GamblerGORD53

Actually, the opening in 1962 was more about Roger's Pass. KHP had a trail far earlier.
And the east half was gone long ago in 2008 I think. I rode thru westbound in May 2018, so I got the last look at the old west part. My dad took us thru there a bunch of times in the 1960s with a 1960 Oldsmobile and short trailer, on the way to the Okanagan. Before that we had gone by Radium or the Crowsnest highway to Vancouver. I took 22 days to Stanley Park, with 5 layover days. Roger's Pass was way harder for me.
Darn, I don't have pics of the old highway. Now it's like the Tame Horse freeway. LOL. I don't see why they let the highway dip so low over the river.
I assume it was a lot harder climbing eastbound. I don't think it's much easier now, except the wide shoulder now.
>> Post your old pics and story here as well. I also have pics of 2 young guys here on SS/ Fixies, at the top before this first pic, LOL.
Plus there's lots of videos on YT, before and during construction.

Yan 

I have no photos of the pass but here's one of Lake Louise next door taken last summer.


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str

wow, what a ugly road.

str

very beautiful.

GamblerGORD53

Of course the freeway is ugly, it's a truck route getting lots of SNOW. More pics with the river.


This section is little different from the old part.

Around village of Field, where I stayed in the hotel.

Castle Mountain by Lake Louise.

BobG

I have no photos of the old Kicking Horse Pass either. In 1983 I took the now defunct Via Rail Canada passenger train through the spiral tunnels! ...

BobG

Gord- There appears to be a 6 mile gravel alternate route from Lake Louise up and over Kicking Horse Pass, "Old Highway 1A". Do cyclists ever take that to avoid some of the Trans Canada Hwy? (Just curious, I'm not planning a trip). Here it is on RWGPS. You can also zoom in with Google satellite view or see the western junction with the highway on street view ...



edit: it actualy bypasses Kicking Horse Pass

GamblerGORD53

Nope, never heard of it. I certainly wouldn't try it either with a bike.
It's got to be way more than 6 miles from Lake Louise. Maybe it's Field.

BobG

It's actually just over 8 miles back to the highway west of the pass from Lake Louise proper. The 2,4,6 & 8 are mileposts on the map. It might be an alternate route for a mountain or gravel bike.

BobG

That "Old Highway 1A" is actually a designated road bike route to Kicking Horse Pass and beyond from the east! Old broken pavement closed to motor vehicles. Follow it on Google Maps ... open street view, click on any small blue circle for a photo. You can see the start at Lake Louise and finish at Trans-Canada junction to the west. Looks idyllic! ...

https://www.10adventures.com/road-bi...ute-road-bike/

GamblerGORD53

Oh I see my fault, we aren't in the same ball park. LOL You are right about that being the actual pass at the border. I doubt that trail was a car route since the Ford Model A years. I barely noticed I was going up hill there.
I was showing Kicking Horse CANYON. It says so on the sign. LOL. That is 26 miles west or whatever.
I still would take the highway if trees are the main view on that trail.
I saw the hill up to the town of Lake Louise and Chateau and said forget it. LOL Then by the highway at the supposedly fancy restaurant, got the WORST burger/ fries I have EVER seen. There was a cheap cafeteria right beside this.
I didn't bother with the MUP from Canmore either. Last time I drove Johnston Canyon 1A was 35 years ago.
My hardest day was from Vernon to Summerland.

Yan 

I remember passing the entrance to this "trail" while riding toward the lake last year. Seems like a cool alternative to using the modern road.

Doug64

My wife and I rode over Kicking Horse Pass in 2013, and didn't even know it was a pass. Due to construction, there were no signs indicating the summit or crossing the border into Alberta.

Rogers Pass was well signed, and even without a sign we knew we were riding up a serious hill.


I believe this is where the construction started.


Wapata Lake is located between Field and Kicking Horse Pass. There is some pretty nice scenery through most of BC.




The Spiral Tunnels which are Near Kicking Horse Pass.


I did not realize that we were finishing a pass. I was just excited about riding through our first province in our ride across Canada

BobG

Heh! The old road lets you know when you're there!

Gord- The views open up. More photos at the website.