Bow Valley, Kananaskis Included in $275M Parks Investment

Alberta is committing $275 million over the next three years to upgrade provincial parks and public land infrastructure, with several projects planned in Kananaskis Country and the Bow Valley as visitation to the region continues to climb.

The funding, included in Budget 2026, allocates $87 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year toward more than 70 projects across the province, including trail upgrades, campground improvements and infrastructure renewal such as utilities and facility upgrades.

“By sustaining a multi-year capital program, Budget 2026 helps protect Alberta’s natural spaces while meeting growing demand for outdoor recreation, and supporting responsible stewardship, tourism and economic activity in communities across the province,” said the department of Forestry and Parks in a statement to Bow Valley Insider.

In the Bow Valley, planned projects include upgrades at Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, such as amphitheatre renovations at the Elkwood and Boulton Creek campgrounds, improvements to the Pocaterra Cirque hiking trail and work on water and wastewater infrastructure.

Additional work is planned across the Kananaskis Public Land Use Zone, a provincially managed recreation area, including improvements along the Powderface Trail corridor, as well as paving rehabilitation and vault toilet replacements at multiple sites throughout the region.

The department said projects were selected based on a range of factors, including visitor demand, environmental considerations and the condition of existing infrastructure.

“This investment funds a variety of projects that prioritize safe, accessible, and sustainable outdoor recreation, while also managing pressures on the land due to increased visitation,” the department said.

The spending comes as Alberta’s parks system continues to see growing use, particularly in the Bow Valley and Kananaskis Country, which are among the busiest recreation areas in the province.

Provincial figures show millions of visitors travel to Alberta’s parks each year, with Kananaskis Country alone drawing roughly five million visits annually. Camping demand has also increased, with more than 280,000 summer reservations recorded in 2025, up 7% from the previous year.

Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen said the investment is part of a broader effort to maintain access while responding to that growth.

“Budget 2026 is focused on building what matters to Albertans,” Loewen said.

While the province is expanding infrastructure, many of the projects in Kananaskis focus on upgrading and formalizing existing high-use areas, such as improving trails, parking and facilities to better manage heavy use, rather than significantly increasing overall capacity.

Some projects, including work at Elkwood campground, are still underway, while others remain in the planning stage.

The department said the approach is intended to address issues linked to heavy use, including trail erosion, congestion and safety risks.

At the same time, the province plans to add 900 new campsites across Alberta by 2033, with about 300 expected in the near term.

The investment also comes amid ongoing debate over how outdoor recreation is funded in high-use areas like Kananaskis, where the provincial conservation pass generates about $15 million annually but does not cover the full cost of operations.

The department has said the pass supports services such as enforcement and maintenance, but has not provided a detailed breakdown of how revenue is allocated to specific projects.

“Projects and locations were selected considering many factors, including visitor demand and experience, environmental suitability, and infrastructure condition,” the department said. “We work to ensure that we have done the appropriate consultations, review and engagement for projects to ensure minimized risk.”

It remains unclear how much the planned upgrades will ease congestion in high-use areas like Kananaskis and the Bow Valley, as provincial officials have not said how the projects will affect overall capacity or whether additional measures to limit visitation are being considered.