mbyrod
Sweden
New Member
Joined: 08/11/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
Hello
Me and my wife are going to do a BC trip and would love some advice and tips. We are planning to leave Vancouver about Sept 13 and return Nov 1.
Alt 1
Vancouver Island-Port Hardy, ferry to Prince Rupert-out to Queen Charlotte Island-then to Banff/Jasper etc-Back to Vancouver. This alternative would include leaving the RV in Vancouver, get a regular car in Seattle(or Vancouver if possible) and spend one week driving from Seattle(or Vancover) to San Francisco. We are flying out from SF, but we could take a flight Vancouver-SF.
Alt 2
Same as above, but taking hwy 37 to Watson Lake and then alaska hwy down to Banff and back to Vancouver. Skipping Vancouver-SF
Alt 3
From Vancouver to Prince Rupert by car- Queen Charlotte Island- then ferry to Haines. Hwy 37 back then down to Banff and back to Vancouver.
Is it to late for hwy 37 and alaska hwy? Guess we would be there somewhere around last week of september and first week of oktober.
Any big difference between the ferry routes? Port Hardy-Prince Rupert or Prince Rupert-Haines
Do we miss alot of scenery if we go straight from Prince Rupert to Banff area and skip hwy 37 / alaska hwy?
Would be great with some input on this!
Cheers Magnus
* This post was
edited 08/15/08 07:59am by mbyrod *
|
flaps
British Columbia
New Member
Joined: 06/21/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
First off, by your dates, I assume you mean Sept 13 to Nov 1.
Thats 1-1/2 months. Are you intending to be on the road all the time?
Are you doing this by rented car or RV? Will they let you take a rental from Canada and leave it in SF?
In Oct. there's a good chance of snow in the Jasper Banff area.
You mention Victoria Island out of Rupert. Not sure where that is.
Lets start there, and will try to answer.
This being an RV forum, Rving vs car makes a big difference.
Pete
|
bsinmich
Holland, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 11/18/2000
View Profile
Offline
|
My first thought was also snow in the area. We have had snow in July in Banff when we were there and you stand a much greater chance in Sept & Oct. It is very beautiful country and we have enjoyed our few times there.
2003 Newmar Mountain Aire, Workhorse W22, & 2002 PT Cruiser w/Remco lube pump, Falcon 5250, & US Gear Unified Tow Brake
|
Tee Jay
Port Angeles, WA
Full Member
Joined: 11/25/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Just for reference:
Vancouver - Watson Lake 3 days
Vancouver = San Francisco 2 days
This assumes you drive 500mi (800km) per day.
Expect some snow in October.
Try Vancouver to Kamloops, then either 1)north to the Yellowhead Hwy, East to Jasper, or 3) east to Lake Louise. Spend a few days at Jasper/Banff/Lake Louise. Exit Jasper East and then North to Grand Cache and Grand Praire, then Northwest to Dawson Creek, then back to Prince George, then out to the Coast at Prince Rupert and Ferry to Vancouver Island. From the Victoria area you can return to Vancouver or take the Ferry to Port Angeles. That would get you on the Olympic Peninsula and down the Washington, Oregon and California coasts on Hwy 101.
BC has some loop tours so look at their sites.
Expect a lot of variation in weather. Heavy winter storms usually hold off to November but to warranty offered.
Best wishes for a wonderful trip.
|
Little Kopit
TheMaritimes.ca
Senior Member
Joined: 12/23/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
I'd just like to point out to you that there are several search options.
Here: Advanced search at the top of the page.
&
a section called RVing in Canada & Alaska
On the net: www.google.ca, click on the circle for pages from Canada and put in your topic. For example: British Columbia Tourism. Make sure to get your provincial guide. In Canada provincial government produced guides always have a wealth of information. I realize you're so close to your trip that you'll probably be best picking one up when you get here.
& I, I took the road less travelled by.
RVing in Canada
My Photo Album, featuring Labrador 2006
|
|
|
mbyrod
Sweden
New Member
Joined: 08/11/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Ok, thanks for the input. Have edited my first post(was a bit tired writing it) to straight some things out.
We intend to use the RV more as a home. Staying for longer periods at several places, doing some trekking etc. Also like short days of driving.
|
mbyrod
Sweden
New Member
Joined: 08/11/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Took a look at the different fares for taking a ferry with the RV. That's really expensive...
Thinking about driving to Prince Rupert and going on some roundtrip to Juneau without RV, or similar. Any ideas?
|
flaps
British Columbia
New Member
Joined: 06/21/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Based on the time of year, here's what I would do.
Take highway 1 out of Vancouver to highway 3.
Continue on 3 to Oosoyos and highway 97.
Up highway 97 through the Okanagan Valley. Wine country, and in Sept. you should have good warm weather.
Up highway 97 to number 1-the Trans Canada Highway.
Turn east, and follow #1 to Banff. Great scenery.
Now it gets interesting.
Because of the time of year, campgrounds up through the park, will not all be open.
Banff; Lake Louise; and Whistlers at Jasper should be.
Come back west on #1 to Lake Louise. Well worth seeing. Then to highway 93; the Icefields Parkway To Jasper. If not socked in cloud; most spectacular scenery you will see.
Be prepared for some cold nights and the possibility of snow.
It's early, but I've seen 6 inches of snow in Lake Louise the first week of Oct.
From Jasper, Highway 16 will take you to Prince Rupert.
Put away your snow shovel, and prepare for rain. LOTS of rain.
There is a big campground in Rupert abour 3 minutes from the ferries.
I've never gone to Alaska by ferry, but last year, I took a 24 foot motorhome down to Port Hardy on the ferry. 904.60 Canadian Dollars. I look at it this way; if you drive back south, you use a few hundred dollars in gas. On the ferry....none.
Beautiful trip. And you could spend time on Vancouver Island before returning to Vancouver.
There's the scenerio I would use, based on the time of year you're doing this.
Gets you through the mountains before the worst weather, and on to the coast.
Not the time of year I'd plan it, but you Swedes are hardy folks.
Good luck
Pete
|
mbyrod
Sweden
New Member
Joined: 08/11/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
That sounds lika a good plan Pete. I've been thinking that we should to the north first, and then head south. But sounds good to do the mountains before it gets too snowy.
How about taking alaska hwy north and then hwy 37 back in beginning of october? To late?
|
flaps
British Columbia
New Member
Joined: 06/21/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I guess it depends on what you want for weather. It's going to be pretty cool, and the posibility exists for snow there as well. As far as scenery goes, the Banff-Jasper run is the best by far.
Well up into Alaska is very scenic, but that loop(Dawson Creek-Watson Lake) and back down 37........Nice but not spectacular in my opinion
Pete
|
|
|
