A family gathers around a firepit to make s’mores at Cypress Hills Provincial Park. Credit: Travel Alberta
Whether they were exploring the trails, dipping in the water, spending time in nature or taking part in events and programs, visitors made the most of Alberta’s 305 provincial parks this summer. Despite a rainy summer in many parts of the province, visitors didn’t let the weather dampen their adventure plans, with more than 570,000 camper nights reserved at the end of summer camping season in mid-September.
“Albertans love getting outdoors, and another busy summer season shows just how important high-quality recreation opportunities are to Alberta families. We know that continued investments in trails, campsites and recreation infrastructure mean that we can keep the adventure going, ensuring these outdoor spaces can stay safe, affordable and enjoyable for years to come.”
Beyond camping, Alberta Parks staff made sure that visitors could enjoy quality, affordable and family-friendly opportunities across the province. Front-line staff had more than 650,000 interactions with visitors and ran almost 3,000 programs, including interpretation, formal education, special events, recreation and public safety programming.
Adventures for right now and investments for the future
Alberta’s government is committed to improving trails, campgrounds and infrastructure in provincial parks so Albertans have a range of ways to enjoy the outdoors. Trail updates completed over the past few years at Ha Ling Peak, Prairie Mountain and Mount Yamnuska have worked to create a better visitor experience while providing safer trails for visitors to enjoy.
“Trails and campgrounds go hand in hand. Many Albertans head out on a trail and spend the night at a campsite, so investing in camping infrastructure supports the whole outdoor experience. Alberta TrailNet Society is pleased to see this continued commitment to the places our members enjoy.”
So far in 2026, almost 70 capital projects have been completed, including refurbished and upgraded facilities at Sikome Aquatic Facility, formalization of Pocaterra Cirque trail, access road upgrades in Brazeau Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area, a septic system replacement at Red Lodge Provincial Park, a brand-new visitor centre and sanitary dump station at Thunder Lake Provincial Park and road and crossing upgrades at Rock Lake Provincial Park. Each of these investments prioritizes safe and sustainable outdoor recreation, all while managing the pressures on the landscape.
“Alberta's winter is a big season for snowmobilers and having some campgrounds open through the colder months makes a real difference. It gives Albertans and visiting snowmobilers a safe, convenient place to stay and a base to explore from. The Alberta Snowmobile Association is pleased to see Alberta's continued support for year-round camping.”
Alberta’s government is also advancing its commitment to develop more than 900 new campsites by 2031, which is two years ahead of schedule. Construction is underway on 80 new campsites across the province, including Pigeon Lake Provincial Park, Freeman Lake Public Land Recreation Area, Waterton Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area and the Coffin Bridge campsite at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.
Quick facts
- When visiting an Alberta Park, visitors typically spend about $600 on goods and services in the surrounding area, bringing in positive economic benefits to local communities.
- About 6,400 campsites were available at a 25 per cent discount for seniors, making it easier for seniors to get outside and enjoy nature.
- Thousands of tour tickets were sold for experiences at UNESCO world heritage sites Dinosaur Provincial Park and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.
- Through Budget 2026, Alberta’s Capital Plan invests more than $275 million over three years in provincial parks and Crown land recreation infrastructure, including more than $87 million in projects in 2026-27.
- Most provincial parks were developed in the 1970s and 1980s for a population of 1.8 million people, far below Alberta’s current population of about five million people.