We loved this trip so much we thought we would do it again for our honeymoon. Yes the Glampurs after 10 years together are getting married in 2019. wait for our epic adventure on the road between two provinces for 30 days. coming in Late 2019.
This is an incredible journey that takes you from the mountains to the oceans, then up to the arid Okanagan and back to the mountains. Unfortunately we were unable to complete this trip in its intended scope due to a reduction in travel time that we had available to us for this trip. So we had to modify it a bit and cut off the back end portion of this trip. Instead we traveled from Calgary to Vancouver Island, then to the Okanagan, and then back to Calgary. All in all this modified version of the West Coast loop took us 19 days to complete, and though we missed the trip up the Crow’s Nest Hwy we still had fun travelling the parts of the Hwy we did get to go on.
Our trip began in Calgary travelling down the TransCanada Hwy #1. This Hwy travels through the Rocky Mountains via the Roger Pass and will eventually get you to the West Coast and Vancouver. We drove the Hwy until we reached Kamloops, which is about 4 to 5 hours away from Vancouver traveling along Hwy # 5 the Coquihalla Hwy. If you decide to take the TransCanada to the coast and traverse the Fraser Canyon you can tack on an extra couple of hours to your travel time. Anyways It was here at the summit of the Coquihalla Hwy that we stopped for two nights to rest and recoup from our 12 hour trip from Calgary (As you all know Motorhomes don’t move fast) at a campground called Lac Le Jeune.
This campground is a nice size with 144 sites to choose from, and it has a dump, fresh water, and a beautiful mountain lake with a large beach front. This campground is a perfect spot to stop while on your way to the West coast as it places you approximately 4 to 5hrs away from the ferry terminals in Vancouver if you are going to Vancouver Island. Of course travel time will vary depending on your rig, and how fast you are moving, but for us this is the perfect spot to stop, and it places us within striking distance of Vancouver without a terribly hard drive to get there.
Of course there are many campgrounds along the way that you could stop at to explore like Harold Provincial Park in the Shuswap, or Paul Lake, Juniper Beach, and Shuswap Provincial Park (Scotch Creek) all offer great camping experiences that are also along the route to the West coast. The best way to discover what is best for you to stop at is to look at the BC camping reservations website (https://discovercamping.ca/Home.aspx). This will give you a great view of what is available along your route, and of course allow you to make your reservation.
Once you are within striking distance of the west coast then you have two options in which to get there. Kamloops is the dividing line between Hwy 5 (The Coquihalla) and Hwy 1 (the TransCanada). Both hwy’s offer exceptional views and scenery in which to enjoy your trip to the coast. The Hwy 1 route will see you travel through the Fraser Canyon. This is a twisty turny route that snakes you through a multitude of small communities as you travel downward along the Fraser Canyon. If you have never traveled this route the extra time it takes is well worth the trip and it is a trip that everyone should do at least once. Along this route towards the end there is a tourist attraction called Hell’s Gate. It is here that you will find a cable car ride down to the water’s edge along the Fraser River. Hell’s Gate is where the Fraser River narrows dramatically against the canyon walls. It is very turbulent and violent water action; so much so that the Government of BC installed fish ladders to help the spawning salmon get past this incredible natural obstacle.
Hwy 5 the infamous Coquihalla Hwy is the fastest and most straight forward route to the west coast from Kamloops. This route is a high mountain road that sees frequent weather changes, particularly in the winter months. Summer can be rainy or windy along the Coq, and can make for some white knuckling as you try to keep your rig on the road. This Hwy has many ups and downs to it so you are constantly going uphill until you finally go down on either side. The downward parts of this road are typically very steep, so controlled braking is required to get your rig down the hills safely. Riding your brakes here is a definite no, no and will result in brake failure if you do. Even with the risks associated with using this road, I have travelled it many times both in summer and winter, and have had no issues except for a flat tire. Though there have been times where the wind and snow have made me second guess my decision to drive it. If you do choose the Coq you will find beautiful mountain views at the top of the world so to speak. Alpine meadows await you as well as mountain streams and lakes are in abundance, and there are many places in which to stop and enjoy your surroundings; from rest stops, to back country hikes it is all here to enjoy.
