Travel Western Canada

W. Canada 2000
Ontario to Alberta

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This page last updated on July 18, 2000

We planned to start this trip at the end of May so as to avoid the crowds in the Banff/Jasper area, which gets really busy when school's out. The renovations took longer than we thought, but we're really glad we did it - makes a huge difference in the 'liveability' of the trailer. Duration of the trip (see the map) was scheduled for about three months and we hoped drive across the Prairies, stay for a while in Banff and then have a month in the BC Interior (Okanagan Valley), and get as far west as Victoria, BC for the Family Reunion in August, and return via the US and Yellowstone Park

Eventually got packed and left early Saturday evening (June 17), just in time for a spectacular Sudbury sunset! Stayed overnight at Whitefish, just west of Sudbury, and then drove all day Sunday, passing through Sault St Marie, Wawa - home of the giant Canada Goose monument, Marathon, and pulling in for the night at Terrace Bay. Fortunately that RV Park had cable TV hookups so I got to see Tiger Woods US Open win highlights about 20 times!


Getting ready to leave	Sunset near Sudbury	The Wawa goose

The wildlife in N. Ontario is highly visible - we saw 4 moose (1 dead at the roadside), 2 black bears, and many deer - while driving. At night it's very hazardous. If you hit a moose, it's bad news for the moose but REALLY bad news for you. They are so tall, their body misses the front of your car and comes straight through the windshield, often killing the driver! Most of driving was similar to passing through Muskoka - rocks and water - but much more water. There are lakes everywhere. At Thunder Bay there is a large monument of Terry Fox, near where he gave up his cross-Canada run in 1981 after his cancer reoccurred.


Terry Fox Memorial at Thunder Bay, Ontario

Crossing into Manitoba after 1973 Kms and on the 3rd day of driving makes you realize how big Ontario is. The hills disappeared and it was totally flat around Winnipeg - just like you imagine the Prairies would be. BUT the rest of the drive across Manitoba and Saskatchewan was nothing like we expected - it wasn't boringly flat and straight. Really it wasn't that different to driving in Southern Ontario, except for the grain elevators alongside the railway.

Whitewood, Saskatchewan

Throughout Saskatchewan there were areas of what looked like snow, especially around water. Not sure, but think it might be potash as they do mine that there. Stopped off in Regina for dinner (Classic Buffet, as recommended by Rough Guide) and then pulled into a truck stop in Swift Current for the night.

Uneventful drive across Alberta, via Calgary's downtown rush hour, to Banff on Wednesday June 21. Booked into a beautiful campground in Banff on Tunnel Mountain overlooking the Bow Valley and Banff Springs Hotel, just minutes from the town centre. A quick look around in the evening showed a very upscale town, with many trendy restaurants, stores and hotels.
Went for a drive and a hike to Lake Minnewanka just outside Banff - the scenery is so spectacular in all directions - beautiful mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and wildlife everywhere. Spent the evening washing the trailer - after it's 3600 Km trek across four provinces in several rainstorms it was filthy!


Approaching Banff	Banff Springs Hotel	Lake Minnewanka, Banff	Prairie dog admiring Two Jack Lake, Banff	Banff village from Mt Norquay

Decided to go back to Lake Minnewanka on Friday morning for a bike ride as the trails around the lake were really rough and hilly - too tough for Sandy. The trail was great and the views spectacular - some parts of the trail were a bit exposed and could have been nasty if you stumbled, as it was a few hundred feet above the lake on a narrow ledge with very a steep and loose slope to the lake.

Panoramic view from the trail beside Lake Minnewanka

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