My TripAdvisor Review No.670: Glacier National Park, Trans Canada Highway, BC, Canada.

Avalanche Prone Mountains With Glaciers.

We passed through the Glacier National Park on our coach tour of the Canadian Rockies in August 2019. We were driving along the Trans Canada Highway to Banff National Park and stopped for a while at the Rogers Pass National Historic Site which is at the centre of Glacier National Park.

We could see the high mountain peaks with dense pine forests and active glaciers. There is a lot of wildlife in the forests like bears, wolves, deer, elk, caribou and many more. We saw some stuffed exhibits of these animals in the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre. The park has many trails, campgrounds, and some backcountry huts and cabins.

The park is known for its heavy snowfall and avalanches, and maintaining the Trans Canada Highway which passes through the park is a constant challenge. The Canadian Armed Forces help in the task to keep the roads clear with the help of Howitzer cannons which we saw stationed near the Rogers Pass Discover Centre.

Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.669: Yoho National Park, Trans Canada Highway, British Columbia, Ca.

Stunning Lakes And Alpine Scenery.

We passed through Yoho National Park on our coach tour of the Canadian Rockies in August 2019. We were driving along the Trans Canada Highway to Banff National Park and stopped for a while at Emerald Lake which is in Yoho. The waters of the lake were a stunning turquoise colour.

The region is incredibly beautiful with more lakes, forest trails, camping sites, waterfalls and snow capped mountain peaks to be seen. There are some Alpine lodges where you can spend some time and enjoy a blissful vacation hiking, fishing and boating in the lakes. Though we did not spend the night but we enjoyed a stroll around Emerald Lake, which was located near Kicking Horse Pass.

Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.559: Spahat Falls, Clearwater, BC, Canada.

Gushing Falls.

On the way back from our Rocky Mountain coach tour we stopped at the Wells Gray Provincial Park at Clearwater, just off the Southern Yellowhead Highway. We had to walk a bit from the bus parking lot but it was quite a pleasant one through some old growth forest.

The towering falls looked beautiful with the water gushing down from a narrow opening in the layers of solidified lava and falling with a force about eighty feet below. The falls were in two steps making it look longer. We could distinctly make out the different layers of solidified lava flows which led to the formation of these hills.

There are supposed to be four more major falls in the Wells Gray Park but we were on a time budget so we had to get back in our bus to Vancouver. There were decent washrooms and a food stall selling hot Belgian waffles near the parking lot.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.557: Rocky Inn, Valemount, BC, Canada.

Motel With A Frontier Feel.

This accommodation was booked for us by our tour group organiser. We stopped here just for one night after spending the evening shopping and sight-seeing in Jasper town.

The hotel had a feel of a real frontier town motel as the building structure was made from logs of wood, there was a wide open parking space for many cars and buses, and a central log cabin with a pit for a campfire with benches and picnic tables to sit around and enjoy a barbecue party. In fact, that is exactly how our group enjoyed the chilly evening having a barbecue dinner around the fire. We were served with barbecued sausages and rolls, with vegetarian patties for the vegans, and coleslaw salad, with everyone learning how to make marsh-mellows on the open fire from our tour guide. It was great fun.

Our ground floor wooden cabin was quite basic but comfortable with three large beds, and a small dining table with chairs. The bathroom was spotless and had a tub with the basic toiletries. There was wi-fi but no microwave, tea or coffee maker in our room.

Being located next to the Southern Yellowstone Highway we went out for a morning walk in the open areas around Swift Creek and George Hicks Regional Park nearby. We did not have breakfast at the hotel but checked out with our group for an outdoor breakfast and dance at Willow Ranch.

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Date of stay: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.551: Mount Robson, BC, Canada.

Rocky Mountain High.

Mount Robson located in the Mount Robson Provincial Park of British Columbia is the highest peak in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The peak stands at an elevation of 3954 meters or 12972 feet. The Fraser River originates as a trickle from up this mountain eventually flowing down to the Pacific Ocean. It can be easily seen and photographed from the Yellowhead Highway and the VIA Rail train running from Jasper to Prince Rupert. The nearest towns are Jasper in the east and Valemount in the south-west.

