A Guide to Alberta Winter Camping

Compiled by the Road Trip Alberta team

Last updated on December 17, 2020

I remember the first time my friend told me he enjoyed Alberta winter camping and I legit thought he was nuts. And then my husband and I tried it.

It hadn’t quite snowed yet – well at least not until our second night in the tent – and we woke up shivering. He had forgotten to put on his toque before bed, and I hadn’t fully zipped up my sleeping bag. That wasn’t the first – or last – mistake we made on that trip. But even after five days of chilly sleep in a rooftop tent, I declared my first cold-weather camping excursion a truly magical experience.

Winter wonderland is a real thing when you’re in the wilderness. Untouched snow, ice crystals covering tree branches, and silence like you have never encountered. It can be an isolating but enchanting time. 

The key, more than any other trip you might take in your life, is to be prepared. Sudden weather changes are not uncommon – especially in Alberta – and ensuring an enjoyable experience is dependent on your ability to live alongside cooler weather.

Whether you are braving a tent or huddling in a winterized RV, we want to help you find the magic. In this post, we’ve got you covered with tips on where to go Alberta winter camping, and how to do it.

Alberta Winter Camping: Why do it?

That is a very valid question.

While a large number of Canadians prefer to spend the winter months hibernating in their homes, this emptying of the outdoors is exactly what Alberta winter camping enthusiasts enjoy most. Campgrounds and parks are quiet. If there was ever a time to enjoy the wilderness undisturbed, the season of winter is that time.

Other benefits of winter camping in Alberta:

• Long nights mean more brilliant night skies – winter is the best time for stargazing and aurora borealis spotting (which is one of the greatest natural wonders in Alberta). There are even five “Dark Sky Preserves” in Alberta. Download an aurora alert app so that you know where to go and when to be ready.
• No need to pack the bug spray – the cold weather will have killed them all! Enjoy being mosquito-free for a change.
• There is a lower risk of adverse wildlife encounters as the bears hibernate! The grizzly bear’s winter snoozles are slightly shorter than the black bears, but typically count on them both being absent from November to mid-March.
• Cooler temperatures can make outdoor activities much more pleasurable than if doing it in the hot hot sun of summer. Pack along your cross-country skis and snowshoes and start the fun from right outside your tent or RV.
• With COVID-19 still being a legitimate concern when it comes to travel, winter camping offers a safe and viable option to change up your scenery.

Alberta Winter Camping: Where to go

Dozens of campgrounds in the provincial and national parks are open year-round. There are lots of options for random backcountry camping, and of course, there is also always Alberta crown land camping.

For Alberta Provincial Parks (which offer the most options), call 1-877-537-2757 before you go to check on the current campground status. Note that self-registration may be in effect (visitor booths may not be manned because of fewer people), and services are likely to be reduced. A complete list of the parks and their services can be found here.

We’ve pulled out a few fave destinations of ours, and those which are popular among others, to give you this list to start with:

Cypress Hills

Enjoy early winter in the Elkwater Campground, as it closes on December 31. Tobogganing and cross-country skiing are popular in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in winter (snow permitting, as it is in the southeast corner of the province, just a half-hour drive from Medicine Hat).

Dinosaur Provincial Park

Don’t be confused – Dinosaur Provincial Park isn’t near Drumheller (it’s a two-hour drive from the dino-focused town) – but you’ll still get a true Alberta Badlands experience by staying here. Watch the snow glitter on hoodoos from your cozy campsite and enjoy the especially dark skies fill of stars here.

Tunnel Mountain Campground

The Tunnel Mountain Village 2 Campground is just 5km from Banff. There are a lot of sites and bonus: if you want to step out of the wilderness and into town, you can also enjoy so many things to do in Banff.

Beauvais Lake

This provincial park by the same name in the southwest of the province is a popular winter fishing destination, and there are lots of cross-country ski trails in the area. Day use areas have fire pits and warming shelters. Bring your snowshoes as well!

Lake Louise Trailer Campground

Snuggle up near the famed Lake Louise as this campground is just 1km from town and 4km from the lake itself. Only hard-sided camping units are allowed here (the tent campground isn’t open in winter).

McLean Creek Campground

This provincial recreation area in Kananaskis offers winter camping on a first-come-first-served basis, and is ideally located near many outdoor recreation activities. The water supply is shut down in winter months, but firewood will be available from a service truck that drives through the campground.

Writing-on-Stone Campground

This idyllic spot, among cottonwood trees on the Milk River, is a unique spot to experience while winter camping in Alberta. Power is available year-round, and given the mild(er) winters in this far southeast corner of the province, you may be able to more easily keep the shivering in check.

Kinbrook Island Campground

Only 29 sites of this lakeside campground near Brooks are open year-round, but the gentle views of this area still make it a favourite. And bonus: outhouses are kept open throughout winter!

Sulphur Gates Campground

Just a little distance southwest of Grande Cache, take in some gorgeous views at the nearby Sulphur River canyon. Enjoy this campground with 15 unserviced spots in the Sulphur Gates Provincial Recreation Area, which also has 2 equestrian campsites with corrals, and 2 equestrian day-use sites.

Beginner Tips for Alberta Winter Camping

Heading out to camp in a snowy landscape for the first time? We’ve got some hot tips to help you get started.

• Many of your wild winter camping dreams probably have mountains as the backdrop, but maybe consider starting on flatter ground where the temps are likely a little warmer.
• Whether you’re setting up a tent or parking an RV, choose a campsite that is exposed to the sun so that both can absorb some heat during the day. Also, it is very important to find a site with a windbreak, if possible.
• Bring PLENTY of layers of clothing. Anyone familiar with Alberta winters knows that there are times where it is possible to golf one day and then hit a snowy mountain the next – the weather changes quickly. Make sure that your innermost layers are of a wicking material (not cotton!) to ensure that you stay warm.

• Keep moving and plan daily activities; camping can be boring if you just spend your whole time huddled in your tent or RV trying to stay warm.
• You may need to bring your own firewood, check with the campground to see if any is supplied.
• You may also need to bring potable water. Check on that, too.
• If you are tenting, bring a small tent – there’ll be less space to heat up which means you’ll stay warmer! Make sure it is a 3 or 4 season tent.
• An insulated sleeping pad is a must must must to keep the chill from seeping in under you. Also, bring a snuggly sleeping bag rated for low temperatures.
• At night, stuff the bottom of your sleeping bags with heated rocks (wrapped in cloth) or a bottle filled with hot water to keep your toes toasty.
• Take your food prepped so that cooking is quick and easy. You don’t want to freeze your fingers while chopping veggies!

Additional resources

There’s a lot of great info out there. And as we said, preparation is key, so read ALL of these:

• This post is full of great winter camping tips, including recommendations on gear, and how to spot hypothermia and frostbite.
• Also, read this post on Winter Camping 101.
• Taking an RV? Follow this Do’s and Don’ts list from expert RVers. And read this for more RV tips in winter.
• If you are backcountry camping in the mountains, play close attention to Alberta avalanche conditions.
• RV rentals in Alberta are also available in winter and will be ready and prepped for your trip. This could be a good way to test out this type of adventure!

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