By Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs - (@morrittjacobs on Twitter) with files from Alberta government

Provincial Park Camping Season Extended!

Oct 9, 2016 | 9:32 AM

ALBERTA – In order to meet increasing demand for late-season camping opportunities the province has extended the camping season at three provincial campgrounds through October 31 as part of a pilot program.

Campgrounds in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park southeast of Medicine Hat, Saskatoon Island Provincial Park west of Grande Prairie and Cold Lake Provincial Park will all be open through October 31.

This pilot program also saw Crimson Lake Provincial Park campground, northwest of Rocky Mountain House, open two weeks earlier on April 15.

The pilot will be evaluated and used to make decisions on extending the camping season in other parks next season.

Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks said that the decision to extend will promote outdoor activities in some of the provinces most beautiful parks.

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Camping in Alberta continues to be a popular recreational activity for both Albertans and tourists.

According to the provincial government park’s website, reservations on Reserve Alberta Parks are up by nearly 10 per cent to date with more than 155,000 bookings processed this past summer.

Comfort camping in particular continues to grow in popularity, with an almost 25 per cent increase in reservations over the same time period in 2015.

Parks with extended seasons
– Beaver Creek Campground in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park with access to power, hot showers and flush toilets will be open and reservable.

– The campground at Saskatoon Island Provincial Park west of Grande Prairie with power hook ups and pit toilets will be available on an extended first come, first served basis through October 31.

– The campground at Cold Lake Provincial Park, with power hook up and pit toilets, can also be reserved online at Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca through October 31.

Late-season amenities ranging from power, hot showers and flush toilets to basic services such as power hook ups and pit toilets will vary by park so potential campers are encouraged to check the Alberta Parks website  to receive the services they are looking for.

In parks where power and water might be turned off for the winter, self-registered, extended camping season opportunities will continue to be available, including at popular campgrounds around Calgary, such as, Fisher Creek Provincial Recreation Area, Chain Lakes campground and Kinbrook Island.

Earlier this year, government announced a $239 million investment in Alberta’s provincial parks system over the next five years.

The money will be used to refurbish shelters, roads, visitor information centres and water systems that have fallen into poor condition due to decades of neglect.

This investment will also support work below the ground, such as waterline replacements and cosmetic surface improvements such as painting and campsite refurbishment.

Regional projects include

NORTHEAST
– Lakeland Provincial Park – addition of comfort cabins

– English Bay Provincial Recreation Area – campground redevelopment

NORTHWEST
– Young’s Point Provincial Park – playground and day use area upgrades

– Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park – parking lot converted to a camping area

CENTRAL

– Blackfoot-Cooking Lake Provincial Recreation Area – trail system upgrade

– Wabamun Lake Provincial Park – expansion of parking lots

– Kananaskis

– West Bragg Creek Provincial Recreation Area – trailhead expansion

Sibbald Lake Provincial Recreation Area – campground and day use area expansion and upgrades

SOUTH
– Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park – boardwalk redevelopment

– Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park – roadway upgrades and trail improvements