We passed Mount Robson twice while doing the VIA Rail trip from Jasper to Prince George and back. The first time we passed it was covered by thick clouds so we did not get to see the peak, but on the return trip we got a clear view of the high mountain and took some pictures too. It was an impressive sight to behold.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.550: Jasper Train & Tour, Canada.

All Aboard The 'Skeena' to Prince Rupert.

We decided to take the VIA Rail tour to explore and sight-see the western parts of British Columbia. We took ‘The Skeena’ train from Jasper to Prince Rupert, sometimes referred to as the ‘Rupert Rocket’ by the train staff. The journey takes about 20 hours to cover the distance of 1160 kms with an overnight stop at Prince George.

Our Economy Class seats were very comfortable with lots of leg room. Of course one can also choose to travel in the Touring Class, which has free access to the Dome Car and Park Car, by paying a higher fare, and which also includes buffet meals and drinks served on the train. For the economy class, meals, snacks, fruit juice and coffee have to be purchased separately and it is served to you at your seat. Some passengers opted to bring their own packed sandwiches and snacks. While traveling to Prince Rupert we did not have access to the Dome Car, but while returning we did, as there was only one couple in the Touring Class and they very kind and did not mind mingling with us.

The train staff were friendly and ever helpful. We had lady Louise as our guide, ably assisted by gentleman Anthony. They would periodically inform us about the route and stations we were passing, as well as the main attractions and points of interest along the way. Wildlife spotting was high on everyone’s agenda and we did spot some deer and elk along the route. The snow covered mountain peaks and fast flowing rivers, the Fraser and the Skeena, always kept our gaze riveted out the large windows during the day. The train would slow down while passing points of interest like Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.

One of the most controversial aspects of this way of travelling was that the VIA Rail trains were given lower priority than the freight trains, and we would have to stop at a siding quite often to let the freight trains pass, sometimes for as long as an hour. But this gave us an opportunity, with the engineer’s permission, to get off the train and stretch our legs and explore the countryside at ground level. As a result the ‘Skeena’ could never stick to its schedule. We had to check in to our Prince George hotel once at 11 pm, and beyond midnight on the return trip.

We had to arrange our own accommodations in the frontier towns of Prince George and Prince Rupert.

On the whole we quite enjoyed our rail trip from Jasper to Prince Rupert through the mighty Rocky Mountains.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.542: Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada.

Breath-taking Drive From Banff To Jasper.

We traveled the Icefields Parkway, which is part of Alberta Highway No. 93, north of the Trans-Canada Highway No.1. It links Lake Louise, near Banff, with Jasper in the north, a distance of about 230 km. It is always open in the summer months from May to September. In winter, chains or winter rated radial tires are required by law, and there may be road closures without warning. There is no cell coverage and trucks are not allowed on this road.

The drive from Banff to Jasper along the Parkway is known to be one of the most beautiful and breath-taking drives in the world with snow capped peaks, glaciers, forests and lakes along the route where one can stop to admire the stunning scenery. There is plenty of wildlife like bears, wolves, elk, moose, deer and many other creatures roaming the forests, but you have to be lucky to spot any if you are merely driving along. We drove under many wildlife overpasses, or corridors, which have been specially constructed and are inaccessible to the normal traveler due to it being fenced.

A Canadian national parks permit is required to travel on the Icefields Parkway, but since we did the route in a guided tour bus we left that worry to the tour company. We stopped at many of the popular tourist places along the Parkway; prominent among them being Bow Lake, Peyto Lake and Bow Summit, and the Icefields Centre at the Athabasca Glacier.

We finally stopped in Jasper for an evening cup of coffee and some shopping before carrying on further to Valemount where we stayed the night in a motel.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.541: Bow Summit, Banff NP, Alberta, Canada.

Bird's Eye View Of Peyto Lake From Bow Summit.

