Originally Posted by
gauvins
Two summers ago, I entered Jasper where I was to meet wife and daughter who flew thru Edmonton.
Campgrounds were full, there is no hiker/biker spaces and no "no turn away policy". The overflow campground is reminiscent of a refugee camp -- certainly not a place where you feel as one with nature. I spent one night hidden in the bushes, using the park's sanitary compound.
Luckily, we had a reservation at the excellent youth hostel and spent a few days backcountry hiking.
So my suggestion would be to try and get a reservation at the hostel. With some luck they might be able to accommodate uncertain check-in dates. And to wing it as far as wild camping goes.
One option would to use backcountry sites. Post COVID has seen a sharp increase in RV/car camping but apparently not so much in primitive camping. Not an obvious choice though, because tenting platforms are several kilometers from the trail head, and you can't (not allowed, not at all easy anyhow) to ride the trails.
If you are coming from Alaska, you'll know how to deal with bears. Be discreet, considerate and try to use restrooms and you should be fine.
Your one night hidden in the bushes: were you camped in the overflow, elsewhere, what?
I am getting to the point of considering making multiple reservations and wasting the ones I don't need. I
REALLY wish ACA and others would push strongly for H/B sites instead of the other advocacy they do. Since I live in a state with very few federal campgrounds, my Senator does not want to bother with it basically. Arrgh. At times like this with trying to plan for the Icefields, I really get tempted to say forget it and go another direction as the effort is getting to be a royal PIA.