Major city · Canada
Tete Jaune CacheTête Jaune Cache
Stop for one night on the Yellowhead run, or two if you want a raft trip: the village itself is a 15-minute look, the value is Rearguard Falls and the salmon in August.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep; late Aug for the salmon run
- avoid Nov–Mar (ice, snow, few services open)
- Airports
- YPR · YEG · YVR
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
Tete Jaune Cache is a 500-person village at the junction of Highway 5 and Highway 16 in the Robson Valley, about an hour west of Jasper. It has no town centre to speak of: the draw is Rearguard Falls, Jackman Flats, rafting on the Fraser and the Chinook salmon run in August. Most travellers use it as a bed between Jasper and Prince George, or as a quieter, cheaper alternative to Valemount.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tete Jaune Cache, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $).Canada-wide
- SIM or eSIMRogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores.Canada-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).Canada-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.Canada-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Canada-wide
- SafetyVery low crime; the real risks are highway driving, wildlife on the road, fast river water and thin services.
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 811 BC health advice line (24 h, free) · +1-844-564-7494 BC Bus North reservations
- Sundays & holidaysStatutory holidays close shops and offices, varying by province; many park facilities are seasonal (about mid-May to mid-October).Canada-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportYPR Prince George Airport (About 3 h east by car on Highway 16; the nearest airport with scheduled service).
- Getting aroundYou need a car.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeC$3–6 (≈ US$3–5)
- Beerdraught in a bar / can from a storeC$8–10 (≈ US$6–8)C$3–5 (≈ US$3–4)
- Budget bedTent or RV campsite, a night, per roomC$25 (≈ US$19)
- Mid-range bedTent or RV campsite, a night, per roomC$32 (≈ US$25)
- High-end bedTent or RV campsite, a night, per roomC$40 (≈ US$30)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$70 (≈ US$55) · Mid C$120 (≈ US$90) · High C$200 (≈ US$150)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- YPR Prince George Airport (About 3 h east by car on Highway 16; the nearest airport with scheduled service) · YEG Edmonton International (About 5 h east via Jasper on Highway 16; check road conditions in winter) · YVR Vancouver International (About 8 h via Kamloops on Highway 5; a full driving day)
Weather and climate
Tete Jaune Cache: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−5°C23°F
−13°C9°F
12 rd
Feb
−1°C30°F
−11°C12°F
9 rd
Mar
6°C43°F
−6°C21°F
9 rd
Apr
12°C54°F
−2°C28°F
9 rd
May
18°C64°F
3°C37°F
12 rd
Jun
22°C72°F
7°C45°F
14 rd
Jul
25°C77°F
10°C50°F
12 rd
Aug
25°C77°F
9°C48°F
11 rd
Sep
19°C66°F
5°C41°F
11 rd
Oct
10°C50°F
0°C32°F
13 rd
Nov
1°C34°F
−6°C21°F
13 rd
Dec
−4°C25°F
−12°C10°F
13 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
You need a car. The village is spread along Old Tete Jaune Cache Road and the highway junction, with no local transit and no taxi worth counting on. Everything listed here is a 5–15 minute drive. Fuel up in Valemount or McBride: the village has limited services and hours.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Rearguard Falls Provincial Park
goDoor to door: About 30–45 min
Drive east on Highway 16 about 5 min, then a short walk to the viewing platform
One of only two falls on the Fraser and the usual upstream limit for Chinook salmon. Free; go early or late for parking.
Jackman Flats Provincial Park
goDoor to door: 1.5–3 h
Drive south on Highway 5 about 5 km to the signed entranceDrive south on Highway 5 about 3.1 mi to the signed entrance
Sand dunes and four trails of 1.5–6 km. Stay on the marked trails: the ecosystem is fragile. Trails double as cross-country ski routes in winter.Sand dunes and four trails of 0.9–3.7 mi. Stay on the marked trails: the ecosystem is fragile. Trails double as cross-country ski routes in winter.
Mount Robson Provincial Park
goDoor to door: Half a day
Drive east on Highway 16 about 20 min to the visitor centre
The highest peak in the Canadian Rockies; short walks from the centre or longer valley hikes.
Jasper
goDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Drive east on Highway 16 about 1 h
A full day out: town services, national park trails and wildlife drives. Check park entry requirements before you go.
