Canadian Rockies: is Jasper, AB a good place to "base camp" out of for exploring the Rockies?

[glenn1]

Following the advice given in my earlier thread, I'm going to vacation in the Canadian Rockies this year. Considering using Jasper as a "home base" to work from, is this a reasonable plan, and are most of the good sights within a distance which is driveable in a daytrip, returning to Jasper to spend the evening?

 

[Cawchy87]

YES! Jasper is much nicer and less crowded than banff. I recommend Becker Chalets ( http://www.beckerschalets.com/ ) Our family has stayed there twice and LOVED it. It is right on the Athabasca (can't spell) river which is beautiful. You can't go wrong with Japsper

 

[Bootprint]

Jasper is a good choice, much less traffic then Banff.

How are you getting to the Jasper, flying into Edmonton?

 

[cyclistca]

Well a lot will depend on how much of the Rookies you want to explore. If your just staying in Alberta then Jasper would be ok. If you are planing to come over into wonderful BC then you might want to consider staying somewhere on the BC side for a few days.

 

[glenn1]

Well a lot will depend on how much of the Rookies you want to explore. If your just staying in Alberta then Jasper would be ok. If you are planing to come over into wonderful BC then you might want to consider staying somewhere on the BC side for a few days.

Well, here's what my initial plan was... fly into Seattle, rent a car. Drive up to Vancouver, and take a hard right. Stop in Kamloops for a day or so. Head east to Jasper, spend about 4 days there as a home base, visiting Banff, etc. Drive back west to Seattle to fly home. Total elapsed time, one week or so...

 

[Bootprint]

Originally posted by: glenn1

Well a lot will depend on how much of the Rookies you want to explore. If your just staying in Alberta then Jasper would be ok. If you are planing to come over into wonderful BC then you might want to consider staying somewhere on the BC side for a few days.

Well, here's what my initial plan was... fly into Seattle, rent a car. Drive up to Vancouver, and take a hard right. Stop in Kamloops for a day or so. Head east to Jasper, spend about 4 days there as a home base, visiting Banff, etc. Drive back west to Seattle to fly home. Total elapsed time, one week or so...

If you have the time you might want to drive Hwy 1, Trans-Canada between Hope and Kamloops instead of Hwy 5 which is a toll. Some need scenery going across that area, but it does add a couple of hours to the trip.

Dont' forget to head north/east of Jasper on Hwy, some nice places for pictures.

 

[Martin]

Be sure to post your experiences. I love mountains, but never been further west than Thunder Bay (*shudder*). I'm thinking that there must be at least a few greats peaks which can be climbed in a day or two.

 

[glenn1]

Be sure to post your experiences. I love mountains, but never been further west than Thunder Bay (*shudder*). I'm thinking that there must be at least a few greats peaks which can be climbed in a day or two.

I'll hike a mountain, ain't no damn way I'm climbing one (i.e. getting to the top requires equipment). I did enough of that sh!t in my army days, i'm not going to hump 100-something pounds of crap up a mountain for free. I'm smarter than that now

And yes, I'll of course post photos

 

[Bootprint]

Originally posted by: MartyTheManiak
Be sure to post your experiences. I love mountains, but never been further west than Thunder Bay (*shudder*). I'm thinking that there must be at least a few greats peaks which can be climbed in a day or two.

If you ever do get the chance to get out to the Rockies, go for it. It's really an amazing site for an Ontarioian. I drove out to Vancouver and back to Toronto, over 2 years ago myself in March with no real plans other then which cities I wanted to see.

 

[Martin]

Originally posted by: Bootprint

Originally posted by: MartyTheManiak
Be sure to post your experiences. I love mountains, but never been further west than Thunder Bay (*shudder*). I'm thinking that there must be at least a few greats peaks which can be climbed in a day or two.

If you ever do get the chance to get out to the Rockies, go for it. It's really an amazing site for an Ontarioian. I drove out to Vancouver and back to Toronto, over 2 years ago myself in March with no real plans other then which cities I wanted to see.

Aye. Apart from TO's horrid weather I also hate the fact that there no real mountain for thousands of kilometers. Especially since the place where I come from is has some very nice mountainous areas. I am gonna go out west next summer for sure.

