subject: Things To Do In Calgary: (more) Camping [print this page] Calgary has a lot to offer it's occupants in they way of camping and outdoor recreation. However, as green as this city is becoming it barely holds a candle to the ranges of the Rocky Mountains on it's horizon. However, I know that some people have a... slanted view of what camping is like...
But, trust me. It's not like that, and it's glorious. Also, for any one of our extended stay guests in our furnished apartments, getting out of the city to see more of what the province of Alberta has to offer can only be a good thing. So, here are a few well situated campgrounds that will allow you to escape from the hustle and bustle of civilization for a while, but are accessible enough for almost anyone.
Quaite Valley Campground: I know, I know. I already mentioned this one in another article. But, in my defence it's the closest campground to Calgary that is both in the Rocky Mountains and easy to get to. It's also got some great hiking and scrambling, and some even better Rock Climbing nearby at the Alphabit crag, or on some the extended ledges of Heart Mountain itself. Multi-day trips can be done by taking the valley all the way down to Barrier Lake. The picture here is a shot of the campground seen from one of the overlooking mountain peaks.
Bow Valley Campground: Just another 15 minutes drive down the Trans- Canada from Quaite Valley will bring you to the turn-off for the Three Sisters Parkway and the Bow Valley Campground. It's a car camping site, as easy to access as it gets, and the location is on a beautiful stretch of Bow River. There's plenty of fishing to be done nearby, and on a nice day you can also just sit and watch the canoers float by.
Lake Minnewanka Campground(s): Lake Minnewanka, at 28 km long, is the longest lake in the Canadian Rockies and there are actually five campgrounds arrayed around the northern rim of it. You can get to the western side of the lake by following Lake Minnewanka road (spoiler alert!: Lake Minnewanka road leads to Lake Minnewanka!) and the first campsite is a very easy 7.8 kilometres in on the well-maintained hiking/biking path. This is easily one of the most scenic camping areas in the Rockies, and the trails are usually pretty well clear by the middle of May. There are also five trail junctions that allow for some interesting multi-day trip possibilities.
