Camping in Alberta

Me and my girlfriend have decided we want a break away from our city and have decided to backpack for 6 months around Canada, starting in Alberta. I just want to know about Alberta, after extensive research I can’t seem to understand where I am allowed to camp for free, where good ‘crown land’ is or anything if the sort. I’ve read a few recommendations but Im overall just confused. We’re also travelling with our cat (who is outdoor trained) but we actually somehow we’re not aware of the bear issue that comes with living in a tent in Alberta, lol. Will our cat cause issues for us? And is there anywhere that’s particular bear free. Please help.

Trying to get a spot at either Whistlers, Rampart Creek, Two Jack Main, Two Jack Lakeside or Johnson Canyon for this Saturday, 2 nights.

Have alerts set up on all of them with Schnerp and Canada Parks website for past 3 days. Had one hit only so far but it was booked already when I went to get it.

That makes me question. Looking at Saturday, anyone that was going to cancel has already missed their refund window as far as I understand (3 days notice for refund). So at this point if someone is not going to go, they might not even care to cancel their reservation if they aren’t getting a refund. Am I missing something with that thinking?

Podcast question of the week: Which town in Alberta has your favorite trail system?

Hi, is anyone having an issue logging in to the website? Everytime I sign in using either the GC key option or the bank option, I enter my credentials and instead of signing me in, it leads me back to the Create a new account page. I have tried in my mobile, my MacBook and I also tried it in my windows using both Safari and Chrome - but it is the same issue. I emailed Parks Canada and they sent me a standard message suggesting to clear my cookies and to use chrome. I have done both and still nothing. Would be interested to know if this is a known bug. Thanks!

Long story short we are going to the Cold Lake air show that weekend. We booked a site for the week at Makwa Lake in Saskatchewan because we were going to go camping with my parents. Due to unforeseen health issues they need to cancel. We want to change our camping to just that weekend for the air show but not Makwa Lake because it's an hour drive from Cold Lake and that makes for a long day for the air show. Of course now everything is booked. Any suggestions on other perhaps lesser known places near there or magical ways to get a site?

Camping next month in William Switzer Provincial Park - Gregg Lake.

Am looking to validate if I can put a tent behind the RV for the kids.

The new website - and boy is it awful - says 1 RV or 2 tents. I've tried calling and its a long wait on hold.

I'm quite certain this used to be permitted, anyone know if it still is?

Hi! I’m a student at UVic and I’m conducting this research as part of an entrepreneurship class (MECH 462). The purpose of the research is to determine consumers’ attitudes toward an idea I have for a new business venture. I would greatly appreciate it if you could spare some time to fill it out. Thank you!

https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/LJNXKXD

Hello! I'm looking for a good spot to try random camping with my dog. I've done random camping down in the US and in Ontario, but I've only recently moved to Alberta. I'm working on leash reactivity with my dog, so I'd like to find a place on crown land/PLUZ where I can essentially park on the side of a rural/logging road and find a random camping spot in a field or on a gravel bar, as I think taking a lengthy trail hike would stress her out. Alternatively, she would do well hiking on a wider trail, like an old logging road. I just want to make sure she can have a good experience that sets us up for more adventurous camping in the future. Any ideas? I live in Edmonton, and within 4 hours would be ideal.

Thank you for your help!

I'll be heading to Banff this September for a three weeks Wilderness Guide training.

I'm planning to bring my trangia kit for cooking, is it allowed to use a alcohol burner in the national parks?

and is white spirit or 90% alcohol as a fuel widely available?

I called 311 to find out if we were allowed to fill our trailer and flush out lines during the water restrictions. They stated they would get back to me, (as they didn't have a definitive answer when I first called.) After a few days I got an email stating that YES, you can use water for this purpose. They figure if your camping, your leaving the city, and thus your net use of water will go down. Hope this helpful to some.

Podcast question of the Week

Camping on elbow lake in Kananaskis and would love to have our own fire pit

We have a lightweight solo-stove (wood-burning, but contained and smokeless)- are we allowed to bring this camping with us? It's such a short hike that we wouldn't mind carrying

I’d like to go camping in Jasper next weekend (28th-30th) but I don’t have a reservation. It would just be myself and my dog with a tent. All of the sites on Parks Canada website are booked up. Is it possible to find a site?

Hey everyone ! I'm new to the sub so I appreciate your help !

A friend and I are looking to go down to the Waterton area for the long weekend in my camper van. We do not need a hookup or anything. Just looking for a place to park and stay. I know time wise it's cutting it close, but so you guys have any recommendations on where to pull over and sleep for the night?

I realize we're not really allowed to do so in the park itself. I guess maybe looking for "crown land" or something. I've looked on HipCamp too and there's no much.

