We decided to try out Spring camping at Bow River Campground, one of the earliest campgrounds to open in the Rockies for summer. The site typically opens in mid April depending on weather while most other campgrounds in Kananaskis don’t open until sometime in May.
We were desperate to get out and spend a night somewhere we hadn’t been before. Explore a new site, have a fire and get out of the house for the night. Spring camping at Bow River Campground was the perfect solution.
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Where Is The Bow River Campground
The Bow River Campground is right off Highway One. It is clearly signposted from the highway in both directions. From downtown Canmore it is just a 10 minute drive east on Highway One. If you are driving from Calgary, it is just under 100 kilometres following Highway One west.
Since the Bow River campground is in Kananaskis, you will need a Alberta Conservation Pass when you stay here. These can be purchased ahead of time online, you can buy a daily pass or annual pass depending on your needs.
The Bow River Campground
Open from mid April to late October, the Bow River campground is a pretty little campground sandwiched between the main highway and the Bow River. It is a great spot for exploring everything Kananaskis has to offer. All the sites here must be reserved, you can do this ahead of time, although there is cell reception at the campground.
There are 66 sites at the Bow River campground, most of them offer power and water services, there are also 7 walk-in camping spots for tenters. Each site has a picnic bench and fire pit. There are also bear proof food lockers for the walk in campers. That being said, the walk-in sites aren’t far from your vehicle either, so you could store your stuff in your vehicle as well.
Most of the sites are quite spacious, being geared more towards rv users, although the spots are mostly flat, so perfect to camp in a tent as well. There are drop toilets around the campground but also a large washroom building near the entrance. Here there are flush toilets and showers. The showers require a $3 token which can be purchased from the campground host, located right next to the washroom building.
If you are going spring camping at the Bow River campground, note that the water to the sites typically doesn’t get turned on until mid May so come prepared to fend for yourself in that regard. The washrooms however were functioning with running water. There is also a hand pump for water on the site, it will need treating before you can drink it though.
There are a few riverfront sites which offer gorgeous views over the Bow River as well as Grotto Mountain. We stayed in site 15 on the river, it was a big site with easy access to the water, if you want to go fishing. Make sure you check the regulations and have your fishing licence though.
Sites 24, 27 and 28 have pretty much unobstructed views across the river, however they are quite close to the highway so are a little noisier. Sites 15, 17 and 20 are also riverfront sites but further away from the highway and have a few more trees. When we went spring camping at the Bow River campground though, there was little privacy between sites as the bushes and trees hadn’t started to come back to life after winter. There are some sites which back right up onto the highway almost, these are loud but you do get gorgeous views of the Three Sisters Mountains from some of them.
Things To Do Nearby
A short 10 minute drive from the Bow River Campground will have you in Downtown Canmore. A nice little town to spend a day exploring, grab lunch at one of the many cafes and restaurants. You’ll also find any essentials you might need in Canmore from groceries to camping equipment.
If you are looking for hiking opportunities, Ha Ling peak just outside of Canmore is one people hike year round. Beautiful views but a steep climb, this is a mountain hike and you should be prepared for it. Due to its popularity it can get quite slippery so you’ll need spikes and poles to hike this trail in spring.
There are plenty of other easier trails for spring hiking near the Bow River Campground too, such as Grotto Canyon, you may need to take the summer trail if the stream through the bottom of the Grotto is thawing. Or the Heart Creek bunker is another great hike which is on the easier side.
Spring Camping Essentials
When we were spring camping at the Bow River campground, there was still lingering snow and slush as well as some pretty large puddles, having goretex hiking boots to get around the campground proved to be a real necessity!
Always make sure to check the weather before heading out spring camping but still pack for all eventualities. Typically spring in the rockies can bring nice days but cold nights. Good sleeping bags are essential, we love our Mountain Hardwear Bishops Pass 0F sleeping bags or consider a Sea To Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme sleeping bag liner, we love how soft these are and they will help add a few degrees of warmth to a warmer weather sleeping bag.
Many of my cold weather camping essentials may also be necessary for spring camping, depending on where you are camping and the weather.
Other Nearby Campgrounds
There are other options for campgrounds in Kananaskis. We really enjoyed staying at the Bow Valley campground, much bigger than the Bow River campground but still has some riverfront sites. This campground opens May 1st typically.
We also love camping at Mount Kidd RV Park, this spot is open year round, with indoor washrooms and plenty of site options for whatever your needs may be.