Every year the team at TL Travel takes some time off to explore at home in Alberta & highlight local tourist attractions & hidden gems that you, our readers, want to know about.
Last year we explored all things food in the city of Edmonton, but with social distancing measures in place this year, many of us are looking to escape the city & enjoy the outdoors.
… Easier said than done though, right?
Let’s just say what we are all thinking … not all of us are the most flush with cash at the moment, and if we didn’t book a campsite for the long weekend six summers ago … there doesn’t seem to be much room for us now.
If you want to stay the night inside any of Canada’s National Parks then yes, you will have to pay for a campsite, but overnight dry camping (or “boondocking”) outside of the parks still offers a number of different options for you (many of which are free).
Before I get into locations though, let’s address the most important things you will need to know before you get out on the road.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
First and foremost, because most of these free campsites do not include any amenities, you will need to be prepared.
In addition to your camping gear, tent or RV Camper you will also need to bring things like drinking / bathing water, containers for food storage, garbage bags, toilet paper & spade / shovel, camping chairs / table, bear spray / bear bell, and any other permits that may be required (depending on your location).
Understand that these camping conditions will be more rugged than your traditional camping conditions & that taking advantage of free camping areas also means leaving them in the condition in which you found them.
“Take only memories. Leave only footprints.” - Chief Seattle
It is also important to understand the regulations in place for free camping in Alberta including (but not limited to);
Campsites must be set at least 1 km from any public land recreation area or provincial recreation area.
Campsites must be set at least 1 km from any roadway, Provincial Park or Provincial Recreation Area.
Free camping / dry camping is not permitted within 1 km of a designated camping facility.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about how to find free sites! Keep in mind that it is not only important to do your research before you go, but also to map your locations before you leave. WiFi is spotty at best in a lot of these remote locations & getting lost in the mountains is nobody’s idea of a good time.
HOW TO FIND YOUR CAMPSITE
Fun fact: around 89% of land in Canada is owned by the Canadian monarch & has been designated ‘crown land’ or public use space.
Usage of crown land varies from province to province, but if you do your research & arrive prepared, crown land offers great potential for free camping in Alberta.
There are a number of different resources that you can use to locate free camping areas in Alberta listed below.
Public Land Use Zones is a website that offers detailed information on Public Land Use Regulations in Alberta along with downloadable pdf. files for Lower Athabasca & South Saskatchewan.
Free Campsites (.net) is just what it says it is. Click into this simple map of locations in Alberta & find both free & low cost campsites, as well as traveler reviews of each location.
Alberta Parks is a great resource for information on campsites, trail reports, fire bans & more. I encourage you to use this resource & follow the Parks guidelines even when you are dry camping in Public Land Use Zones.
Please Note: Campers who are not residents of Canada are required to purchase a camping permit & cost for this may vary.
POPULAR SPOTS
Many of you may have found your way here through our “Free Camping Ambraham Lake” video on YouTube, but this is just one of many popular spots for free camping in Alberta. Find more information on additional locations below.
Wapiabi Creek. This zero-service campsite is located 100 + metres from the lake-shore, Northwest of Rocky Mountain House & at the edge of Jasper National Park. Off-highway vehicles are not permitted in this area, however trail hiking is allowed & available to campers.
McLean Creek is a popular location for off-highway vehicles to explore. This zero-service campsite is located next to the Kananaskis Public Land Use Zone & Southwest of the city of Calgary.
Athabasca Ranch Public Land Use Zone. This zero-service Public Land Use Zone is located just off of Highway 40 North adjacent to Highway 18 outside of Hinton & Jasper National Park.
Please note: A no-fee backcountry camping permit is required to camp at both Sparrowhawk Tarns & Memorial Lake in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park. In order to obtain your permit please visit the Alberta Parks Visitor Information Center in Kananaskis Country.
Although the sites listed here are popular, please note that accessibility to each site may vary depending on your camping style (RV Camper, Tent Camping etc.) and space at all sites are limited. Find more information on all available sites here & be sure to mark directions offline so that sites can be located without WiFi.
If you have a free camping location that you wouldn’t mind sharing, please feel free to leave information or map links in the comments & enjoy your time in Alberta!