Travelling by car from Calgary to Victoria BC?

Question

Could anyone tell me what would be the most scenic route to drive from Calgary Alberta to Victoria BC? Thank you

Answer 1

The mountains are trés cool no matter how you go through them.

Obviously the Banff route offers world-famous scenery like Lake Louise, but after you get past Shuswap Lake it's a boring drive for hours and hours, all the way till Harrison Lake near Vancouver.

The southern route lets you see more beautiful lakes -- Koocanusa, Kootenay, the Arrows and Okanagan. It also takes you to pretty towns like Nelson and to Cathedral and Manning Parks, before you get to Harrison Lake.

Here's a thought: if you have the time, go through Banff, then zip down highway 93 to pick up the southern route at Cranbook.

No matter what, you'll enjoy the ferry over to Victoria. Sit (or at least stroll) outside on the upper deck -- best on the leeward side. For the whole drive, don't forget to pack your binoculars.

Answer 2

There are so many.  The south route (#3) is much longer than the #1 even though it doesn't look much longer.

I would take the #1 through Banff/Lake Louise and then through the Kicking Horse and Rogers Pass.  Then through to Revelstoke and Salmon Arm.

From Salmon Arm (a pretty town on the Shuswap) there are a few choices:  

Go south on Hwy 97B (at Sicamous, you can go the 97A at Salmon Arm but it isn't as nice) to the Okanagan (tons of lakes and vineyards) either taking the 97C from Kelowna to Merritt (a bit boring on the plateau) and #5 Coquihalla to Hope and Vancouver or take the 97 south past Penticton to the #3 west to Hope and Vancouver (very scenic the whole way).

Or you can continue west on the #1 passing Kamloops and go through the Fraser Canyon to Hope (quite scenic but slow).

The fastest way is to take the #1 to Kamloops and follow it (it turns into the Coquihalla Hwy) to Hope.  It is a pretty drive through the coast range, but the plateau (Kamloops to Merritt) is pretty boring.

Answer 3

will_o_t and calnicke have given you great suggestions. It may be helpful to know that the #5 Coquihalla to Hope is a toll highway. But do give Kelowna and Penticton some thought. It is a very scenic and beautiful part of the world.