I’m always looking for campsites which I can paddle in to and Jewell Bay Campground in Kananaskis seemed like a winner to start our season off with. Sites which allow you to paddle in mean you get a backcountry experience but you can take a few extra luxuries since you don’t have to cram everything into your backpack! Think real, non dehydrated food (yes I’m talking about real eggs for brekkie!) And maybe a dinner beer, a more spacious tent and even a real pillow if you really want to treat yourself!
The Starting Point
The Jewell Bay Campground is on Barrier Lake (note it’s actually a reservoir not a lake). Barrier Lake is on Highway 40 a short 10 minute drive south after turning off Highway 1. This makes it an awesome location for day trippers as well, so prepare for the parking areas to be busy on a sunny day in July and August.
To paddle to the Jewell Bay Campground you’ll park the second Barrier Lake parking lot, the one furthest from the visitor centre. This parking lot is also home to a boat launch, although when we went the water level was so low we still had a fair way to carry the canoe to the lake.
It is also possible to hike into the Jewell Bay Campground, this is done by parking at the first parking lot and then following the lakeside trail along to the bay. It’s a short 3.2km hike with minimal elevation gain.
The ease of access to this site makes it super popular for families and people just starting out on backpacking adventures.
The Paddle to Jewell Bay Campground
It’s a fairly short paddle from the boat launch to the Jewell Bay Campground. After you launch, keep left and follow the shoreline. You’ll notice lots of day use opportunities along the sandy shoreline and picnic benches scattered through the trees above.
Follow the shoreline as it narrows the lake, this is probably the safest place to cross since it provides the shortest distance to the opposite shore, just before you start to cross you’ll notice a bay slightly further on, that is what you are aiming for. A grassy area sticks out on a high rock bank and the tent pads are in the trees behind this.
Once you’ve docked at shore it’s a short but steep (depending on the water level) scramble up some loose rock to get to the flat grass, from here an obvious trail exists into the woods where the Jewell Bay Campground hides.
Important note: Since Barrier Lake is in fact a reservoir the water levels can fluctuate a lot even on a daily basis. Make sure to bring your canoe or kayak way up from the water line in order to still be able to find it the next day! When we were there the water rose a good amount every day meaning the shoreline where we pulled up on day one was long gone by day three!
The Jewell Bay Campground
Nestled just off the trail and close to the lake edge, the Jewell Bay campground boasts 7 tent pads which are spread either side of a centre trail leading to the lake. They offer modest privacy and are mostly surrounded by trees, some even offer beautiful lake views.
Amenities are somewhat limited since this is a backcountry campground, there is a single drop toilet, don’t forget your paper! The cooking area has a number of tables to eat at, some looking out over the lake, along with fire pits and bear lockers for your food. Firewood will no longer be provided at backcountry campsites so if you want to have a fire, you’ll need to take your own firewood, just another reason to paddle instead of walk!
This is a very popular campground so make sure to book early to avoid disappointment! Head over to the Alberta Parks reservation website here to check availability and make a booking.
Other Things To Do
Paddle The Lake
If you paddled to the Jewell Bay Campground be sure to explore the lake when you have finished emptying your canoe at the site. There are beautiful views of the surrounding mountains to be had from the water and further down from the campsite is an area inaccessible to those on foot, making a perfect peaceful spot to explore. Watch out for currents when the dam is open though and never forget water levels fluctuate daily so what may be deep enough to access one day may be to shallow the next!
Hike Prairie View Lookout
This is a busy and popular trail so we chose to hike it in the evening for sunset, since we had the luxury of it being a shorter hike straight from the campground. We didn’t see anyone else on the trail, other than a few mountain bikers on the lower trail.
From the campground take a right along the shoreline trail, just after crossing the small creek ridge there is a trail which heads off left, up through the forest, this is where you’ll start from the campsite. Hike up through the forest until a large signposted junction, take the right trail and steeply ascend up through the trees, you’ll come out on a sharp drop off.
The trail clearly heads left as the trees give way to rocks, following the higher path for a lookout over Barrier Lake from the top flat rock area. A perfect spot for a snack and a sit down to watch the sun set. If you do go up in the evening take a head torch….it gets really dark really fast in the trees on the way down! The elevation gain is almost 500m so don’t forget to pack water and a snack.
