Kananaskis Country Alberta is the perfect outdoor adventure playground! This guide will delve into our favourite Kananaskis camping spots, such as Interlakes in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park as well as some of our favourite Kananaskis hiking trails, although with so many to choose from, it is hard to pick just a few! Kananaskis Country Alberta has everything from scenic views, stunning picnic spots and lakes to paddle on, one thing is for sure you’ll never be short of things to do in Kananaskis!
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What makes Kananaskis Country special?
Kananaskis is where the locals go to play, with fewer crowds than neighbouring Banff, equally stunning terrain and an abundance of things to do.
Home to backpacking trips you can often book at the last minute, and a number of first come first serve front country campgrounds as well as more rustic camping options, you can truly disconnect in Kananaskis.
While there are some incredibly popular parts of Kananaskis, these are outnumbered by a huge amount of hidden gems where you can have a much more peaceful mountain experience.
Planning your trip to Kananaskis — what you need to know
Do you need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass?
Anyone stopping in Kananaskis now needs a Kananaskis Conservation Pass, you can pick up a day pass at any of the visitor centres or if you are planning on visiting for more than a few days, you can purchase an annual pass. This is an electronic pass attached to your licence plate and you can register up to two vehicles plus a trailer on your pass.
If you are renting a vehicle, you’ll need to purchase your pass when you know the licence plate and this can be easily done in person at a visitor centre located one of the main arteries into Kananaskis Country.
Purchasing a Kananaskis Conservation Pass online also got easier this year and can now be done through your shop Alberta parks account, the same spot you book your camping permits.
Each year there are also a number of free days to visit Kananaskis County, Alberta and these are listed on the website and updated annually.
Best time of year to visit
Kananaskis County is incredible in every season, drawing the biggest crowds in summer due to easy accessibility and the huge amount of recreation opportunities.
My personal favourite time of the year to visit Kananskis is the Fall, the area is home to some extensive areas filled with Larch Trees, known for turning golden yellow in the Fall. Burstall Pass is an incredible hike to enjoy the trees, as it Chester Lake.
For a truly peaceful experience, winter in Kananaskis is magical! Quiet trials and extensive cross country ski trail grooming make for a wonderful spot to enjoy a sunny winter day.
How to get to Kananaskis from Calgary
From Calgary, Kananaskis is an easy drive and can take anywhere from 45 minutes to access certain areas. From Calgary head west out of the city along Highway 1, from here, you can connect to areas of Kananaskis, either by heading south on Highway 22 towards Bragg Creek to access the Elbow Valley, North on Highway 22 via Cochrane, to access the Ghost or continue further west on Highway 1 and then head south on Highway 40.
Where to stay — camping vs lodges
Kananaskis truly has an accommodation style to suit everyone. There are a lot of camping opportunities in maintained campgrounds, which offer a variety of services from just outhouses to showers and even stores. Most camping spots in Kananaskis have no cell reception, making them a perfect place to stay if you want to disconnect from the world.
There are also a number of glamping options in Kananaskis, ideal for anyone looking for a few more comforts than traditional camping or those visiting the area who don’t have camping gear but want to experience it. Again, these range in what the offer, from shared outhouses to showers. Many Kananaskis glamping options are also available to book in winter when camping options are a more limited.
Kananaskis is also home to a HI Wilderness Hostel for those who don’t want to camp but also want to stay somewhere a little more economical. The hostel provides communal kitchen space, outhouses and shared dorm style sleeping.
For anyone looking for the ultimate in relaxation, there are a limited number of hotels in Kananaskis, these provide home away from home comforts and make for a great spot to get some rest before heading out for your next adventure.
Best day hikes in Kananaski
Easy hikes in Kananaskis (great for families)
Family friendly and easy hikes in Kananaskis are bountiful, my absolute favourite is the Troll Falls hike, this hike can be done year round and ends with a number of gorgeous waterfalls depending on how far you want to go.
Elbow Lake is another incredible, easy hike, this short hike goes up an old fire road, so while it’s a bit of a climb, it’s on a wide, well maintained trail, ending at a lake, with a backcountry campground, making this the perfect spot for a picnic.
Another family friendly and easy hike in Kananaskis would be Grassi Lakes, this hike ends in two brightly coloured pools, in summer take the harder trail for views of the waterfall.
Moderate hikes in Kananaskis
Yates Mountain and Barrier Lake Lookout is one of the most popular moderate hikes in Kananaskis, for good reason! The views are stunning, the climb is steady but there is no scrambling.
Another highly popular moderate hike in Kananaskis is Rawson Lake, which is a great add on to the Upper Kananaskis Lakes Loop, it spurs off the main trail and climbs up to a beautiful lake surrounded by stunning mountains.
Hard hikes & scrambles in Kananaskis
Kananaskis has no shortage of hard hikes and scrambles, the most popular being Ha Ling, just outside of Canmore, this trail is now almost entirely maintained by Alberta Parks however there is still a scrambling stretch at the top which isn’t maintained.
A second popular scramble in Kananaskis is Yamnuska, this awesome trail can be done as a loop, with some scrambling up a chimney section, before reaching a ledge with a chain before reaching the summit.
Backpacking & overnight trips in Kananaskis
Kananaskis is packed with incredible backpacking trips, from short one night trips, to multi day adventures. Many of the backcountry campgrounds have had major work done to them, making them some of the most pleasant and well maintained spots for backcountry camping in Alberta.
