Blackflies in the Canadian Rockies
 

I've been twice to the Rockies in winter and am now keen on seeing the region in spring or autumn. Speaking as a mosquito-magnet I'd like to know if the blackflies (yes, and the mosquitos, if any) are likely to be a problem.

Thanks

John

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Johnefyn

I was in the Canadian rockies around the first week in August this summer. There were absolutely no problems with insects of any sort. Which was a welcome change from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, which we travelled through in July to get there. In the midwestern provinces the mosquitoes are so thick sometimes you can hardly breath. Once you hit the mountains the bugs disappear, and it stays that way through most of BC from what I can tell. There may be black flies earlier in the summer however, I don't know.

I live about 30 miles from the continental divide as in the point in the rockys where the water drains either east or west. June of 04 I travelled north crossing thru the rockys several times till I ran out of road in canada.Some places have no bugs and other places you notice people wearing mosquito headnets as you pull into the campsite. Take precations such as bug spray and protective clothing and also some B vitamins. You might get lucky and not see a bug but other times it can be miserable if you are not ready.

I was up in the Banff/Jasper area and southeast British Columbia back in September for the HU Revelstoke meeting and didn't have a problem with bugs at all. But maybe that was because it was raining all the time...

-Dave

Our bug season here in northern BC is generally from late May until mid July when the bugs are really bad. You will still encounter mosquitos and blackflys in August-September but they won't be near as bad. I am used to them, however, so your personal experience might vary.

Ya the bugs can be a pain but nothing a little bug spray wont fix. The bugs are more of a pain while riding, cause you get lots of guts on you if you got no wind shield.