On my way to Sturgis this year I'm headed from Livermore, Ca. up to British Columbia then over to Alberta and Saskatchewan before heading south into North Dakota and South Dakota. Round trip will be about 5000 miles.
I have read the restrictions on the Canadian websites (passports, radar detectors, medications etc..), any other tips of wisdom about venturing into Canada? How is the gas situation? One particular area I am interested in is the Jasper to Calgary area. Has anyone been through that area? Any good points of interest from Jasper to Calgary?
Of course you'll need a Passport to get into Canada, plus after the end of May all returning US Citizens need a US Passport to get back into the US. Radar Detectors are allowed in Alberta, do not know about BC, or Saskatchewan. Medications, as the same rules as apply for Canadians going into the US have a copy of your prescriptions.
Make sure you have your driver's license, motorcycle registration and insurance up to date, check with your insurer if you need any special coverage or insurance documentation. Also check regarding out of country medical insurance coverages.
As others have advised about the roads and scenery in these parts second to none. On out Nelson Get Together I took a group up from Kamloops to Jasper down the Columbia Icefield Road to Lake Louise and on to Banff were we split up. They all enjoyed this leg of the trip.
No offense to the people of Saskatchewan, I would probably go south from Edmonton on to Calgary via Highway 2 to Fort Macleod on to the US Border Point, south on Highway 89 to St. Mary go west through Logan's Pass (opens mid June) to Whitefish/Kalispell down to Bigfork, Montana south on 83 to highway 200 south/east to the 141 east to the 12 to Helena, then 12/287 to Townsend. The 12 through to Harlowtown east to Lavina, then the 3 south to Billings, take the 90 to Crow Agency. Their I would if you have not already take a tour of Custer's Battlefield. It is a National Monument. From there take 212 all the to Belle Fourche, make sure you drop into the the Stone Ville Saloon in Alzada, approx.. 20 miles east of Belle Fourche. From Belle Fourche the 212 to the 90 to Sturgis.
This route is a lot more scenic than going East through Saskatchewan and South through North Dakota, and South Dakota. If you are a member of AAA they could do a TRIP TIK for all of your trip or a portion thereof, also they are a good source for maps
Just some ideas, as we have taken this route many times to Sturgis, again as mentioned earlier the weather can be in the 90's and with Prairie Weather it could be hailing and raining in the late afternoon, same as in Sturgis.
geezerglide