Alberta to British Columbia – From Prairies to Foothills to the Rockies

Our campground near Swift Current was convenient, though fairly basic. It required a two-kilometre drive up a rugged gravel road and we arrived in cold, wet weather. We quickly set up and turned on both the electric heater and propane furnace to warm the trailer. Overnight, strong winds and steady rain made a mess of that gravel road.

The next morning, at our first charging station, we were treated to the sight of our car and trailer caked in a thick mud-and-gravel mix, dried to something close to concrete. In some spots it was nearly two inches thick, and the weight of it actually damaged one of the car’s mud flaps. When we reached our next campground in Taber, Alberta, it took about 40 minutes with a high-pressure hose to remove the worst of the mess.

As we crossed the prairies, oil pumpjacks became a familiar sight in the farmers’ fields, as did the massive crop irrigation rigs that stretch across them. These rigs, fed by aquifers and rivers, have transformed farming in the region. Bright yellow fields of canola provided a striking contrast to other crops across the vast, open landscape.

Oil Pumpjacks inhabit many farmer's fields

Beautiful yellow canola crop

Huge grain elevator and long line of grain rail cars (on left) waiting to be loaded

Our 4th province this trip

Some quick facts about Alberta:

• Alberta is Canada’s fourth-largest province—over 1.5 times the size of California.

• Known as Canada’s “Energy Province,” it holds the third-largest proven oil reserves in the world and has vast natural gas reserves.

• It boasts six UNESCO World Heritage Sites—more than any other province—including places with evocative names like Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Dinosaur Provincial Park, and Wood Buffalo National Park.

• Alberta is also an agricultural powerhouse, producing wheat, canola, barley, and more.

• Its diverse landscape includes prairies, badlands, foothills, and the stunning Rocky Mountains.

• The province is world-renowned for its wealth of dinosaur fossils, especially in the Badlands and Dinosaur Provincial Park.

We spent two nights at Taber Municipal Campground and were thoroughly charmed. Originally part of a farm donated to the town in the 1930s, it sits on a floodplain and has served as a campground and public park for 91 years. With a generous tree canopy providing shade over spacious campsites, it felt like a hidden gem. Our site backed onto a river, and deer wandered through regularly. To our surprise—and delight—there were no mosquitoes, making evening happy hours outside all the more enjoyable.

The Oldman River running behind our campsite in Taber Municipal Campground, Alberta

Lovely tree canopy and our trailer in the background

Deer frequently visit our campsite

Some busy beavers.....

Dinner in the air fryer - cooking outside keeps the trailer cooler

Nothing was more dramatic than the change in landscape as we moved from the wide-open prairie skies of Saskatchewan and eastern Alberta into the foothills and on to the rugged Rocky Mountains via the Crowsnest Pass. It was breathtaking.

Our next destination was Fernie, BC. We were a bit anxious about energy consumption climbing through the foothills, especially with forecasted headwinds of 15 to 25 km/h. But by keeping our speed modest on the 261-kilometre drive, we made two cautious charging stops—though in the end, one would have sufficed.

The Rocky Mountains come in to view as we drive west on the Crowsnest Highway #3

More wind generators in the foothills

We are now entering the majestic Rocky Mountains

The southern route through Crowsnest Pass is a natural low-lying corridor between Alberta and BC. Indigenous peoples used it for centuries before Europeans arrived. Michael Phillipps, an early settler, made the first recorded European crossing in 1873, following a bison trail while in search of gold. He recognized the pass’s value as a transportation route, but it was the discovery of coal that truly spurred development, including a railway.

One of the most dramatic stories of this region comes from the town of Frank, founded in 1901 at the base of Turtle Mountain. The Canadian Pacific Railway built a spur line to haul coal from the area, and by 1903 the town had over 600 residents. Turtle Mountain, composed of unstable layers of limestone over softer shale and sandstone, was known by local Indigenous peoples as "the mountain that moves."

On April 29, 1903, at 4:10 a.m., 30 million cubic metres of limestone—110 million tonnes—broke loose from the mountain. For only 100 seconds, the slide, 3,300 metres wide, 425 metres high, and 150 metres deep, roared across the valley at approximately 112 km/h. The sound was heard more than 200 kilometres away. Approximately 90 people died, making it the deadliest landslide in Canadian history. Most victims remain buried beneath the rubble; only 12 bodies were recovered. Incredibly, within three weeks the railway and coal mine were operating again, and the town was eventually relocated to a safer location.

