The Bride and and I have decided to do drive the length of the Rockies some time in April 2023. Tentative plan is from Albuquerque to Calgary. We're looking for any and all tips on routes and what to see & do. The rough route is Albuquerque -Durango-Grand Jct- Cody- Yellowstone- Calgary. Is Albuquerque a good starting point? I picked it because of the connecting flights, it's not set in stone. While the internet is great for travel, you can't beat boots-on-the-ground experience. As ever, Thank You.
When you get to Calgary go a little further… head to Banff and take the ice fields parkway to Jasper. Amazing drive. I would also suggest the hwy 2A from Lethbridge up to Calgary. It’s rolling hills and a quiet hwy. a drive to become one with..
Highway 93 between Radium Hot Springs in BC and Highway 1 between Lake Louise and Banff is a pretty spectacular drive too. I second the Jasper Parkway and make sure you have time for various side trips, including Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake. We often stay in Canmore outside of Banff and use it as base camp. Plenty of good restaurants and breweries!
If you’re going to stay on the east side of the Rockies, check out Waterton Lakes ju are to north of the border.
Thanks gents. Doug, we're planning on driving to Vancouver, I still owe you gas money for your kindness in 2018!
If you’re coming back to Vancouver, you have a couple of options, none really bad. If you do go up to Jasper use Highway 5 and stop in Wells Gray Park and visit Helmcken Falls. There’s a couple of other worthwhile waterfalls in the park too. If you take Highway 1 just a note that they are widening the highway east of Golden so there may be construction delays. Highway 3 to the south is slower bit scenic. You’ll have fun! Oh and gas is $2.30/litre in Vancouver right now
There's always the possibility that Yellowstone may not be open for travel in April due to snow covered roads. They're not plowed during winter. If you have the time and it's open, US Hwy 212, aka the Beartooth Highway, is quite an experience. It's still closed to travel as of today though. I've driven US 191 north between Yellowstone to Belgrade, MT in both a car and a big rig, It's open year round and goes through some great scenery. I also drove US 287 from just north of the town of West Yellowstone to Helena, MT. It's OK for the most part, just not as scenic while mostly following valleys and lower terrain. Another option would be US 89 north from Yellowstone to US 87, then west to Great Falls, MT. The section between White Sulphur Springs, MT and US 87 was fun with a big rig. Teaser photo from the Beartooth Hwy I took on August 1, 2014. Yes, that's snow in the background.
I second the Beartooth highway between Yellowstone and Red Lodge Montana if the road is open. I saw the other day on TV that they are working on plowing it out right now.
I was going to add just that to this post, as in go north from Calgary. We went to the Canadian Rockies from Calgary all the way to Jasper Canada and it was some of the most beautiful scenery you can see. We visited Banff, stayed at Lake Louise (an old railroad hotel), then went up to the Glacier, and all the way to Jasper. The mountains are beautiful, the critters are incredible, including seeing 2 13 point elks. In Jasper the elks were walking along the Main Street, and at one place we stayed when I opened the door there was a whole group of them walking by my front door. For an old Geology major and someone that loves mountains, that trip was heaven. Duane
PS, There is also a “buffalo drop” east of Calgary, where native Americans herded buffalo off a cliff to hunt them. We did not see it but some family did and they said it was definitely worth seeing. Duane
That sounds like the World Heritage site "Head Smashed In, Buffalo Jump", which is located about 10 miles west of Fort Macleod in southern Alberta. Visiting it was a moving experience.
That entire trip was incredible. The view from the hotel over Lake Louise, with the mountains behind it is just beautiful. My wife is a travel agent and we have been all over the west coast and the Caribbean. The two most beautiful areas we have been to are the Canadian Rockies and the island of St. Lucia. St. Lucia is a tropical island and reminds you more of the Pacific islands rather then the Caribbean “desert islands”. I also spent a summer out west in Utah and Wyoming, when I was in college. Absolutely loved Wyoming and if I had my way I would retire there. Told my parents at the time that if I ever went back, the East Coast would never see me again. Still need to get to Montana. Duane
Colter bay on Jackson Lake, WY, right on the way. Cabins and tent cabins, best morning view in the world.
I just passed thru Jasper on my way to visit Cole yesterday. Travelling east-west it only takes maybe an hour without stopping. Saw a half dozen full curl big horn sheep, black bear sow and cub, tons of elk, a moose, a woodland caribou, several deer and a muskrat crossing the road. The mountains were amazing. I grabbed one pic with my phone. It just doesn’t do it justice. Both Banff and Jasper are Canadas jewels
