Advisability of late summer Alaska drive up

[Charlie_Bravo]

Hello, we’re retiring next year and planning on Alaska for our sixth time in our fifth wheel.We’ve flown a small aircraft up twice, once on a motorcycle, and twice with a slide in truck camper. All the trips have been in June and a little of July.
This time we’d be Leaving Michigan the first of August, Alaska about the 10th and headed back about September 10.
The hope is for less crowds at the usual attractions, more wildlife, and maybe some northern lights.
Comments of later season weather, campground availability, and whatever else would be appreciated.

[c_traveler2]

We were up there in August 2018, rained 15 days out of 19 days so watch the weather and be flexible about your plans.

[MDKMDK]

SideHillSoup wrote:

MDKMDK wrote:
Hey Soup,
What's the situation at Waterton Lakes NP? Saw where some of the American GNP fires had crossed the border illegally, without reporting to customs, making them illegal alien fires on our side of the border. No doubt Trudeau will welcome them in anyways, and give them more free (subsidized?) wood to burn......

Seriously, is WLNP worth the drive from Ontario this time of year? Just wanted to have a look around, maybe stay a day or two, then head a little bit north towards the Crowsnest Pass area for a lookie see as well.
TY for any advice, warnings, wisdom, seeing as you're in the area?

Well right now we are in the middle of the worst fire season ever, in BC with the Southeast corner still see a number of active huge wild fires.
We just had a thunder storm go through our area with lighting starting a couple of new Forrest fires. One of these fires is with in a few hundred yards of the regional Hospital and a high school, plus a lot of homes.
By next year... who knows what the area will look like. Send me a private note and I can give you some hidden gems of places to visit.
Soup.

We've been following it all year, and it doesn't look or sound pretty. Hope the weather helps out with a good dose of rain, and you all survive it.
Hang in there. PM sent.

[SideHillSoup]

MDKMDK wrote:
Hey Soup,
What's the situation at Waterton Lakes NP? Saw where some of the American GNP fires had crossed the border illegally, without reporting to customs, making them illegal alien fires on our side of the border. No doubt Trudeau will welcome them in anyways, and give them more free (subsidized?) wood to burn......

Seriously, is WLNP worth the drive from Ontario this time of year? Just wanted to have a look around, maybe stay a day or two, then head a little bit north towards the Crowsnest Pass area for a lookie see as well.
TY for any advice, warnings, wisdom, seeing as you're in the area?

Well right now we are in the middle of the worst fire season ever, in BC with the Southeast corner still see a number of active huge wild fires.
We just had a thunder storm go through our area with lighting starting a couple of new Forrest fires. One of these fires is with in a few hundred yards of the regional Hospital and a high school, plus a lot of homes.
By next year... who knows what the area will look like. Send me a private note and I can give you some hidden gems of places to visit.
Soup.

[tony_lee]

Been driving in snow all day and now sitting in Ft St John for the night with up to 4 inches forecast.

Thanks Walmart

Lasr couple of nights boondocking have been below freezing

[MDKMDK]

Hey Soup,
What's the situation at Waterton Lakes NP? Saw where some of the American GNP fires had crossed the border illegally, without reporting to customs, making them illegal alien fires on our side of the border. No doubt Trudeau will welcome them in anyways, and give them more free (subsidized?) wood to burn......

Seriously, is WLNP worth the drive from Ontario this time of year? Just wanted to have a look around, maybe stay a day or two, then head a little bit north towards the Crowsnest Pass area for a lookie see as well.
TY for any advice, warnings, wisdom, seeing as you're in the area?

[SideHillSoup]

Be prepared for all types of weather in the fall.
Today’s weather forecast for northeastern B.C. is calling for 10cm of snow, fall is here. It may not be much or last long, however it’s that time of year where the weather can change over night, traveling late in the camping season, be prepared . A ski hill just east of Kelowna BC had snow about two weeks ago. It didn’t stay long either, however it was snow.

SNOW

Soup.

[cross21114]

In 2005, I took my TC up arriving in August. Stayed until the 1st week of October fishing and bird hunting mostly ptarmigin and grouse but also some ducks. Outbound took the Top of World and made it the day before it was closed for the season. No problems with weather.

My wife and I are planning a similar trip in 2019. Want to spend September hunting birds while I can still do it. Will probably go up using the Top of World and return via Alaska Hwy though.

[PA12DRVR]

This year, the past week has been spectacular around Southcentral Alaska.

Over the past 20 years, September can be crappy or it can be beautiful....IMNSHO, it hits one or the other of those extremes.

Late August - mid-September sees a significant reduction in bugs and tourists although not entirely void of either. The tourist facilities start closing by late August and are almost entirely shutdown by mid-September, but stuff can be found through the 1st week or so of September.

IMNSHO, Fall is the most spectacular time in Alaska: What constitutes "Fall" varies by location, but would be "September" around Los Anchorage to Squarebanks. My particular favorite time of year is mid-September to mid-October...but that's for hunting/flying/fishing. For a RV trip, I'd think 10-August to 10-September would be great, although one would need to focus on sightseeing (on your own) rather than "catered" activities.

[Grit_dog]

Late summer (fall weather for the rest of us, haha) is a great time of year up there.
You’re from Michigan so what’s a little snow here or there? Cold hasn’t set in yet and really not much/ any snow except in the interior and north.

[lucy6194]

We went two years ago 3rd time. Rain everything closed would never go that late again.

[Scottiemom]

When we went in 2013, we left in May and went up returning the first of August. We did not experience big crowds anywhere. We were told numerous times that we were about 2 weeks ahead of the caravans.

We had a great time and the potential for bad weather, i.e., snow, was not likely since summer was approaching.

Dale

[rag-ftw]

mockturtle wrote:
It tends to be rainier later in the summer.

I agree that is the normal trend but this past 10 days has been "Chamber of Commerce" weather days. Bright sunshine, no clouds, light winds, with temps in the upper 60s! Other that the week of July 4th this has been the best weather all summer for us.

[MDKMDK]

Was there in 2016 late August to about September 10 and the weather was perfect. Mix of sun and rain but no freezing temps.
As for crowds we thought it was pretty busy at most attractions that weren't closed down. Camping was wide open about everywhere. No problems.

[mockturtle]

It tends to be rainier later in the summer.