take the icefield, but did travel to AK last year. If I was to do it again I book the trip in one direction on the ferry from Whittier to Prince Ruppert and bypass all the bad roads. We took the ferry from Haines to WA because we didn't plan he ferry trip soon enough. You will have some really slow areas were road work is being done. You can check out our blog at www.midlifervtravel.wordpress.com

RoyM · 06-18-2013, 09:02 PM

The ice fields parkway is a spectacular drive. Once you reach Jasper there are a couple of choices. You can go east to Hinton the north on 40 to Grande Prairie. Watch for wild life, I have never seen so many deer in one place. The other option is west to Prince George although pretty uneventful past McBride. 97 through the Pine Pass is a nice drive but keep the speed down, the frost heaves have a nasty attitude.

Skip426 · 06-21-2013, 10:50 AM

Flood conditions all over southern Alberta , more heavy rain today . Many highways closed. Cleanup may take weeks . Calgary has 75,000, evacuated, 100,000 + in other areas of southern Alberta. Check ahead before you try to travel through.

ajm12 · 06-21-2013, 12:17 PM

Well I am in Banff right now. The roads from the south is closed. Some of the bridges washed out due to the rains. It has been raining here for 2 days now. We are waiting for the road to open up north ( mud slides covering road) so as soon as the rain stops will will continue up to Jasper. Don't come thur Calgary and Lethbridge.

Skip426 · 06-21-2013, 12:22 PM

I'll try posting a link, not something I can often get to work

Calgary News | Weather & Traffic - Latest Sports | Breaking News

What a mess.

Skip426 · 06-21-2013, 11:33 PM

Canadian Weather Network just lifted the heavy rainfall warning for the Calgary area , Bow River headwaters saw nearly 8 1/2 " of rain in 48hrs.
Hopefully the clean up goes well . Check ahead for details on road closures , detours.
This afternoon, some small towns on the route most travelers were taking reported no gas . But that should only be temporary.