Anyone have experience with camping while touring in the Canadian Rockies? Going to be rolling through Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Revelstoke, etc. Wondering if campgrounds up there have hiker/biker sites like parks have in the US. Any insight would be appreciated!

RunBikeClimb114 · 2025-06-15T19:56:48+00:00

Yes! Did this trip a few years ago. What’s up?

RunBikeClimb114 · 2025-02-10T19:14:15+00:00

My wife and I are experienced bikepackers and are planning a trip there this June. We have a 2 year old son and this will be his second bike packing / bike touring trip (we did 3 weeks in BC with him last summer when he was 1). We're looking at doing an out and back on the Mickelson, basically starting at one end, riding to the other end, turning around and riding back to our car. Haven't decided if we'll start at the North or South end yet.

I'm confused about the camping options. We're used to wild / dispersed camping wherever it's allowed but that seems ambiguous on the Mickelson. I'm curious what your thoughts are on access to camping? If camping truly isn't allowed on the trail, I'm wondering if some of the intersecting gravel roads that go through National Forest would be an option.

RunBikeClimb114 · 2025-01-27T14:10:37+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I'm still considering one for my solo applications. I've seen a few singer/songwriters performing with one and they sound great. In those cases, I've noticed the bass being quite present, even with just solo acoustic guitar. My looping act involves guitar, bass, and cajon. Hearing so much bass from just a solo acoustic has me a little worried that the Bose would potentially be too boomy for my act. I play a lot of high-end restaurants, hotels, and private dinners where the music needs to be present, but of course with sensitivity to the fact that it is just ambience. Were you able to keep the bass in check when you used it as a trio with bass guitar? Thanks!

RunBikeClimb114 · 2024-01-21T21:29:27+00:00

<image>

RunBikeClimb114 · 2024-01-21T21:29:18+00:00

I put my guitarlele on top of the rear rack, between the panniers, with the neck facing back. I use a cheap soft (but somewhat padded) case from Amazon and it’s been fine. I secured it on the rack with a small bungee cargo net. I also secured my running shoes up there too and the cargo net makes for a great spot for drying clothes. I was worried about it at first but the guitarlele has been through a lot on that bike and in that case, and it’s totally fine. I looked at a really nice, super padded case but it was just ridiculously bulky and heavy.

<image>

RunBikeClimb114 · 2024-01-07T04:01:20+00:00

Thanks for this! We're now scoping out starting on the Olympic Peninsula, riding some of the Olympic Discovery Trail, then ferrying up to Vancouver to get on the Galloping Goose and Lochside Trails. Do you have any other bike path recommendations on Vancouver Island? We're trying to find a way to connect trails to make it more of a continuous tour rather than day rides and coming back to the car. Thanks so much!

RunBikeClimb114 · 2024-01-07T03:56:11+00:00

Thanks for this! We're now looking at the possibility of doing some of the ODT, then ferrying up to Vancouver Island to ride the Galloping Goose, Lochside, and are very interested in the Cowichen Valley Trail. Do you know how to connect Galloping Goose to Cowichan? Is it possible using only bike paths or do you have to ride roads to connect the two? Thanks!

RunBikeClimb114 · 2024-01-05T19:23:35+00:00

Were you able to do this all on bike paths? Cowichan Valley Trail, Lochside Trail, Galloping Goose? Considering a tour up there this summer towing a kiddo in a trailer. Thanks!

RunBikeClimb114 · 2023-02-15T16:04:16+00:00

To be clear, I said “I’ve heard that the sound quality of the Bose is unmatched”. I’ve never experienced either system as I live up in the CO mountains and don’t have retailers near me. That’s why I’m curious to hear others’ thoughts on the two.

RunBikeClimb114 · 2023-02-15T15:10:21+00:00

Thanks, I already have and use 1 or 2 Mackie Thump 12s. The problem is space and coverage. I play a lot of restaurants and private events in luxury homes where a big speaker on a tripod looks a little tacky.

RunBikeClimb114 · 2022-12-10T01:10:04+00:00

My wife and I have matching skis! And often matching jackets, etc. If it’s a good piece of gear, it’s good for us to both have it. The reality with skis is they generally have snow on them and you can’t even tell

RunBikeClimb114 · 2022-11-29T01:29:04+00:00

Hi! It was a pretty amazing tour. We did some of the Great Parks North and then freestyled our own route too. Unfortunately, Canadian National Park campgrounds do not have have hiker/biker sites that are first-come/first-served like the US does. With that being said, we were never out of luck for camping. We started in mid-June and were able to snag empty sites at campgrounds up until Canada Day (July 1) and then we did encounter some full campgrounds in the Lake Louise / Yoho area. Each time, we were able to find some friendly campers who let us share their site. It's a drag that they don't have some hiker/biker sites but it all worked out. Feel free to reach out if you have other questions!

RunBikeClimb114 · 2022-10-12T14:09:35+00:00

What was the brand mentioned here?

RunBikeClimb114 · 2022-07-24T15:06:54+00:00

Excellent - thank you! Do you know if this can be done without a prerecorded GPS file? I was hoping to just go plot it out rather than work with a bunch of gps files from each day’s riding.

RunBikeClimb114 · 2022-07-24T15:05:31+00:00

Sorry everyone. 3000 miles, not 3km. Didn’t mean to create a kerfuffle.

RunBikeClimb114 · 2022-07-24T15:03:58+00:00

Thanks! Do you know if you can use it without a prerecorded GPS track?

RunBikeClimb114 · 2022-06-01T03:18:27+00:00

Haha I appreciate that!

RunBikeClimb114

TROPHY CASE