Canadian Rockies route advice? - Page 3

568V8 · 01-15-2013, 12:52 PM

Skip the Calgary loop and fit in some route to get through Nakusp and Creston. Not much in Sask Crossing; but food and fuel but behind the motel is quiet and ok for picnic lunch. Everything in Jasper is EXPENSIVE, better to stay over in Valemont and it's just on the other side of the mountains. There's and awesome hostel, HI Athabasca, that's inexpensive and better than camping in wet or cold and very accommodating. It's just south of Jasper and where I stayed over 2 nights waiting for weather to improve. Read my blog windtogo.wordpress.com and contact me for more info if you wish.

DYNOBOB · 01-15-2013, 07:56 PM

Thanks a million guys, will look at Nakusp and Valemont...

Yes, I should have said we are looking for hotels. Reasonable priced as is possible but we will splurge a few nights (Prince of Wales, etc). This is a "bucket list" trip after all. Not afraid to camp, spent two weeks in Silverton and Moab in Sept camping w/ Dad. One night out on the White Rim Trail. However, will have a "non-camper" pillion on this trip.

A friend is saying that Kelowna should not be missed? That would take me farther south than the recommended route though.

This is my current thinking on route. Might adjust for the right lodging options.

Day One.........Lebanon to Jackson MN.... 792 miles
Day Two..........Jackson to Billings..... 801 miles
Day Three.......Billings to Great Falls..... 237 miles
Day Four.........Great Falls to Glacier Park Lodge..... 138 miles
Day Five..........Glacier Park Lodge to Rising Sun Motor Lodge..... 100 miles
Day Six...........Rising Sun to Buffalo Jump to Longview, Alb ..... 217 miles
Day Seven.......Longview to Lake Louise..... 164 miles
Day Eight.........Lane Louise to Jasper..... 146 miles
Day Nine..........Jasper to Kamloops.... 275 miles
Day Ten...........Kamloops to Ainsworth Hot Springs.... 264 miles
Day Eleven.......Ainsworth to Prince of Wales Hotel..... 291 miles
Day Twelve.......Prince Wales to Seeley Lake, Mont.... 233 miles
Day Thirteen.....Seeley Lake to Gardiner, Mont... 275 miles
Day Fourteen....Gardiner to Beartooth Pass to Billings.... 180 miles
Day Fourteen....Billings to Jackson MN.... 801 miles
Day Fifteen.......Jackson MN to Home... 792 miles
-----------------------------------
5719 miles

Thanks again guys for sharing your knowledge!!!

.

250senuf · 01-15-2013, 09:17 PM

Kelowna not to be missed? Really?
Just another urban sprawl. Not worth the detour. IMHO

RED CAT · 01-16-2013, 05:44 AM

Is definitely worth it but not the city but the Okanagan all around it is some of the most scenic in BC. Cross the Canada/US border at Ossoyos and head staight north on # 97. Before Kelowna you can take Westside Rd and avoid the city and come out just north of Vernon. From there head south and take # 6 west towards the Kootneys and then south through Kaslo, Nelson, free ferry ride to Crawford Bay and south to Creston. This is some of the nicest riding in BC. All paved though but all seconday roads except for 97. Stay away from Banff and Jasper, all tourist traps.

568V8 · 01-16-2013, 07:55 AM

While you're in BC and not all that far from Kamloops ..... hwy # 99 from Pemerton to Lillooet is worth some backtracking. INMHO it's one of the best roads that I've ridden and worth riding both ways.

Rinty · 01-16-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

...Kelowna...

Bob:

You're current planned route: Vernon, Fauquier, Nakusp is one of the better rides in B.C. I wouldn't worry about going further south than Vernon, on this trip.

Watch out for radar at Burton, north of Fauquier.

Also, a fuelling tip: in your Kananaskis Valley section, you can get regular octane fuel at Highwood House, at the south end of Highway 40, if you don't mind driving a few hundred yards of gravel, and also at the junction of Fortress Ski Area Road and Highway 40, where they have high octane. But your best bet is to top up at Longview.

norther · 01-21-2013, 06:22 AM

Im not sure what Longview has for accommodation. You may need to look at that or consider Black Diamond - Turner Valley.

Brunssd · 01-21-2013, 08:26 AM

Likewise, I wouldn't worry about going south of Vernon either but for the 45 mile long gem called Westside Road that runs mostly along the cliff on the west side of Okanagan Lake. It is accessed near Spallumcheen on the highway between Kamloops and Vernon. If you are coming from Kamloops and you see O'Keefe Ranch on one side and a golf course on the other, you've just passed it.

