Posted by Brad Clinch on April 16, 2013 at 7:28 PM
I am in the process of putting together a trip to Banff and Waterton Lakes NP's in late June. Everything I have seen looks amazing. We plan on car camping and shooting landscapes and wildlife, as well as getting in a good deal of day hikes. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Far and away, one of the best experts on photographing in this area is Darwin Wiggett. He has several PDF guides available for $10 each - here: http://www.howtophotographthecanadianrockies.com
One thing I would suggest, when traveling from Banff to Waterton, take the "backroads" - although it has to be in late June (because the road is closed for winter from December 1 - June 15). Start on the Smith Dorrien Trail (it's a very decent gravel road) from the 'backside' of Canmore past Spray Lakes Reservoir and down to Kananaskis Lakes (easy to find this on Google maps), then take HWY 40 over Highwood Pass to Longview, before heading south on HWY 22 to Waterton NP. There are some camping areas around the Kananaskis Lakes and if it works into your itinerary, probably not a bad place to wake up at.
I often see moose on the Smith Dorrien (particularly near the Sawmill Trailhead), and since HWY 40 only opens mid-June, it's one of the best opportunities for photographing roadside grizzly bears and bighorn sheep at that time of year.
If you have time in your trip, it's absolutely well worth it to take a day or two and explore the Icefields Parkway (HWY 93, which runs from Lake Louise up to Jasper). Or at least a day and get to the Icefields. One of the most scenic drives in North America, it's another great opportunity for photographing grizzlies and/or black bears from the safety of your car
Waterton NP is fairly simple and no where near as busy as Banff (especially mid-week). The roads in Waterton are very narrow and can get crowded on the week-end. The spring wildflowers should be in full bloom in Waterton in late June (their annual Wildflower Festival is June 15-23). Just north of the town, there's a buffalo paddock - depending on where the herd is, you may get a good photo-op. There is one road into the townsite, and two roads that go into the park (one to Red Rock Canyon, the other to Cameron Lake). Hikes are available off either road, but I really couldn't begin to suggest which one. Both roads offer potential for deer, sheep and bear. Moose around Cameron Lake. Deer, sheep and elk around town.
Be careful with the habituated deer in the townsite. That time of year, they'll have fawns hidden nearby and have been known to attack. You may be able to get some good photos of fawns or fawn with mom, just be careful - the habituation is misleading. Ditto for the elk around Banff.... the cow-elk there look (and act) habituated, but have sent a few humans to hospital when feeling a need to protect their calves.
If you're planning your hikes in advance, watch for elevation - it can/will affect trail conditions - in late June the higher elevations (~6000'+) may still be snow-covered and this could limit some of your choices. We're having a late spring here (it feels like there has been more snowfall in the last week than January and February combined). Kananaskis trail reports last week showed 4-feet of snow at some trail head areas. Daytime temperatures in June can range from low 50's to mid 80's (anywhere in that range would be "normal") and nighttime lows will likely be very close to freezing (30-35 degrees). Rain is (unfortunately) common in June, and it's possible, but very unlikely, that you will see fresh snow.
Hope you have an awesome trip
Posted by Brad Clinch on April 18, 2013 at 8:32 PM
Karen,
Wow, thank you! Your ideas exceeded my wildest dreams. Hopefully I can come back with plenty of images to share.
Discussion
2 repliesFar and away, one of the best experts on photographing in this area is Darwin Wiggett. He has several PDF guides available for $10 each - here: http://www.howtophotographthecanadianrockies.com
One thing I would suggest, when traveling from Banff to Waterton, take the "backroads" - although it has to be in late June (because the road is closed for winter from December 1 - June 15). Start on the Smith Dorrien Trail (it's a very decent gravel road) from the 'backside' of Canmore past Spray Lakes Reservoir and down to Kananaskis Lakes (easy to find this on Google maps), then take HWY 40 over Highwood Pass to Longview, before heading south on HWY 22 to Waterton NP. There are some camping areas around the Kananaskis Lakes and if it works into your itinerary, probably not a bad place to wake up at.
I often see moose on the Smith Dorrien (particularly near the Sawmill Trailhead), and since HWY 40 only opens mid-June, it's one of the best opportunities for photographing roadside grizzly bears and bighorn sheep at that time of year.
If you have time in your trip, it's absolutely well worth it to take a day or two and explore the Icefields Parkway (HWY 93, which runs from Lake Louise up to Jasper). Or at least a day and get to the Icefields. One of the most scenic drives in North America, it's another great opportunity for photographing grizzlies and/or black bears from the safety of your car
Waterton NP is fairly simple and no where near as busy as Banff (especially mid-week). The roads in Waterton are very narrow and can get crowded on the week-end. The spring wildflowers should be in full bloom in Waterton in late June (their annual Wildflower Festival is June 15-23). Just north of the town, there's a buffalo paddock - depending on where the herd is, you may get a good photo-op. There is one road into the townsite, and two roads that go into the park (one to Red Rock Canyon, the other to Cameron Lake). Hikes are available off either road, but I really couldn't begin to suggest which one. Both roads offer potential for deer, sheep and bear. Moose around Cameron Lake. Deer, sheep and elk around town.
Be careful with the habituated deer in the townsite. That time of year, they'll have fawns hidden nearby and have been known to attack. You may be able to get some good photos of fawns or fawn with mom, just be careful - the habituation is misleading. Ditto for the elk around Banff.... the cow-elk there look (and act) habituated, but have sent a few humans to hospital when feeling a need to protect their calves.
If you're planning your hikes in advance, watch for elevation - it can/will affect trail conditions - in late June the higher elevations (~6000'+) may still be snow-covered and this could limit some of your choices. We're having a late spring here (it feels like there has been more snowfall in the last week than January and February combined). Kananaskis trail reports last week showed 4-feet of snow at some trail head areas. Daytime temperatures in June can range from low 50's to mid 80's (anywhere in that range would be "normal") and nighttime lows will likely be very close to freezing (30-35 degrees). Rain is (unfortunately) common in June, and it's possible, but very unlikely, that you will see fresh snow.
Hope you have an awesome trip
Wow, thank you! Your ideas exceeded my wildest dreams. Hopefully I can come back with plenty of images to share.