Rocky Mt. Road Trip
Sept. 25 - Oct. 5, 2026
What better way to show off BC to my two dutch sister-in-laws, than to drive through the most beautiful part of our country, the Canadian Rockies. The weather was on our side, illuminating the vibrant autumn yellow, gold and red colours backed up by a cobalt bue sky.
A liesurely drive to Cultus Lake and then through Columbia Valley while dealing with their jetlag.
Sept. 25 - We began our trip by driving to Manning Park where we stayed the night with son, Corwin and his friends.
Corwin's beer was a bit frozen so they were melting it on the fire. Temperatures hit 0 in the night.
Sept. 27 -- Drove from Manning Park to Revelstoke.
Guess who woke me up in the morning? They were very excited to be in Oma's "little house".
Did a short early morning walk to Lightening Lake where mist hovered over the water.
Then we drove the Blackwall Road up to the alpines, stopping first at this south viewpoint.
Looking southwest at the Manning Park lodge and Lightening Lake in the distance -- southwest.
We did a short loop trail at the upper parking lot by Blackwall Peak. The gate would close for the season in a matter of days. The Three Bros. Mountains on the horizon -- north.
From Manning Park we drove north past Okanogan Lake. There was such a contrast between the deep blue water and the barren dry hillsides.
We spent the night in Revelstoke, after scouting out three other campsites. All provincial sites in the national parks were closed. I thought we wouldn't have any problem getting a campsite in the shoulder season but the lady behind the desk said that it was quite busy because a lot of foreigners and even Americans are coming to Canada for their holidays, not the USA.
Sept 28
In the morning we drove the paved road up to Mt. Revelstoke summit area. We walked for about two hours on the scenic trails.
I was a bit concerned for Janet, walking on ice and snow. She'd fallen and fractured a vertebrae a few month before.
We had views of the Monashee, Purcell and Selkirk Mountains -- southwest to northwest (above 3 pics).
A historic fire lookout tower. We avoided the path because there was too much ice on it.
north
northeast
east
In ancestral times referred to by the Ktunaxa as the animal world, a huge water monster named Yawunik killed many animals. A war party was formed by a large being named Nalmuwqcuin to destroy Yawunik. They chased him throughout the lands of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers, forming the mountains and valleys of the Ktunaxa territory.
Baby grouse gets the right-of-way. His mama was waiting on the other side.
Rogers Pass.
We arrived at my daughter, Jeanette's home in Airdrie AB around 8:00pm. Just in time for the birthday party for Thea (28th) and Sita (29th). A lot of the Rietvelds were there.
Sept. 29 - Johnston Canyon
Thea joined us for the next two days. We drove to Banff NP and did a 5 km walk through the canyon.
A prospector named Johnston is said to have discovered this creek in the 1880s, when miners sought their fortune along the newly laid tracks of the Canadian Pacific railway.
The lower falls.
The upper falls.
Natural Bridges, along the road leading to Emerald Lake in Yoho NP.
Emerald Lake.
My little house on wheels. It served us well. With the large slideout there's lots of room.
Dinner at Truffle Pigs in the little town of Field.
Playing games in my Winnebago in the evening while I recline in my corner bed. I ended up doing all the driving which is odd. I usually have a 2-hour limit before my back starts to give me pain. I'd pulled my back just before this trip and immobility seemed to be what I needed.
We spent the night at the free overflow parking close to Lake Louise.
Sept. 30: Drove the gravel 742 Smith-Dorrien/Spray Road from Canmore to Kananaskis.
There was a fair bit of washer-board on the latter half of the long road which required slow driving on my part. But it was worth it!
Views along Hwy 1.
Mt. Rundle (2949m) in Banff NP.
Operation Deisel Exhaust Fluid. We were pretty proud of ourselves when we figured out how to put it in the motor. Thanks Thea for finding the lever to open the hood and thanks Sita for holding the heavy container.
Obtained a permit here.
Starting our drive south on 742 -- view north.
Mountain sheep.
west
The Spray Lake Reservoir.
Upper Kananaskis Lake (3 above pics).
Lower Kananaskis Lake (2 above pics). From there we turned north onto Hwy 40.
Elbow Lake hike: 5 km / Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
It was only 1.4 km to the lake. From there Thea and I hiked around the lake, counter-clockwise.
west
At the opposite end of the lake the trail continued into the back country but signs warned of washouts -- north.
east
A road-side black bear.
At the end of the day we were back at Willem & Jeanette's place for the night. Thea stayed there while we continued our journey the next day. I almost always see deer from their kitchen window.
Oct. 1 - This was a long day, driving north on Hwy. 22 then turning west on Hwy 11, David Thompson Hwy to the Icefield Parkway Hwy.
Abraham Lake.
On the Icefield Parkway Hwy heading north.
Columbia Icefields
Sunwapta Falls
Athabasca Falls
Mt. Robson in the evening hours.
Because all the provincial campsites in the parks were closed for the season, we kept driving, turning south towards Valemont. I was getting tired and pulled off of the highway to check my GPS for campsites. As I parked, lo and behold, a private campsite was right there! Phew. And they even had some tins of food for our dinner.
Oct. 2: Wellsgrey Park has 42 waterfalls in it. We visitied four of them, all along Clearwater Valley Road.
Spahats Falls
Helmcken Falls are the fourth highest in Canada.
Dawson Falls.
Moul Falls - this was a 6 km hike that I did quickly, on my own in the rain. I did lots of singing to keep the bears away.
Sita had seen this antique auto museum on TV in Holland and really wanted to take a photo of it for her partner, Pete. It's close to Salmon Arm.
Demille's Farm Market.
After the market we bought some gouda at the dutch cheese farm.
Then off to our final destination for the next two nights, Christine's cabin in Lac Le Jeune. She texted us to pick up some beer. I asked what kind? Janet said to take a photo of the tin. Christine said yes, but one with beer in it.
Oct. 3
After going to church in Kamloops, Folker (a former dutch student) dropped by for a visit with his dutch friend, Evan. They were on their way to the Rocky Mountains too. I gave him my maps.
In the afternoon we did a tour in the Razors.
Friends forever. Christine grew up in Holland so converstaion flowed freely. Thanks for your hospitality Christine!
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