I'm kind of new to this sort of adventure so any help would be awesome !

We are a family of four with two kids 3 and 8. We are planing to drive from Grande Prairie to Vancouver and stay in a couple of campgrounds(tent) on our way. I was thinking about starting with Mt Robson campground and then go from there. With kids we are not too much into hiking. Just looking for some spectacular views from the camping spot.

Please advise if this would be the best choice or are there better campgrounds on that way.

Also, we will be coming back via Whistler and Lillooet if you can suggest any campgrounds on that route too. Thank you in advance.

I paid a scalper once, and was pissed off that i had to pay premium to scalpers for national campsites.
I created a bot that scrapes the reservation sites. Right now only works for Electric powered stalls in Banff and Jasper. Give me your feedback, ill make it better!
https://x.com/ParksCanadaRes

Hi all, my son and I are traveling to Alberta for the first time from Ontario and we are excited to see what I think is the most beautiful part of Canada (only based on pics) We are there in late July and used GPT to help plan an itinerary. After some research mostly seem legit, but I feel we may be packing in too much and thinking of skipping one leg at either end, either Jasper or Badlands. Would be grateful for any tips or feedback!

Itinerary:

• Pick up RV
• Campground: Stay overnight at Calgary West Campground (note: we can drive an hour or two on the first day, we are picking up early afternoon).

• Drive: 1.5 hours
• Activities: Royal Tyrrell Museum, Hoodoos.
• Campground: Dinosaur RV Park

• Drive: 3.5 hours
• Activities: Banff town, Banff Upper Hot Springs.
• Campground: Tunnel Mountain Village II Campground

• Activities: Johnston Canyon hike, Bow Falls.
• Campground: Tunnel Mountain Village II Campground

• Drive: 1 hour
• Activities: Moraine Lake, Lake Louise.
• Campground: Lake Louise Campground

• Drive: 3 hours
• Activities: Peyto Lake, Athabasca Falls.
• Campground: Wapiti Campground or Whistlers Campground

• Activities: Maligne Lake, Jasper SkyTram.
• Campground: Wapiti Campground or Whistlers Campground

• Drive: 5 hours (option to break up with overnight stop in Banff or Canmore)

Activities: Final exploration in Calgary before departure.

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some recommendations on great waterfront or lakefront campgrounds near Calgary. Ideally, I'd love to find a spot that's not too far of a drive, perhaps within under a 5 hour radius.

I have camped at Waterton, and Mara Lake and want a different scenery other than these two. Would love something with similar ambience and isn't noisy.

EDIT

Activities I am interested in while out there are Swimming, Hiking, soaking in the summer sunshine grilling, all while getting some work done.

Podcast Question of the Week

I'm trying to organize some car camping with some picky people who are worried about feeling dirty and sweaty. What are some good camp sites in the mountains with good shower facilities? Whistlers is an obvious one, but wondering if there are others out there?

Alternatively, if we were camping out near Banff and the site had no showers, are there any nicer off-site facilities that we could use for a fee or free?

Edit: Thank you for all the helpful tips. I expected it, but was still disappointed to see a bunch of people gatekeeping camping. New campers appreciate these sorts of comforting amenities, and if they have a good experience, they'll be more likely to rough it more next time.

Do I need tarp and some recommendations

Hey! I’m camping this summer and I have camped in the past for school trip but years ago and now planning my first camping trip alone I’m a bit lost. Especially on the tarp situation.

I have the following gear: 1. Tent: Ascend® Orion 2 Person Backpacking Tent • it says it’s three season so do I need a tarp?

1. TREKOLOGY UL80 Sleeping Pad Camping Mattress Pad

2. Plan on getting - Rogue Expedition -18°C Canvas Rectangular Sleeping Bag or Hotcore® T-200 Sleeping Bag

I am trying to keep to a budget friendly. Especially since it’s only a two night trip for my first go and on camp ground.

Point is I’ve been told I need tarp but I thought my tent came with a tarp

I’lol be visiting the Calgary area around the weekend of Canada day. I’ll be coming from the USA. I’m looking for recommendations, dos/donts, tips of best areas to look for camping as well as things to watch out for (bears, other wildlife, unexpected hazards) in the surrounding wilderness.

So far I’ve been looking to driving west towards Banff since there seems to be a ton of areas there. I did notice a lot is mainly for hikers though. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I’d really like to do trip somewhere near Banff or Jasper. Anywhere to the west is good as well as I would be driving from Seattle.

I’m looking for something with good fishing and a chance at seeing or hearing wolves ( I know that’s very rare) or other wildlife. Generally I like to hike about 10-15 miles per day. Loops are preferred because I like seeing something new each day, but I’m open to anything.

Thanks in advance.