Road Book to Travel across Canada About this road book This road book contains • maps, including links to the online maps • driving directions • sights of interest • web links to related Provincial Parks & Parks Canada brochures or maps (inserted in the online map) • relevant additional information Use the itinerary as a guideline for your Canadian Road Trip. Use the road book on your mobile device. The latter allows you to open added links and interactive maps. Regarding interactive links Clicking on a link will open its specific web address. If you encounter any problems to open a link, first check if you have internet access. In the rare occasion that clicking on a link does not open the specific page, please copy and paste the link directly into your browser Cellphone reach and internet Although the majority of accommodations offer WIFI, cell phone coverage can be poor along the route. Check each night, next day’s programme. Road conditions Check each night, next day’s road conditions. Included is a listing to websites providing road conditions per province Travel times Be aware that the times mentioned in the proposed travel schedule are net travel times. Times mentioned do not include any stops. About the route The designed route is the most scenic and interesting route for your Canadian road trip. If I’d be in the position to join you on your trip, I would guide you exactly the same way as presented in this itinerary. About the sights It is not my intention to include every single activity along the route. Presented sights are carefully selected, quality and feasibility within the proposed day schedule. Logistics Book a rental car one-way Vancouver to Halifax. All rights reserved © Josette Prinsen dba Tourguide Canada Page 2 Road Book to Travel across Canada Table of Contents About this road book .................................................................................................................................... 2 Accommodation schedule ............................................................................................................................ 4 Websites to help plan your accommodation ................................................................................................ 5 Road conditions ............................................................................................................................................ 6 How to Use the Road Trip Maps ................................................................................................................... 7 Day 6 Rockies: here we come! Destination Jasper, AB ................................................................................. 8 Clearwater, BC to Jasper, AB 320 km, 3hr 45 min ................................................................................................................ 8 Day 14 The Great Lakes: Lake Superior’s north shore ................................................................................ 11 Nipigon to Sault Ste Marie 587 km, 6hr 45min .................................................................................................................. 11 All rights reserved © Josette Prinsen dba Tourguide Canada Page 3 Road Book to Travel across Canada Accommodation schedule According to this road book you’ll stay at specific destinations (already filled out). To complete the schedule, just fill out the dates and use the schedule to plan and book your accommodation. Day # in Destination check in date check out date # nights road book 1 + 2 Vancouver, BC 3 4 + 5 6 WILL BE COMPLETED 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 + 17 18 19 + 20 21 + 22 23 24 + 25 26 Halifax, NS 27 Abbreviations for the Canadian Provinces BC British Columbia AB Alberta SK Saskatchewan MB Manitoba ON Ontario QC Quebec NB New Brunswick NS Nova Scotia Sign Trans Canada Highway All rights reserved © Josette Prinsen dba Tourguide Canada Page 4 Road Book to Travel across Canada Websites to help plan your accommodation Tourism Vancouver https://www.tourismvancouver.com/places-to-stay/ WILL BE FILLED OUT Tourism Halifax https://discoverhalifaxns.com/plan/where-to-stay/ All rights reserved © Josette Prinsen dba Tourguide Canada Page 5 Road Book to Travel across Canada Road conditions British Columbia road conditions https://www.drivebc.ca/#mapView&ll=54.004539%2C-123.75&z=6&xtg=Map%20Badge WILL BE FILLED OUT All rights reserved © Josette Prinsen dba Tourguide Canada Page 6 Road Book to Travel across Canada How to Use the Road Trip Maps Access the online maps by clicking on the provided link, located underneath the map. Layers A map contains several layers. Check or uncheck the box of each layer to hide or show each layer. Place marks and icons Points of interest are place-marked at the most accurate position in the map. The