Boulton Creek Campground: Car Camping in Kananaskis Country

What’s the best way to spend a long weekend for Calgarians? How about camping in Kananaskis at Boulton Creek Campground! Long weekends are few and far between, and I always relish the chance to camp someplace new and discover different trails. Early on in my Alberta chapter, I frantically searched online for an August reservation in Kananaskis. About 45 minutes later, I had finally booked Boulton Creek Campground in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.

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Last Updated: January 25, 2024

I lived in Alberta for about six years, and at this point, I can say that Kananaskis Country is one of my favourite places to explore in Canada. Early on in our Alberta chapter, all I heard about was this fantastic place called Kananaskis. Of course, my expectations were extremely high and I landed a long weekend reservation online. I couldn’t wait!

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Boulton Creek Campground — Weekend Camping in Kananaskis

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Boulton Creek Campground is about two hours from Calgary. Driving into Kananaskis is spectacular, surrounded by the towering Rocky Mountains. Easily one of the best drives in Canada, everyone should experience Kananaskis at least once. Full of excitement, Jen and I arrived Friday evening after work, set up our tent and hammocks, and settled for a relaxing evening. After driving across the country only a few weeks ago, it felt nice to arrive at camp before midnight (and not need to drive 12 hours the next day!).

Read next: Galatea Lakes Hike in Kananaskis Country, Alberta

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Lower Kananaskis Lake Canoeing

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At first, Saturday morning was nothing but peace and quiet. I cooked bacon and eggs on my Coleman Stove purchased second-hand from Trailblazers in Cochrane (great outdoor store!). After finishing our tea and packing up for our day of exploring, we saw something quite unfamiliar to East Coasters. We came across a young GRIZZLY BEAR chowing down on berries and bushes near the bike trail entrance. We really were in the heart of bear country! Park staff kept watch until he eventually moved along. This was only one of five different bear sightings in the area, including another in our campground and near Upper Kananaskis Lake. Amazing.

After the bear excitement, we made our way to the Lower Kananaskis Lake boat launch for a morning paddle. We launched our Mad River canoe and glided onto the glass-like lake. If you don’t have your own canoe or kayak, you can rent from Kananaskis Outfitters nearby. Felt great to be back on the water. Sticking close to the left shore, we paddled south on Lower Kananaskis and later cut across close to the Upper Kananaskis dam. We found a spot for a quick (and brisk!) swim and watched white suckers swim by. These glacier-fed Kananaskis Lakes are often too cold for swimming, but the water was refreshing on this 30-degree day. We were happy with our 13 km trip in about 4 hours on the water.

Note: Kananaskis is bear country. Always keep a safe distance if you encounter a bear, and never approach or feed them. Carry bear spray and know how to use it. Make noise while hiking to avoid surprising a bear. Always store food and garbage securely.

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Biking Trails in Kananaskis

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After a morning and part of the afternoon paddling, a good rest in the hammocks, and our supper meal, we planned to ride our bikes from Boulton Creek to Upper Kananaskis Lake. With our eyes peeled, we hopped on the bike path (yes, that’s the same path where the grizzly was seen in the morning) and connected to the Upper Kananaskis pathway by the Boulton Creek Trading Post. I should mention, The Trading Post is the campground store with food and snacks, tasty ice cream, and canoe, kayak, and bike rentals.

We found about 12 km of bike paths in the park. Distance to Upper Kananaskis Lake is only about 4 km but may seem a bit longer if you get caught in torrential downpour and a boomin’ thunderstorm (like us!). What an adventure.

Read more: 5 Best Bike Paths in Calgary, Alberta

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Upper Kananaskis Lake Hike

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On Sunday, we decided to hike the loop around Upper Kananaskis Lake. Arriving around noon, the weather was sunny and warm and the trail was relatively quiet. We found some excitement at the start of our hike when walking passed a grizzly bear grazing in the forest. Always keep a safe distance and have bear spray ready in case of an encounter.

We hiked over 19 km in about five hours, with phenomenal views of the turquoise lake and Rocky Mountain landscape towering above. Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail is a longer day trip. Bring a day pack, water bottle, snacks, rain jacket, and first aid kit along. Definitely a worthwhile hike in Kananaskis Country!

Read more: Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail: Family-Friendly Hike in Alberta

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What To Bring Kananaskis Camping

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Here is my car camping in Kananaskis packing list:

Boulton Creek Campground — Fantastic Kananaskis Camping!

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Boulton Creek Campground is a great place to enjoy camping in Kananaskis! Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend or many activities within reach, Boulton Creek Campground is an ideal spot for a weekend getaway. If we stayed longer, I would have paddled the Upper Kananaskis Lake (though it gets windy) and even hike the short Lower Kananaskis Trail. Paved bike paths are great for cyclists and the two pristine lakes are fun for everyone. For the adventurous types, there are several day hikes nearby like Pocaterra Ridge and King Creek Ridge.

Read next: The Mount Yamnuska Hike Near Canmore, Alberta

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Have you stayed at Boulton Creek Campground? Have you tried camping in Kananaskis? Tell me about your experience. Leave a comment below!