The Canadian National Parks belong to the the most beautiful in the world. They guarantee closeness to nature and show their beautiful, true face. It is this desire to commune with nature that makes camping an important part of Canadian culture. When “0” hour strikes on Friday afternoon, most Canadians are already packed and ready to spend the weekend in nature. This is especially evident in the infrastructure. The campsites are adapted to ensure comfort and safety for camping, without interference with the life of nature. Also, the types and number of camping sites, testify to the passion for spending time in the open air.
Forest cities, where a tangle of paths lead us to numbered camping sites. You can easily find yourself in this maze thanks to the maps that a nice lady at the reception desk will give you. Some maps are so complex that they look like networks of large cities which have up to 618 seats. Frontcountry are very well organized campsites. They are located near cities and roads. They allow to enter the area by car and to park in the space reserved by you in advance.. They are equipped with the necessary infrastructure such as toilets, showers, shelters, running water, electricity and garbage cans. It happens that the campsite area is fenced with a live fence. Such safeguards are used extremely rarely and testify mainly to the increased activity of bears in the area. Frontcountry campsites require online or telephone reservations. Camping spots may vary in price, depending on whether you pitch the tent or arrive by caravans.
Located in the middle of the forest, near the mountain trails, they are an ideal place to commune with nature and a starting point for mountain trekking. Due to the remote location, they can be only reached on foot. They do not have such amenities as frontcountry, but they reward with silence, peace and beautiful views. Backcountry require reservations, too. In some cases, especially if there is a bearish season, accommodation in backCountry is only possible if we declare to comply with safety rules. There is a fine for failure to comply with these rules. By booking back country at the Banff National Park, we were obliged to trek in group of 4 people and be equipped with bear sprays.
With a hand on heart, we recommend Mount Inglismaldie camping on Minnewanka Lake in the Banff National Park. If you’ve ever dreamed of waking up inside a real postcard, this place will provide you with it.
Camping places that do not require reservations, only reflex. Applies to both frontcountry and backcountry campsites. The rules are very simple. The priority of accommodation falls to the one who first finds free space and pays for it. It is worth reading the regulations of a chosen campsite in advance or if we you the opportunity to ask the rules the day before at “reception”, or rather the information point. Often, in the regulations include the information that check in starts from 2 pm. However, a lot of people leave early in the morning and from 9 am free places are available. For those who are unlucky, the alternative is so called “waiting space”. Not all campsites provide them. Waiting space is a designated place, usually in the form of a camping site, where you can wait until the next day. Your stay in the “waiting space” is half cheaper, but there’s lack of certain amenities.
We recommend the Spray Lakes West Campground at the Spray Valley Provincial Park. The campsite stretches along the shoreline of the lake. You can enjoy your morning coffee on the private beach, from which the mountain view spreads.
The all-inclusive version, which combines luxurious comfort with closeness to nature. The offer includes tree houses, teepees, tents and wooden houses in the middle of the forest. Some are extremely beautiful, surrounded by amazing scenery and at an equally dizzying price per night. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to use the option of glamping, due to exorbitant prices. If the budget allowed us, we would definitely be tempted to spend a few nights.
Camping equipment depends on its type. However, most of them provide so-called basis.
- Place to sleep – a designated piece of land on which you can pitch 2 tents and accommodate a maximum of 6 people.
- Fireplace – a place for a bonfire, in the form of an iron grill without a bottom, in which you can burn wood
- A table with benches at which you can easily have dinner or drink your morning coffee.
- Metal cabinets – these are properly protected lockers in which you can store food and cosmetics from uninvited guests. Very useful also at Backcoutry, where we can store all our belongings and go trekking nearby. It is worth having your own padlock.
Most camping sites provide wood for the price. In one place only, we had to buy wood and bonfire permission. It is worth paying attention to it while booking. We recommend to stock up at least one sack of dry wood. You can buy it at gas stations or Canadian Tire store. It is easier to light a bonfire when the wood in the campsite is dry. Even at Backcoutry we found a camping site with chopped wood ready for kindling. This is due to Canadian nature care. This avoids burning wood that lies within the national parks. Most regulations also inform people about this.
The campsites are organized in the way that ensures the safety and comfort of the people who stay on it, and does not disturb nature, especially its inhabitants. However, it is up to you whether this safety rules will be maintained. In Canada, nature has priority and people are only guests. This can be seen especially on backcoutry. While going to the mountains, in the season when the bears are active, we will be informed about it by warning boards at every single step. Some backcouts require a certificate stating that you are properly secured. All campsites have designated sleeping places, separate for eating meals and bonfires. Food and cosmetics should be stored in the car or in specially designed metal cabinets. If you’re going to Backcoutry, get a good bag and string. If a metal locker is not available on site, you should hang our food on the tree. The bears have a great sense of smell, and they can sense your chocolate bar hidden under your pillow from a kilometer.
Camping prices depend on its type. If you want to pitch a tent, you will pay $26 – space for 2 tents, a maximum of 6 people and a car. If you arrive a caravan or a mobile home, you’ll pay about 50 dollars. The reservation depends on the season. In August, it’s better not to go to the Jasper and the Banff Park without a reservation. Places at popular campsites can be booked on the day the online booking opens, six months in advance. Of course, it is possible to drive to the campsite at the last minute with a request for a free place. In the high season, it is happiness matters. During our trip around Alberta, Canada, we took this happiness often. It happened that we did not have several nights booked and when we had the vision of a night in the car, always at the last moment fate smiled at us. In the low season, reservations are less required. However, some places may be closed due to weather conditions or animal activity.
- Online reservations at Alberta Parks. Possibility to search and book by type of campsite.
- Parks Canada Reservation Service. Online reservations at most parks in Canada
- Campsite Backcountry – Mount Inglismaldie on Minnewanka Lake, marked Lm11.
- Campsite First coming First service – Spray Lakes West Campground in Spray Valley Provincial Park
The Walmart car park is an ideal place for free accommodation for drivers. At the beginning we were surprised by the view of caravans parked before dark. After some time, we wanted to spend a little like 1 night to feel the atmosphere. It looked a bit like a small festival. Fired tables, chairs, grills and vacations hung in the air.
