While we were down exploring the Crowsnest Pass area in mid May, we decided to head home along Highway 40, aka the Forestry Trunk Road for the first time. While traveling this road we stumbled across the gem that is Livingstone Falls Provincial Recreation Area.
Surrounded by the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone, there are obvious signs of beloved campspots used at weekends and for longer summer holidays as well as ATV trails galore. However the Livingstone Falls Provincial Recreation Area is nestled in the middle, a quiet campground and day use area with a trail leading down to a small waterfall, managed by Alberta Parks.
We spent one night camping at the Livingstone Falls Provincial Recreation Area. in mid May and had the whole campground to ourselves. Nobody came in to use the day use area, scope out the campground or set up for the night. We picked a spot which backed onto the Livingstone River and offered relaxing background noise of a river running its course as well as offering up glimmers of the sun as it set behind the ridge of the far side of the water. The Livingstone Falls Provincial Recreation Area might be one of the most peaceful and relaxing spots I’ve had the joy of staying at in a while.
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The Livingstone Falls Campground
Number of sites: 22
Operating dates: May 15th to October 1st
Services offered: Outhouses, garbage and recycling bins, picnic shelter.
Price: $26 per night in 2025. All sites are first come first serve.
The Livingstone Falls Provincial Recreation Area has a small 22 site campground which is split over two loops. The upper loop offers plenty of forested sites, most of which offer a fair amount of privacy. The lower riverside loop has some sites which are against the bank, with fewer trees but more opportunity to get some sunshine! Towards the front of the loop there are some sites, like ours, which back onto the river. Most of the sites are fairly spacious but be warned that some of the road turns around the campground are quite tight and not suitable for bigger trailers.
Each site has a picnic bench and a firepit. There is no wood on-site and no opportunity to purchase wood so you’ll need to bring your own if you want to have a fire.
Self sufficiency is the key to staying at the Livingstone Falls Provincial Recreation Area, there is no power or water hookups at any of the sites. The water pumps around the campground are not to be used for anything except to help put out a campfire if needed. So we had to take our own potable water to the site with us.
The outhouses are standard drop toilets, they were clean and well stocked with toilet paper when we visited. They each had an air freshener which covered up the majority of the smell which usually comes from such a toilet. That being said, it wasn’t particularly warm and it was early in season, the state of them may be different later in the summer!
All the sites are first come first serve so when you arrive, find a site you like and then head to the registration station. While we were there, plenty of registration papers were available as well as a pen to fill in the form. However it’s always good to have a spare pen in the car! They accept cash or cheque, we always find cash easier. Pop it in the envelope and deposit it in the slot. Put the occupied tear off on your campground post and you are all set!
The Livingstone Falls Provincial Recreation Area Day Use Area
The day use area is basic at most. With access to washrooms and garbage cans. There is a small parking area and a well beaten trail down to the small falls. There is an old trail which heads down from the left of the parking lot to the river as well.
The picnic shelter has a well used wood stove in it as well as two huge benches. Tucked away in the wooded area above the Falls, it could be used by both day use and soggy campers on a wet day!
If you are looking for an outside lunch spot, you’ll want to bring your own camp table and chairs to enjoy the space.
Where Is The Livingstone Falls Provincial Recreation Area
Part of the adventure of visiting the Livingstone Falls Provincial Recreation Area is the journey to get there! We had so much fun exploring and taking in the stunning views along the Forestry Trunk Road.
We drove up the Forestry Trunk Road from Coleman in Southern Alberta, it was a slower drive on an unpaved, mostly gravel road. The views are pretty though and there are other Provincial Recreation Areas to camp at as well as crown land camping options along the road. It is approximately 65km north of Coleman via the Forestry Trunk Road.
Alternatively if you are heading South, it is around 64km from Longview via Highwayy 22 and then Highway 40 via the 532 gravel road. Or when the Highwood Pass is open on Highway 40, you can travel through Kananaskis from Highway 1 and follow Highway 40 south for the whole drive.
What We Packed For The Trip
Tent – We love the Tungsten tents and have had one for backpacking for years, we recently upgraded to a larger model for car camping which would fit our double air mattress in and haven’t looked back!
Trail Runners – For exploring in May, when we did this trip, I lived in trail runners. In warmer months I love to explore in sandals but it was still cold in May.
Tarp – Luckily on this trip we didn’t need a tarp, but we always have one packed because regardless of the weather forecast, it can be unpredictable in the mountains, especially in the shoulder seasons.
Water Jug – There is no potable water at the Livingstone Provincial Recreation Area. We filled up at a previous campground with potable water, knowing we wouldn’t have any here.
Bear Spray – We saw a bear 10 minutes up the road from the Livingstone Falls Provincial Recreation Area, it’s important to have bear spray on you while camping in the area and know how to use it.
Other Campgrounds
- Interlakes
- Mount Kidd RV Park
- Beaver Mines Lake
- Chinook Lake
