Major city · Canada
Valemount
Stay 1–2 nights as a Mount Robson base: 1 h 30 min from Jasper by car, 3 h 30 min from Kamloops, no town sights worth a detour.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for hiking and the marsh loop; Dec–Mar for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing
- avoid Nov and Apr (mud season, many services closed); wildfire smoke in Jul–Aug
- Airports
- YVR · YEG
- 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.
Valemount is a village of about 1,000 people in the Robson Valley, at the meeting point of three mountain ranges on Highway 5. It is a base, not a destination: Mount Robson Provincial Park, the bike park and the marsh loop are the reasons to stop. Most travellers pass through between Jasper and Kamloops, or break a VIA Rail trip here.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Valemount, 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
- SafetyA small, quiet village; the real risks are wildlife on trails, winter driving on Highway 5 and wildfire smoke in summer.
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · +1-844-564-7494 BC Bus North
- 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.
- AirportYVR Vancouver International (About 8 h by car via Highway 5; most arrivals drive from Jasper or Kamloops instead).
- Getting aroundThe village is small enough to walk; a car is needed for Mount Robson, the bike park and the marsh.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee and a pastry at the bakeryC$5–12 (≈ US$4–9)
- Sit-down mealSteak or prime rib dinnerC$15–40 (≈ US$11–30)
- BeerDraught beer at the breweryC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7) (check)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entryC$3 (≈ US$3) adult, C$2 (≈ US$2) child, cash only
- Budget bedFamily room or cabin (up to 4), a night, per roomC$150 (≈ US$110)
- Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomC$160 (≈ US$120)
- High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomC$300 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$80 (≈ US$60) · Mid C$150 (≈ US$110) · High C$260 (≈ US$190)
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
- YVR Vancouver International (About 8 h by car via Highway 5; most arrivals drive from Jasper or Kamloops instead) · YEG Edmonton International (About 5 h by car via Jasper on Highway 16 then Highway 5)
Weather and climate
Valemount: 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
−4°C25°F
−13°C9°F
12 rd
Feb
0°C32°F
−11°C12°F
9 rd
Mar
6°C43°F
−6°C21°F
10 rd
Apr
12°C54°F
−1°C30°F
10 rd
May
18°C64°F
3°C37°F
12 rd
Jun
22°C72°F
7°C45°F
13 rd
Jul
25°C77°F
9°C48°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
14 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
The village is small enough to walk; a car is needed for Mount Robson, the bike park and the marsh. No local bus. BC Bus North runs twice weekly to Prince George, McBride and Tete Jaune Cache; VIA Rail's The Canadian stops up to three times a week in each direction.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Mount Robson Provincial Park
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Drive Highway 5 east about 20–30 min to the visitor centre and trailheads
The main reason to base here. Berg Lake and Kinney Lake trails; check trail and park status before setting out.
Tete Jaune Cache
cautionDoor to door: About 20 min
Drive Highway 5 east about 20 min
Small settlement at the junction of Highway 5 and 16; a fuel and food stop, not a day out.
McBride
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive Highway 16 east about 1 h; BC Bus North also stops here
Larger village with a museum and services; combine with a Mount Robson stop.
Door to door: About 1 h 30 min
Drive Highway 16 east then Highway 5 north, about 120 kmDrive Highway 16 east then Highway 5 north, about 75 mi
Do it as a transfer, not a return day trip: 3 h driving round trip.
Clearwater
overnightDoor to door: About 3 h 30 min
Drive Highway 5 southwest about 320 kmDrive Highway 5 southwest about 199 mi
Too far for a day: sleep on the way to or from Kamloops.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Main Street and 5th Avenue
Walkable core: bakery, museum, grocery, brewery. Best for one night without a car.
Highway 5 strip (5th and 6th Avenue)
Motels with parking, hot tubs and kitchenettes; 5–10 min walk to the core.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- C$80–130 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
- Mid
- C$130–220 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
- High
- C$220 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel double room1 × 1 night × C$160 | C$160 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$150 | C$300 |
| Fuel, Jasper to Valemount and back1 × C$60 · check | C$60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25 | C$50 |
| Mount Robson park pass, per vehicle per day1 × C$10 · check | C$10 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$58 |
| Trip total≈ C$319 per person per day, bed included | C$638≈ US$500 |
July and August are the peak: book ahead.
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; fuel and park passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee and a pastry at the bakery | C$5–12 (≈ US$4–9) |
| Baked goods / artisan bread | C$2–5 (≈ US$2–4) / C$5 (≈ US$4)+ |
| Steak or prime rib dinner | C$15–40 (≈ US$11–30) |
| Draught beer at the brewery | C$7–9 (≈ US$6–7) (check) |
| Museum entry | C$3 (≈ US$3) adult, C$2 (≈ US$2) child, cash only |
| Motel double room, July–August | C$160 (≈ US$120)+ |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$20–40 (≈ US$15–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Fuel up in Jasper or McBride: the stretch of Highway 5 around Valemount has few services.
- Wildfire smoke and closures can shut Highway 5 and park trails in Jul–Aug: check DriveBC and BC Wildfire before you drive.
- Winter driving on Highway 5 needs winter tires; snow can fall Oct–Apr.
- The VIA Rail stop is a signpost with no amenities: no shelter, no staff, no ticket machine.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- BC Bus North
- +1-844-564-7494
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
ValemountValemount
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- BC Bus North+1-844-564-7494
Embassy
No consulates in Valemount; the nearest are in Vancouver. US citizens: US Consulate General, Vancouver. UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand: high commissions or consulates in Ottawa or Vancouver.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- VIA Rail Valemount → Jasper: check current fare and timetable; up to three trips a week in each direction
- BC Bus North Valemount → Prince George: about 3 h 30 min, twice weekly (check)
- Fuel, Jasper → Valemount: about 120 km each wayabout 75 mi each way
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
- Is the highway open? — Is the highway open?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- I need help — I need help
Cash is useful: the museum takes cash only.
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 Valemount. 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 for hiking and the marsh loop; Dec–Mar for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing · avoid Nov and Apr (mud season, many services closed); wildfire smoke in Jul–Aug · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for YVR and YEG: last fuel and food stops on Highway 5, winter tire rules, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Main Street core, the Highway 5 motel strip, the bike park staging area, Cranberry Marsh.
- Place pages with verified hours (museum, bakery, brewery, IGA) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wildfire and winter-closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialValemount official tourism site
- officialValemount Museum and Archive
- officialVIA Rail — Valemount station
- officialBC Bus North
- secondaryWikivoyage: Valemount, revision 5237392 (CC BY-SA 4.0)