Banff and Jasper NP

[elkroeger]

Hi guys,

 

We're planning a ride through Banff and Jasper NP up in BC. Rounding up it's a 1500 mile loop: Seattle - Kamloops - Jasper - Lake Louise - Kelowna - Seattle. I'm figuring 8 days, so it's under 200 mi/day. Seems like plenty of time to play off the bike.

 

Question #1: My girl only has 4K or 5K miles in the saddle. Does anyone see that as too ambitious a trip for a newbie? She's done several 200 - 300 mile day trips. She's done fine, but she'd kinda tired when we get home.

 

Question #2: I haven't been up there since the '80's. Can I just get on the bike and go, or is it crowded and I'll need to actually plan things / make reservations? (last week of July)

 

Any other words of wisdom for me?

 

Thanks guys!

 

e

 

 

[dba]

I plan to leave Lake Tahoe on July 13 for those same locations. My trip will take me up through Banff, Jasper onto Hyder, AK. Then south to Vancouver, Victoria area. I should be back home by the 25th of July.

 

I don't take a laptop with me but I usually stay at a hotel where there is a business center. I'll check email and send a note to you via this forum as to how things are panning out. If that doesn't work, PM me with a phone number and I'll advise you while I'm on the way. Happy Trails.

 

David A.

[RichEdwards]

I did the Canadian Rockies tour last summer and had no trouble finding accommodations. Make certain to bring warm clothing--it was in the 40's during the morning at elevation. I think 200 mile days should be easy for your girlfriend. Enjoy this gorgeous part of the world.

 

[Ken H.]

#1. Everyone is different, but 200 mile days should be easily doable for her we would think.

 

#2. I'm just paranoid that we'll end up, 'no room at the inn' at midnight somewhere, so we always book ahead. But that's just us.

 

BTW, don't miss the hike up to the inlet of Lake Louise, it's well worth the 2 hours or so it takes!

[JTWright]

We did a group tour there in 2004 and thought it was great. There was a tendency to run up and down the Icefield Parkway-don't remember the highway number. The riding was not very technical but the country was beautiful. Our lodging was booked by the tour so wasn't a problem.

 

We recommend the glacier tour - takes a couple of hours depending on the number of folks at the tour center.

 

You might want to get to the towns of Golden, Revelstoke, Nelson and Radium Hot Springs to add some additional varity.

 

Road quality was good so 200 miles per day is easy.

 

Good luck

 

Jim

[Selden]

Hi guys,

 

We're planning a ride through Banff and Jasper NP up in BC. Rounding up it's a 1500 mile loop: Seattle - Kamloops - Jasper - Lake Louise - Kelowna - Seattle. I'm figuring 8 days, so it's under 200 mi/day. Seems like plenty of time to play off the bike.

 

200 miles/day shouldn't be a problem even for a newbie, although she might a little tired at the end of the first few days. I had some problems finding a B&B that wasn't fully booked in Jasper mid-July 2006. The area around Kelowna is getting really developed. Vernon, at the north end of Okanagan Lake, seemed a little less crowded. If you're planning to camp, Teddy Bear Resort on the west shore of Wood Lake, is about halfway between Vernon and Kelowna. They have both cabins and camp sites; price was reasonable in 2006, but I have no idea what prices will be like this year, with the collapse of the US dollar. I had a good, inexpensive meal at the Gallery Cafe, about 5 miles south of Teddy Bear. See: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~libssd/Alaska2006/20060801.html

[Laura]

Question #1: My girl only has 4K or 5K miles in the saddle. Does anyone see that as too ambitious a trip for a newbie? She's done several 200 - 300 mile day trips. She's done fine, but she'd kinda tired when we get home.

 

Depends, does she have a windscreen of some sort to keep the wind off her? It makes a big difference.

 

When I first started riding (long time ago) 200 miles days were a lot for me when I didn't have a windshield. I finally got a handlebar mount shield and it made all the difference.

 

My suggestions is that if she doesn't have a windscreen of some sort, get one and the other thing to do is work up her endurance. Start going out riding 35-50 miles more each time and work up to 200-300 mile days.

 

Good luck and have a blast !!

[MikeRC]

Hi guys,

 

We're planning a ride through Banff and Jasper NP up in BC. Rounding up it's a 1500 mile loop: Seattle - Kamloops - Jasper - Lake Louise - Kelowna - Seattle. I'm figuring 8 days, so it's under 200 mi/day. Seems like plenty of time to play off the bike.

 

Question #1: My girl only has 4K or 5K miles in the saddle. Does anyone see that as too ambitious a trip for a newbie? She's done several 200 - 300 mile day trips. She's done fine, but she'd kinda tired when we get home.

 

Expect she will be more tired after day 1 and 2, then will improve. As a general rule, it will be worse if you have to fight more truck traffic or take more challenging roads.

 

To that end, can I make a few suggestions? How about taking WA 9 north rather then I-5? A few tight corner sections, but less tiring then the interstate IMHO. Cross the border at Sumas/Abbotsford unless you plan on going through Vancouver for a reason. Don't take the Coquihalla (BC 5) from Hope to Kamloops unless you are trying to make time on that section. BC 1 up the Fraser River Canyon is much more interesting. Again be wary of any warning signs to slow down for the corners, there are a couple of tricky ones just north of Lytton.

 

Was there a reason you wanted to do the BC 5 north of Kamloops? It is pretty boring all the way from Kamloops to Valemount. But the last 50 miles into Jasper is pretty cool. If you can see Mt Robson, take a picture. It is only visible about 60 days a year.

 

I wouldn't go back through the Okanogan Valley, Sicamous to Penticton is really slow due to urban development and heavy traffic. Take 23 south of Revelstoke, catch Upper Arrow Lakes Ferry then follow BC 6 or 22 or 3 to cross over into WA and follow WA 20 all the way back to Sedro-Woolley.

 

Question #2: I haven't been up there since the '80's. Can I just get on the bike and go, or is it crowded and I'll need to actually plan things / make reservations? (last week of July)

 

You shouldn't have much problem finding a place to stay provided you are off the road by 5:00 pm. However, August 1 to 4 is a long weekend here and if you are including those dates I suggest reservations. Jasper is pretty tight for accommodations, but look for signs outside houses offering informal bedrooms for the night. There is nothing in Lake Louise for under $150 per night. Canmore is a bit less expensive then Banff.

 

Mike Cassidy