In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
Two national parks, a pass and a waterfall that plunges 373 metres: around 280 kilometres of Highway 1 through the Columbia Mountains.
The spirit of the route
Beyond Golden Highway 1 climbs into the Kicking Horse Canyon, and the mountains immediately take up room: jagged peaks, glaciers in the gullies, waterfalls that glitter like sugar in the sunlight. In Yoho National Park it smells of wet rock and spruce needles, Emerald Lake shimmers in a green that otherwise only appears in catalogues, and Takakkaw Falls thunders with such force that the spray reaches the car park. West of there the road climbs to Rogers Pass, where avalanches are triggered in winter and marmots whistle in the scree in summer. The road is a feat of engineering and a hiking paradise at the same time: car parks, nature trails, campgrounds with a view of the Illecillewaet Glacier. If you are after van life, here you get very short driving distances, scarce parking and weather changes that alter the day. The reward is the feeling of sleeping in the middle of the mountains.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Golden to Field (Yoho National Park) (approx. 55 km)
- The drive
- From Golden, Highway 1 climbs through the Kicking Horse Canyon, upgraded, with several bridges and gradients, and then into Yoho National Park. Speed is mostly 90 km/h, driving time about 45 minutes. Highway 1 in the park has wildlife crossings, especially at dusk. Time zone: Golden and Yoho are on Mountain Time, Revelstoke on Pacific Time; watch your clock.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Kicking Horse Mountain Resort near Golden: gondola and Grizzly Bear Refuge; check operation and prices of the gondola and the bear refuge beforehand.
- Emerald Lake: a side road leads to the lake, vehicles are limited and parking is extremely scarce; arrive early in the morning. The 5.2 km Lakeshore Trail is largely flat.
- Natural Bridge: a rock formation on the Kicking Horse River, a short stop at the roadside.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Kicking Horse Campground (Yoho National Park, Parks Canada) near Field: a large campground with sites for motorhomes, reservations at reservation.parks.canada.ca, booked up early in summer. Check facilities and vehicle lengths beforehand. Further Parks Canada sites in Yoho NP (Monarch, Chancellor Peak, Hoodoo Creek) are simpler and open seasonally; check status and reservation rules beforehand at parks.canada.ca.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the national park staying overnight outside the campgrounds is prohibited. Outside the park, Crown land in British Columbia allows camping for up to 14 days, around Golden on forest roads; observe bear and fire rules.
- Insider tip for campers
- Parks Canada pass on entering Yoho National Park; check current fees and any surcharges for foreign visitors at parks.canada.ca. If you are only passing through, do not stop where it is not permitted.
2Stage 2: Field to Takakkaw Falls and back (approx. 30 km)
- The drive
- About 3.5 km beyond Field the Yoho Valley Road branches off, narrow and winding, with two tight switchbacks. Parks Canada states: vehicles over 7 m in length must reverse in the switchbacks, trailers are not permitted; the road is closed from mid-October to mid-June. For larger motorhomes it is a good idea to park at the start or use a shuttle, where available. Pure driving time is about 20 minutes each way.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Takakkaw Falls: the waterfall drops over 300 m and is one of the highest waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies; a short walk from the car park. The name comes from the Cree language and means roughly “magnificent”.
- Spiral Tunnels Viewpoint: a viewpoint from which you can watch freight trains in the spirals of Kicking Horse Pass; rail traffic is irregular.
- Burgess Shale: guided hikes to fossil sites (Walcott Quarry, Mount Stephen); check registration and prices via Parks Canada or the Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Takakkaw Falls Campground (Parks Canada) only 300 m from the car park: a tent site without motorhome access, for tents only; for campers Kicking Horse Campground remains. Reservations via Parks Canada; check the site beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No free camping in the national park; the nearest legal options are outside the park near Golden.
- Insider tip for campers
- A motorhome over 7 m should avoid the Yoho Valley Road. The road and car park are tightly dimensioned; if you arrive early you will have more room. Check the condition of the Yoho Valley Road at parks.canada.ca beforehand.
3Stage 3: Field to Golden (approx. 55 km)
- The drive
- Back down through the canyon to Golden, with a view of the Kicking Horse River. The gradient on the pass is gentle, but you should still relieve the brakes by using a low gear. Pure driving time is about 45 minutes. Golden is a base for fuel, shopping and a garage.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Golden Skybridge: suspension bridges over the canyon, a private attraction with admission; check opening times and prices beforehand.
- Columbia River Wetlands: birdwatching from the dyke path, eagles and waterfowl; a quiet walk.
- Kicking Horse River: rafting tours from Golden, check operators beforehand; also accessible for spectators from the bridge.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: In Golden, Golden Municipal Campground (a municipal site) on the Kicking Horse River offers sites with hook-ups and showers; check opening times and reservation options beforehand. Several private RV parks in the surrounding area; book early in summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Around Golden there are Recreation Sites and forest roads; Crown land up to 14 days. Observe wildfire and bear rules.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up with fuel in Golden and get food and gas: supplies on Rogers Pass are limited. Check the weather forecast and highway status on DriveBC.
4Stage 4: Golden to Rogers Pass (Glacier National Park) (approx. 80 km)
- The drive
- Highway 1 follows the Columbia River and then climbs into Glacier National Park to Rogers Pass. The road is well built, but in winter the pass is regularly closed by avalanche control; in summer it is open but may be subject to restrictions in bad weather. Pure driving time is about one and a quarter hours. In the avalanche zone stopping outside designated car parks is prohibited.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Rogers Pass Discovery Centre: exhibitions on railway building, avalanches and the park; check opening times beforehand.