Site of Frank Rock Slide (from a distance)

Rock slide swept right across the valley burying part of the town

Brief pull off stop on Crowsnest Highway

Welcome to British Columbia

Wall mural in Sparwood, BC
dedicated to the coal mine workers

Parallel parked in Sparwood BC - only took 2 and a bit parking spaces....

Our stay at Fernie RV Resort was exceptional. Originally named Coal Creek, Fernie was founded in 1887 as a coal mining town and later renamed after William Fernie, a pivotal figure in the region’s coal industry. With the arrival of the railway, the town prospered and earned the nickname "Pittsburgh of the West"—until devastating fires in 1904 and 1908 nearly wiped it out. Rebuilt each time, Fernie has since evolved into a vibrant, year-round outdoor recreation hub.

The RV resort sits beside the Elk River and offers stunning mountain vistas in every direction. Spacious sites, spotless new washrooms and showers, and even a dog-wash station made for a top-notch experience. One evening, just before bed, a deer wandered between our trailer and picnic table. From inside, we could see mountains out of every window. Spectacular.

Our campsite in Fernie RV Resort

Mountains all around us

Mountains outside our bedroom window

Camping takes many forms—from tents to tent trailers, fifth wheels, motorhomes, and the most luxurious bus-sized rigs towing full-sized SUVs. The further west we travelled, the bigger the RVs got. We still feel like beginners, maneuvering carefully and slowly, while seasoned RVers seem to handle their massive setups like compact cars. We’ll get there…

Six pics of some of the different camping rigs around us

The next day, we headed to Fernie Alpine Ski Resort and rode the chairlift up the mountain to take in the sweeping views. Though world-famous for winter sports, in summer the resort transforms into a mountain biking paradise. Riders of all ages brought their bikes up the lift and tore down the rugged trails with gusto—then repeated, all day long. With their fat tires, disc brakes, and shock absorbers, the bikes are engineering marvels. Everyone wore proper helmets and many had body armor for safety. It was a joy to watch the action while soaking up the scenery.

Fernie Alpine Ski Resort

Overdressed - we saw snow up there and thought it would be cold

Mountain bikes on the chairlift 

Town of Fernie way down below

Afterwards, we strolled through historic downtown Fernie and capped off the day with a snack and refreshments at a local bar—tired, happy, and already planning our next adventure.

Snack and refreshments at the Fernie Brewing Company

Our last day in Fernie was cool and blustery, with intermittent rain and thick clouds rolling over the peaks. I took the opportunity to catch up on some condo work while Fran filled the trailer with the comforting aroma of freshly baked blueberry coffee cake. In the afternoon, we had the most delightful meetup with locals Annamarie and Hans—friends of our North Channel boating companions, Alan and Margot, who kindly connected us. We shared drinks and a few hours of lively conversation at the Fernie Golf and Country Club, a perfect blend of local charm and hospitality. It was a wonderful way to wrap up our time in Fernie.

Fernie Golf and Country Club with Annamarie and Hans

A walk along the Elk River between showers 

Onwards and upwards—mountain talk, of course...

Saskatchewan - Driving through the Land of Living Skies

Saskatchewan – Driving Through the Land of Living Skies

"Welcome to Saskatchewan"

A couple of gofers trying to block our route

When we were shopping for our trailer, I kept reading that you really need to be handy to own one—there’s always something needing attention. That advice has proven to be absolutely true. Here’s my list of fixes so far:

• Leak in the hot water tank supply – I rerouted the PEX hose to relieve pressure on the fitting. That seems to have resolved the issue.

• Inverter adjustment – When we're off-grid, we use our batteries and inverter to power things like the coffee maker and microwave. I noticed the output voltage was a little low. A look at the manual revealed it could be adjusted via DIP switches. I increased it from 115 to 120 volts, which made the coffee maker—and the boss—very happy. While making the adjustment, I also discovered that one of the inverter mounts had come loose and the other had pulled out entirely, so I re-secured them both.

