Calgary to Victoria

Welcome to the Thorntree.

We were planning to go via Banff -> Radium Hotsprings, but read about the Icefield Parkways which we would miss out.

The Icefields Parkway is one of the best drives in North America in my view, and hugely superior to the drive via Yoho-Kootenay to Radium Hot Springs (having done both).

Have you exhausted all Airbnb options in Jasper? Even a private room at the HI Hostel? Hinton is seriously out of the way really.

Ideally, you would have one night Lake Louise (outstanding), then one night Jasper, then the third night Kamloops, but I concede it's peak season. The drive Jasper to Kamloops is a long day, but not outrageously so, and parts are very scenic.

Thanks so much Sunbird. That works really well. I had looked but run out of options on the Airbnb. We are Airbnb'ing it in both Victoria and Vancouver which we're really looking for it.
However, for Jasper, I was looking for a hotel for 2 nights. Having revised the search for 1 night, I've just managed to find what looks like the last remaining "reasonably" priced room for that night, Tonquin Inn, so just in the nick of time. I've just found a great looking place in Lake Louise- also the last room available .
With only a couple of hours driving for each leg on day 1 + 2, we can actually have some time to enjoy the scenery. I think that will be fine to then have a longer drive on day 3 through to Kamloops to make up for it.
Thanks again, I think that will be a really memorable trip.

Well done ... I had my fingers crossed that you would find something.

At Lake Louise there is:

• the walk at Lake Louise itself, up to the Teahouse and then on to Little Beehive (great views)
• and at Moraine Lake (which is superb) the trail to Sentinel Pass

Go very early (just after dawn I suggest) to avoid the crowds. You need a Park Pass. Perhaps Moraine Lake first - there is more limited parking. But I concede you might need to do your sightseeing on the afternoon of your day of arrival!

On the Icefields Parkway stop at every lookout, falls, and other diversion, starting with Bow Lake and Peyto Lake.

At Jasper, Pyramid Lake is great, as is Mt Edith Cavell, and Maligne Lake if you have the time.

that's awesome, thanks sunbird. We're really looking forward to the trip.

Maybe a tad late to this but after Jasper there's a town called Valemount about 1.5 hours away. There's not much to Hinton and Valemount is surrounded by mountains.

I like Sunbird's idea of doing the Icefields Parkway and can't add anything to that other than start early on the Parkway. That drive is amazing but if you start on the parkway early (say 7am) you'll be ahead of a lot of the traffic).

Jasper is gorgeous but there's not much accommodations. Valemount is at least mountainous so you won't do badly there. THen you have the whole day to drive to Kamloops via the Yellowhead highway.

If you're really not too fussed about small towns then stay instead at tete jaune cache. They're just motels but the breakfasts are good and the hike into Mt Robson Park is also insanely beautiful. It's long and probably overmuch for a 7 year old but just had to get it out there - http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/mt_robson/berg.html. Even if you don't do the hike Mt Robson's views are not to be missed

On the leg to Kamloops stop at Clearwater. Good bakery there. Gorgeous waterfalls that're a short hike http://wellsgray.ca/site/activities/waterfalls.html

Thanks alot Sharonandlee.
that's really helpful also. Like the sound of Clearwater in particular!

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