And don't worry about making it a down and back on the same road, you'll want to ride it twice. There's plenty to see but you better hurry before they straighten the damn thing out.

No need to go into Kelowna/West Kelowna as others have said. It's just more North Generica.

DYNOBOB · 01-21-2013, 01:20 PM

Is Westside paved?

.

Lycan1 · 01-21-2013, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DYNOBOB

Is Westside paved?

.

It sure is! Nice piece of road.

Fatallybitten · 01-22-2013, 01:54 PM

One of the attractions of the area, apart from some good roads, is the wine region. Some of Canada's best wineries are in the Kelowna to Penticton to Osoyoos region. Just have to take the time to stop and enjoy. Also need to arrange alternate transportation post an afternoon of wine tasting! Still, a great day can be had by riding the roads in the morning and booking a wine tasting tour in the afternoon. You can even reserve a room at Burrowing Owl Winery:

Here are some of the views from the area:

Looking south toward Osoyoos, which is beyond the bluff.

Looking north toward Penticton

Looking south toward Penticton from the Naramata Bench

As for the rest of your routing, I agree with all the comments on Revelstoke to Nakusp, New Denver, etc. Fabulous MC roads. Maybe not quite as majestic as the Icefields Parkway, but close.

Enjoy the trip!

David

DYNOBOB · 01-22-2013, 08:43 PM

WOW! Looks like Europe.

.

norther · 01-23-2013, 05:20 PM

What are you riding? A decent route might be the Kettle Valley Railway (abandoned rail bed) between Kelowna and Penticton. Its not real technical at all, has railroad grades, and presents a beautiful view of the Okanagan. Plus you come out on the Naramata bench and can go straight to a winery.

jasonmt · 01-23-2013, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norther

What are you riding? A decent route might be the Kettle Valley Railway (abandoned rail bed) between Kelowna and Penticton. Its not real technical at all, has railroad grades, and presents a beautiful view of the Okanagan. Plus you come out on the Naramata bench and can go straight to a winery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DYNOBOB

I should add, I'll be two up on the Goldwing and Dad will be on a FJR1300, if that affects your route advice (ie. no gravel this trip

).

I am sure lots of us would have suggested different routing if there was gravel involved.

DYNOBOB · 01-23-2013, 06:58 PM

01-15-2013, 12:52 PM	#31
568V8 Ontario Vstrommer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Kingston, Ontario Oddometer: 146	skip Calgary Skip the Calgary loop and fit in some route to get through Nakusp and Creston. Not much in Sask Crossing; but food and fuel but behind the motel is quiet and ok for picnic lunch. Everything in Jasper is EXPENSIVE, better to stay over in Valemont and it's just on the other side of the mountains. There's and awesome hostel, HI Athabasca, that's inexpensive and better than camping in wet or cold and very accommodating. It's just south of Jasper and where I stayed over 2 nights waiting for weather to improve. Read my blog windtogo.wordpress.com and contact me for more info if you wish.

01-15-2013, 07:56 PM	#32
DYNOBOB ^OP lucky dog Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Oddometer: 254	Thanks a million guys, will look at Nakusp and Valemont... Yes, I should have said we are looking for hotels. Reasonable priced as is possible but we will splurge a few nights (Prince of Wales, etc). This is a "bucket list" trip after all. Not afraid to camp, spent two weeks in Silverton and Moab in Sept camping w/ Dad. One night out on the White Rim Trail. However, will have a "non-camper" pillion on this trip. A friend is saying that Kelowna should not be missed? That would take me farther south than the recommended route though. This is my current thinking on route. Might adjust for the right lodging options. Day One.........Lebanon to Jackson MN.... 792 miles Day Two..........Jackson to Billings..... 801 miles Day Three.......Billings to Great Falls..... 237 miles Day Four.........Great Falls to Glacier Park Lodge..... 138 miles Day Five..........Glacier Park Lodge to Rising Sun Motor Lodge..... 100 miles Day Six...........Rising Sun to Buffalo Jump to Longview, Alb ..... 217 miles Day Seven.......Longview to Lake Louise..... 164 miles Day Eight.........Lane Louise to Jasper..... 146 miles Day Nine..........Jasper to Kamloops.... 275 miles Day Ten...........Kamloops to Ainsworth Hot Springs.... 264 miles Day Eleven.......Ainsworth to Prince of Wales Hotel..... 291 miles Day Twelve.......Prince Wales to Seeley Lake, Mont.... 233 miles Day Thirteen.....Seeley Lake to Gardiner, Mont... 275 miles Day Fourteen....Gardiner to Beartooth Pass to Billings.... 180 miles Day Fourteen....Billings to Jackson MN.... 801 miles Day Fifteen.......Jackson MN to Home... 792 miles ----------------------------------- 5719 miles Thanks again guys for sharing your knowledge!!! . __________________ KLX250S.TE630.GL1800.CBR900RRturbo.919 DYNOBOB screwed with this post 02-13-2013 at 09:51 PM

