I used Super 8's.  All reservations were made in advance.   If you are not camping, I would advise it.  From Golden, BC, we took a side trip through the national parks to Revelstoke.  It was hot there.  I had never been there, and the ride was nice; but if time is important, I would stay in the Banff-Jasper Rockies.  You should not miss the Parkway north to Jasper, as it is spectacular.  Be aware it frosts 1 out of 3 days that Lake Louise is open in summer.  We had good weather, but rode in intermittent rain to Jasper.  We stayed at the Super 8 in Hinton.  Rain followed us off and on as we left Hinton, and pushed west past Jasper and over the divide.  It snowed 4 inches the day after we left the Rockies...Whew!

Jasper is a trans Canada railway town, and touristy like the rest.  If you can get reservations, and if you stay in Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper, it will cost you plenty.

Leaving Jasper on Highway 16, you cross the divide going west, and descend down to Robson National Park before dropping down into a series of low mountains and rolling valleys, (much drier, few towns or people) until you reach Prince George.  Most head southwest out of Jasper to the interior of BC and Vancouver city.  We are heading to Prince Rupert and the Inside Passage by BC Ferry.

horizontal rule

Golden Super 8

Only a motel, but what a setting with the mountains in the background. Here and Invermere are similar. People hang gliding off mountains as well as complete hard gliders.

Roger's Pass.

A side trip over Glacier and Revelstoke Parks to Revelstoke. Is nice, but if time contraints, stay over at Lake Louise.

Banff Parkway.

Too many shots like this to take. I told Susie I was going to stop and take something. All you have to do is wave your camera out and click it. You will get a picture like this!

Banff Parkway.

At the top of a glaciated valley. The road came up the valley in front of my right shoulder & arm.

Columbia Icefields.

3 story deep glacier to right of Susie's head. It is regressing. We are at the visitor center, which was a mass of people; also light rain. All in all mildly unpleasant. Didn't stay long.

Columbia Ice Field.

Signs mark where the ice used to be. It has regressed about 1/2 mile since we were here 30 years ago. No, I didn't go climbing out there. Good chance of a fall.

Mt. Robson.

The highest mountain in Canada at just over 11,000 feet. Rain clouds clearing that day as we left Jasper.

Salmon Run.

Near Mt. Robson you could see huge red salmon jumping the falls to get upstream. Sorry, none in this picture.

Home Up