icon visualizes the nature of the site. Zoom Zoom in to enlarge a region. The zoom in/out icon ( + -) is located at the left bottom. Hold and drag Hold and drag to move around on the map. Site info Click on a specific site to read the description or to follow website links. Search bar Enter any destination e.g. your hotel and press enter to search All rights reserved © Josette Prinsen dba Tourguide Canada Page 7 Road Book to Travel across Canada Day 6 Rockies: here we come! Destination Jasper, AB Clearwater, BC to Jasper, AB 320 km, 3hr 45 min Map 6 Route Clearwater to Jasper Link to this map https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1y_o4tAUM2KNxrF3K2n7p1gwGbLE&ll=52.3396498430 6368%2C-119.05958750000002&z=8 Directions Clearwater → Hwy 5 north At Tète Jaune Cache→ Hwy 16 east All rights reserved © Josette Prinsen dba Tourguide Canada Page 8 Road Book to Travel across Canada Sights of interest Blue River: River Safari A 1 hour River Safari per eco friendly boat. Good chances to spot wildlife such as black bears, grizzlies, bold eagles and moose. Departure: Every 30 minutes. Phone: 1-877-4.WILD.BC (494.5322) Web: www.riversafari.com Mount Robson Provincial Park Mount Robson (12,972 feet/3,954 m.) is the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. A glacier covers the north facing side of its peak. 1911: first attempt to reach the top by George Kinney and Philip Curly. 1913: On a clear, cold day Conrad Kain - an Austian mountain guide, W.W. Foster and A.H. McCarthy were the first standing on top of this giant. Mount Robson is the first mountain in the Rockies to collide with the western winds. Therefore, Mount Robson receives 50% more rain than Jasper (located 53 miles east). Facilities at Mount Robson • Visitor Centre • Cafeteria • Gas station Mount Robson Provincial Park Suggested hike: Kinney Lake The trail winds through old-growth cedar/hemlock forest as it follows the Robson River to the hidden gem: Kinney Lake. This gentle hike offers incredible scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities. Distance: 4.5 km/2.8 mi one way Elevation difference: 100 m./330 feet Trail head: Just north of the gas station and visitor centre at Mount Robson, a 2.4 km/1.5 mile bumpy and narrow road leading to the Berg Lake Trail parking lot. The trail starts at the bridge. All rights reserved © Josette Prinsen dba Tourguide Canada Page 9 Road Book to Travel across Canada Located directly after the second bridge that crosses the Robson River (4.3 km/2.7 mi) are picnic tables (left turn) and an outhouse (right turn). Return the same way. Suggested late summer walk: Rearguard Falls and Chinook salmon Distance: 0.6 km/0.4 mi one-way. Return the same route. Elevation difference: 30 metre/100 feet Trail head: 4 km / 2.5 mi east of junction Hwy 5 to Hwy 16. Watch for a signpost and car park. Reach the Rearguard Falls by the clearly marked short (15 min) descending trail. The Rearguard Falls viewpoint provides an excellent opportunity to witness the end of a long journey by the Chinook, largest of the Pacific salmon. These fish have survived several years at sea to return to the river of their birth, the mighty Fraser River. From its estuary in British Columbia’s lower mainland to this point, the Chinook have traveled upstream over 1200 km. Some may be successful battling over these falls to reach the gravel above, but for most, Rearguard Falls marks the end of their journey. Your best chances to see the salmon are late summer. Good to know When entering Jasper National Park, you must purchase a Parks Canada pass. This park pas is a permit that allows visitors to visit any national park in Canada during the time period in which it is valid. Anyone visiting, stopping for picnics and viewpoints, or visiting lakes and villages must purchase the pass. The correlating fee contributes to maintenance of scenic parkways, day use areas, updating information and public safety, trails and interpretation sites. The park pass is available in-person at Parks Canada's park gates and information centres. Or you can order your discovery pass here (arrival per slow mail) https://www.parksorders.ca/ Move your watch + 1 hour when entering Alberta The province of Alberta charges 5 % GST (instead of 5% GST + 7% PST = 12% taxes in BC) All rights reserved © Josette Prinsen dba Tourguide Canada Page 10 Road Book to Travel across Canada Day 14 The Great Lakes: Lake Superior’s north shore Nipigon to Sault Ste Marie 587 km, 6hr 45min Map 14.1 route overview Link to this map https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1H3EEbhjyw1yNjjbfTjXzlOzyDBM&ll=47.783561025 47224%2C-86.281248&z=7 Directions Continue to follow Trans Canada Hwy 17 Don’t miss the sign for Agawa Rocks within Lake Superior Provincial Park: As you’re driving along the Trans-Canada Highway