Top 5 Tenting Spots in Alberta NOT in the National Parks!
I know everyone will have their own opinions on the best spot to pitch a tent in this amazing province. However this post is not for the backpackers, but for the families that like a nice peaceful spot but still has some amenities for the kids. So let's get down to the Alberta Adventurer Families top 5 places to pitch a tent in Alberta, Canada. These are in no order, they are not on crown land, they are great for families and they are not located in any National Parks.
1) William A. Switzer Provincial Park
We stayed in the small Cache Loop which was perfect with a young toddler as it was silent at night. They have a small playground, washrooms and cooking shelter located in the center of the loop. William A Switzer Provincial Park has 5 lakes and range in activities from waterskiing, fishing to certain lakes offering paddle only. This is an unique park very close to the rocky mountains and a must visit! Also we found that all the sites in cache loop had a large soft flat open area for pitching your tent with lots of shade.
2) Harlech Rec Area (Nordegg)
Halech campground is a small campground with 11 sites and 6 overflow spots. The sites a spaced and well treed with pit toilets and kitchen shelter located nearby. Several hiking trails to explore along with a playground. We ended up staying here by mistake however it did not disappoint. This campground is located 72 kms west of Rocky Mountain House on the Davif Thompson Highway.
3) Mount Sarrail Kananaskis - Walk in Tenting
This is a beautiful campground with 44 walk in tenting sites. The campground has 2 separate parking lots, bear bins, and pit toilets. Prime location to explore Kananaskis and the upper/lower lake. This campground has no playground but for the adventures children there is lots to explore in the nearby valley and trails.
4) Big Knife Provincial Park - Walk in Tenting
This is an area of Alberta that no one talks about and we are not sure why. Beautiful, peaceful, scenic and a must do. We stayed in the walk in tenting area however there is also a loop for campers. We noticed the camper loop filled right up however the tenting area was deserted with the exception of one other tent. The tenting area is walk in however the parking lot is not even 10 steps away from some sites. The tenting area is very shaded with soft ground and Fire wood is available next to the pit toilets. The playground is a short walk away and has a sand base to play in. Big Knife PP has a nice hike to some hoodoos' along with a boat launch into the battle river.
5) Beaver Flatts, Elbow Falls - Walk in Tenting
Beaver Flatts Campground is nestled in the Elbow Falls Provincial Recreation Area. This Campground is quite large but also has a small walk in tenting area along the shaded river side. Beautiful sites with lots of tress and the sound of flowing water. If you are looking to explore this area of Kananaskis this is a great option for tent goers. The Toilets are a short walk away and the fire wood is pricy so bring your own. We never noticed a playground but maybe over in the larger camper loops. However this is still a great option for families that love to hike and explore the nearby tails and falls. Don't forget to take the short drive and explore Forget me not ponds!
Thank you for reading along on some of our top favorite family friendly quite camping sites in Alberta. However this list was extremely hard to make as there are so many fantastic places to explore in Alberta. Please leave a comment on your favorite tenting spots in Alberta.
