2021 Southern Alberta Loop

Calgary to Waterton National Park via Kananaskis Highway 40 Day Trip

Total Duration: 3 days

Total Distance Traveled: 1462 km

Description:  This is a nice 3 day ride out of Calgary, staying overnight at the Beauvais Lake Provincial Park campsite.  Second day is spending time in Waterton Lake National park before heading on to stay overnight at the Cypress Hills National Park.  Third day is the ride home via  a scenic road leading through Drumeller.

Day Destination Distance (Km) Notes
1 Beauvais Lake Park 586 Down through Radium Hot Springs then Hwy 3 to Pincher Creek staying overnight in Beauvais Lake park.
2 Cypress Hills Park 416 Across to Cypress Hills park via Waterton Lakes Park.
3 Calgary 460 Back to Calgary via scenic route through Drumeller.
  Total 1462  

 

Route Map: Click on image to see in Google Maps

 

Southern Alberta Loop

 

01 Motorcycle Camping Packing List

Packing List

Bike Camping 01

Wearing:

  • T-shirt
  • Jeans
  • Cordura overpants
  • Wallet
  • Triumph cordura jacket
  • Registration and Insurance
  • Park pass

Tail Pack:

  • Plastic washing pail
  • Work gloves
  • First Aid Kit
  • Water drinking bottle - 1 litre
  • Water spray bottle
  • Bottle of spray nine cleaner
  • Can of Chain Lube
  • Smartphone
  • Spork
  • In top zipper pocket
  • Medical gloves
  • Kleenex packs
  • Ziplock bag of earplugs
  • Ziplock bag of elastic bands
  • Bungee cords (2)

Rear seat saddle bag:

  • Clothes bag - 10 L Green Bag:

  • 3 travel T-shirts
  • 2 travel socks
  • 3 travel shorts
  • 1 pair tech pants
  • Swim suit
  • Toque
  • Belt
  • Tent
  • Ground sheet
  • Sleeping bag
  • Air mattress
  • Inflatable Pillow
  • Travel Towel
  • Hatchet
  • Pair of light shoes in grey bag
  • Helinox portable chair
  • Rain jacket and  pants
  • In left zipper pocket:
    • Kickstand plate
    • Chairfoot protectors
  • In right zipper pocket:
    • Spare twist ties
    • Small bungee cords

Bike Camping 06

 

Roll Bag:

  • Cap
  • Bluetooth Earbuds
  • Ziplock bag of Protein Bars (6)
  • Steel Coffee Mug
  • In Ziplock bag:
    • Insect repellen
    • Sunscreen
  • Dental floss
  • Hand sanitizer

  • Tan Camera Bag:

    • Spare AA batteries
    • Pen
    • Garage door opener
    • USB Charger-cables
    • Power pack / cable

  • Shaving Kit in Black Camera bag:

  • Toothbrush & toothpaste
  • Razor & shaving cream
  • Claritin
  • Deodorant
  • Chapstick
  • Bottle of body wash
  • Vitamin E, D, Aspirin
  • Travel Scissors
  • Nail clippers
  

  • Toolkit in Blue Camera bag:

    • Duct tape
    • Allen key set
    • Small socket set
    • Multi screwdriver
    • Tire pressure gauge
    • Leatherman
    • Maglight/lantern
    • Lighter
    • Small Boxcutter knife
  • Left Zipper Compartment
    • Map Book
    • Sena Instructions
  • Passport
  • American cash
  • Camping Reservation Receipts
  • Right Zipper Compartmen
    • Paracord
    • Cleaning Rags

 

Bike Camping 07

Optional for Long Trips:

  • Electric Vest
  • Bottle of Laundry detergent
  • Talcum powder
  • Tools for chain adjustment:
  •          12 mm wrench
  •          13 mm wrench
  •          27 mm wrench
  •          6 mm hex T driver
  •  
  • Cooking Bag:
  • Cooking Pot
  • Stove (inside cook pot)
  • Lighter (inside cook pot)
  • Salt and pepper shakers (inside cook pot)
  • Spork
  • Long handle spoon
  • Fuel canister
  • Tea towel
  • Dish soap and scrub pad in ziplock bag
  • Food Bag - Green compression bag
  • 4 freeze dried meal packets
  • Ziplock bag of Quick Oats
  • Ziplock bag of tea bags
  • Instant coffee
  • Small tins of tuna
  • Ichiban packages
  • Cliff bars (6)


Bike Camping 08

Bike Camping 04
 

2020 Golden Triangle Day Trip

Calgary - Radium Hot Springs - Golden Day Trip

Total Duration: 1 day

Total Distance Traveled: 610 km

Description:  Smooth scenic highway 93 south from Transcanada Hwy to Radium Hot Springs then up the quiet low traffic Hwy 95 into Golden.  Return is on the Transcanada.