On this trip once we left Lac Le Jeune we took the Coq since we were already on it, and also because it is the fastest most direct route to the west coast; and since we were on a schedule and had to be at the ferry terminal on time it just made sense. The drive from Las Le Jeune to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal took us about 6 hours, it was a bit longer than expected due to construction work along the route and within the greater Vancouver area. The ferry trip to Vancouver Island is another part of this trip, and is a welcome relaxing time in which to enjoy the coastal scenery. Certainly if you have never been on a BC ferry over to Vancouver Island I highly recommend the trip. The cost is a bit expensive especially if you are travelling in a big rig or have a toad behind you. The cost is based on length, we measured in at 51’ Toad included and it cost us with two passengers $315 plus a $12 reservation fee. Of course this cost is one way only. If you are oversized and are planning on going to the Island it is recommended that you make a reservation. Reservations can be made up to five months in advance and can be made here (https://www.bcferries.com/travel_planning/). Plan early and you won’t be disappointed, or have to wait in line for a berth.
Now you’re on the Island, now what? Well there are many places to visit on the island, from Victoria (the capital of BC) in the south to Campbell River in the north, and Nanaimo in the middle. Of course there are many places to camp and smaller communities to explore. Cowichan Lake is a beautiful place to camp midway between Nanaimo and Victoria. The access road into the lake area is mostly gravel but there is paved access on one side of the lake, to almost the campground.
Rathtrevor Beach (a favorite of ours) lies 20min north of Nanaimo in Parksville and offers camping in old growth forest, with beach access on the ocean. There are several campgrounds in and around Parksville, some private, and some public but one thing is for sure reservations are required here. Parksville is Canada’s destination vacation location. This small city is very busy in the summer months and sees its population triple in size during the summer season. We stayed at Rathtrevor Beach as this was our Vacation destination as well as the spot for our destination wedding, something it provided for exceptionally well.
When we left Rathtrevor Beach it was back on the ferry for a trip to the mainland. From there we headed east on the TransCanada towards hope. Hope is the gateway town to the interior of BC. IT offers a crossroads between 3 major Hwy’s. Hwy 1 the TransCanada, Hwy 5 the Coquihalla, and Hwy 3 the Crow’s nest Hwy. Hwy 3 the Crow’s Nest Hwy used to be a major route between BC and Alberta, but once the Coquihalla opened up this Hwy now sees sporadic traffic and mostly holiday travelers.
Hwy 3, is a picturesque road that travels through the south Eastern mountain ranges of BC. It starts in Hope BC and continues on to Medicine Hat Alberta a distance of 1,163km or 697mi. this road goes up and down through the mountain passes but provides exceptional scenery to occupy the drive time. It also provides access to the lower part of the Okanagan valley, and the town and Lake of Osoyoos. On this trip we did not travel that far up Hwy 3 instead turning off the Hwy at Princeton and taking the 5a connector to Hwy 97c the Okanagan connector. The 5a is a bit of a goat path snaking along high bluffs on a two lane road. In some places the road really narrows down and makes for some white knuckling while you pass oncoming traffic. The road will take about 1hr to traverse, and it pops you out on Hwy 97c the Okanagan connector from Kamloops to Kelowna. Once you are on the 97c connector you are about another 1hr away from Kelowna, of course you will have more ups and downs, and some steep slopes to traverse before you reach any semblance of a normal road. Once you hit the interchange for Hwy 97 then you are only minutes away from the Westbank of Kelowna and the end of the journey.
When we hit the Westbank of Kelowna we were only 45min from our final destination of Bear Creek Provincial Park. This park lies on the shores of Lake Okanagan directly across from the City of Kelowna. This is a well-groomed and family friendly campground with great services (See my write up on Bear Creek in the Trip Gallery (Soon to Be published). We spent 7days here and thoroughly enjoyed the campground and exploring the area that surrounded it.