• Squeaky stabilizer jacks – The four jacks we lower at campsites were making quite a racket, so I sprayed them with white lithium grease. Problem solved.

It's become clear that regular inspections, both inside and out, are essential. Towing a trailer across all sorts of road conditions is hard on the equipment, and things do shake loose.

Here are some fun and fascinating facts about Saskatchewan:

• Often called Canada’s breadbasket, the province is a major agricultural producer—especially known for wheat, canola, and other grains.

• It's a global leader in potash and uranium production and has substantial reserves of coal, gold, and rare earth elements.

• Nicknamed the “Land of Living Skies,” Saskatchewan is renowned for its expansive skies and spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

• Manitou Lake is a unique saline lake famous for its therapeutic, mineral-rich waters.

• Southwest Saskatchewan is rich in dinosaur fossils—including the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered.

• It’s the birthplace of Canada’s medicare system, having introduced the first universal, publicly funded healthcare program.

• With 2,000 to 2,500 hours of sunshine annually, it’s the sunniest province in Canada.

• Saskatchewan doesn’t observe Daylight Saving Time. Instead, it remains on Central Standard Time year-round—aligned with Alberta in the summer and Manitoba in the winter.

  
  

Many massive farm operations along our route

Flat and straight Highway #1 (Trans-Canada Highway).

 

Nice to see some wind generators

Our drive from Brandon, Manitoba to Indian Head, Saskatchewan looked like a simple one. But as we made our way west, our phones lit up with tornado warnings. The next day, Environment & Climate Change Canada reported eight “highly probable” tornadoes in the province.

The upside? A strong tailwind gave us our lowest energy consumption to date—385 Wh/km (for any EV owners following along). We usually cruise at 90 km/h, which makes for a relaxed drive and helps keep our consumption manageable. On the wide-open, lightly travelled Trans-Canada Highway, it’s easy for other vehicles to pass us.

Speaking of EVs, we brought a CCS charging adapter with us and have made good use of it at several FLO chargers. They require a bit more fiddling to start a charge, but they've been reliable and conveniently located.

On Friday, June 20, we celebrated the Summer Solstice in Indian Head. There, the sun rose at 4:42 a.m. and set at 9:10 p.m., giving us 16 hours and 28 minutes of daylight!

Sunrise / Sunset times in Indian Head on June 20th 

Originally, we planned to spend the night at Prairie Bee Meadery, a Harvest Hosts location near Caron. As always, we carefully mapped out our route: distances, charging options, starting and projected State of Charge (SOC), weather, wind forecast, and more. It became clear that we’d need to charge to 100% at Prairie Bee to make it to Swift Current the next day. Unfortunately, a call to the host confirmed charging wasn’t possible on site. So, we pivoted and booked a night at Besant Campground, just west of Moose Jaw.

That’s RV life—flexibility is essential.

With a wet and windy forecast, we made a couple of strategic stops in Regina en route to Besant: a visit to Sunshine Nail Salon, and a quick restock at Costco. By the time we arrived at the campground, the skies were gray, the wind was gusting, and the drizzle had begun. We plugged in the car to charge to 100% and fired up the propane furnace to warm up the trailer.

That night, temperatures dropped to 8°C, while back home in the Greater Toronto Area, a heatwave was in full swing—34°C with a humidex of 45. Something in the middle would be nice for both ends of the country!

The next morning brought more rain and even colder temperatures—down to 6°C as we drove west toward Swift Current. A friend messaged us: “Don’t rush into Alberta—it’s snowing here.” Comforting words!

Fortunately, we made the 139 km trip without issue, arriving at the charger with 10% SOC. The best part? We haven’t had to unhitch the trailer to charge in over two weeks. As we approached the row of six chargers in Swift Current, a driver jumped out of their car and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll move over so you can pull in without unhitching.” How great is that?

An example of the perfect Supercharger - can get at it from both sides making it easy for us

Wide open Saskatchewan sky

It looks like snow!! But it is sodium sulphate, a naturally abundant product around saline lakes. It is a by product of the evaporation of mineral rich waters and it is used in various industrial applications 

This afternoon, we’ll stay warm and dry and catch up on something on Netflix.

Tomorrow, we head into Alberta. Will we need snow tires?