Dinosaur Provincial Park in southern Alberta. (Photo 254586965 © David Butler | Dreamstime.com)

By Chris Brown

Province investing in campgrounds, trails

Mar 30, 2023 | 11:04 AM

The Alberta government is investing in campgrounds and trails to improve and expand recreation in and access to provincial parks and Crown land.

According to the province, $211.3 million will be invested over three years in Alberta’s great outdoors.

“Our provincial parks and public lands support recreation opportunities and connect Albertans and visitors to the great outdoors,” says Todd Loewen, minister of forestry, parks and tourism, in a news release. “This investment allows us to expand and enhance campgrounds, trails and recreation infrastructure, ensuring these areas will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.”

The province says there are currently 60 campground, day-use area and trail enhancement projects are underway in Alberta, representing an investment of $50.9 million in 2023. Overall, its aim is to create more than 900 new campsites and several new locations for comfort camping across the province.

The government will work with Travel Alberta to identify locations for new campgrounds and expansions.

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The province says more than 10 million people visited Alberta’s provincial parks in 2022.

Quick facts

• $211.3 million is being invested over three years to improve and expand recreation and access in parks and across Crown lands. This includes:
  • $500,000 for Year 1 and $11 million for years 2 and 3 to build new campsites and campgrounds and develop more recreation and tourism opportunities.
  • $2 million for Year 1 and $12 million for years 2 and 3 to build and improve Crown land trails.
  • $7.6 million for Year 1 and $2 million for Year 2 to establish Big Island Provincial Park.
  • $67.1 million for Year 1 and $109.1 million for years 2 and 3 in capital investment to improve existing infrastructure in provincial parks and public lands across the province.
• Budget 2023 capital investment across the province:
  • Parks Kananaskis Region: $15.1 million
  • Parks Central Region: $18.1 million
  • Parks Northern Region: $18.3 million
  • Parks Southern Region: $14.6 million
  • Public lands: $5.6 million
  • Provincial initiatives: $3 million
  • New campgrounds: $500,000
  • Crown land trails: $2 million
• Highlights of 2023-24 funded capital projects:
  • $1.7 million to refurbish, formalize and maximize the capacity of Spray Lakes West Campground and for road resurfacing in Spray Valley Provincial Park.
  • $3.9 million to continue modernizing Aspen Beach Provincial Park, including developing a new shower building and refurbishing campsites, electrical systems, water and wastewater infrastructure and toilets.
  • $6.2 million to repair and upgrade sanitary stations and wastewater systems at Long Lake Provincial Park, Cross Lake Provincial Park, Garner Lake Provincial Park, Gregoire Lake Provincial Park, Lakeland Provincial Park, Saskatoon Island Provincial Park and Young’s Point Provincial Park.
  • $1.6 million to repair and refurbish trails and crossings in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Castle Provincial Park and Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
  • $260,000 to complete assessment, planning and design work for trail refurbishment at Cardinal Headwaters in Coal Branch Public Land Use Zone, the MacKenzie Creek watershed, Mount Hamell, Muskeg Falls and Twin Falls.
  • $1.3 million to refurbish trails and amenities in the Kananaskis Public Land Use Zone and for design work to refurbish the Powderface Trail in Kananaskis Country.