It's Time to Start Thinking About Camping Season
Online camping reservations open in Alberta's Provincial Parks on March 4, and in National Parks on April 12
Happy March! Spring is on the horizon and while camping season feels far away, it’ll be here before we know it.
Our first camping trip occurred when we were only a few months old (kudos to our brave parents who took three kids under the age of three tenting!) and, to this day, we still both love sleeping under the stars after spending the day outside.
We’re easing into the camping season with some tips below. As the season goes on, we’ll have more Go Outside entries specifically about car camping, backcountry camping, Bolers, and what to eat/snack on when camping. (So subscribe today, if you haven’t already!) If you have any camping questions, please leave a comment and we’ll answer them in future newsletters.
Reservations Open Soon
In Alberta, Provincial Park campground reservations open this Thursday, March 4, for bookings up to 90 days in advance. While the 90-day window means Albertans will have to wait to book sites for July and August, this week’s reservation kickoff is a good reminder to start thinking about where you want to visit this summer. It’s never too early to research trip ideas.
Reservations for camping spots in Alberta’s beautiful National Parks open on April 12, so again, start scheming now.
Learn From The Gear Shortages of Last Year
Last year’s pandemic summer saw Albertans camp in record numbers and it’s expected this year will be just as busy. If you need camping gear, like a tent or sleeping bag, now is the time to start looking.
Ease into Camping If You’re a First-Timer
Camping can be intimating if you’ve never been. We recommend first-timers ease into sleeping bag life with comfort camping. Alberta’s Provincial Parks offer a range of comfort camping options including cabins, tipis, yurts, huts and tents. They’re understandably popular, so book early.
The yurts at Pigeon Lake Provincial Park offer an extra comfortable camping experience.
A few years ago, we stumbled upon the Beaver Mines Lake Campground comfort cabins in Castle Provincial Park while searching for a place to stay with a friend who was many months pregnant and keen to try something other than sleeping on the ground.
There are five small four-person cabins at Beaver Mines Lake, which cost $100/night.
We fell in love with Beaver Mines Lake Campground, which boasts a lovely lake and nearby hiking and is located a 2½-hour drive from Calgary. We’ve returned several times since, staying at the campground’s first-come, first-serve tent spots (which, unfortunately, are not first-come first-serve this year due to COVID-19, so be sure to book in advance).
You can hike Table Mountain right from the Beaver Mines Lake campground. These are the views from the summit after the 5 kilometer hike up.
Don’t be Afraid to Go Off The Beaten Path
It’s common in Alberta to want a picturesque mountain campground and feel disappointed when these sites are quickly booked up. Don’t be afraid to research sites that are off the beaten track. Not only will you find fewer crowds, many of these places are stunning in their own right. Tolman East Campground, for example, is located deep in the Red Deer River Valley, in Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park and has been a go-to when we don’t feel up to the mountain crowds. Same with Bleriot Ferry Campground. Both are cool little campgrounds, located in parts of Alberta that often lives in the shadows of the more popular mountain spots.
Camping at Bleriot Ferry Campground in 2015.
A trip to Tolman East Campground in 2018.
It remains to be seen if Bleriot Ferry Campground, Tolman East Campground and the nearby Tolman West Campground will open this summer. All three campgrounds were on the province’s list of parks closures announced last March. (A big issue that Annalise has been vocal about for the last year.) While the pandemic delayed the closures, and then the province announced in December it was backtracking on the parks partnerships, it remains to be seen what the fate of the campgrounds slated for closure will be. If Bleriot Ferry and Tolman East & West are open this summer, we recommend a visit!
The Tolman Campgrounds are located about an hour drive from Horseshoe Canyon, pictured, in the Canadian badlands.
Consider Non-Peak Times For Popular Sites
The view from Spray Lakes West Campground
If you’ve got your eyes on a popular campground, our biggest tip is to be flexible with your dates. Book during the week instead of weekends, if possible, and consider dates outside of July, August and long weekends. We’ve snagged reservations at popular sites in the past, but never on weekends. Heading out earlier or later in the season is also a good way to ensure you’ll get the sites you want. Be open to last-minute trips, too; we’ve had some luck snagging cancellations at popular campgrounds.
Backcountry camping in Kananaskis in September means chillier temps but stunning views!
Thinking about this summer’s potential camping trips has us excited and we hope you’re feeling the same! If you have specific camping questions, please leave a comment below.
A backcountry campsite along the Skoki Loop trail in Banff National Park.
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