Skip to content

Popular topics:

Public Land Use Zones

Maps, activities and regulations for recreational use of public land use zones (PLUZs).

Table of contents

Due to the high to extreme fire danger in many parts of the province, Albertans are strongly advised to restrict outdoor recreation on public land in northwest Alberta. Review current public land restrictions, closures and advisories at:

Wildfire emergency updates

Overview

Public land supports industrial, commercial, agricultural and cultural uses, as well as recreation.

A Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ) is an area of public land that is designated under the Public Lands Administration Regulation in Alberta. A PLUZ is a tool for managing recreational activity while considering other land uses.

  • A PLUZ is created for a specific land base and the unique conditions that exist within that land base.
  • A PLUZ is established to better manage recreation that occurs in a specific area.
  • PLUZ conditions are designed primarily to protect areas containing sensitive resources and managing conflict between recreation and other activities like industrial and commercial land uses.
  • PLUZs are not designated as parks or protected areas.
  • Currently, there are 18 PLUZs designated on public land in Alberta. Find PLUZs on Interactive Recreation Map. PLUZ are shown in purple.

Recreation in PLUZs

  • Recreation activities

    Each PLUZ offers unique recreation activities. Select an activity to learn more about where recreation opportunities are located and activity-specific rules on public land.

  • Know before you go

    Make time ahead of any outdoor adventure to plan ahead and prepare. Following a few simple steps can help ensure you have fun and stay safe so you can enjoy the great outdoors.

    • Choose a trail that matches the skill and abilities of your group.
    • Check for any area and trail closures.
    • Check for fire advisories and bans.
    • Know the terrain and plan for natural hazards and potential emergencies.
    • Know the rules of the trail or area you are visiting, and for your planned activities.
    • Learn more about rules on Provincial Trails. Check the forecast and be prepared for all weather conditions.
    • Assign someone to be your emergency contact. Let them know where you are going and when you will return. Let your emergency contact know to contact the RCMP if you miss your return check-in. 

  • Stay safe

    • Go prepared. Carry extra food and water, warm clothing, a waterproof layer and a first aid kit.
    • The area you are visiting may not have cell coverage. Carry a satellite communications device (if you have one) and a current map.
    • Be BearSmart. Carry bear spray year-round and within reach. Learn more about bear safety at Alberta.ca/BearSmart
    • Respect wildlife, and never approach or feed them.
    • Call 310-LAND (5263) for general information or to report public safety incidents, illegal activities or enforcement concerns to 310-LAND (5263). 

  • Trail etiquette

    • Respect the land by leaving it in a better condition than you found it.
    • Avoid travel through wet or sensitive areas whenever possible.
    • Leave all gates and fences as you found them, open or closed.
    • Respect other users and share the trail. Motorized users should yield to non-motorized users like hikers and cyclists, and all users should yield to equestrian users.
    • Slow down when passing other users. If there is a group of you, hold up the number of fingers to indicate how many are in your group. 

Find a PLUZ

Explore the lists below for detailed maps and information about each PLUZ.

PLUZ Location Distance from Edmonton Distance from Red Deer Distance from Calgary
Athabasca Ranch East of Jasper National Park, West of Edmonton 3 hours 4.5 hours 5.5 hours
Brule Lake East of Jasper National Park, West of Edmonton 3.5 hours 4.5 hours 5.5 to 6 hours
Coal Branch East of Jasper National Park, Southwest of Edmonton 3.5 to 4 hours 3 to 4.5 hours 4.5 to 6 hours
Holmes Crossing Northwest of Edmonton 2 hours 3 hours 4.5 hours
Whitecourt Sandhills Northwest of Edmonton 2 to 2.5 hours 3.5 hours 5 hours
Blackstone/Wapiabi East of Jasper National Park, West of Red Deer 3.5 to 4 hours 2.5 hours 3.5 to 4.5 hours
Dormer/Sheep East of Banff National Park, Southwest of Red Deer 3.5 to 4 hours 2 hours 2.5 hours
Job/Cline East of Banff and Jasper National Parks, West of Red Deer 3.5 to 4 hours 2 to 2.5 hours 3 to 3.5 hours
Kiska/Willson East of Banff National 3 to 4 hours 2 to 2.5 hours 2.5 to 3.5 hours
Panther Corners East of Banff National Park, Southwest of Red Deer 3.5 hours 2 hours 2.5 hours
Upper Clearwater/Ram East of Banff National Park, West of Red Deer 3.5 hours 2 hours 2.5 to 3 hours
Cataract Creek
Snow Vehicle		 Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, Southwest of Calgary 4 to 5 hours 2.5 to 3.5 hours 1.5 hours
Ghost East of Banff National Park, West of Calgary 3 to 3.5 hours 1.5 to 2 hours 1 to 1.5 hours
Kananaskis East of Banff National Park, West of Calgary 3.5 to 4 hours 2 to 2.5 hours 1 hour
Livingstone Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, West of Lethbridge 4 to 5 hours 2.5 to 3.5 hours 1.5 to 2.5 hours
McLean Creek
Off-Highway Vehicle		 East of Banff National Park, West of Calgary 3.5 hours 2 hours 1 hours
Porcupine Hills Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, West of Lethbridge 4.5 hours 3 hours 1.5 hours
Sibbald Snow Vehicle East of Banff National Park, West of Calgary 3.5 to 4 hours 2 to 2.5 hours 45 minutes to 1 hour

Contact

Connect with us:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 310-LAND (5263) (in Alberta)
Toll free: 1-833-310-5689 (outside of Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Was this page helpful?

All fields are required unless otherwise indicated.

Your submissions are monitored by our web team and are used to help improve the experience on Alberta.ca.