FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Yellowhead Highway: Prince Rupert - Jasper
Old Jan 25, 2005, 11:18 am
  #2  
opushomes
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: NW Plat (now they call it DL Diamond) 1MM, soon to be DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Dusit Gold
Posts: 2,706
Western Canada is a big place

Personally, I would find it almost impossible to do what you want to do without driving. There are a couple of viable alternatives. My suspicion is that you will pay a drop-off fee to return anywhere other than Vancouver.

1. Take the train to Bellingham, alternatively, fly from Vancouver. Catch the Alaska Ferry to Prince Rupert, Take the train (Skeena) to Calgary. Take another train to Vancouver.

2. Rent the car in Vancouver, rather than taking the ferry from Tswassen to Sydney or Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, take the ferries along the Sunshine Coast (Vancouver Island is not particularly scenic on its east coast. The scenery is on the west.). Cross over at the top of route to Vancouver Island and go north to Port Hardy. Alternatively, spend some time on the island by going over to the west coast. The Sunshine Coast drive is quite scenic and very pleasurable. Roads are excellent. Cannot speak for those out of Prince Rupert, but suspect that they are fine. Speed limit is 100 kmh and BC cops and RCMP use photo radar. The Icelands Parkway portion is very scenic and interesting.

Seventeen days should work for a time frame. You will be driving a lot. Do not expect to have a multitude of choices of places to stay unless you are camping. British Columbia is fairly wild outside the cities. Restaurants outside of Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kamloops and Kelowna are pretty basic. Expect to actually see wildlife along this loop.

August will be one of the busiest months. Keep this in mind due to limited facilities. But, this is British Columbia and it never gets really busy except for a couple of weekends. You probably will need ferry reservations especially if travelling on Friday or Sunday. Traffic jams are normally caused by gawkers staring at the critters.

Please be aware that, in general, there are no motorways in British Columbia or Alberta. Almost all of this loop is two lane roadway with sideroads entering . In fact, almost all of the Trans-Canada Highway is 2 lane. In August, the roads have a large number of campers and motor homes. Alignment of the roads is generally excellent and passing lanes are available. This said, the roads are wider than Scotland or Ireland and better.

Last edited by opushomes; Jan 25, 2005 at 11:30 am Reason: to discuss road width
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