FAQs

Campground Use Levels

Why are campgrounds so busy?

• Alberta's growing population has greatly increased demand for camping and other recreational opportunities.
• A priority of Alberta's 10-year Plan for Parks is to upgrade, restore and expand park facilities.
• Some campgrounds rarely or never fill. Others, especially those near large population centres, are much busier. 
• Campsites with power fill faster than un-serviced sites; provincial campgrounds contain far more un-serviced than serviced campsites (i.e. those with power, water and/or sewer hook-ups). 

How can I best ensure I get a camping spot?

• Contact us toll-free at 1-866-427-3582 during regular office hours for suggestions regarding lesser-used provincial campgrounds.
• Reservations can be made at many provincial campgrounds online (visit Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca or phone the online reservations call centre at 1-877-537-2757).
• • Online reservations for individual campsites
  • Online reservations for group camping areas
• Some campgrounds take "phone-in only" reservations.
• Other campgrounds are first come-first served.

Campground Conditions

Why are some provincial park facilities in such poor condition?

• There are nearly 500 parks in Alberta.
• Many park facilities were developed decades ago when Alberta's population was smaller and at a time when environmental, health and safety standards were lower. Some park infrastructure is aging and in need of upgrading.
• The Government of Alberta has been investing millions of dollars in:
  • repairing and upgrading hiking trails;
  • refurbishing campsites;
  • upgrading water treatment/distribution systems and sewer lines;
  • replacing picnic tables and fire pits; and
  • enhancing viewpoints.

Why aren't there more campsites with power?

• The number of recreational vehicles in Alberta has increased significantly, which has resulted in greatly increased demand for power hook-ups and other amenities at campgrounds. 
• A priority under Alberta's Plan for Parks is to offer modern facilities, policies and programs and we are committed to upgrading, restoring and expanding park facilities as funding becomes available (including adding more power sites wherever possible).

Campground Operations

Why are some campgrounds run by contractors instead of the Government of Alberta?

• The Government of Alberta owns all provincial campgrounds; however we do contract out some campground operations and services when it is cost-effective to do so.
• Our operating contracts ensure that contracted campgrounds are managed to the same standards as provincially-run sites.
• Private sector contractors, local community groups and municipalities operate about 70% of Alberta's provincial campgrounds. Alberta Parks operates the rest.
• We also contract out some janitorial and grass-cutting services, food concessions and other commercial services.
• The Government of Alberta has been contracting facility operations for more than 30 years.

What if I have a complaint about a private operator?

• We monitor contractor performance to ensure a quality visitor experience.
• Help us to do this by providing feedback.
• Contact us online or call 1-866-427-3582 during regular office hours. 

What if I have a complaint about a staff member or volunteer?

• If you've had an unsatisfactory interaction with a staff member or volunteer you can:
  • speakwith the facility operator;
  • speak with the park manager or conservation officer in charge of the site; or
  • provide your feedback online or by calling 1-866-427-3582 during regular office hours.
• According to our annual Camper Satisfaction Survey, campers are generally very satisfied with our staff and our volunteers.

Camping Fees

Why does camping cost so much?

• Each campground's fees are determined based on limits set by the Government of Alberta based on market demand and services available. 
• $3.00 from every overnight camping fee is reinvested in parks across Alberta. This levy is used to improve existing facilities and to develop new facilities.
• Alberta's camping fees are comparable to fees charged in national parks, parks in other jurisdictions, and privately owned campgrounds.
• Park entry and day use fees are not charged in Alberta's provincial parks.

Are there camping fee discounts for seniors?

• Some campgrounds offer senior discounts for people aged 65 or older. Age verification may be required at check-in.
• Senior discounts typically range from $1 to $3 per night.
• You do not need to be an Albertan to qualify for a senior discount.
• For campgrounds available for online reservations that offer senior discounts, the discount is applied at check-in. A senior discount cannot be applied when the reservation is made.  
• The Information & Facilities page for each campground indicates if there is a senior discount, e.g. Carson-Pegasus Campground.

Campsite Reservations

Why aren't more campsites available for reservation? Why aren't more campsites available on a first come-first served basis?

