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Shortly after 8 pm, the fire crackling and our bellies full of chips, hot dogs, and S’mores (there is no law stating you need to eat healthy on a boys-only camping trip) – I pulled out the banjo. You know, when in Rome. Of course, given the fact my kids would much rather listen to Beyoncé than bluegrass, the pluckin’ didn’t gain traction. Plus, there were ghost stories to tell. You, know when in Rome...or camping in Southern Alberta.

If you ask me, Canada and camping go hand in hand. They’re like cake and ice cream. Beer and nachos. Yes, there’s something about our wild and remote places, our natural beauty, that’s perfectly suited to the wonderful “sport” of camping.

Of course, one of the beautiful things about camping is you can do it in a variety of settings and it “works” just fine. In fact, the many places you can pitch your tent – in valleys, forests, badlands, and beside rivers or lakes – makes southern Alberta one of the best regions for camping in the country.

But, unless you’re a backcountry superstar - a Grizzly Adams, Survivorman, or Bear Grylls – you are going to need a nice campground so you can relax and properly enjoy your beer, back bacon, and banjo. And, thankfully, southern Alberta is

chock-full of excellent, well-maintained campgrounds. Another key reason why it scores high with camping fans!

In spite of the massive and devastating Kenow Wildfire in 2017, camping in Waterton Lakes National Park could easily be considered the quintessential Southern Alberta camping experience. Butting up against the ragged Rockies that abruptly rise from the grassy plains, Waterton Lakes is, first and foremost, a place of striking natural beauty. The quaint townsite along the lake, the majestic prairies-meet-mountains scenery, and the numerous outdoor recreation options – such as biking, hiking, canoeing, and fishing – make the Waterton area a prime location for camping.

Although the popular Crandell Mountain Campground, which is situated in the lovely Blakiston Valley along the Red Rock Parkway, was destroyed by the fire (it is currently being rebuilt and scheduled to reopen in 2022), the Townsite Campground is a great substitute. The location, at the south end of the quaint townsite and on the rocky shores of Waterton Lake, is ideal. You can walk basically everywhere you want to go and the amenities, like the newly-renovated showers and super clean restrooms, are above par.

If you’re touring through Waterton and the southwest corner of Alberta and mountain camping is on your bucket list, you should have the Beaver Mines Lake Campground on your radar. This gem of a campground, which is located 20 km west of Pincher Creek in Castle Provincial Park, features treeframed sites along the shores of an awesome mountain lake. Bring your fishing rod and you can fish right from your site! The hiking here, such as the rewarding (albeit difficult!) 10 km journey to the top ofTable Mountain, is outstanding. Fishing and canoeing (there is a public boat launch) are also popular pastimes at Beaver Mines Lake Provincial Recreation Area.

For a taste of something completely different, camping in the striking Alberta Badlands can be unforgettable. In the morning and evening, just watching the golden, low-angled light peel across the eroded landforms can be surreal. The Dinosaur Campground, which is located in the heart of the badlands in Dinosaur Provincial Park, is a great getaway for families as the hiking, among the towering cottonwoods along the river and along the hoodoos, is relatively easy. The well-kept campground features 120 RV and tent-friendly sites with powered and pull-through options. Many of the sites back onto a creek.

Another great getaway can be found in Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park near Milk River. Here you can enjoy year-round camping and hike among hoodoos, explore ancient pictographs, and swim in the scenic river slicing through some of the most striking badlands terrain in Canada.

Little Bow Provincial Park, Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, Aspen Crossing Campground, and Old Man River Provincial Park are a few other options with excellent reviews.

Due to its proximity from Calgary (1 hr southwest of the city), our go-to is typically Bluerock in Sheep River Provincial Park. Here we can all play in the creek, enjoy amazing mountain views, sit by the fire, eat S’mores, and, of course, enlighten all lucky listeners to some hillbilly banjo plucking. Photos and Story By: Andrew Penner

If you need it out here, we have it in here.

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Photo Courtesy of Holly Heuver

Tucked away in the southwest corner of Alberta, is one of the gems of Canada’s national park system - Waterton Lakes National Park.

Established in 1895, Waterton Lakes National Park is an ideal destination for hikers, campers or anyone who just wants to relax and enjoy the scenery.

It is a unique park capturing the edge of the Alberta prairie grasslands and then within a kilometre rises to icy mountain peaks nearly 3000 m high. The three Waterton Lakes, nestling between two mountain ranges, are more than 150 m deep, the deepest in the Rockies. The northern, lower end of the main lake is in Canada, while southern, upper end of the lake is in Montana's Glacier National Park.

Oil exploration and mining were part of its early history with the first drilling rig in western Canada operating on Cameron Creek. The Western Coal and Oil Company of Vancouver were responsible for the first settlement, now the Waterton townsite. Oil and mining activities were shut down within a few years, as the park began to develop its tourism industry.

In 1932, this park was united with Montana's Glacier National Park to create the world's first international peace park. In 1995 the two areas were declared a World Heritage Site based on the exceptionally rich plant and mammal diversity, and on the outstanding glacial and alpine scenery.

A visit to Waterton Lakes National Parks today offers a variety of serviced & wilderness camping opportunities, and extensive hiking opportunities among breathtaking landscapes.

The hamlet of Waterton nestled against the lakeshore, offers year-round hotel, dining, and shopping opportunities. Across the bay from the hamlet on a hill overlooking the lake is the iconic, 86 room, Prince ofWales Hotel, built in 1927 by Great Northern Railway of United States. There are a number of websites providing details on all the parks attractions, facilities and events. Visit: mywaterton.ca. By: Lee Hart