01-15-2013, 09:17 PM	#33
250senuf Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Kootenai, BC, Canada Oddometer: 1,719	Kelowna not to be missed? Really? Just another urban sprawl. Not worth the detour. IMHO __________________ Not all who wonder are confused

01-16-2013, 05:44 AM	#34
RED CAT Bumpy Backroader Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Western Canada Oddometer: 2,413	Kelowna Is definitely worth it but not the city but the Okanagan all around it is some of the most scenic in BC. Cross the Canada/US border at Ossoyos and head staight north on # 97. Before Kelowna you can take Westside Rd and avoid the city and come out just north of Vernon. From there head south and take # 6 west towards the Kootneys and then south through Kaslo, Nelson, free ferry ride to Crawford Bay and south to Creston. This is some of the nicest riding in BC. All paved though but all seconday roads except for 97. Stay away from Banff and Jasper, all tourist traps.

01-16-2013, 07:55 AM	#35
568V8 Ontario Vstrommer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Kingston, Ontario Oddometer: 146	Duffey Lake Road While you're in BC and not all that far from Kamloops ..... hwy # 99 from Pemerton to Lillooet is worth some backtracking. INMHO it's one of the best roads that I've ridden and worth riding both ways.

01-21-2013, 06:22 AM	#37
norther Mind=Yes Body=No Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Calgary or Nakusp Oddometer: 178	Im not sure what Longview has for accommodation. You may need to look at that or consider Black Diamond - Turner Valley.

01-21-2013, 08:26 AM	#38
Brunssd Potemkin villager Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Rancho Deluxe Oddometer: 302	You can't bypass Westside Road Likewise, I wouldn't worry about going south of Vernon either but for the 45 mile long gem called Westside Road that runs mostly along the cliff on the west side of Okanagan Lake. It is accessed near Spallumcheen on the highway between Kamloops and Vernon. If you are coming from Kamloops and you see O'Keefe Ranch on one side and a golf course on the other, you've just passed it. And don't worry about making it a down and back on the same road, you'll want to ride it twice. There's plenty to see but you better hurry before they straighten the damn thing out. No need to go into Kelowna/West Kelowna as others have said. It's just more North Generica. __________________ “Those who do not move, do not notice their chains” - Rosa Luxemburg

01-21-2013, 01:20 PM	#39
DYNOBOB ^OP lucky dog Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Oddometer: 254	Is Westside paved? . __________________ KLX250S.TE630.GL1800.CBR900RRturbo.919

01-22-2013, 01:54 PM	#41
Fatallybitten Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Oddometer: 108	Okanagan Valley is worth a visit if you have the time One of the attractions of the area, apart from some good roads, is the wine region. Some of Canada's best wineries are in the Kelowna to Penticton to Osoyoos region. Just have to take the time to stop and enjoy. Also need to arrange alternate transportation post an afternoon of wine tasting! Still, a great day can be had by riding the roads in the morning and booking a wine tasting tour in the afternoon. You can even reserve a room at Burrowing Owl Winery: Here are some of the views from the area: Looking south toward Osoyoos, which is beyond the bluff. Looking north toward Penticton Looking south toward Penticton from the Naramata Bench As for the rest of your routing, I agree with all the comments on Revelstoke to Nakusp, New Denver, etc. Fabulous MC roads. Maybe not quite as majestic as the Icefields Parkway, but close. Enjoy the trip! David

01-22-2013, 08:43 PM	#42
DYNOBOB ^OP lucky dog Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Oddometer: 254	WOW! Looks like Europe. . __________________ KLX250S.TE630.GL1800.CBR900RRturbo.919

01-23-2013, 05:20 PM	#43
norther Mind=Yes Body=No Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Calgary or Nakusp Oddometer: 178	What are you riding? A decent route might be the Kettle Valley Railway (abandoned rail bed) between Kelowna and Penticton. Its not real technical at all, has railroad grades, and presents a beautiful view of the Okanagan. Plus you come out on the Naramata bench and can go straight to a winery.

01-23-2013, 06:58 PM	#45
DYNOBOB ^OP lucky dog Joined: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Oddometer: 254	__________________ KLX250S.TE630.GL1800.CBR900RRturbo.919

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