When our time was up it was time to hit the open road once again and start the journey home. The drive from Kelowna to Calgary takes about 12hrs that includes stops along the way. It starts by getting on Hwy 97 and travelling over the floating bridge into the City of Kelowna. Then you follow this Hwy until you reach the City of Vernon 50min away. Upon reaching Vernon your journey will take you through the City unless you decide to stop and explore until you reach the junction of Hwy 97 and Hwy 97a. Hwy 97a is the way to go and this Hwy will now take you to the town of Sicamous where you will get back on the TransCanada Hwy 1 for the return trip to Calgary.
Before you hit Sicamous while still on Hwy 97a on the right hand side of the road is a little tourist trap called the Log Barn. This quaint road side stop is full of tasty treats made by the Mennonite colony that runs the joint. Here you will find all sorts of touristy items to look at, buy and enjoy. Pies, cheese, meats, fudge, and fruit. The list goes on and on. The grounds of the Log Barn are filled with all sorts of statues and curious icons that you can take pictures with or just admire from a far, including a goat bridge that they say is the longest in North America, and yes you can feed the goats. There is lots of parking for big rigs in the back and smaller ones can park out front. The prices are a bit up there but the quality of the food items is exceptional. Whenever we travel this route we always stop here for a bit of a break and a tasty treat to carry us on our way home.
The trip from Sicamous to Revelstoke only takes about an hour to drive, but along the way there are a couple of tourist traps and one National Historic Site for the children to see. First up is Craigellachie or the site of the last spike. This is a neat place to stop at to see the place where the CPR drove the final spike in the TransCanada Railway. Further down the road is the enchanted forest, and the ghost town at Three Valley Gap. A bit expensive to go to but maybe worthwhile to quell the kids energy and allow them to run around a bit, before the big push back to Calgary. If hot tubbing is your thing then between Craigellachie and the Enchanted Forest is Crazy Creek Resort & Hot pools. Here you will find three hot pools to relax in and chill. Also there is a suspension bridge that goes over Crazy Creek Canyon. This tourist trap is expensive but may be worth your while as a break from the open road. Another great tourist destination is the Railway museum in Revelstoke. This museum chronicles the CPR’s trials and tribulations as they built the TransCanada rail way through the BC Mountains. If you’re a train buff then this museum is for you. There are many historical artifacts from the railways past to look at and marvel at. The cost is reasonable and the whole museum can be looked at within a 2hr window. If you have the time on your journey this is a must see. Another place to visit while in Revelstoke is the Mica Dam, located within the Revelstoke city limits, 10min north from the TransCanada Hwy. There is a really good interpretive center at the Dam and also guided tours happen every hour during the week.
As you leave Revelstoke it is time to push through the mountains and travel the Rogers Pass once again. The Rogers Pass has an elevation of 1,330 m or 4,360ft at the summit and is considered a high mountain road. During the winter it is not uncommon for the area to be under 10 meters or 30ft of snow. At the summit there is a nice rest stop that has interpretive signs and memorials to mark the creation of the pass. Certainly it is a welcomed respite from the open road one that allows both man and beast an opportunity to stretch your legs and take a break.
As you leave the Rogers Pass summit you now have a nice downward drive for about an hour before you hit Golden. Golden is the place to top up the fuel tank and maybe have a bite to eat at one of the roadside restaurants, before the big push to Calgary which is now only 3hrs away. From here it’s an upward climb through the Kicking Horse Pass until you reach the Alberta border. From there it is a 2hr drive to Calgary though Banff National Park and then the foot hills of the Canadian Rockies before you hit the Calgary city limits.
Wow what a trip and so much to see and I have only touched upon the highlights. This trip can be as extensive or as simple as you want to make it. The adventure is up to you!
Happy Trails,
The Glampurs