Day Destination Distance (Km) Notes
1 Radium Hot Springs. 251 Typical little BC tourist town but it has the wonderful hot spring pool.
2 Golden 103 Come down off the Transcanada into the actual townsite for lunch or gas.
5 Calgary 256 Ride from Golden to Lake Louise is on busy Transcanada but scenery is always great.
  Total 610

 

Route Map: Click on image to see in Google Maps

 

2020 Golden Triangle Trip

 

2020 Kananaskis-Waterton Day Run

Calgary to Waterton National Park via Kananaskis Highway 40 Day Trip

Total Duration: 1 day

Total Distance Traveled: 761 km

Description:  This is a great ride from Calgary.  Pick a clear sunny day, pack your park pass, a lunch and go.

Day Destination Distance (Km) Notes
1 Highwood Pass 131 Highest elevation (2206 m) point on a paved road in Canada.
2 Waterton National Park 271 Quiet little lake town with amazing mountain views all around.
5 Calgary 358 A bit of a drone on hwy 2 on the way back but you make good time.
  Total 760  

 

Route Map: Click on image to see in Google Maps

Kananaskis-Waterton Day Run

2019 Pemberton Run - Motorcycle Camping Trip

Pemberton Run Motorcycle Camping Trip

Total Duration: 4 days

Total Distance Traveled: 2,164 km

Description:  There is a turn around and bit of backtracking at Pemberton on day 2 but that means you get to do the amazing Hwy 99 between Lillooet and Pemberton in each direction on the same day!  There is also a bit of backtracking involved when staying at Cultus lake Prov Park but it goes by fast on the Transcanada.  On the 1st day, make sure to stop at the Dreamcycle Motorcycle Museum on south side of Transcanada Hwy between Salmon Arm and Sorrento BC.  Also when staying in Kamloops at end of first day, I highly recommend the Beijing Restaurant just off the Transcanada at the top of the hill leading out of town.

Itinerary from Calgary, AB, Canada

Day Destination Distance (Km) Notes
1 Silver Sage Campground in Kamloops 610 Nice campground on river bank in Kamloops, some train noise though.
2 Cultus Lake Prov Park near Hope BC 603 Huge and very popular campground, make reservations early.
3 Pass Creek Campground in Castlegar BC 530 Small campground on outskirts of Castlegar.  Warned of bears.
4 Calgary 625  
  Total 2164  

 

Route Map: Click on image to see in Google Maps

 

2019 Pemberton Run

2019 Manitoba Run - Motorcycle Camping Trip

Manitoba Run Motorcycle Camping Trip

Total Duration: 4 days

Total Distance Traveled: 2,550 km

Description:  The ride from Saskatoon east to the Manitoba border on day 2 on Hwy 5 is the classic Saskatchewan prairies with colourful fields of wheat, rape and canola, lots of sloughs, small but thriving towns and plenty of bugs.  Saskatchewan has its own unique brand of beautiful scenery.  When staying in Dauphin make sure to take in the old CNR station there which has been restored as a museum and municipal office.  Then heading south from Dauphin the ride through Riding Mountain National Park is very scenic as well but relatively short.

Itinerary from Calgary, AB, Canada

Day Destination Distance (Km) Notes
1 Gordon Howe Campground in Saskatoon 619 Very popular campground, make reservations early.  The route from Calgary to Saskatoon is a bit of a cross country jog but there is little traffic.  The sequence of Hwy numbers travelled for that day is 2N - 72E - 791N - 575E - 21N - 27E - 9E - 7E. See the route below in google maps.
2 Vermillion Park Campground in Dauphin, Manitoba 611 Well maintained campground, large grassy lots.
3 Prairie Oasis Trailer Court in Moose Jaw 604 My favourite campground within 1 day ride east of Calgary.  For motorcycle tent camping, no reservations required.
4 Calgary 716  
  Total 2550  

 

Route Map: Click on image to see in Google Maps

2019 Manitoba Run

2019 Annual Kaslo Run - Motorcycle Camping Trip

Annual Kaslo Run Motorcycle Camping Trip

Total Duration: 4 days

Total Distance Traveled: 2,164 km

Description:  I try to do a run similar to this one at least once a year because it is so easy and enjoyable.  When you are coming south from Kamloops to Merritt at the end of day 2 make sure you take Hwy 5A and not Hwy 5 (which is the Coquihalla) because 5A is much less traffic and much nicer scenery alongside a long lake.  Then in the morning of day 3 the continuation of Hwy 5A coming down from Merritt into Princeton is an absolute joy to ride.  Try to do it early in the morning so you don't get stuck behind a slow moving logging truck, but watch out for deer.

