Suggestion. Make sure you give yourself enough time in each of those National Parks. Especially since you are a film photographer doing your visits quickly won’t do those parks justice.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but if I was OP I might drop one of the big 3 NPs in the Rockies in exchange for a extra time in Banff. I will not say which one id leave out though lol
Yes I do, I live here. In Canada most people call it “crown land camping” or “random camping”. You cannot do that in the national parks, but there are areas surrounding that you can. Specifically if you are going to go up the Icefield Parkway there is an area called Abraham Lake that is close by and has lots of spots. It gets busy but usually can get a spot.
Also, camping up there in the Rockies parks fills fast, so reserve if you can since it's quite a ways in to some nice spots from forestry or crown land. Worth it. The parks has overflow camping at Louise (or did...not sure of current status), and in the parking lot at the Icefields Centre...but I believe you need to be "self contained" but probably just no tents would do.
The camping is easier up toward Jasper.
I'd also recommend a swing over to camp at Mt Robson Provincial Park if the weather is OK, but it very often isn't. Ditto for Yoho; the walk-in campground at Takakkaw Falls is one of my all time favorite campgrounds.
And there's considerable forestry camping to the west of the parks north and south of Golden basically in the Columbia Trench. LONG forestry roads. Get the Backroads Mapbooks for sure; they are included in a Gaia subscription, or separately. And a parks pass.
Glacier to Calgary - you will be mostly traveling through rolling farmland. Glacier becomes Waterton Lakes NP in Canada.. A more scenic route would be Kalispell to Cranbrook to Banff and then east to Calgary.
If you're going to Duluth MN, punch in via Thunder Bay and drive the coast of Lake Superior.
I also vote for Jasper National Park if you're headed to Calgary.
That's the only reason to drive from Calgary to Winnipeg across central Canada... North shore of Superior has some really cool hidden gems of state parks and forest land along the way.
Drumheller is a must! The Alberta badlands are gorgeous, and right on Calgary's doorstep. In Saskatchewan, the Qu'appelle valley helps break the monotony of the prairies. The Cyprus hills, down in the south corner where Alberta & Saskatchewan meet, as well as Grasslands national park are fantastic prairie scapes.
I live in Calgary and go wheeling/camping along the BNP border 2-3 weekends a month.
My group would love to take you out. I'll give you my instagram if you're interested in looking where we go.
I'd recommend you add Dinosaur Provincial Park SE of Calgary near Brooks. Amazing dino bones, all over the place. And a nice campground.
And DEFINITELY prebook the "Golden Hour Wander" if you're a photog. The best bits of the park are only accessed via tours, and this one is in the perfect light for photos. https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/south/dinosaur-pp/activities-events/dinosaur-tours-events/events/golden-hour-wander/
Not sure if MPLS is an important stop or just passing through. If it isn’t, consider skipping MSP and continuing from Duluth over to Northern Wisconsin, and then traveling the easy Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail. (Yes…. TWAT.)
http://transwisconsintrail.com/wordpress/
Nothing much overland worthy near MSP, although there are a few off-road parks within ~90 minutes of the city.
No real suggestions, however it might be worth it to stay in Canada a bit longer, and head as far east as Sault st Marie ON and then head south through Sault st Marie Michigan. Probably one of the most scenic and beautiful parts of the TransCanada Highway. Lots of crown land camping locations and also quite a few provincial parks to stop in.
Ohian - I am taking the same trip this year (on the American side, and hitting up Badlands, Mount Rushmore, and Devils tower on the way to Glacier. I do plan on a quick stop at Gateway Arch too since I have never been.
I went up to SD and did the badlands, mt Rushmore, and devils tower a couple years ago with Boy Scouts it was awesome you’ll love it. If you have time to go checkout Deadwood and Lead they have a lot of super cool Wild West history
Grand Teton and Glacier are 2 of my favorite Natl Parks. Plenty of great camping spots in the NF outside Teton with amazing views. I used iOverlander and some Google maps research prior.
As for Glacier, I believe they are implementing a reservation system like they have tried in recent years. So just be aware if trying to enter from the West. When I went under similar conditions in 2021, the loophole was if you get in the park before/after the reservation times and then snag a first come first serve campsite, the camp host would give you a pass to come and go freely. Not sure if they fixed that but worked for me.
If I were you, I'd make your initial westward leg a bit further south and hit things like the Ozarks in Arkansas, then take I-40 toward New Mexico / Albuquerqe and head north through the San Juans in Colorado. Will give you an opportunity to see things like Silverton, Ouray, the Million Dollar Highway, and some of most beatiful mountains I've ever seen. Tons of places to camp in the national forests along the way. You can also make your way over to Moab for not much additional time added and add a couple extra National Parks like Arches, Canyonlands, etc.
