Start making travel plans with 12 of our favorite Alberta Parks!
Alberta’s diverse landscapes range from mountains and foothills, to lake country, boreal forest, hoodoos, and grassland. As the terrain varies, so do the recreational opportunities. Here are twelve Alberta Parks that offer unique experiences in our beautiful province. Put them on your bucket list!
Table of Contents
1. Aspen Beach Provincial Park, Lacombe County
Claim to Fame: Alberta’s first provincial park!
Summer Activities: Beach time at Ebeling Beach, paddling, boating, fishing, camping, bird watching on the boardwalk trail, and biking (bike to Bentley).
Winter Activities: Cross country skiing (7 km’s of trails), snowshoeing, ice fishing
Nearby attractions/events: Kraay Family Farm and Lacombe Corn Maze, the world’s largest corn maze; Gull Lake Honey Company; Bentley Farmer’s Market; and Lacombe Days, a 4-day family-friendly festival in late July.
Read more at: Summer Fun at Gull Lake, Lacombe County, Camping at Aspen Beach Provincial Park, Endless Fun at Kraay Family Farm and Lacombe Corn Maze, Facebook – Lacombe Days
2. Castle Provincial Park, west of Pincher Creek
Claim to Fame: Alberta’s newest provincial park!
Summer Activities: Hike, camp at one of many rustic campgrounds, paddle, fish, mountain bike, quad/dirt bike, or cliff jump at Castle Falls (do so at your own risk!). We enjoyed camping, fishing, and standup paddleboarding at Beaver Mines Lake Campground and hiking Table Mountain last summer. Check out our story: Camping in Castle Provincial Park for information. Did you know there are nine designated camping areas that are free to use, and Beaver Mines Lake has comfort camping (cabins)?
Winter Activities: Cross country skiing (20 km of trails at Syncline), downhill skiing at Castle Mountain Resort, snowshoeing, snowmobiling. Read more at Winter Fun in Castle Provincial Park.
Nearby attractions/events: Huckleberry Festival, Castle Mountain Resort; Frank Slide Interpretive Centre
Travel tip: Lundbreck Falls is a scenic stop on the way to Castle Provincial Park. Hike 400 metres to the falls. Bar U Ranch National Historic Site (open May 11-Sept 30, 2020), near Longview, is also a cool stop; allow a couple hours for your visit.
Read more at:
- Alberta Parks – Castle Provincial Park Information & Facilities
- Alberta Parks – Castle – Winter Activities
- Destination: Castle Mountain Resort
- Powder Stagecoach Cat Skiing at Castle Mountain
- Castle Mountain – Annual Huckleberry Festival
3. Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Milk River
Claim to Fame: Hoodoos and North America’s largest collection of indigenous rock art
Summer Activities (May long weekend – September 30): Hike through the hoodoos, beach time, paddle the Milk River (short floats or multi-day trips possible), camping, comfort camping, check out exhibits in the Visitor Centre, interpretive programs, take an amazing guided tour of the preserve ($).
Travel tip: Stop in Lethbridge for a walk at Indian Battle Park (where you can get an up close look at the world’s largest trestle bridge) or Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens ($), or make a short detour to Coaldale’s Alberta Birds of Prey Centre to see flight demonstrations and hold an owl.
Read more at: Why You Should Visit Writing-on-Stone.
4. Dinosaur Provincial Park, Newell County
Claim to Fame: Dinosaur digs and hoodoos
Summer Activities: Hiking the badlands (5 trails), biking (on the 3.5 km gravel loop road), camping, comfort camping, exhibits and family shows at the Visitor Centre ($), interpretive tours and workshops ($). Programs are very high quality and include sunset photography, dinosaur digs, fossil safari and more.
Off Season: The trails and campground are open year round, however the visitor centre has reduced hours in the winter. See Alberta Parks – Dinosaur Provincial Park for their hours.
Travel Tip: Dinosaur Provincial Park is NOT near Drumheller or the Royal Tyrrell Museum; it’s closer to Brooks. The Brooks Aqueduct is a short, interesting, and free detour worth checking out if you want to stretch your legs.
