Yoho National Park -- Monarch First Come

[TenOC]

Since Kicking Horse CG (88 sites) is closed, what is the chance of getting a first come site at Monarch with only 44 sites? We will be at Yoho in early August. Has anyone camped there in 2018? What time of the day does it fill up.

What other options are there. I do not need FHU.

I know I can call the park and probable get the information.

[Powder_pig]

Well said, Mountaineer42. You can NOT just camp along the road with your rv anywhere in Canadian National Parks, thank Goodness. There is an overflow campground a few km East of Lake Louise along hwy 1. Perhaps that is what robatthelake is referring to?

[Mountaineer42]

TenOC wrote:

Mountaineer42 wrote:

TenOC wrote:

Mountaineer42 wrote:

robatthelake wrote:
There is boondocking at Lake Loiuise ! Take the first right and park anywhere along the road!

I think not!! Parks Canada is VERY adamant about NO BOONDOCKING and while you may have got away with it in the past, it was just plain luck, and I would not plan on it in the future.

It is an APPROVED overflow "camping" at GPS N51° 23.230' W116° 07.787' and is about $10.00 CDN per night. No tents.

Different maps often are not very accurate in their coordinates (Streets and Trips or Google Maps) but those coordinates put you along Hwy 93, pretty close to the Marble Canyon campground in Kootenay National Park. There is no overflow campground there.
Robatthelake's comment was about boondocking at Lake Louise. From his directions it would be right in the little village of Lake Louise and for certain, no boondocking is allowed there.

Sorry try this screenshot from Google Earth

That is the official Lake Louise overflow campground. For sure you can stop there and although it gets busy, I've seldom seen it full.
My response to Robatthelake's comment was about boondocking, which to me typically means staying in a completely undeveloped area or just parking along the Hwy or on a street in town, as opposed to a designated site. For sure, that type of "boondocking" is not allowed in the little Village of Lake Louise.

[TenOC]

Mountaineer42 wrote:

TenOC wrote:

Mountaineer42 wrote:

robatthelake wrote:
There is boondocking at Lake Loiuise ! Take the first right and park anywhere along the road!

I think not!! Parks Canada is VERY adamant about NO BOONDOCKING and while you may have got away with it in the past, it was just plain luck, and I would not plan on it in the future.

It is an APPROVED overflow "camping" at GPS N51° 23.230' W116° 07.787' and is about $10.00 CDN per night. No tents.

Different maps often are not very accurate in their coordinates (Streets and Trips or Google Maps) but those coordinates put you along Hwy 93, pretty close to the Marble Canyon campground in Kootenay National Park. There is no overflow campground there.
Robatthelake's comment was about boondocking at Lake Louise. From his directions it would be right in the little village of Lake Louise and for certain, no boondocking is allowed there.

Sorry try this screenshot from Google Earth


Click For Full-Size Image.

[Mountaineer42]

TenOC wrote:

Mountaineer42 wrote:

robatthelake wrote:
There is boondocking at Lake Loiuise ! Take the first right and park anywhere along the road!

I think not!! Parks Canada is VERY adamant about NO BOONDOCKING and while you may have got away with it in the past, it was just plain luck, and I would not plan on it in the future.

It is an APPROVED overflow "camping" at GPS N51° 23.230' W116° 07.787' and is about $10.00 CDN per night. No tents.

Those coordinates put you at the Vermillion Pass (Continental Divide) stop along Hwy 93.
Robatthelake's comment was about boondocking at Lake Louise. From his directions it would be right in the little village of Lake Louise and for certain, no boondocking is allowed there.

[TenOC]

Mountaineer42 wrote:

robatthelake wrote:
There is boondocking at Lake Loiuise ! Take the first right and park anywhere along the road!

I think not!! Parks Canada is VERY adamant about NO BOONDOCKING and while you may have got away with it in the past, it was just plain luck, and I would not plan on it in the future.

It is an APPROVED overflow "camping" at GPS N51° 23.230' W116° 07.787' and is about $10.00 CDN per night. No tents.

[Mountaineer42]

robatthelake wrote:
There is boondocking at Lake Loiuise ! Take the first right and park anywhere along the road!

I think not!! Parks Canada is VERY adamant about NO BOONDOCKING and while you may have got away with it in the past, it was just plain luck, and I would not plan on it in the future.

[Mountaineer42]

Kickinghorse campground is closed because there was a large avalanche there this winter. They are assessing the damage and what needs to be done to get it repaired and open. If you are coming in August, it MAY be reopened by then. If not, Monarch is available but will fill early in the day. I'd try to be there by 10:00 am and get in line to get a site as someone else moves out. Most of the campers there are just stopping for one or two nights as they travel through, so there is a large turnover of sites every day.

[crosscheck]

TenOC wrote:
Since Kicking Horse CG (88 sites) is closed, what is the chance of getting a first come site at Monarch with only 44 sites? We will be at Yoho in early August. Has anyone camped there in 2018? What time of the day does it fill up.

What other options are there. I do not need FHU.

I know I can call the park and probable get the information.

We did not stay there last year but in August 2016 the parks people opened the Monarch CG to over flow camping in the places usually reservered for parking only. So no problems getting in. Just remember, this is the busiest time of the year so to insure a spot, arrive early.

Dave

[crosscheck]

robatthelake wrote:
There is boondocking at Lake Loiuise ! Take the first right and park anywhere along the road!

Could you be more specific?

Dave

[ppine]

I really liked Kicking Horse and Yoho a long time ago, there were no reservations. The weather can be cold and wet even in August. Those parks are overlooked by a lot of people.

[MDKMDK]

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g1761683-i26958-k6283386-Kicking_Horse_Campground_or_Lake_Louis...

[robatthelake]

There is boondocking at Lake Loiuise ! Take the first right and park anywhere along the road!

[TenOC]

Powder pig wrote:

Have you considered staying at the Lake Louise campground instead?

Lake Louise is full the first few weeks in Aug.

[Powder_pig]

Don't know what the story will be if Kicking horse is closed so there is extra demand but other years Monarch doesn't fill up most nights until after dinner. Just a note that there are no hook ups of any kind at this campground.

Have you considered staying at the Lake Louise campground instead? It is not that far from Field so you could see the same things by driving down the hill from Lake Louise. If you have a smaller vehicle (nothing larger than a pick up) the drive up to Takakaw falls is worth while.