Oldschool
Moderator
I put together a track (tracks) for GPS devices that has the main Tourist attractions along the route, as well as a few neat side trips. It has the fuel stops that I have experience with, and some nice hotels, like the Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff which is a personal favorite. I did mark a few campsites as well that I have experience with.
I may build on this thread and welcome input from other BC members for routes around Vancouver that would be traveler friendly.
All the roads listed in the track I have personally ridden with my FZ and other bikes and tried to piece together as many of my favorites without making it too convoluted.
The track was built on the premise of a US / Canada Border crossing at Chief Joseph Border crossing south of Waterton National Park. It is a seasonal 08:00 to 22:00 crossing on a nice piece of road that connects with Hwy 89 in Montana near Babb.
There is fuel available in the park at Waterton and it is worth a side trip into the Park to see the Prince Of Wales Hotel and the view from the hill it sits atop. Red Rock Canyon is another nice stop inside Waterton National park while you are there. Accommodations are available at the town-site as well as 3 campgrounds.
I purposely avoided Calgary but if a traveler wants to see the gargantuan-mass-of-traffic-headache it is an easy side trip and I would be happy to give assistance in planning for that.
Highway 40 west of Longview is a great road that only just recently opened after the flood damage from last year. This year it will have a few very short gravel sections through construction areas as the road continues to be re-rehabilitated. This is a fantastic and scenic road up to where it joins the Trans-Canada highway. It is a very high mountain pass and generally opens up in the later part of June each year. Mountain goats and Big Horned sheep are common and not shy so caution is advised near the summit.
I route off the Trans-Canada onto old number 1 , now called highway 1A, as it is much less busy, and more scenic, both before and after going through Canmore Alberta.
You must purchase a Park pass at the Gates west of Canmore if you follow the track onto the Icefield Parkway (highway #93) up to Jasper.
Lake Louise is a nice spot to see, by the big hotel by the lake, but Morraine Lake nearby is more scenic and worth the short ride. The Lake there is what is on the back of the twenty dollar Bill in Canada.
There are many photo ops' to be had along the Icefield Parkway and the Icefield itself where you can take a tour on one of the huge buses, that take you out onto the Glacier. Worth it if you have never been.
At Jasper I route you onto a very short detour that has a few different cabin accommodations, my favorite being Takara Lake Lodge. Expensive but very nice with a long history. There are a few other very nice ones, but reservations are a must during high season. If you are riding;it is High-Season.
Jasper is worth exploring so plan a bit of time if you can. I marked a favorite Greek restaurant in Jasper, but there are many good food establishments in town, The Gondola Ride at Jasper is better than the one in Banff, especially if you do the hike at the top.
Highway 16 (Known as the Yellowhead Route) west of Jasper is very picturesque and be sure to stop for a picture if the weather is clear when you see Mount Robson in your mirrors. It is best seen from the west side.
Grizzly Bear and Black bear sightings along the highway are not uncommon; just remember they are fast as cats so don’t stop for a close up. The highway narrows as you turn south onto Highway 5 near Blue River. It is very picturesque with thick forest and lots of elevation change as you follow and cross the valley. A nice stop is at Little Hell’s Gate along the route before reaching Little Fort.
As you near Kamloops the Valley opens up into more wide open farm land. Kamloops is a large center built on the hill side in a very hot and arid “high desert” climate. There are lots of services for anything you might need. Almost every major hotel chain as well as camping is available.
The route takes you up and out the south side of Kamloops on the #5A, and winds through the Nicola Valley and along a huge lake. It is typically very windy along the lake, perfect for kite surfing and sail boarding, but can be challenging on a bike on the narrow highway.
Merrit is the next services along this stretch and although limited in selection, it has both accommodations and food, and fuel. Heading west from Merrit, Highway 8 is a narrow, winding road that is a blast on a sport-bike. Please remember that in British Columbia the penalty for speeding is harsh (40 kph over the limit will lose you your bike for a week, as well as a huge fine.) Even at a reasonable speed you will burn your chicken strips off on this stretch of road.
At Spences Bridges you will cross a busy level train track and join the Trans Canada Highway for a nice (one of the best) stretches of it as it winds through the Fraser Canyon to Lytton, where you will turn onto Highway 12 to Lillooet along a great piece of pavement that has lots of nice elevation change and a few very tight corners. Pay attention to the signs as over cooking a corner would be deadly! There are typically lots of deer on the northern half of the highway, especially early in the day. There is a very short stretch just before you drop into the valley floor near Lillooet that is one lane (alternating) where it hugs the cliff wall. Watch for rock fall on that stretch.
Make sure to fill right up at Lillooet as it is the last chance until Pemberton and you might burn more than usual along what is known as Duffy Lake Road. It has recently been paved and is a spectacular road for both scenery and as a bike-fun road. Watch for motor-homes and trailers that cut the tight corners and drag gravel up onto the road-way.
The sea to Sky Highway runs from Whistler to Vancouver and the track ends just above the Ferry Terminal at Horseshoe Bay. This is a great highway but has very low speed limit making it a bit of a drone. Unfortunately it is the only practical way down and the views make up for it. It is heavily patrolled so be good.
