Columbia ice fields

[Cumminalong]

We are travelling this summer to Banff 5days then to Jasper 3days,should we camp@ the ice fields 1nite on the way to Jasper or come back from Jasper to visit. What would experience say? John R.

[DaveG39]

I asked a park official this past summer and he said overnight in the north parking lot required a fee and showed me the kiosk to get the payment envelope. I filled it out and paid. Not worth the hassle from ignoring it. Park is very well maintained and I don't regret paying my fee.

[AKsilvereagle]

I wondered if someone would re-iterate and eventually point out about having to pay for overnighting in the parking lot...

Murray is correct (as I stood corrected) that there is an overnight fee for RV parking at the Icefields parking lot, I just confirmed on their website clearly showing that there actually is an overnight fee listed for RV's...

Now to explain and clarify (not justify) this portion on what I first posted two weeks ago here :

"I have boondocked at the Columbia Icefields parking lot on two occasions for free (Interpretive Centre) as no one bothered me or anyone else there in an RV.... it's not really advertised but it is the only overnight destination to park an RV there without paying while stopping short of saying to encourage people to do so....pretty sure if one would stay multi days at a time they would stick out with officials"

The first time overnighting at the Interpretive Centre I clearly seen the kiosk stand on the east end of the parking lot and went to retrieve a payment envelope pouch as another RV'er (deluxe class C with Alberta plates) approached me and pointed out that unless I was going to use the tent sites ahead that I didn't need to pay for an overnighter in the parking lot - asked if he was sure about that as he pointed out that there is nothing that states an overnight parking fee on the kiosk or on the envelope other than a space indicating a campsite.

From what I seen, there was no clear cut sign of any overnight RV parking fee listed or posted there, but there was definitely a fee sign posted for obtaining a tent site as the man pointed out, as he tells me he never paid a fee for overnighting there but told me he would not recommend overnighting on multi days as it might stick out with officials, so I took his word kinda like a grain of salt and told him thanks for pointing it out.

That is why I posted "it's not really advertised but it is the only overnight destination to park an RV there without paying while stopping short of saying to encourage people to do so" because I never seen any sign that stated there was a fee for RV's nor there was any sign that stated RV overnighting was free either.

I did not pay for two consecutive years upon two overnights total there nor got confronted by officials about it.

I certainly will never overnight for free anymore the next time I would ever overnight there as it is officially posted on the website there is a $15.70 fee.

[gmctoyman]

Didn't know it was for an "overnight" parking spot, thanks for the clarification.

[explorenorth]

gmctoyman wrote:
Murray, can you RON in the lot without hassle once the fee is paid ?

The fee is for an overnight parking/camping spot. Why would you be hassled?

[enblethen]

Remain over night

[TenOC]

gmctoyman wrote:
Murray, can you RON in the lot without hassle once the fee is paid ?

Can someone explain "RON" ?

[DaveG39]

I overnighted there last summer. I say YES worth the stop. Overnight fee but reasonable. Nice views and other places to view close by north and south of the center.

[Cumminalong]

Thanks to all John R.

[gmctoyman]

Murray, can you RON in the lot without hassle once the fee is paid ?

[explorenorth]

There's a bunch of incorrect information here. The parking lot to the left as you drive in to the Icefields Centre is official RV parking, good for any size rig, with a fee of $15.70 per night (self-register in the kiosk at the top of the lot as you drive in). It's very exposed to the winds, but has awesome views. Very few of the 100 parking sites are level. Outhouses are at the upper part of the lot.

[AKsilvereagle]

I have boondocked at the Columbia Icefields parking lot on two occasions for free (Interpretive Centre) as no one bothered me or anyone else there in an RV.... it's not really advertised but it is the only overnight destination to park an RV there without paying while stopping short of saying to encourage people to do so....pretty sure if one would stay multi days at a time they would stick out with officials.

Weather fronts do howl thru there pretty bad at times as I spent the night there in Sept. 2012 and Sept. 2013....

Sept 2013 - Interpretive Centre parking lot -Columbia Icefield- Jasper Nat'l Park Alberta :



Sept. 2011 I was thinking of spending the night there but it got so cold with heavy drizzle rainfall, close to zero visibility, smelling snow type moisture in the air I decided to move on and head to lower elevation ground and just push it to Jasper for two reasons :

Potential snow with delayed travel...

Seeing Jasper for the first time on a potential clear day and hit the tram ....

Boy, did the latter work perfect....it was totally clear the day after pushing it to Whistler's campground in Jasper - was clear as a bell until 20 minutes on the upper terminal ....as the Icefields Parkway had closed from the Columbia Icefield to I believe the Sunwapta Falls area gate for a day.

Sept 2011 - Whistlers Mountain -upper terminal- Jasper Nat'l Park Alberta :

[Powder_pig]

Cumminalong; Your rig is far too big to fit in the Wilcox creek campground located just south of the icefields BUT, there is an overflow camping area beside the icefields interpretive centre/hotel. If you don't mind dry camping (no water or sewer or power but there are a couple of outhouses) it is worth staying there one night. The views are stupendous and the interpretive centre worth a good visit. It is usually cold and breezy at night and literally is a parking lot so be prepared for that.

There are no other campgrounds nearby which would take your unit. Wilcox sites are too small and the icefields campground is for tents and small vans/campers only, no trailers.

[idaho556]

We camped there in 32 fifth wheel thought it was great for a night or two, busy as heck during the day, but peaceful at night.
Self registering, we back up at far end disconnected and took two parking spot, so did others, nobody never bothered us.

[romore]

You can camp in designated areas only within the park.