LAST EDITED ON May-29-11 AT 00:03AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON May-29-11 AT 00:00?AM (MST)
Banff- crowded with foreign tourists, very cool shops, pricey restaurants, pricey but very high grade hotels, great museum, wonderful Native American history center, large numbers of elk and big horn sheep wandering throughout the town especially along the parks and golf courses that border the river. Mountain scenery is stunning. 50 minutes to downtown Calgary (800,000 people)
The Highway to Jasper: Goes past Lake Louise, a spectacular lake and old world Hotel built by the railroad over a 100 years old (approx.) Canoe rents worth a self guided paddle around the lake. Lake is the color of the summer sky. On to Jasper, this could be the most amazing 180 miles of scenic highway in North America. (haven't seen them all but this one has go to be right up there) Glaciers next to the road, pristine rivers and creeks, numerous water falls next to the road. Sheep and elk are common, black bear on occasion, the white specs above the timber line are mountain goats. Take nearly 4 hours if you don't stop for a look at anything, 6 hours if you stop for the normal looks more if you explore. Not any motels that I can remember after you leave Lake Louise.
Jasper- less foreign tourists, more local folk. Not so glitzy as Banff, everything is less expensive but not as high grade, more laid back and restful. Beautiful scenery, like Banff but different. No so many critters wandering the streets. Banff would be better if it's elk your after, IMO. North of Jasper things get rougher, remote and less travelled.
In my opinion, every one that loves the outdoors needs to drive this road once in there life. It is such a safe and easy drive from the Western US. You can leave Salt Lake City at 6 a.m. and be in Banff before midnight the same day. Interstate 15 goes all the way, they just change the name at the border.
Glacier National Park- beautiful but nothing in the way of a community to stay in, in the Park. Nothing on the east gate, West Glacier is a pretty small community at the west gate. Never seem to see a lot of wildlife in Glacier however I did encounter two 3/4 grow grizzles just east of the east gate a few years ago.
Yellowstone- what can say, there's no place like it. Every one needs to spend a week in Yellowstone. Elk, buffalo, now days the bears even show up once in a while. I guess you might see a wolf (puke). I never have, thank you!
The sleeper that few know or care about is Waterton National Park, in Canada but is basically an extension of Glacier National Park, the US/Canadian border divides them. I like the scenery better in Waterton that I do in Glacier, and the town is an amazing little village setting on a lake that is a pretty as any you'll see any where in the west and it huge. The motels are all old and mostly run down but if you kind of hold your nose you'll do okay, they won't kill you, we've survived them many, many times.. Restaurants are a little better but not much and theres not a lot to pick from. But it's worth it, if you like great places and are so concerned with have great service. During the first week of August the saskatoons (like blue berries) are like grape vineyards and smell like a perfume department in ZCMi. The blacks bears can smell those berries for 30 miles and they all come running. Golfing is a contest between you and the bears. On the road to Red Rock Canyon it's common to see a dozen different bear, loading up on berries. DO NOT WANDER THROUGH THE BERRY BUSHES THIS TIME OF YEAR.
There is a secondary road, Alberta Highway 22 (the Cowboy Trail) very scenic, remote and very little traffic, that goes north from the Waterton area and comes out just east of Banff. It's way off the normal route but well worth the drive if you want to see the back country. One of the best kept secrets in Alberta. Fill up the fuel tank before you leave because there are no services for a long way (100 mile +/-) Not much in motels along this section either, some at the north end, none on the south. For a road less traveled, give this one a try, you'll be happy you did, if you not in a hurry.
DC