Vancouver navigation has been left to a local expert.
I may build on this thread and welcome input from other BC members for routes around Vancouver that would be traveler friendly.
All the roads listed in the track I have personally ridden with my FZ and other bikes and tried to piece together as many of my favorites without making it too convoluted.
The track was built on the premise of a US / Canada Border crossing at Chief Joseph Border crossing south of Waterton National Park. It is a seasonal 08:00 to 22:00 crossing on a nice piece of road that connects with Hwy 89 in Montana near Babb.
There is fuel available in the park at Waterton and it is worth a side trip into the Park to see the Prince Of Wales Hotel and the view from the hill it sits atop. Red Rock Canyon is another nice stop inside Waterton National park while you are there. Accommodations are available at the town-site as well as 3 campgrounds.
I purposely avoided Calgary but if a traveler wants to see the gargantuan-mass-of-traffic-headache it is an easy side trip and I would be happy to give assistance in planning for that.
Highway 40 west of Longview is a great road that only just recently opened after the flood damage from last year. This year it will have a few very short gravel sections through construction areas as the road continues to be re-rehabilitated. This is a fantastic and scenic road up to where it joins the Trans-Canada highway. It is a very high mountain pass and generally opens up in the later part of June each year. Mountain goats and Big Horned sheep are common and not shy so caution is advised near the summit.
I route off the Trans-Canada onto old number 1 , now called highway 1A, as it is much less busy, and more scenic, both before and after going through Canmore Alberta.
You must purchase a Park pass at the Gates west of Canmore if you follow the track onto the Icefield Parkway (highway #93) up to Jasper.
Lake Louise is a nice spot to see, by the big hotel by the lake, but Morraine Lake nearby is more scenic and worth the short ride. The Lake there is what is on the back of the twenty dollar Bill in Canada.
There are many photo ops' to be had along the Icefield Parkway and the Icefield itself where you can take a tour on one of the huge buses, that take you out onto the Glacier. Worth it if you have never been.
At Jasper I route you onto a very short detour that has a few different cabin accommodations, my favorite being Takara Lake Lodge. Expensive but very nice with a long history. There are a few other very nice ones, but reservations are a must during high season. If you are riding;it is High-Season.
Jasper is worth exploring so plan a bit of time if you can. I marked a favorite Greek restaurant in Jasper, but there are many good food establishments in town, The Gondola Ride at Jasper is better than the one in Banff, especially if you do the hike at the top.
Highway 16 (Known as the Yellowhead Route) west of Jasper is very picturesque and be sure to stop for a picture if the weather is clear when you see Mount Robson in your mirrors. It is best seen from the west side.
Grizzly Bear and Black bear sightings along the highway are not uncommon; just remember they are fast as cats so don’t stop for a close up. The highway narrows as you turn south onto Highway 5 near Blue River. It is very picturesque with thick forest and lots of elevation change as you follow and cross the valley. A nice stop is at Little Hell’s Gate along the route before reaching Little Fort.
As you near Kamloops the Valley opens up into more wide open farm land. Kamloops is a large center built on the hill side in a very hot and arid “high desert” climate. There are lots of services for anything you might need. Almost every major hotel chain as well as camping is available.
The route takes you up and out the south side of Kamloops on the #5A, and winds through the Nicola Valley and along a huge lake. It is typically very windy along the lake, perfect for kite surfing and sail boarding, but can be challenging on a bike on the narrow highway.
Merrit is the next services along this stretch and although limited in selection, it has both accommodations and food, and fuel. Heading west from Merrit, Highway 8 is a narrow, winding road that is a blast on a sport-bike. Please remember that in British Columbia the penalty for speeding is harsh (40 kph over the limit will lose you your bike for a week, as well as a huge fine.) Even at a reasonable speed you will burn your chicken strips off on this stretch of road.
At Spences Bridges you will cross a busy level train track and join the Trans Canada Highway for a nice (one of the best) stretches of it as it winds through the Fraser Canyon to Lytton, where you will turn onto Highway 12 to Lillooet along a great piece of pavement that has lots of nice elevation change and a few very tight corners. Pay attention to the signs as over cooking a corner would be deadly! There are typically lots of deer on the northern half of the highway, especially early in the day. There is a very short stretch just before you drop into the valley floor near Lillooet that is one lane (alternating) where it hugs the cliff wall. Watch for rock fall on that stretch.
Make sure to fill right up at Lillooet as it is the last chance until Pemberton and you might burn more than usual along what is known as Duffy Lake Road. It has recently been paved and is a spectacular road for both scenery and as a bike-fun road. Watch for motor-homes and trailers that cut the tight corners and drag gravel up onto the road-way.
The sea to Sky Highway runs from Whistler to Vancouver and the track ends just above the Ferry Terminal at Horseshoe Bay. This is a great highway but has very low speed limit making it a bit of a drone. Unfortunately it is the only practical way down and the views make up for it. It is heavily patrolled so be good.
Vancouver navigation has been left to a local expert.
Attachments
Last edited: