Summer Planning: The Best Provincial Park Campgrounds in Southern Alberta

We're on the doorstep of spring here and we've been thinking about camping for months now!  If you like camping as a family you know that the May long weekend has long been booked solid for campsites across the province and that we are now booking for the beginning of July in provincial park campgrounds.  It's pretty crazy when you think about it.  I mean it's hard to think about campground reservations when you are still skiing.  That aside though, reservations must be made now whether you like to plan ahead or not, so I'm going to give you a list of our favourite provincial park campgrounds to help you out a bit.  I've already got my Dinosaur booking made so I'm no longer worried you'll steal my spots.  ;) 

The campgrounds I'm about to list are not ranked by order.  I like all of the campgrounds on the list below for various reasons.  Also, it should be noted that while we may have had a fabulous time at one of these campgrounds, camping experiences can vary depending on the season, weather, bugs, and even noise around your site. I've also focused on Southern Alberta and the Rockies because that is where I live and it's what I write about.  I have very limited experience with camping in Central or Northern Alberta.

Camping along the creek in Dinosaur Provincial Park

Dinosaur Campground, Dinosaur Provincial Park

This is one of those early season campgrounds for May and June when snow still blankets the ground in the mountains.  Avoid summer months when mosquitoes will suck you dry and hot temperatures will leave you wishing for an air conditioned trailer.  The May long weekend is always crazy busy here but if you choose any other weekend in spring, you will have few problems getting a power or non power site in this campground.  

Dinosaur Provincial Park Badlands (Photo:  Cam Schaus)

Reasons to camp here:

• Hiking trails through the campground that wind their way through the hoodoos and badlands of Southern Alberta. 
  
  
• I personally think it's prettier than Drumheller but you'll find the same badlands landscape
  
  
• There's a creek that runs through the campground and if you camp near it you'll have a small  beach for your children to play at
  
  
• Cool dinosaur themed playground
  
  
• Interpretive programs, guided fossil hikes, and dinosaur themed family activities that you can sign up for along with an educational museum on site
  
  
• It's an UNESCO world heritage site
  
  
• There's enough to do that you don't have to get into your car and drive anywhere while camped here
  
  
• Paddling opportunities on the Red Deer River
  
  
• Early season camping (and if you time it right, there will be no bugs yet)

There's nothing that we've ever disliked about camping here.  We've honestly found it to be the best place ever!  That being said, I have heard different stories from families who went in the summer and couldn't hike or do anything for the heat.  I've heard of bugs so thick, families had to hide in their trailers.  And I've heard of giant bull snakes hanging out in campsites.  Go in spring and hopefully you'll have the a great experience like we always have.  (and we've never seen a single snake)

To read some stories I've written from our May camping trips at Dinosaur, follow these links to Camping in Dinosaur Provincial Park or Camping in the Alberta Badlands  They have a LOT more photos.

You can also find more here at Hiking in Dinosaur Provincial Park and  Wild about Dinosaur Provincial Park. 

Hiking on one of the Hoodoo Trails

Little Bow Campground, Little Bow Provincial Park

This is another popular campground in Southern Alberta that we visited in 2012 for the first time.  Situated on the Travers Reservoir, this campground is beach and water paradise.  While the beach may not be as great as the sandy beaches of the Okanagan in BC, it's a good beach for Alberta and your children will be quite content with the swimming area and sandy play area.

Campsites are very open with little separation or privacy between them so long weekends will feel very crowded.  Go with a group of friends though and you'll appreciate how close the sites are together.  We rented two double sites back to back last year on the September long weekend and felt as if we had booked a huge group site.  We managed to fit 8 families on the two double sites.

Paddling on the Travers Reservoir in the morning (Photo:  Cam Schaus)

Reasons to camp here:

• Camping near a lake with a beach and roped off swimming area provides hours of entertainment every day
  
  
• Opportunities for boating, paddling, and even wake-boarding or other water sports if you have a motor boat
  
  
• You aren't in the mountains so you won't need mittens on while you cook breakfast or a a down jacket on to sit by the campfire at night

What we don't like about Little Bow:

• The amount of motor traffic on the lake.  We did find however that the morning and evening hours were quieter for paddling
  
  
• The playground was old and needed a serious upgrade
  
  
• Lack of privacy between sites and general noise in the campground
  

To read the story I wrote after our first stay at Little Bow, follow the link to Two Campsites and Eight Families.  There are more photos there as well.

Playing at the beach

Boulton Creek  and Elkwood Campgrounds, Peter Lougheed Provincial Provincial Park

I have no personal opinion over which of these campgrounds is better, Boulton Creek or Elkwood.  They are both awesome and insanely popular!!  If you don't book a site in advance it is highly unlikely that you will get a spot during the summer season at either campground..

Hiking along the edge of the Lower Lake

Reasons to camp in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park:

• The Marl Lake hiking trail leaves right from the Elkwood campground and is a great 1.5km loop for families
  
  
• The 4.5km Boulton Creek trail can be accessed from Boulton Bridge, just a short bike ride or walk from the Boulton Creek campground
  
  
• Many other short interpretive hikes can be found throughout the park and if you have a bike, you can access all of them for a great bike and hike combo trip.  Our favourite ones are along the Lower Lake from Canyon Day Use Area or the William Watson Lodge
  
  
• There are 12km of paved bike trails along the Lodgepole, Wheeler and Lakeside trails
  
  
• Paddling on both the Upper and Lower Lakes
  
  
• Interpretive programs at the Visitor Centre and evening amphitheater shows for families
  
  
• The Boulton Creek Trading Post sells snacks, basic groceries, and ice cream!  It's a popular stop on any hike or bike ride
  

There isn't really anything we dislike about Peter Lougheed but be prepared for mountain camping.  There may still be snow on the ground until early June and it gets cold at night even in July or August.  You also won't be swimming in the lakes here unless you fancy swimming in glacier fed water.  

To read the stories I wrote after our camping trip in 2012, follow the links to Camping in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park for Families.  You'll find a lot more photos from the area than I could include here.

Also read The Best Place to Bike and Camp in Kananaskis, written in 2013. 

Canoeing on Upper Kananaskis Lake (Photo:  Jen Sollid)

 

Canyon Campground, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park 

Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is so awesome (and close to Calgary) that it deserves a second mention.  We camped at the Canyon Campground in 2014 and it quickly became our favourite campground in ALL of Kananaskis.

To read the full review and story, go to The Best Campground in Kananaskis. 

Playing in the canyon at Peter Lougheed's Canyon Campground

 

Bow Valley Campground, Bow Valley Provincial Park

Bow Valley Provincial Park is popular for a few reasons, location being at the top.  Your child has a bad night and you just want to go home in the morning?  No worries.  45 minutes and you're back in city limits.  Sick family member?  Bad bugs?  First camping trip with a baby?  It all doesn't matter because you are so close to home you could pack up in the middle of the night if you really had to and be back in your beds in an hour.  For many families this is a strong incentive to try camping.  We've camped here a couple of times now and it's a great place for early season camping, opening in early May every year. 

You need to book ahead for Bow Valley - and don't miss the 90 day booking window or you might not get a spot at this popular campground.

Biking in Bow Valley Provincial Park

Reasons to camp at the Bow Valley Campground: 

• There's a great 5km hiking loop that circumnavigates the Bow Valley Campground made up of the Bow River Trail, Moraine Trail and Elk Flats Trail.  Add on the Middle Lake Trail or the Many Springs Trail and you have a LOT of hiking options for families
  
  
• There's a 4km paved bike trail that runs through the campground
  
  
• Across the highway in the Willow Rock Campground you have the Flowing Water Trail, a 1.5km loop that is awesome for kids!
  
  
• Great interpretive programs and evening amphitheater shows at both campgrounds
  
  
• Sites are well surrounded by trees, private, and spacious.
  
  
• The campground is clean, well run, and quiet
  
  
• There are two playgrounds

What we don't like about Bow Valley:

• It can be very windy.  Make sure you choose a spot that's sheltered.
  
  
• There are not enough bathrooms.  Choose a site near the bathrooms or else you'll have to bike/drive to them. 
  

To read the story I wrote in 2012 after camping in the Bow Valley Group campground, follow the link to Bow Valley Provincial Park - Where the Wild Winds Blow.

You can also read about our adventures camping with 17 other families in Group Camping - The Chaos and the Glory.  As always, you'll find lots of photos there and more information.

You can also find out more information on the Flowing Water Trail and Willow Rock Campground in this story from 2013:  Spring in Bow Valley Provincial Park.

And finally, check out this fun little piece on spring biking in Bow Valley Provincial Park:  The Bow Valley Biker Gang.

AND new for 2017: April Camping in Bow Valley Provincial Park 

Hiking on the Many Springs Trail in Bow Valley Provincial Park

Writing on Stone Campground, Writing on Stone Provincial Park

Located in Southern Alberta, You'll get the same badlands experience here as at Dinosaur. Hike the Hoodoos Trail, Canoe the Milk River, Play at the beach, visit the interpretive centre, and look for ancient petroglyphs on the sandstone walls along the hiking trails. 

Hiking in Writing on Stone Provincial Park

Reasons to camp in Writing on Stone Provincial Park:

• Great early season camping as early as May.
  
  
• This isn't mountain camping.  You won't be wearing mittens to cook breakfast.
  
  
• Great hiking trails that are fun for the whole family.
  
  
• Paddling and floating on the Milk River when water levels are high enough early season
  
  
• Guided tours and interpretive programs through the hoodoos and badlands
  
  
• A river beach that's fun for the kids

And we liked everything about this park!

To read about our adventures camping here, visit this link to Camping in Writing on Stone Provincial Park. 

Exploring in Writing on Stone Provincial Park

 

Cypress Hills Provincial Park 

We've camped here a couple of times now and we had so much fun biking around Elkwater that I'm adding the park (and collective campgrounds) to this "best of" guide.

I don't have "one" campground that I recommend because we always camp in a group area.  However, there is no bad campground here and they are all close to hiking trails, bike paths, Elkwater Lake, and the amenities of the town of Elkwater (including a marina, visitor centre and mini-golf.)

Hiking on the Shoreline Trail, Cypress Hills Provincial Park

Reasons to camp in Cypress Hill Provincial Park:

• There's a great sandy beach, swimming area in Elkwater Lake, and shoreline trail for biking or hiking
  
  
• There is a fabulous trail system that is open to both hikers or bikers
  
  
• Mini-golf, boat rentals, playgrounds, disc golf, an interpretive centre, and a restaurant all wait for you in the town of Elkwater
  
  
• The campgrounds are all linked to the town of Elkwater and the lake by bike trails and hiking paths
  
  
• The amenities in the town centre are all close together so you can bike or walk everywhere
  
  
• Because of the park location on the border of Saskatchewan, the drive is a bit further from Calgary and thus it is easier to get a campsite
  

In summary, take the beach and lake of Little Bow Provincial Park, add the trail network of Peter Lougheed or Bow Valley Provincial Park, and add the sunshine that you'll find in either Dinosaur or Writing on Stone Provincial Park - that's Cypress Hills.  It's the best of all worlds.

To read my full trip report, please go to my new camping story:  Our New Favourite Alberta Camping Destination.

Mountain biking in Cypress Hills Provincial Park

For information on reserving campsites in any of these campgrounds please go to the Alberta Parks Reservation website.  You can also find more information about camping in Alberta Provincial Parks at the Alberta Parks website.  

Also, check out these great suggestions:

Where to Camp in the National Parks of Alberta

Crimson Lake - Hidden Gem in Alberta Campgrounds

Our 5 Favourite Campgrounds (within a 3 hour drive of Calgary) 

The 5 Best Waterside Campgrounds Near Calgary  

Three New Alberta Parks Campgrounds to visit

Have a favourite provincial park that I missed?  Please leave a comment below.  I'd love to hear about a new campground to check out this summer.