Smutwood Peak is a popular hike in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, offering hikers spectacular 360-degree views. Alberta Parks offer outdoor enthusiasts a wide range of landscapes and outdoor activities.--NEWS PHOTO ZOE MASON
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Visitation at Alberta’s parks was up across the board in 2025, with millions of visitors flocking to parks across the province.
According to new data, all campground types, including backcountry, front country and comfort camping, saw an increase in bookings in 2025.
More than 280,000 camping reservations were made for summer 2025, a seven per cent increase in reservable camping over 2024 and the highest level since 2021.
Of Alberta’s 305 parks, Bow Valley and Peter Lougheed Provincial Parks in Kananaskis Country saw the most traffic. Some local scenery rounded out the top five parks of 2025, which included Aspen Beach, Pigeon Lake and the nearby Cypress Hills.
The busiest month for parks was August, with the August long weekend marking the busiest weekend of the year.
Eighty-one per cent of Alberta Parks reservations came from Albertans, but the remainder consisted of campers from 59 countries, reflecting the global appeal of Alberta’s natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Changes to the Alberta Parks reservation system this year streamlined booking for campers and yielded impressive results. The new notification feature on the Parks reservation platform made booking high-demand campsites easier. Alberta Parks says the feature was used 54,000 times and produced 13,000 additional reservations.
With the G7 Leaders’ Summit hosted in Kananaskis Country in June, the region had a strong summer season, welcoming more than five million visitors.
The province also rolled out its new camping fee discount program for Alberta seniors in 2025. The 25 per cent discount is available at more than 140 campgrounds across the province for Albertans over the age of 65.
More than 34,000 nights were booked using the seniors discount. The most popular destination for campers using the discount was Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, which brought in more than 1,100 reservations using the new promotion.
More than 3,000 interpretive programs were delivered by parks staff this year with a visitor satisfaction rate of almost 97 per cent.
“It’s been a fantastic year for Alberta Parks, and the numbers make it clear that demand for outdoor experiences continues to grow in our province,” said Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen.
“We know how important it is for Albertans to have high-quality outdoor experiences. Alberta’s government continues to meet the needs of Albertans as they explore our beautiful natural heritage and wilderness.”
As the winter season kicks off with a whole new set of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, 530 campsites at 13 campgrounds offer year-round recreation opportunities.
Visitors typically spend about $600 on goods and services in the surrounding area when they visit an Alberta park, bringing in positive economic benefits for local and rural communities.