- Hemlock Grove Boardwalk: a short path through old hemlocks, also accessible with a dog on a lead; a good walk for campers.
- Illecillewaet Glacier and Abbott Ridge: hikes with views of glaciers; partly steep, so check the weather forecast and maps.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Illecillewaet Campground (Glacier National Park, Parks Canada): sites in the forest near the highway, reservations via Parks Canada; check facilities and vehicle lengths beforehand. Alternatively Loop Brook Campground; opening is seasonal, so check beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No free camping in the national park; outside, in the Columbia Valley, only Crown land with forest roads.
- Insider tip for campers
- Rogers Pass is an avalanche control area; in summer the road is usually clear, but in bad weather or wildfire it can be closed at short notice. Check DriveBC and Parks Canada before the drive; check tyres and brakes for the descent. The pass lies at around 1,330 m, and nights can be cold in summer.
5Stage 5: Rogers Pass to Revelstoke (approx. 70 km)
- The drive
- From the pass downhill through the Illecillewaet Valley, past snow sheds, bridges and forest. The road is well built, but with a sustained descent; drive in a low gear and spare the brakes. Driving time is about one hour. Note the change of time zone in the park (Revelstoke is on Pacific Time).
- Highlights & must-sees
- Mount Revelstoke National Park, Meadows in the Sky Parkway: a scenic road to flower meadows and viewpoints; Parks Canada lists restrictions for long vehicles and combinations, so check status and opening beforehand.
- Giant Cedars Boardwalk: a wooden walkway through ancient red cedars, a short stroll.
- Revelstoke Railway Museum: a railway museum in the town; check opening times beforehand.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Williamson Lake Campground (City of Revelstoke) by the lake; check reservations and facilities beforehand. North of the town lies Martha Creek Provincial Park (BC Parks) on the Columbia reservoir, to the south Blanket Creek Provincial Park with a waterfall and swimming; reservations at camping.bcparks.ca. Check vehicle lengths beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Crown land around Revelstoke up to 14 days; forest roads steep and narrow; fire bans frequent in summer.
- Insider tip for campers
- In Revelstoke top up supplies, gas and water before continuing. In rain avoid the hikes up the mountain; the park paths quickly become slippery.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- In national parks (Yoho, Glacier, Mount Revelstoke) staying overnight outside the designated campgrounds is prohibited, as are fires outside the fire pits. Overnight parking is not permitted in car parks and at viewpoints.
- Outside the parks, camping on Crown land in British Columbia is generally permitted for up to 14 days in one place, provided no signs or protected areas forbid it.
- In summer campfire bans from the BC Wildfire Service frequently apply; check the status daily.
- Wildlife: grizzly and black bears, mountain goats, marmots; keep food sealed at night, carry bear spray and keep your distance from animals.
- Apps: iOverlander, Campendium, Parks Canada Reservation Service, BC Parks and DriveBC.
- Reservations for Parks Canada campgrounds book up early in summer; walk-in options are scarce, and alternatives in Golden and Revelstoke are factored in.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Fresh water and dump stations are found mainly in Golden and Revelstoke; in the national parks partly at campgrounds. Ask in advance via an app or at visitor centres.
- Tap water in Canada is drinkable; stream water only filtered or boiled.
- Never discharge grey water into streams; empty the chemical toilet only at dump stations.
- Propane at fuel stations and specialist dealers in Golden and Revelstoke; European cylinders need adapters.
- Fuel: fuel stations in Golden, Field (limited), Revelstoke; only limited on Rogers Pass; plan your range.
- Shopping: supermarkets in Golden and Revelstoke; Field and Rogers Pass only small shops. Electricity: hook-ups in private RV parks are usually 30 or 50 A (120 V).
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits in km/h: Highway 1 mostly 90–100, in parks 90, built-up areas 50. Animals crossing the road especially at dusk; in national parks wildlife must not be fed.
- Tolls: none. Vehicle height normally up to 4.15 m. Rogers Pass: stopping in avalanche zones is prohibited.
- A Parks Canada Discovery Pass or day pass is required for Yoho, Glacier and Mount Revelstoke; check current fees and any surcharges for foreign visitors at parks.canada.ca.
- Winter tyres are required on signed BC highways from 1 October, until 31 March or 30 April depending on the route; for Highway 1 over Rogers Pass observe the signs.
- Weather and season: summer mild, pass and high-altitude areas can bring frost in September; wildfire smoke possible; the Yoho Valley Road opens only after the snow has melted.
- Traffic law: turning right on red after stopping is permitted, except where prohibited; using a phone while driving is prohibited; alcohol in the vehicle only if sealed. A German driving licence is sufficient, an international one is recommended.
- Emergency: 911; mobile coverage in valleys and in the park is patchy, so download offline maps.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Warm layers and a rain jacket: weather changes at the pass come within minutes, and frost and fresh snow are possible at night in September.
- Bear spray and well-closing storage boxes: grizzlies and black bears occur in all three parks.
- Good hiking boots and a headlamp for the trails to Emerald Lake, Hemlock Grove and Illecillewaet.
- Binoculars for mountain goats, marmots and eagles.
- Offline maps, a paper map and printed reservations: in the park and on the pass reception drops out.
- Reservation confirmations and the Parks Canada pass close at hand for checks.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