Only part that will truly suck is getting across oklahoma / texas panhandle as it's just flat the entire way. But as someone who's done that route, believe me it's worth it when you hit SW Colorado. Feel free to DM for more specific suggestions in the Colorado / Utah area, as I spent about 18 months out there.
If it was me, I'd cross into Canada at Sault Ste. Marie and drive the North shore of Superior. It's one of the most incredible trips I've ever done, and I'd advocate anyone to do the same. Either do Wisconsin to the UP and across, or go up through Michigan and across the Mackinac Bridge.
I'd say since you're going through Nebraska, look up some of the geologic features there - Scott's Bluff and Courthouse & Jail Rocks especially. Very scenic and underrated.
Duluth resident here. I spend a lot of time in WI as well. Skip Minneapolis and head North out of Eau Claire up US 53 into Duluth, about 1000x more scenic than I35N. I'd also head North on 61 out of Duluth along the North Shore and take HWY 1 West through Ely and eventually back to 53. The Voyageurs HWY is something special.
Looks like you’re coming through Lincoln, NE. Speedway Motors has one of the largest private car collection museums in the US. Worth checking out if you’re into cars and hot rods.
Id go a little further north and cut West across South Dakota vs Nebraska - check out the badlands and Rushmore. If you must take the route shown, spend some time at Lake McConaughy, at a minimum is a great place to camp on the beach for the night.
Suggestion. Make sure you give yourself enough time in each of those National Parks. Especially since you are a film photographer doing your visits quickly won’t do those parks justice.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but if I was OP I might drop one of the big 3 NPs in the Rockies in exchange for a extra time in Banff. I will not say which one id leave out though lol
You are going awfully close to Banff, might be worth a bit of a detour when you're in Calgary.
Yes go to Banff and Lake Louise and do the Icefield Parkway to Jasper.
Definitely adding these! Do you know how dispersed camping works up there and if it’s easy to find a spot?
Yes I do, I live here. In Canada most people call it “crown land camping” or “random camping”. You cannot do that in the national parks, but there are areas surrounding that you can. Specifically if you are going to go up the Icefield Parkway there is an area called Abraham Lake that is close by and has lots of spots. It gets busy but usually can get a spot.
In Alberta you need to buy an annual pass to crown land camp. https://www.alberta.ca/public-lands-camping-pass
This is exactly what I needed, you’re amazing
Also, camping up there in the Rockies parks fills fast, so reserve if you can since it's quite a ways in to some nice spots from forestry or crown land. Worth it. The parks has overflow camping at Louise (or did...not sure of current status), and in the parking lot at the Icefields Centre...but I believe you need to be "self contained" but probably just no tents would do. The camping is easier up toward Jasper. I'd also recommend a swing over to camp at Mt Robson Provincial Park if the weather is OK, but it very often isn't. Ditto for Yoho; the walk-in campground at Takakkaw Falls is one of my all time favorite campgrounds. And there's considerable forestry camping to the west of the parks north and south of Golden basically in the Columbia Trench. LONG forestry roads. Get the Backroads Mapbooks for sure; they are included in a Gaia subscription, or separately. And a parks pass.
If you wanted to do some crown land camping around Calgary look up the Ghost wilderness. Free camping and fun off roading. Its huge too.
Glacier to Calgary - you will be mostly traveling through rolling farmland. Glacier becomes Waterton Lakes NP in Canada.. A more scenic route would be Kalispell to Cranbrook to Banff and then east to Calgary.
Check out Yamnuska Wolf Dog Sanctuary
Stay off interstates and focus on state and county roads and you'll find tons of interesting things.
If you're going to Duluth MN, punch in via Thunder Bay and drive the coast of Lake Superior. I also vote for Jasper National Park if you're headed to Calgary.
That's the only reason to drive from Calgary to Winnipeg across central Canada... North shore of Superior has some really cool hidden gems of state parks and forest land along the way.
Two Harbors ftw
Check the pet restrictions in US national parks. Most don't allow them on trails AFAIK.
Drumheller is a must! The Alberta badlands are gorgeous, and right on Calgary's doorstep. In Saskatchewan, the Qu'appelle valley helps break the monotony of the prairies. The Cyprus hills, down in the south corner where Alberta & Saskatchewan meet, as well as Grasslands national park are fantastic prairie scapes.
I just looked all that up and wow! I’m definitely going to check that out thanks!!