Read more at: Exploring Dinosaur Provincial Park, Fall Fun in Dinosaur Provincial Park
5. Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park, Lac La Biche
Claim to Fame: Alberta’s only park of islands!
Summer Activities: Camp on Big Island, paddle to secluded sandy beaches, catch huge pike, and bird watch! Beach time, paddling, boating, fishing, camping and lakefront cabins, hiking, biking (bike to town on a paved trail!), mountain biking, bird watching, interpretive programs.
Winter Activities: Cross country skiing (8 km’s of trails), snowshoeing, ice fishing, stay in a lakefront cabin (Feb 17-Dec 31)
Travel Tip: The nearby town of Lac La Biche has everything you need! Paddlers should allow 3 days extra to do the backcountry canoe circuit at nearby Lakeland Provincial Park.
Read more at: Make Memories at Metis Crossing and Lac La Biche, Exploring Alberta’s Only Park of Islands: Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park, Paddling Around Alberta’s Lake Country
6. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Claim to Fame: The Jewel of Kananaskis Country has tall peaks, glaciers, turquoise alpine lakes, and extensive hiking trails.
Summer Activities: Camp at one of several spacious, treed campgrounds; hike in to a backcountry campground; hike to summits, lakes, or waterfalls; paddle Upper or Lower Kananaskis Lakes; fish for rainbow trout, cutthroat, brook trout, and bull trout (note that cutthroat and bull trout are catch and release!); mountain bike or bike the Peter Lougheed paved trails; stargaze; check out the exhibits and interpretive programs at the Peter Lougheed Visitor Centre; or attend an awesome evening performance at Elkwood Amphitheatre.
Winter Activities: Cross country skiing (Elkwood Amphitheatre and William Watson Lodge are beginner friendly; Pocaterra, Boulton Creek, and Peter Lougheed Visitor Centre, are intermediate; and Elk Pass has more challenging terrain), snowshoeing, and winter backcountry camping (The Point, Rummel Lake, Elbow Lake – until end of November only).
Travel Tip: A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park in Kananaskis (as of June 2021). Purchase your pass online at https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx.
Read more at:
- Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Camping and Recreation Guide
- The Best Short Hikes in Kananaskis
- Where to Snowshoe Near Calgary
- AB Parks – Peter Lougheed Cross Country Ski Trails
- AB Parks – Peter Lougheed Summer Trails
7. David Thompson Country
Claim to Fame: David Thompson Country has a rich fur trading history and is named for a famous cartographer and explorer. There are several Alberta Parks here; take a few days to check them out.
Summer Activities: Enjoy hiking, paddling, fishing, rustic camping, climbing, mountain biking, quadding, and horseback riding. Paddle and look for loons, fly fish Ram River or Shunda Creek, take the kids fishing at one of the many stocked ponds and lakes in the region, check out two-tier Crescent Falls, or walk across the longest suspension bridge in Alberta on Siffleur Falls Trail.
Winter Activities: Look for ice bubbles in Abraham Lake, hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing
Travel Tip: Stop in for pie at the Nordegg Visitor Centre! History buffs will enjoy a tour of the Brazeau Collieries Mine Site and Nordegg Historical Museum ($, summer only). There’s also a self-guided walking tour of Historic Nordegg.
Read more at: Camping and Hiking in David Thompson Country
8. Cypress Hills Provincial Park
Claim to Fame: The highest point between the Rockies and Labrador has unique flora and fauna as it was unglaciated during the last Ice Age. It’s also a Dark Sky Preserve, so bring your telescope!
Summer Activities: Beach time at Elkwater Lake, paddling, boating, birdwatching, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, biking, mountain biking, camping, cabins, backcountry camping, stargazing.
Winter Activities: Horseback riding, ice skating, sledding/snow luge, cross country skiing, fatbiking, snowshoeing, ice fishing, kicksledding, downhill skiing at Hidden Valley Ski Resort, winter camping at Elkwater, Spruce Coulee, and Reesor Dock (backcountry); stargazing.
