Yank Heading to Banff

[APCZX11]

I am planning a 4 day ride for September 11th through the 14th. One of my ideas is to head out from Idaho Falls, ID and up o Banff, possibly Jasper.

Can any of you recommend some routes? I am more interested in twisties with scenery, than slab and scenery.

I am also open to suggestions for towns to find lodging (cheap ~ $50.00 - $75.00/night)

I know the trip will be long, but I can handle 500 mile days on my VFR.

Thanks.

Alex

[JesterOnline]

I've heard that Mountain Hwy 37 along Kootenay Lake is nice, that would mean a slight detour at Kalispell along the 2 but, I haven't had a chance to check out any of the twisties south of the border yet.

About 24 miles north of the border at Rooseville you can head west (turn left) along Jaffray - Baynes Lake Rd that will lead you to Hwy 93 at Jaffray, BC. At 6km out of JaffrayJaffray turn left on Rosicky Rd, follow the Rosicky road back to Hwy 93 just east of Wardner. Within site of where you get back onto Hwy 93 you can then turn right onto Wardner - Fort Steele Rd, take this road north all the way to Hwy 93/95 from here you could turn left to pull into Cranbrook for a pit stop (15 minutes) or turn right to carry on with your trip towards Radium BC which is where you'll be wanting to go to get into Kootenay National Park.

[Paulie]

Don't miss the Icefields Parkway to Jasper. The scenery is a 10++++  

[northernrider]

You will not find cheap lodging anywhere near Banff or Jasper. Something to do with it being a National Park. Every tourist plus their dog are there, even in mid September. If you do go on the Icefields Highway remember it is a high mountain road where the weather can change very quickly. Snow is a possable anytime.  

[Against The Wind]

I believe that Banff and Cheap are oxymorons.

But in any case make sure you take a photo of the very rare Japanese tourist in Banff and buy an equally rare "Made in China" souvenir plastic Mountie on a horse.

[APCZX11]

Great tid bits, thanks.

BTW, I love the sarcasm. Keep it up.  

[northernrider]

https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:10345.2327949776/rid:87b58b8e024820901ed7c9e443ef9817

[Sputnik]

here's a nice route...hope this link works....
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=idaho+falls&daddr=WY-22+to:Targhee+Pass+Hwy%2FUS-20+to:MT-69%2FMT+Hwy+69+to:Lincoln+Rd+W%2FMT-279+to:Birch+Creek+Heart+Butte+Rd+to:Heart+Butte+Rd+to:Heart+Butte+Rd+to:US-2+to:Chief+Mountain+International+Hwy%2FMT-17+to:HWY+6+to:HWY+22+to:HWY+22+to:HWY+40+to:banff+to:HWY+93+to:US-93+N+to:NFD+228+Rd+to:California+Ave%2FMT-37+to:Bull+Lake+Rd%2FMT-56+S+to:I-90+E+to:MT-1%2FMT+Hwy+1+to:45.278752,-111.928711+to:idaho+falls&geocode=%3BFfxzlwIdIldl-Q%3BFTqNqQIdulVg-Q%3BFXRWvwIdRC1U-Q%3BFZhNzAId-tdN-Q%3BFVg84QIdCjVK-Q%3BFag44AIdEwdH-Q%3BFZKC4wId_P1D-Q%3BFaIx4wIdTm5A-Q%3BFa7R6gIdql48-Q%3BFb5g7QId2R03-Q%3BFeTm9QIdfrsx-Q%3BFVIRAwMdfPUw-Q%3BFYFlBAMd4wgl-Q%3B%3BFZiMBAMdyP8U-Q%3BFZhN6gIdEl0k-Q%3BFXKM5gId-g0g-Q%3BFcR04gId5Ngc-Q%3BFcKm3wId5isY-Q%3BFawc0AIdutAm-Q%3BFTRbwwIdYPQ--Q%3B%3B&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=1&mrsp=22&sz=8&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22&sll=45.460131,-111.741943&sspn=2.828064,4.894409&ie=UTF8&ll=47.44295,-111.928711&spn=10.477902,19.577637&z=6

[Against The Wind]

BTW, I love the sarcasm. Keep it up.  

VFR's suck.

