By The Canadian Press and files from Alberta Government

Alberta puts $5.2 million into Kananaskis Country for campsites, river access

Sep 20, 2018 | 4:28 PM

KANANASKIS – The Alberta government is putting $5.2 million into a redevelopment plan for Kananaskis Country as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations.

Officials say the money will be used in the Lower Kananaskis River and Barrier Lake area at the north end of the popular recreation region west of Calgary.

They say it will include new campsites, new river access points and a whitewater training facility.

Officials say some of the money will also be used to improve parking lots and trails in the area.

Kananaskis Country, which also includes Peter Lougheed and Spray Valley provincial parks, was officially created by former premier Peter Lougheed on Sept. 22, 1978.

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It includes more than 4,000 square kilometres of protected area.

Project sites highlights:

Canoe Meadows day-use area and group camp

— Expanded and formalized public parking area.
— A new camping area with individually bookable walk-in tenting sites.
— A training and meeting centre (private sector opportunity).
— Upgrades to the group campground, including a new group shelter and formalized tent pads.
— A trail and river put-in for people with limited mobility.
— Formalized pedestrian access to the river.
— Installation of two open-air change rooms – one in the main parking area and another in the camping area.
— Installation of gear-drying racks in the day-use area.

Barrier Lake Visitor Centre and day-use area:

— Expanded parking and designated parking areas for carpoolers and visitor centre users.
— A river surfer staging area with small parking area, surf board rack, and picnic opportunities.
— Installation of a heated change room at the surfer staging area.

Widowmaker day-use area:

— Formalized public parking.
— A new commercial operator put-in upstream

Barrier Lake day-use area:

— A new hand boat launch and associated road access.
— A water sports equipment rental hut (private sector opportunity).
— Expanded parking. 
— Decommissioning half of the access loop road, under-used pull-out parking and under-used trails.
— Construction of a Connection Corner trail
— Potential small-scale tourism accommodation (private sector opportunity).