July Newsletter - Campgrounds in Alberta

Summer has officially arrived!  Lunch boxes are stowed, spelling and math tests have been recycled, the bells have rang out another year and the graduating class of 2016 is enjoying those last months before official adulthood status kicks in.  So what are Alberta residents up to for the summer?  Well if you take a drive down any highway connected to our great city, you will quickly notice the abundance of campers, trailers and backcountry toys.  Making smores, roasting hotdogs and chatting around a campfire is something many of us have spent time enjoying.  Whether you are cozied up in a tent at the top of the rockies, enjoying coffee on the porch of the family cabin or set up at the lake in a full sized trailer, camping is such a great way for families to spend time together.  We tend to have our favorite spots, but if you are looking for something new, why not try one of these?
Top Campgrounds in Alberta:

• Peter Lougheed Provincial Park:  ‘Point Campground’ located in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country sits on the west shore of Upper Kananaskis Lake and is rated no. 5 in a list of “Canada’s 25 Best Campgrounds”.  Families can fish for trout, hike for the views and meadows found at South Kananaskis Pass, challenge themselves with a trek to Fossil Falls or canoe and kayak on the lake.
• Columbia Icefields Campground:  This tent only site at 2000 meters elevation is one of the highest in Canada, and can be found along the famous Icefields Parkway.  If you love hiking and glaciers, this is the spot for you.
• Townsite Campground, Waterton:  This scenic campground is popular for it’s stunning lake and mountain views.  You can check out the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel, take a boat ride, pass by waterfalls and do plenty of hiking.  The bonus is that you are right in town with walking access to everything!
• Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park:  ‘Main Campground’ is enveloped in the historical importance of the Blackfoot people.  With grasslands, sandstone cliffs, badlands and hoodoos, this campground sits close to a beach along the Milk River. With a Blackfoot interpreter, families can also partake in the “Rock Art Tour” a restricted area that is home to pictographs and petroglyphs.
• Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park:  Located south-east of Medicine Hat, this is Canada’s only interprovincial park, which straddles the Alberta and Saskatchewan border.  Elkwater Campground is popular on the Alberta side.  With every lake activity one can imagine from fishing and kayaking to boating and seadoos, visitors can truly enjoy a fresh water lake experience.  Families can hike, bike and even zipline!
• Dinosaur Provincial Park, Drumheller:  We all know that this is the land of badlands, hoodoos….and dinos, including the world’s largest Dinosaur and the incredible Royal Tyrell Museum.  Camping here is something that is extremely popular among Alberta families with it’s abundance of activities and unique terrain.
• Tunnel Mountain, Banff:  There is no shortage of scenery, hiking and activity from this popular campground.  Being located on the edge of the townsite means families have easy access to everything they need, and strolling main street Banff is a favorite tourist pastime.
• Lesser Slave Lake:  If lazy days on the beach, or any water activity from kayaking and paddleboarding to waterskiing and fishing are on your agenda, then Alberta’s largest lake has it all.  With campgrounds just outside of town dotting the lakeshore, you have easy access to the town’s amenities.

Albert has so many incredible campgrounds, and we each seem to have our favorites.  We would love if you shared yours with us!  Regardless of how you will be spending your summer, we hope it is filled with days of fun and sun.  If this summer sees you considering the housing market, or if you know someone who is, we happen to spend the summer working!  It has been a very complicated market in 2016, and our experienced team is here to help you every step of the way.
Have a fantastic July!
The Brent MacIntosh Real Estate Team