This is especially true in the Elbow Sheep region of Kananaskis, where a multi day backpacking trip completing the Elbow Loop or a short one night trip to Tombstone backcountry campground really showcase some of the amazing quality backcountry campgrounds in Kananaskis Country. These sites even had toilet paper when I visited over the last few years!
Popular backcountry sites such as Lillian Lake require a little more planning to secure a spot, especially on weekends but a loop combining Lillian Lake and Ribbon Lake is a truly underrated backpacking trip in the Canadian Rockies, with stunning views, gorgeous lakes and varied terrain.
The most popular region for backpacking in Kananaskis Country is in the Kananaskis Lakes area, with Aster Lake and Three Isle Lake being some of the most sort after reservations in the park.
Camping in Kananaskis — frontcountry & backcountry
Best frontcountry campgrounds in Kananaskis
The best frontcountry campgrounds have to start with Interlakes, this lakeside campground is on the smaller side, with many sites offering lake views and access to the lake shore. Located in the Kananaskis Lakes area, this is one of the hardest sites to secure a spot at.
In the Elbow Valley area, the Little Elbow Campground provides easy access to some incredible hiking opportunities but is also a great place to just relax and explore along the river. Some of the best sites here are the lesser booked walk in tent sites.
For year round camping in Kananaskis, Mclean Creek campground is a fantastic option, it’s always peaceful in the powered site loop in winter and for a big campground, it takes on a more peaceful layer in the winter.
The privately owned Mount Kidd RV Park is also an incredible option year round, offering hot showers and a small general store selling hot coffee, this place seems like pure luxury if you are camping in winter.
Backcountry camping — how permits work
Backcountry camping in Kananaskis Country in one of their designated campgrounds requires a permit. These can be reserved up to 90 days prior to your stay date on a rolling window and can be booked through the Alberta Parks reservation website. While permits can be hard to come by on weekends, mid week, you can often get lucky securing a spot, if you are flexible on where you want to go.
Backcountry permits are charged on a per person basis regardless of how many tent pads you may book. The current rate is $12 per person per night to camp in a designated backcountry campground in Kananaskis. There is also a $12 booking fee to pay when you reserve your permit too.
Campground reservation tips (this books out fast)
Many of the most popular camping spots in Kananaskis book out fast, especially campgrounds like Interlakes front country campground and Aster Lake backcountry campground. If you want to secure a coveted spot at one of the more popular campgrounds in Kananaskis, it is worth booking 90 days prior to arrival, the day reservations open, to have the most opportunity to book.
If you can avoid the peak months of July and August this can also help secure a reservation at one of the most popular sites, along with trying to book mid week rather than on the weekend.
Alberta Parks recently implemented a new alert system too, so you can create an alert for the site and the date you wish to come there and you’ll get an email notification to let you know if and when a spot becomes available. Act on that fast though, because you likely won’t be the only person getting the alert!
Kananaskis in winter
Kananaskis in winter offers a playground of fun for those who embrace it. There are incredible, maintained cross country ski trails that wind through the valleys and even a fair amount of elevation to be gained on some trails. It is through these you can get access to the Elk Lakes ACC Hut, despite the cabin itself not being in Kananaskis.
Camping at Mount Kidd RV Park is one of my favourite winter activities to do in Kananaskis, it is so much fun exploring a peaceful campground after the hustle and bustle of winter and cozying up around a roaring fire after the sun sets and watching the stars appear in the sky.
Winter hiking in Kananaskis is also abundant, from fun creek walks, like Grotto Canyon, where you walk along the frozen creek, to visiting Heart Creek Bunker, for a fun half day adventure. One of the most popular winter hikes in recent years has been the Green Monster hike, there is one skinny section of trail navigated with ropes and chains to get to the glorious frozen waterfall, a favourite spot for ice climbers as well as hikers.
Paddling in Kananaskis
For many paddling on the pristine lakes of Kananaskis is a must do. Barrier Lake offers rentals from the second, most southerly parking lot, in the summer. We have had the pleasure of paddling to the Jewell Bay backcountry campground on Barrier Lake, a stunning spot, also accessible by hiking.
Kananaskis Lakes canoeing is also an exceptional experience, with easy lake access from Interlakes campground to the Lower Kananaskis Lakes for canoeing. Meanwhile Upper Kananaskis Lake is typically favoured for canoeing as it is usually a more vivid blue colour. We have canoed on Upper Kananaskis Lake to Point backcountry campground for a fun and unique way to backcountry camp, again, this is also a hiker accessible campground.
One thing to note when it comes to canoeing in Kananaskis, is that the water is exceptionally cold and the weather can change quickly in the mountains. We’ve had to turn back before because it was just too rough to canoe on Kananaskis Lake. Top tip is to head out early when the lake is typically still calm and always wear a life jacket.
Link to your paddle trips post. Kananaskis Lakes canoe is a popular search — even a brief mention with a link captures it.
What to pack for Kananaskis
Hiking Shoes/Boots – Good grip and waterproof are a perfect combination for exploring the trails in Kananaskis which often have varied terrain.
Tent – If you are planning on camping, you’ll want a good quality tent, that can withstand whatever weather the mountains throw at you.
Hiking Poles – For anyone hoping to explore some of the higher trails in the area, hiking poles will help with balance and keeping you on your feet in loose, rugged terrain.
Bear Spray – Kananaskis is bear territory, you’ll want bear spray and you should know how to use it.