To reach the Bow Summit we had to hike up further from the Peyto Lake viewing platform which was already overcrowded with tourists. It required some more effort and time to get up there but it was well worth the trouble. The view from the summit was one of the best views in the Rocky Mountains we had so far. We got a bird’s eye view of Peyto Lake, the bluest of the lakes, and the surrounding peaks. The Bow Summit was so peaceful with hardly any crowd.

We were lucky to have travelled by bus as the parking lot for buses and handicapped cars are the closest to the Peyto Lake viewing platform, and so the walk to the summit is doable.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.540: Peyto Lake, Banff NP, Alberta, Canada.

True Blue.

Peyto Lake was the next lake on our itinerary after Bow Lake. It is named after Bill Peyto, a pioneering trapper and trail guide from the Banff area. Access to Peyto Lake was just off the Icefields Parkway and travelling by bus we were fortunate to get to a parking lot closer to the lake. It was a short uphill walk to get to the viewing platform.

The water was so blue, it was a sight to behold. Peyto Lake is one of the most beautiful and one of the bluest glacier fed lakes in the Canadian Rockies. The distinctive blue color is due to rock flour particles which flows down into the lake with the glacial melt and scatters reflected sunlight in an unique way.

There is a viewing platform which was overflowing with tourists, so we trudged up a little higher towards the Bow Summit to get a better and uncluttered panoramic view of the scenery.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.536: Moraine Lake, Banff NP, Alberta, Canada.

Get The Best Views On The Rocks.

After visiting Lake Louise our bus took us to Moraine Lake about 14 km distant. The colour of the water here was slightly more blue than the waters of Lake Louise which was more a shade of emerald. These unique colours are due to the reflection and refraction of light from the rock flour sediment particles suspended in the water.

We could not help but compare the two lakes. Both the lakes were equally crowded with tourists, but the scenery around Moraine Lake was very different because it was surrounded by a pile of rocks which afforded some unique hiking trails up the rocky pathways to the top within a short distance around the lake. After climbing up the 'Rockpile Trail' we got stunning views of the lake from the top. The lake is surrounded by mountains and is known as 'The Valley Of The Ten Peaks'.

Moraine Lake is so called because of the pile of rocks (moraine) brought down by the glacier which offered a unique vantage point for grand views. It is definitely one of the prettiest lakes in Banff National Park, not to be missed just because of its slightly smaller size.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.531: Rogers Pass Discovery Centre, BC, Canada.

Like A Museum Visit.

There is a Visitor Information Centre here, which has a good display of stuffed wildlife found in the region, as well as information about the history of the Pass. The taxidermist had done an excellent job of stuffing the animals and the displays were almost life like.

In addition there is a lot of information about the history and construction of the Trans-Canadian Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway, both of which traverse through the Rogers Pass. Many lives were lost due to avalanches during the construction, and to this day there is always threat of avalanches. You will find a couple of artillery guns stationed at the site, to be used whenever there is a threat of an avalanche.

There is a large and clean public washroom, but no coffee or snacks shop. There is a large rest area with plenty of parking space.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.530: Roger's Pass Summit, Glacier NP, BC, Canada.

Breath Taking Views At This Pit Stop.

We took a break to stretch our legs at this remote but historic site on the Trans-Canada Highway, Rogers Pass Summit, in the Selkirk mountains of BC Rockies. It is located in the heart of Glacier National Park, and is about two hours drive from Revelstoke on the way to Golden, on the Trans-Canada Highway.

There are beautiful views of the mountains all around. These mountains are popular for ski mountaineering, camping, hiking and mountain climbing. There is a Visitor Information Centre here, which has a good display of stuffed wildlife and information about the history of the Pass. There is a public toilet, but no coffee or snacks shop.

It is a calm and scenic place with a good rest area and plenty of parking to stop while driving along the highway.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.529: Last Spike (Craigellachie), BC, Canada.

Uniting Canada.

We took a break to stretch our legs at this remote but very historic site on the Trans-Canada Highway, at Craigellachie. It lies midway between Sicamous and Revelstoke in the British Columbia Rocky Mountains. The railway line runs alongside and if you are lucky you may see a train go by.