Originally posted by: glenn1

Be sure to post your experiences. I love mountains, but never been further west than Thunder Bay (*shudder*). I'm thinking that there must be at least a few greats peaks which can be climbed in a day or two.

I'll hike a mountain, ain't no damn way I'm climbing one (i.e. getting to the top requires equipment). I did enough of that sh!t in my army days, i'm not going to hump 100-something pounds of crap up a mountain for free. I'm smarter than that now

And yes, I'll of course post photos

Well, hiking is what I meant. Something like a 2-3hr hike to the top, with only some clothes and food in the backpack. Did something similar a week ago and was rewarded with an incredible feast for the eyes. Will visit another peak Thursday, weather permitting.

 

[cyclistca]

Originally posted by: glenn1

Well a lot will depend on how much of the Rookies you want to explore. If your just staying in Alberta then Jasper would be ok. If you are planing to come over into wonderful BC then you might want to consider staying somewhere on the BC side for a few days.

Well, here's what my initial plan was... fly into Seattle, rent a car. Drive up to Vancouver, and take a hard right. Stop in Kamloops for a day or so. Head east to Jasper, spend about 4 days there as a home base, visiting Banff, etc. Drive back west to Seattle to fly home. Total elapsed time, one week or so...

Blah I wouldn't stop in Kamloops. Push on to Salmon Arm or even Revelstoke.

You might also want to spend some time in Vancouver.

I would skip Highway 1 after Hope and take Highway 5. It's much faster.

When driving from Seattle to the Rockies there a highway that totally bypasses Vancouver. Sorry don't remember the name. Last thing you want to do if your not visiting Vancouver is to have to drive though Vancouver. There are no highways that go through Vancouver.

Traffic in Seattle sucks during rush hour.

If traffic is not bad and you don't mind driving you could make it to Revelstoke in about 10 hours.

Remember also that it takes time to drive through the mountains. To get to Jasper your going to have to drive over two mountain chains at least.

 

[Aquaman]

top up your gas tank in Kamloops............ because after that it does not get cheaper till you get to Calgary

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Bootprint]

If you're not going into Vancouver, it might be better to cross the border at Abbotsford.

 

[simms]

I love Vancouver. I'm here for 2 more days, then I move back to Toronto....

 

[fitzhue]

I just got back from a road trip to the Canadian Rockies a few days ago. I spent about 5 days in Banff and Jasper. I definitely liked Jasper better as it is not nearly as crowded. Banff is arguably more beautiful if you can manage to get away from the crowds. I did a hike real nice hike through the valley of the ten peaks and paradise valley, which was just incredible. I bought a hiking guidebook for the Canadian Rockies so if you need some hikes in a specific area just let me know and I can show you some. Have a good trip!

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: cyclistca

Originally posted by: glenn1

Well a lot will depend on how much of the Rookies you want to explore. If your just staying in Alberta then Jasper would be ok. If you are planing to come over into wonderful BC then you might want to consider staying somewhere on the BC side for a few days.

Well, here's what my initial plan was... fly into Seattle, rent a car. Drive up to Vancouver, and take a hard right. Stop in Kamloops for a day or so. Head east to Jasper, spend about 4 days there as a home base, visiting Banff, etc. Drive back west to Seattle to fly home. Total elapsed time, one week or so...

Blah I wouldn't stop in Kamloops. Push on to Salmon Arm or even Revelstoke.

You might also want to spend some time in Vancouver.

I would skip Highway 1 after Hope and take Highway 5. It's much faster.

When driving from Seattle to the Rockies there a highway that totally bypasses Vancouver. Sorry don't remember the name. Last thing you want to do if your not visiting Vancouver is to have to drive though Vancouver. There are no highways that go through Vancouver.

Traffic in Seattle sucks during rush hour.

If traffic is not bad and you don't mind driving you could make it to Revelstoke in about 10 hours.

Remember also that it takes time to drive through the mountains. To get to Jasper your going to have to drive over two mountain chains at least.

Agree totally on Kamloops, can't stand the place, Revelstoke or Golden would be nicer places to stay. I wouldn't bypass Vancouver though, Vancouver rocks!