- Read more at: 10 Things to Do in Cypress Hills Provincial Park This Winter, 5 Winter Fun Facts About Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Stay in a cozy hut at Cypress Hills this winter!
Travel Tip: Stop in Medicine Hat to fuel up and get a bite to eat. See our story How to spend a fun weekend in Medicine Hat for more information.
9. William A. Switzer Provincial Park, Hinton
Claim to Fame: The 4 km Jarvis Creek Canoe Route connects five lakes in the park.
Summer Activities: Beach time, paddling, boating, biking, mountain biking at Hinton Nordic Centre, hiking, camping, interpretive programs, birding, and fishing
Winter Activities: Cross country skiing at Hinton Nordic Centre (35+ kms of trails), winter camping at Jarvis Lake and Gregg Lake Campgrounds, ice fishing, snowshoeing
Travel Tip: Don’t miss Hinton’s bike park and the 3 km Beaver Boardwalk at Maxwell Lake on the way to Switzer Park.
Read more at: William A. Switzer Provincial Park Recreation Guide
10. Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park
Claim to Fame: This legacy site of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics is a year round mountain playground used by locals and visitors alike.
Summer Activities: Hiking, trail running, mountain biking, mountain bike skills park, disc golf, roller skiing/biathlon, orienteering. Grassi Lakes is a popular hike to beautiful green lakes.
Winter Activities: Cross country skiing ($), night skiing (Banff Trail is illuminated until 9 pm), biathlon training, fatbiking, snowshoeing, ice skating, winter disc golf, tobogganing
Travel Tip: A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park in Kananaskis. Purchase your pass online at https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx.
Read more at: Cross Country Skiing (and more) at Canmore Nordic Centre, The Best Short Hikes Near Calgary
11. Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park
Image Credit: Sibelius Russell, Consolation’s Many Forms
Claim to Fame: Beautiful sandy beaches on Alberta’s largest vehicle-accessible lake.
Summer Activities: Hike to sandy beaches, sand dunes, and scenic viewpoints. Check out the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation at the Visitor Centre. Enjoy beach time (Lesser Slave Lake has some of the best beaches in Alberta!), paddling, fishing, camping, mountain biking/biking, golfing, horseshoes, birding (look for tundra swans, western grebes, and songbirds), and interpretive programs. Camp at Marten River or Hilliard’s Bay.
Winter Activities: Cross country skiing (18 km’s of trails at Devonshire Day Use Area), snowshoeing, ice fishing, snowmobiling (on the lake only – check ice thickness before venturing on it)
Nearby attractions/events: Songbird Festival the first weekend in June, Parks Day the third weekend in July, free monthly events (nature walks, guest speakers, etc) hosted by the Boreal Forest Nature Club, Museum and Bison Ranch at North Shore Homestead (cabins and suites also available to rent)
Read more at: Alberta Parks – Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta Parks – Lesser Slave Lake brochure
12. Crimson Lake Provincial Park
Claim to Fame: Beaches and a great network of bike trails! Bike the Amerada Trail (10 km) around Crimson Lake or bike in to Rocky Mountain House.
Summer Activities: Beach time, paddling, boating, biking, fishing, birding, boardwalk trail, hiking, interpretive programs, camping, beach volleyball, horsehoes
Winter Activities: Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, fatbiking, winter camping at Crimson Lake (Loop A, First come first served)
Travel Tip: Don’t miss nearby Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site and Wilderness Village’s free petting zoo!
Read more at: Fun Times at Crimson Lake Provincial Park, Discover Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, AB Parks – Crimson Lake Winter Trails Map
Mention
Red Rock Coulee Natural Area, 50 km southwest of Medicine Hat, has some of the world’s largest “spherical sandstone concretions” (naturally eroded round rocks up to 2.5 m in diameter) set amongst coulees and hoodoos. There’s no camping here, so combine your visit to the coulee with a trip to Medicine Hat or Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.
Book Camping Now
Book campsites up to 90 days in advance at Alberta Parks Reservations.
What to Bring
Our Ultimate Camping Pack List has everything you need for a fun trip, plus tips on what to look for when buying a tent, sleeping bag, or sleeping pad.