• Some campers would like more reservation campsites; others want more first come-first served campsites.
• The percentage of reservation sites at individual campgrounds is determined by the park manager based on demand.
• Many campgrounds offering campsite reservations also have some first come-first served campsites.
• Unreserved campsites are available to campers who don't have a reservation.
• Some campgrounds offer only first come-first served campsites.

Disabled Accessibility

What disabled accessible facilities are available in Alberta's parks?

• William Watson Lodge in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park provides accommodation for Albertans with disabilities in accessible cabins and campsites. It also has barrier-free trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, barrier-free picnic sites and barrier-free fishing areas.
• Park facilities such as shower buildings are now built for accessibility. The newly built visitor centres at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park are barrier-free, as is the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation in Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park.
• We are working to identify all barrier-free facilities (including campsites) in Alberta's provincial parks.
• Disabled access campsites are identified on Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca (or check our list). 
• Disabled accessibility is indicated under Information & Facilities for campgrounds, e.g. Miquelon Lake Campground. 
• Inclusion & Accessibility has more information on our efforts to remove barriers, support inclusion and increase capacity.

Firewood

Why is firewood so expensive?

• The cost of firewood includes both the wood and the cost of transporting it to the site.
• Authorized suppliers provide firewood at Alberta's parks.

How is firewood supplied?

• Two methods are used to charge for firewood:
  • a contractor provides direct sale of firewood either from a central location or by delivery of wood at predetermined times; or
  • a surcharge is added to each overnight camping fee and access to firewood is available at the campground.

• Icons on the Information & Facilities page for each camground indicate if there is "Firewood Sold in Area" (e.g. Brewer's Campground) or "Firewood Available" (e.g. Chambers Creek Campground) for that location.

Signs

Can highway directional signage be improved?

• Alberta Transportation installs directional signs on provincial highways and along access roads into provincial parks. We assess the adequacy of these signs on an ongoing basis. When a need is identified, we work with Alberta Transportation.
• Municipal authorities (i.e counties) are responsible for signs along local roads.

Are internal campground and trail signs being improved?

• We are implementing a new sign program and are improving and replacing signs in a number of parks each year.
• A multi-year roll-out is necessary given the number of sites and facilities in our system. 

Safety and security

Why do some provincial parks have liquor bans on the May long weekend?

• Alberta's parks need to be safe and enjoyable places for everyone.
• During May long weekends, a temporary liquor ban is in place at select provincial campgrounds.
• In Alberta, the highest number of liquor-related enforcement interventions at provincial campgrounds happen during the May long weekend.
• Provincial campgrounds that enforce temporary liquor bans on the May long weekend experience a dramatic decrease in unacceptable behaviours including vandalism, impaired driving, assault and other crimes that endanger park users and staff.
• Notification of liquor bans is posted under Advisories and on the landing page of each park with a ban. 

What if I have a complaint about other visitors?

• Report concerns about other visitors to a conservation officer, the facility operator or other staff.  
• If there is danger to public safety and a conservation officer is not available, contact the RCMP.

Washrooms/showers

Why don't all provincial campgrounds have running water, flush toilets and shower facilities?

• In some parks, providing running water is not be feasible.
• Running water is very expensive to install and maintain in campgrounds, a major factor in determining whether or not such services are provided.
• In some campgrounds water is hauled in. In other sites, it is pumped from a lake or other source, then treated and stored in a cistern.
• As funding becomes available, we will continue to install modern washroom and shower facilities at campgrounds where running water is feasible .

Why aren't hand sanitizers provided at all provincial campground toilets?

• We recognize how important it is for visitors to properly clean their hands.
• We have installed hand sanitizers in vault toilet buildings.
• Theft and vandalism has limited the success of this service at some sites.
• Since we can't guarantee that there will be hand sanitizer available at every toilet facility, we recommend that visitors bring their own hand sanitizer.

Why are the toilets so smelly?

• By their nature, outdoor toilets tend to smell. Hot summer temperatures make the situation worse by causing more gas to be released from the contents of holding tanks.
• To minimize odours, toilets are cleaned and holding tanks emptied regularly.
• Visitors can help by closing toilet lids. This allows gases to be released through the outside vents on toilet buildings.