Castle Falls Campground is a quiet riverside campground, in the heart of Castle Provincial Park.
Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life at beautiful Castle Falls Campground in Castle Provincial Park, Alberta. This off-the-beaten path campground has a wilderness feeling though it’s only a few kilometres from the highway. Hike nearby mountain trails, fish, or cool off in the river by day; and fall asleep to the sound of the falls crashing over the rocks at night.
Partnership Disclosure: As an Alberta Parks Ambassador, I received free camping at Castle Falls Campground, but all words and opinions are my own.
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Castle Falls Campground
Nestled within Castle Provincial Park lies the hidden gem of Castle Falls Campground, a haven for nature lovers and campers alike. Castle Falls Campground is located 6 km down Castle Falls Road (gravel road), on the bank of the Castle River. All 45 campsites are unserviced (no power or water), and reservable at Alberta Parks Reservations.
Choosing a site: Sites 1-4, and 38-42 are along the river. The sites closest to the river are larger and have more shade and privacy. Sites 12-24ish are smaller sites in the aspens.
Amenities include: outhouses, water pumps (water is not tested – bring your own drinking water!), garbage cans, and a small picnic area above the falls.
Bring your own firewood and drinking water! If you need firewood, the nearest camp store is Miner’s Mercantile & Bakery in Beaver Mines (on the way to the campground).
Prefer a power site? Try Castle River Bridge Campground. For more info on all the campgrounds in Castle, see our story Camping in Castle Provincial Park.
Things to do in the area
Castle Falls
Castle Falls is a popular picnic, wading, and fishing spot. If you’re into photography, sunrise is the best time of day to photograph the falls when everyone else is still asleep.
Use extreme caution near the falls, and keep kids within arm’s length whenever you are near the river.
If you’d like to play where the water is shallower and slower moving, try this roadside pullout on Castle Falls Road, or Castle River Bridge Day Use.
Hiking in Castle
Some of the most popular hikes in the area include the following:
- Carbondale Hill has an active fire lookout at the top and panoramic views of the park. The trailhead is just a few kilometres down Castle Road. 4.5 km one way, 400 metres elevation gain.
- Table Mountain is an easy scramble / strenuous hike that starts at Beaver Mines Lake Day Use Area. 4.3 km one way, 685 m elevation gain.
- Haig Lake South Trail, one of five signed hikes at Castle Mountain Resort, takes you to a small, sparkling aquamarine lake. See Castle Mountain Resort – Hiking Trails for more info. 3.4 km one way, 400 m elevation gain.
- Syncline South has a network of hiking and mountain biking trails.
Paddling and Fishing
Beaver Mines Lake is the closest place for paddling and fishing. The lake is regularly stocked with trout!
Going Further: Explore the South Canadian Rockies
Explore more of the the South Canadian Rockies and discover the area’s rich history and spectacular scenery (distances from Castle Falls Campground):
Lundbreck Falls is a lovely waterfall on the way to/from Castle Falls Campground. You can take the stairs at the end of the parking lot down to the base of the falls. As with all powerful waterfalls, stay out of the plunge pool so you don’t get pulled under! 32 minutes away (but it’s only 1 km off Hwy 3 so you can see it on the way to/from the campground).
See why The Burmis Tree (29 minutes away) is one of Canada’s most famous trees, and then visit Frank Slide Interpretive Centre (38 minutes away), which tells the story of life in Crowsnest Pass before, during, and after Canada’s deadliest natural disaster. Allow 1-2 hours to visit the interpretive centre and at least half an hour to walk the interpretive trail.
Beauvais Lake Provincial Park is only half an hour away. It’s a great park for bird watching and boating. They have a couple nice picnic shelters too! 30 minutes away.
Journey into the past at Kootenai-Brown Pioneer Village in Pincher Creek. 32 minutes away.
Waterton Lakes National Park, one hour from Castle Falls Campground via Pincher Creek, has several stunning hikes including The Bear’s Hump, Red Rock Canyon, and Crypt Lake.
What to Bring
Our Ultimate Camping Pack List has everything you need for a fun camping trip, and includes tips on what to look for when buying gear.
Getting Here
Castle Falls Campground is located 2.5 hours southwest of Calgary, in Castle Provincial Park. You can take Highway 2 or Highway 22 (The Cowboy Trail, more scenic but is a single lane highway so it can be slow going if you get stuck behind an RV) to Highway 3. Turn right (west) on Highway 3.* After 6.6 km, turn left on Highway 507.
From Beaver Mines, head south on Hwy 774 towards Castle Provincial Park. After 15 km, turn right onto Castle Falls Road β you will see signage for Castle River Bridge, Castle Falls, and Lynx Campgrounds. Continue straight for 4.6 km to the Castle Falls Campground turnoff, then turn right. The campground is about 300 metres from Castle Falls Road.
*Gorgeous Lundbreck Falls is worth the 1 km detour off Highway 3.
Conclusion
We enjoyed our large, shaded campsite at Castle Falls Campground and loved the location. It was wonderful to walk to the falls from our site, and be only a few minutes from Beaver Mines Lake and hiking trails. For the perfect day with kids, hike Carbondale Hill, get ice cream at Beaver Mines, and then cool off in the river or Beaver Mines Lake.
Related Posts
- Castle Provincial Park: Your Next Alberta Road Trip
- Camping in Castle Provincial Park
- The Best Hikes of Crowsnest Pass
- Why you should visit Frank Slide Interpretive Centre
- Camping at Lundbreck Falls
- A fun weekend at Beauvais Lake Provincial Park
- Alberta Parksβ Best Lakeside Campgrounds