Valemount
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Drive south on Highway 5 about 20 min
Supermarket, fuel, more restaurants and beds; the practical base if the village is full.
McBride
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Drive west on Highway 16 about 45 min
Worth it for the Valley Museum and Archives if you want the boom-town history; otherwise little to hold you.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Old Tete Jaune Cache Road
The village strip along the Fraser: lodges, cabins and the campground, all within a few minutes of each other.
Highway 16 east toward Rearguard Falls
Quieter guest houses and B&Bs; you need a car for everything.
Valemount (20 min south)
More beds, restaurants and a supermarket if the village is full or you want a proper town.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- C$70–110 (≈ US$55–80) excl. bed
- Mid
- C$110–180 (≈ US$80–140) excl. bed
- High
- C$180 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guest-house double room1 × 1 night × C$110 | C$110 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$120 | C$240 |
| Whitewater rafting trip, per person2 × C$105 | C$210 |
| Fraser float trip, per person2 × C$45 | C$90 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25 | C$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$70 |
| Trip total≈ C$385 per person per day, bed included | C$770≈ US$600 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; fuel and long-distance travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | C$3–6 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Casual restaurant main | C$18–30 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can from a store | C$8–10 (≈ US$6–8) / C$3–5 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Campground night, tent or RV site | C$25–40 (≈ US$19–30) |
| Whitewater rafting, 3–4 h | C$99–109 (≈ US$75–80) |
| Fraser float trip, about 2 h | C$40–50 (≈ US$30–40) |
| Fuel, per litreVillage pumps have limited hours. | C$1.60–1.90 (≈ US$2) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Cell coverage is patchy along Highway 16 and Highway 5; download offline maps before you leave Jasper or Valemount.
- Wildlife on the road at dawn and dusk: moose and deer on the shoulders, bears near the highway.
- Most businesses are seasonal and small; book beds and raft trips ahead in July and August, and call before driving out in shoulder season.
- No hospital in the village: the nearest is in McBride or Valemount. 911 works where there is signal.
- Salmon viewing is on a gravel riverbank with fast water: keep back from the edge and keep dogs out of the spawning beds.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- BC health advice line (24 h, free)
- 811
- BC Bus North reservations
- +1-844-564-7494
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Tete Jaune CacheTête Jaune Cache
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- BC health advice line (24 h)811
- BC Bus North reservations+1-844-564-7494
Embassy
No consulates in the village. For US citizens the nearest consulate is in Calgary or Vancouver; UK, Canadian and Australian travellers should use their national emergency lines and the nearest consulate in Vancouver or Edmonton.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- BC Bus North, Prince George ↔ Valemount via Tete Jaune Cache: twice weekly; book ahead
- VIA Rail, Harvey signpost stop (5 km away): flag stop toward Jasper or Prince George; no amenities, book ahead
- Drive, Jasper → Tete Jaune Cache: about 100 km, roughly 1 h on Highway 16about 62 mi, roughly 1 h on Highway 16
Say or show
- Thank you / Merci — Thank you
- Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
- Is the road open? — Is the road open?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- I have a reservation — I have a reservation
- Call 911 — Call 911
Print or screenshot this card: cell coverage is patchy on Highway 16 and Highway 5.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tete Jaune Cache. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep; late Aug for the salmon run · avoid Nov–Mar (ice, snow, few services open) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for YPR and YEG: last legal driving windows, winter closures on Highway 16, overnight rung in Valemount or McBride.
- Walking and driving clusters with rescue anchors: village strip, Rearguard Falls, Jackman Flats, salmon grounds.
- Place pages with verified access (Rearguard Falls, Jackman Flats, salmon spawning site, Mica Mountain trail) and eat pages with last orders.
- Seasonal fixtures: salmon run window, rafting season, snowcat and ski operations, so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialBC Parks — Jackman Flats Provincial Park
- officialBC Parks — Rearguard Falls Provincial Park
- officialBC Bus North
- officialVIA Rail — Harvey station
- officialSites and Trails BC — Tete Jaune Salmon Spawning Grounds
- officialStellar Descents Whitewater Rafting
- officialTete Jaune Lodge
- officialMica Mountain Lodge
- officialBearberry Meadows Guest House
- secondaryWikivoyage: Tete Jaune Cache, revision 5253023 (CC BY-SA 4.0)