Alberta Targets 900 New Campsites As Demand Surges

Alberta is planning a significant expansion of campground capacity, but it remains unclear how much of that growth will ease mounting pressure in high-demand areas like the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country.

As part of Budget 2026, the province says it is on track to build more than 900 new campsites by 2033, including more than 300 expected to be completed by the end of 2027. In 2026-27 alone, officials say 118 new campsites are planned at four identified locations across Alberta.

“Budget 2026 is focused on building what matters to Albertans,” said Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks. “Alberta’s government is investing in the places people value today, while enhancing them for future generations, ensuring they have access to safe, memorable experiences however they choose to recreate.”

The expansion comes as demand for camping continues to climb, particularly in the Bow Valley, home to some of the province’s busiest parks. Alberta Parks reported more than 280,000 summer camping reservations in 2025, a 7% increase from the previous year, while Kananaskis Country alone saw about five million visitors.

Bow Valley and Peter Lougheed provincial parks were the most visited in the province last year, according to Alberta Parks, underscoring the strain on campsites and day-use areas in the region.

Despite that surge in use, the campsites currently planned for 2026-27 are outside the Bow Valley. The province says 118 new sites expected next year will be built at Freeman Lake Public Land Recreation Area, Pigeon Lake Provincial Park, Waterton Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area and Two Lakes Provincial Park.

In a statement, the Department of Forestry and Parks said project locations are selected based on a range of factors, including visitor demand, environmental considerations and existing infrastructure.

“We also take into consideration alignment with Alberta’s Tourism Strategy to support local visitor economies and ensure equitable access to recreation for rural communities,” the department said.

The department said extensive planning and assessment work is required before new campsites can be built, including environmental and historical reviews, as well as consultation and engagement. While it did not identify any specific obstacles to meeting short-term construction targets, the department said timelines can be affected by factors such as weather, labour shortages, supply chain issues and environmental sensitivities.

“There are many factors we take into consideration that can affect the time and delivery of a project,” the department said. “We work to ensure that we have done the appropriate consultations, review and engagement for projects to ensure minimized risk.”

While large-scale expansion in the Bow Valley appears limited in the near term, the province says upgrades were completed last year in Kananaskis Country. Recent work includes improvements to the Jewell Bay backcountry campground in Bow Valley Provincial Park, as well as upgrades at Etherington Creek and Spray West campgrounds. The province did not specify what upgrades took place at each site or whether they meaningfully increased campsite capacity.

Alberta Parks documents show that previous renovations at the Spray West campground in Spray Valley Provincial Park reconfigured the site to accommodate 65 campsites – an increase of 15 – along with upgrades to washroom facilities, new designated recreation areas, a firebreak and more than 34 hectares of habitat enhancement. Some decommissioned campsites were also naturalized to improve wildlife habitat.

With visitation continuing to rise in the Bow Valley, it remains unclear whether new campsites elsewhere will ease booking pressure in one of Alberta’s busiest recreation corridors.