Canadian Input Please
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 399
Likes: 25
From: Northern Alberta
I live and ride in northern Alberta, your loop is fine if the weather cooperates which it likely won't. East of Prince George you could run into snow or cold rain in the Pine Pass, or it could be 70 above. Fort Mac and area will be miles of boreal forest if that's your thing. Dawson Creek to Fort Mac is mostly the same scenery and might be quite a bit cooler than that Lillooet, Pemberton loop suggested, which is a rider's paradise. Whatever you chose I hope you enjoy the trip.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 313
Likes: 15
From: New Scotland, Canada
as much as i love saskatoon...why?
essentially flat prairies for that whole run from Southern Alberta... lots of nice 2 lane roads but without options for the bigger trucks etc ( you are not paralleling a 4 lane hwy) the trucks, commercial traffic and farm rigs will be on the same road- could be extra buggy esp if running near canola and mustard with those bright yellow flowers the bugs just ate.
essentially flat prairies for that whole run from Southern Alberta... lots of nice 2 lane roads but without options for the bigger trucks etc ( you are not paralleling a 4 lane hwy) the trucks, commercial traffic and farm rigs will be on the same road- could be extra buggy esp if running near canola and mustard with those bright yellow flowers the bugs just ate.
You realize our canola is on the ground right now being gobbled up by combines or already in the bin. Hasn't been flowering for two months!
wheat harvest will be happening soon depending on weather- you'll often see the combines working through the night if they are trying to get it in while it is dry.
I have much enjoyed riding SK, but when you have the option of mtns vs flatlands...
Fort macmurray ( "fred macmurray") has been an ecological nightmare for as long as they have been trying to cook oil out of the tar sands--- and much of the town burned down last spring.
I'd give that a miss. don't expect to find a meal more complex than a patty melt, don't use the laundrymat as the machine will have oiled work clothes washed in them and your stuff will be ruined by tar.
I'd give that a miss. don't expect to find a meal more complex than a patty melt, don't use the laundrymat as the machine will have oiled work clothes washed in them and your stuff will be ruined by tar.
From there I would jog North through Prince Albert (I know, I can't believe I'm saying that) ad then down through Batoche to see the site of the Battle of Batoche.
The ride South looks pretty good from there. You could always go South on Highway 2 from Saskatoon through to Moose Jaw before swinging West, maybe across 13 through Ponteix and south of Cypress Hill Park. Then on West through Lethbridge and on South.
That's going to an awesome trip. Whichever way you go, enjoy.
Thanks everyone for the input. I'm not much for the flatland's and Prairies, I much prefer mountains and trees with lots of wildlife. I'm going to redo my route and skip the Saskatoon area. Maybe a little bit of Western Saskatchewan and more of Northern Alberta. I'll post my new route after I figure it out. I found a website listing the 263 best motorcycle roads in Canada. http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motor...da-__3216.html I'll use it also to help with the new ride plan.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 34,574
Likes: 2,087
From: TOAK Northern Branch
If you want mountains and trees, go through Banff to Jasper, cut across to McBride to Prince George or south through Vale. North of Edmonton, prairies until Whitecourt than forest with some hills. Around Valleyview, back to prairies. Not a big deal, but very flat and straight roads. Like said before, Pine Pass (south of Dawson Creek) will be a hit and miss on snow/weather.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 229
From: Saskatchewan
Fairmount and Radium Hot Springs are a nice stop but I prefer riding North a little further West. I like the ride through Castlegar then North to Nelson up to Nakusp, cross the ferry to Vernon on Highway 6.
I'm from Sask and don't like riding on flat straight roads so I can't make much for recommendations here. Cypress Hills is a great place to stop, but lots of Highway 13 is in pretty rough condition. I would avoid 13 between Cadilac and Shaunavon.
I'm from Sask and don't like riding on flat straight roads so I can't make much for recommendations here. Cypress Hills is a great place to stop, but lots of Highway 13 is in pretty rough condition. I would avoid 13 between Cadilac and Shaunavon.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 1,966
From: Great State of Canada
Dunno if you carry in Washington State but remember not to bring anything up here. The border services folks up here will go ape-**** on you if you do and impose penalties which are way out of line with the seriousness of the offense.
Pains me to read about law abiding Americans getting just crucified up here for possessing something they take for granted at home. Just thought I'd mention it.
Pains me to read about law abiding Americans getting just crucified up here for possessing something they take for granted at home. Just thought I'd mention it.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 565
Likes: 152
From: Calgary, Alberta
If you find your way to Saskatoon, north of there is Prince Albert. PA isn't particularly great but out of the north end of PA heading west is the Shellbrooke Highway. This is a great ride and if you plot a course to the Battlefords you can hit Wainwright and end up jus south of Edmonton. You could head to Jasper from there. Sorry I didn't take a look at your map, we are bandwidth challenged at the moment but you could reverse that run heading east and then south. Either way it's a great ride.
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Learned that about 30 years ago when I had the family with our travel trailer and told them I had a .22 pistol in the trailer. All they did at that time was make me turn around.
If you want mountains and trees, go through Banff to Jasper, cut across to McBride to Prince George or south through Vale. North of Edmonton, prairies until Whitecourt than forest with some hills. Around Valleyview, back to prairies. Not a big deal, but very flat and straight roads. Like said before, Pine Pass (south of Dawson Creek) will be a hit and miss on snow/weather.
Thanks again to everyone for the advice.