Best Places to Camp in Alberta

The Globe and Mail recently ran an article on the best camping sites in Canada, the article itself only had room to list six, but the readers wrote in and added many more.

Here are the camp sites for Alberta:

DINOSAUR PROVINCIAL PARK, ALBERTA

Comment “Spectacular badlands scenery, great hiking through the
hoodoos, a small dinosaur museum on site with the Royal Tyrell Museum
an easy drive from this park.”

– I. Ignatius, Toronto

Highlight With a rich legacy of fossil hunting and with hoodoos,
pinnacles, coulees and buttes rising up on all sides, this UNESCO
World Heritage Site makes visitors feel like time travellers.

Ambience At twilight, with the hoodoos resembling all manner of
monsters, this 81-square-kilometre park can be downright spooky – in a
cool way. But you’ll have plenty of company in the summer. Overnight
crowds are kept in check, however, as there are just 126 sites split
over the north and south campgrounds.

Amenities The two campgrounds include 59 powered sites. There is also
a 10-unit group camp that has its own shelter, outdoor toilets, fire
ring and water tap. There is also an indoor theatre, outdoor
amphitheatre, bookstore, showers, a concession stand and a laundromat.

Diversions There is a brontosaurus-sized selection of guided hikes,
tours and lectures. For sedentary visitors, the Badlands Bus Tour
provides a two-hour overview of the park’s geography, wildlife and
history. For more active types, the 31/2-hour Great Badlands Hike
rambles through rugged terrain. And for the studious, a Fossil Lab
Talk explores the preparation of excavated fossils.

Flora and fauna Along the riverbanks, cottonwood and willow trees
mingle with saskatoon, rose and buffalo-berry bushes. Cacti,
greasewood and sage mottle the badlands. Coyotes may be spotted but
are more often heard – again with the spookiness. Warblers,
woodpeckers and waterfowl live among the cottonwoods, while golden
eagles and prairie falcons soaring above.

Pest factor Watch your step: Rattlesnakes, black widow spiders and
scorpions call this park home.

Insider tip Plan to spend at least two days in the park – there’s too
much to do and see in one day.

Information The park is a three-hour drive east of Calgary. Visit www.tpr.alberta.ca
; reservations: 403-378-3700.

Vern Wallace from Canada writes: Banff National Park

David Bird from Fernie, Canada writes: For the past 18 years I
have been organizing and annual May long weekend canoe trip to start
off the canoeing season. For many of these we have paddled the Bow
from Lake Louise to Canmore. Usually we camp at the Castle Mountain
Campsite midway between L. Louise and Banff. This spot may have the
distinction of having the most predictable weather in Canada over this
particular weekend. I will not say it always rains, sometimes it
snows. The weather does not matter, we have a great group of
individuals who gather to share the paddling experience, paddling
stories, memories, way too much food, and camaraderie. the essence of
a great camping spot is the individuals you share it with. I carry
great memories of this spot.

Kitchener de Regina from Canada writes: Cypress Hills
Interprovincial Park, the most beautiful park I have ever seen, truly
amazing.
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