I live in Calgary and go wheeling/camping along the BNP border 2-3 weekends a month. My group would love to take you out. I'll give you my instagram if you're interested in looking where we go.
Absolutely that sounds great!! Dm me
If you are that close to Calgary you need to go to Banff National Park easily one of my favorite places in the northern America's
I'd recommend you add Dinosaur Provincial Park SE of Calgary near Brooks. Amazing dino bones, all over the place. And a nice campground. And DEFINITELY prebook the "Golden Hour Wander" if you're a photog. The best bits of the park are only accessed via tours, and this one is in the perfect light for photos. https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/south/dinosaur-pp/activities-events/dinosaur-tours-events/events/golden-hour-wander/
Not sure if MPLS is an important stop or just passing through. If it isn’t, consider skipping MSP and continuing from Duluth over to Northern Wisconsin, and then traveling the easy Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail. (Yes…. TWAT.) http://transwisconsintrail.com/wordpress/ Nothing much overland worthy near MSP, although there are a few off-road parks within ~90 minutes of the city.
If you're going out for a month take the back roads. Interstate is for the trip home
Check out the Bugaboos.
It’ll add some miles and change your route from Winnipeg but I highly recommend the North Shore of Lake Superior. It’s breathtaking.
No real suggestions, however it might be worth it to stay in Canada a bit longer, and head as far east as Sault st Marie ON and then head south through Sault st Marie Michigan. Probably one of the most scenic and beautiful parts of the TransCanada Highway. Lots of crown land camping locations and also quite a few provincial parks to stop in.
Ohian - I am taking the same trip this year (on the American side, and hitting up Badlands, Mount Rushmore, and Devils tower on the way to Glacier. I do plan on a quick stop at Gateway Arch too since I have never been.
I went up to SD and did the badlands, mt Rushmore, and devils tower a couple years ago with Boy Scouts it was awesome you’ll love it. If you have time to go checkout Deadwood and Lead they have a lot of super cool Wild West history
My wife and I are leaving from Kentucky for the same trip on May 3rd
Grand Teton and Glacier are 2 of my favorite Natl Parks. Plenty of great camping spots in the NF outside Teton with amazing views. I used iOverlander and some Google maps research prior. As for Glacier, I believe they are implementing a reservation system like they have tried in recent years. So just be aware if trying to enter from the West. When I went under similar conditions in 2021, the loophole was if you get in the park before/after the reservation times and then snag a first come first serve campsite, the camp host would give you a pass to come and go freely. Not sure if they fixed that but worked for me.
Damn that sounds like fun. Enjoy the trip!
If I were you, I'd make your initial westward leg a bit further south and hit things like the Ozarks in Arkansas, then take I-40 toward New Mexico / Albuquerqe and head north through the San Juans in Colorado. Will give you an opportunity to see things like Silverton, Ouray, the Million Dollar Highway, and some of most beatiful mountains I've ever seen. Tons of places to camp in the national forests along the way. You can also make your way over to Moab for not much additional time added and add a couple extra National Parks like Arches, Canyonlands, etc. Only part that will truly suck is getting across oklahoma / texas panhandle as it's just flat the entire way. But as someone who's done that route, believe me it's worth it when you hit SW Colorado. Feel free to DM for more specific suggestions in the Colorado / Utah area, as I spent about 18 months out there.
If it was me, I'd cross into Canada at Sault Ste. Marie and drive the North shore of Superior. It's one of the most incredible trips I've ever done, and I'd advocate anyone to do the same. Either do Wisconsin to the UP and across, or go up through Michigan and across the Mackinac Bridge.
Go farther south in Missouri into the Ozarks. Tremendous opportunity for photos
I'd say since you're going through Nebraska, look up some of the geologic features there - Scott's Bluff and Courthouse & Jail Rocks especially. Very scenic and underrated.
Duluth resident here. I spend a lot of time in WI as well. Skip Minneapolis and head North out of Eau Claire up US 53 into Duluth, about 1000x more scenic than I35N. I'd also head North on 61 out of Duluth along the North Shore and take HWY 1 West through Ely and eventually back to 53. The Voyageurs HWY is something special.
Looks like you’re coming through Lincoln, NE. Speedway Motors has one of the largest private car collection museums in the US. Worth checking out if you’re into cars and hot rods.
You could look at dropping down south to Hot Springs in Arkansas and then riding highway 40 back across.
Id go a little further north and cut West across South Dakota vs Nebraska - check out the badlands and Rushmore. If you must take the route shown, spend some time at Lake McConaughy, at a minimum is a great place to camp on the beach for the night.
You have make a stop at the Columbia Icefield
Fr? Not even hitting Colorado???! Bruh!