[bubba zanetti]

Really great route suggestion Sputnik  


View Larger Map

[APCZX11]

Damn, that is a great route, thanks.

As for the "Wind" I guess VFR's suck, because the "Wind" blows??

Sorry, I had to jump on that.  

BTW, I'd love to have the CBX.

Again, thanks for all of the feedback.

[Sputnik]

Damn, that is a great route, thanks.

glad y'all like it. Wish I was doing it myself right about now. Zoom in to see the details though...especially around Browning, Glacier, and the west side of Koocanusa lake. The map also doesn't show the optimal route in Banff NP....take the Bow Valley Parkway, not Hwy 1.

[birdrunner]

Damn, that is a great route, thanks.

As for the "Wind" I guess VFR's suck, because the "Wind" blows??

Sorry, I had to jump on that.  

BTW, I'd love to have the CBX.

Again, thanks for all of the feedback.

From Idaho Falls, I'd  probably head up via Challis and Salmon to Missoula.  Once in East Glacier, I'd probably ride the Highway to the Sun road, and head S. at Kalispell, via Seeley Lake.

We hit most of Those roads last June.

[birdrunner]

  Going via Jackson/Yellowstone is slow.  You live around there, so if you've seen it, avoid it.

Going via Salmon also opens up the possibility of Lolo Pass,  I don't know whether the construction is done yet though.

[Sputnik]

  Going via Jackson/Yellowstone is slow.  You live around there, so if you've seen it, avoid it.

Going via Salmon also opens up the possibility of Lolo Pass,  I don't know whether the construction is done yet though.

thats true...but my guess is that Going to the Sun will be even slower...it's beautiful, but usually just a crawl...just saying.

[alphabet man]

thats true...but my guess is that Going to the Sun will be even slower...it's beautiful, but usually just a crawl...just saying.

 Rode the HWy to Sun last weekend, BRUTAL traffic and construction, I would avoid it. Though the ride  North from HWY 2 just west of Happys INN to the west side of Koocanusa was fantastic and hardly any traffic at all.

 HEy Sputnik/Bubba are we having a fall Kootenay Colours Ride again????
http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,30287.0.html

[Sputnik]

 Rode the HWy to Sun last weekend, BRUTAL traffic and construction, I would avoid it. Though the ride  North from HWY 2 just west of Happys INN to the west side of Koocanusa was fantastic and hardly any traffic at all.

 HEy Sputnik/Bubba are we having a fall Kootenay Colours Ride again????
http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,30287.0.html

i'm game for another KCR. Last year was what...Oct 18/19. I'll be away riding in the North Cascades and Vernon area Aug 31-Sep9.  But 1st or 2nd weekend in Oct looks like a possibility at this stage. Would have to check schedules with my bride/first wife of course!

 

[bubba zanetti]

I am up for it. Likely on the Triumph this year.

Start a new thread Dave and don't hijack this one !!    

Kootenay Kolours or ... To Yaak and Back !

[Baz]

I believe that Banff and Cheap are oxymorons.

But in any case make sure you take a photo of the very rare Japanese tourist in Banff and buy an equally rare "Made in China" souvenir plastic Mountie on a horse.

Actually after the September long weekend, (just like this spring) you will get a sub 100 buck a night room in Banff & Jasper. Just do not book from home. Walk up in the PM and if they have no bookings they will cut deals. Getting under 100 bucks is tough though. They are hurting this year folks.

In Jasper The Athabasca hotel is the best deal (short of Hostels). In Banff, either the Red Carpet Inn or the High Country Inn (Preferred) are the best deals.

Bubba's route would be my suggestion.

[birdrunner]

Actually after the September long weekend, (just like this spring) you will get a sub 100 buck a night room in Banff & Jasper. Just do not book from home. Walk up in the PM and if they have no bookings they will cut deals. Getting under 100 bucks is tough though. They are hurting this year folks.

In Jasper The Athabasca hotel is the best deal (short of Hostels). In Banff, either the Red Carpet Inn or the High Country Inn (Preferred) are the best deals.

Bubba's route would be my suggestion.

The YWCA hostel in Banff is very nice, and offers private rooms.  It's on the main drag, just over the river.  We've used it several time for the Banff Run.