This place is famous as the historic site where the ‘Last Spike’ of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven in, in the year 1885. It signaled the completion of the CPR, Canada’s first transcontinental railroad, joining eastern and western Canada, thus uniting the two remote parts of the nation.

There were many placards explaining the significance of the site. There is a nice little gift and souvenir shop, and a large and clean washroom, but there were no snacks or coffee shop, though there is a rest area besides the railway track. The senior staff are friendly and happy to meet the visitors.

Not many tourists stop here, so it is a calm and scenic place to rest while driving along the highway.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.527: Discover Canada Tours, Vancouver, Canada.

A Dream Tour Of The Rocky Mountains.

We had a dream tour of the Rocky Mountains with Discover Canada Tours when we joined them for their Classic 4-day Summer Tour. The three of us hopped on to their luxury coach from Canada Place, Vancouver. Our guide, Kara, joined us at Langley, where a few more tourists from Victoria joined us.

We had a scenic trip through the snow-capped Canadian Rockies with a lot of beautiful lakes and forests on the way. Though the bus had a toilet on board, we did not need to use it as there were sufficient breaks at small towns on the route where we could get down to stretch our legs, buy some snacks and use the public washrooms outside. Lunch breaks were about an hour long.

We halted for the three nights at Revelstoke, Banff and Valemount respectively, where our hotel rooms were pre-booked. We were saved the trouble of hunting for suitable hotels in the peak summer season and the choice of hotel and rooms was good. We were always allotted a private room for the three of us, whereas the solo travelers could share a room with a co-passenger. We made many friends from different parts of the world. Breakfast was included in the tour. Our first breakfast was served on the bus from a Tim Horton’s, our second breakfast was a fabulous one at the Banff hotel, and our third breakfast was at a ranch in Valemount. There was also a complimentary barbeque dinner at Valemount.

Our tour guide, Kara, was very informative about the history and culture of various places along the way. She would also regale us with many stories and entertaining anecdotes from her earlier trips. Tammy, our driver, navigated us confidently and safely through the mountain passes.

We thoroughly enjoyed our 4-day, 3-night trip of the Canadian Rockies. We would definitely recommend Discover Canada Tours to any tourist who does not have their own vehicle, or the time to plan their own trip.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.526: Craft Beer Market, Kelnowa, BC, Canada.

Beer And Burgers.

We stopped at Kelowna for lunch during our Rockies coach tour and decided to have lunch at the Craft Beer Market restaurant near City Park. They had nice seating if you got a table next to the open windows, which we did not. So we had to squeeze on to our stools and confined seats on an inside table which were too close to each other.

There was a lot of variety in the beers and there was a bewildering array of Ales, Lagers, Stouts, Pilsners, Ciders, Anomalies and Rotating Handles. Finally we selected a Hazy Flavoured Ale, an Apple Cider and a Fruit Juice with Ice-cream between the three of us. For lunch we had a Crispy Chicken Burger with French Fries, and a Vegan Burger with Fries. We had to wait quite a while before the food was served.

We enjoyed the drinks and the burgers, but found the prices to be on the high side.

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Date of visit: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.525: Tim Horton's, Revelstoke, BC. Canada.

Breakfast On The Move.

After an early check-out from our hotel in Revelstoke, our tour guide brought us to the Tim Horton outlet in Revelstoke. Tim Horton’s have a chain of more than 4000 quick service restaurants all over the highways and towns of Canada. Besides coffees and doughnuts their popular fast foods include Timbits, muffins, croissants, tea biscuits, cookies, rolls, danishes and bagels.

Our guide had to pre-order the breakfast items to cater to about 50 of us bus passengers. We had three choices; 1) Sausage muffin with hash brown, 2) Egg and cheese muffin with hash brown or 3) Veg Bagel with hash brown. Instead of coffee all of us were served fruit juice.

We were all served within 10 minutes and the breakfast items were still hot. We saved some time by having our breakfast on the move, thanks to Tim Horton.

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Date of visit: August 2019

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