Itinerary from Calgary, AB, Canada

Day Destination Distance (Km) Notes
1 Toad Rock Motorcycle Campground near Balfour 594 Favourite biker campground, rustic in a good way.
2 Moon Shadows RV Park and Campground in Merritt BC 527 Well maintained private campground, nice washrooms
3 Scotties RV and Campground in Creston BC 542 Excellent private campground right in town of Creston
5 Calgary 501  
  Total 2164  

 

Route Map: Click on image to see in Google Maps

2019 Annual Kaslo Run

2018 Jasper Kamloops - Motorcycle Camping Trip

Calgary to Kamloops via Jasper Motorcycle Camping Trip

Total Duration: 4 days

Total Distance Traveled: 1,883 km

Description:  Main objective of this trip is to do the spectacular Columbia Ice Fields Parkway on Hwy 93 between Lake Louise and Jasper and then come down the fast and sometimes windy Hwy 5 into Kamloops.  The KOA campsite at the top of the hill just east of Revelstoke was a disappointment so will choose a different campground for Revelstoke next time.  The route also hits the perennial favourite roads into Kaslo BC and along the east side of Kootenay lake after crossing the ferry at Belfour.

Itinerary from Calgary, AB, Canada

Day Destination Distance (Km) Notes
1 Yellowhead Campground near Valemount BC 524 Large very nice campground by the river.  Watched salmon spawning.
2 Revelstoke KOA Campground 536 Crowded, noisy and dusty campsite.  No grass, had to pitch tent in the loose dirt.  Not recommended.
3 Mount Baker RV Park in Cranbrook 428 Great well maintained campground.  Plenty of space on grassy area to pitch tents.
4 Calgary 395  
  Total 1883  

 

Route Map: Click on image to see in Google Maps

2018 Jasper Kamloops Trip

Campsite at Yellowhead Campground in Valemount BC

2018_08 BC Bike Trip 04

Entering favourite BC town Kaslo

2018_08 BC Bike Trip 11.jpg

Mount Baker RV Campground in Cranbrook BC

2018_08 BC Bike Trip 19.jpg

 

2018 Saskatchewan Loop - Motorcycle Camping Trip

Calgary to Manitou Beach Sask. and Return Motorcycle Camping Trip

Total Duration: 4 days

Total Distance Traveled: 1,663 km

Description:  I did this with my brother in law from Grande Prairie which is why it includes a side run up to Edmonton where we met to start the trip.  The main idea behind this trip was to do a kind of nostalgia tour of the area we both grew up which is in and around the small town of Allan Sask.  I spent a lot of time as a kid at Manitou beach near Watrous Sask where I was born.  So this trip was of personal interest but probably not to many others.  Although the campsite at Manitou beach was very nice and I would recommend it to anyone traveling in the area.

Itinerary from Calgary, AB, Canada

Day Destination Distance (Km) Notes
1 Edmonton 299 Stayed with family
2 Blackstrap Mountain Prov Park near Saskatoon 573 Great location but poorly maintained campground
3 Manitou and District Regional Park near Watrous 81 Short trip, spent most of day on Manitou Beach.  Good campground, well maintained, large but quiet.
4 Calgary 710  
  Total 1663  

 

Route Map: Click on image to see in Google Maps

2018 Sask Loop

2018 Merritt BC Loop - Motorcycle Camping Trip

Calgary to Merritt and Return Motorcycle Camping Trip

Total Duration: 4 days

Total Distance Traveled: 2,187 km

Description:  An easy 4 day loop through BC.  Monck Prov Park near Merritt is on a long access road (Monck Park Road) off the main highway 5A and is a bit rough and narrow in places.  The campsite has a nice high scenic overlook of Nicola lake below.  It is a popular spot but somewhat isolated.

Itinerary from Calgary, AB, Canada

Day Destination Distance (Km) Notes
1 Toad Rock Motorcycle Campground near Kaslo BC 594  Favourite biker campground in BC
2 Monck Provincial Park in Merritt BC 530 Descent campground but out of the way to access.
3 Riders Ranch Motorcycle Campground near Creston BC 581 A private rambling acreage of a site but plenty of space to pitch your tent on the grass.  It has a biker bar theme shack where everyone can gather in the evening to hang out.
4 Calgary 483  
  Total 2187  

 

Route Map: Click on image to see in Google Maps

2018 Merritt BC Loop

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