August Long Camping Spots

SJSobczyk · #1 07-05-2007, 08:04 PM

Anyone know some good spots, within 3 hours of Calgary, that may still be available for August Long? Looking for something on a lake and preferably a beach (for the kids).

Must have some campers around here.............

Let me know

Steve

0sprey · #2 07-05-2007, 11:09 PM

There's a great campground in Rosedale, just outside of Drumheller. It's called the Kokopelli campground... super quiet. The Rosedale creek runs along the back of the campground and should be good to swim in at that time of year. Plus there's lots of stuff to do in Drumheller, just 10 mins down the road. The Atlas Coal mine also offers tours (2 mins away), and the hoodoos and suspension bridge are worth exploring, too. Bugs were bad earlier, though... bring the skeeter spray.

Delphinus · #3 07-06-2007, 04:43 AM

Within 3 hours of Calgary and a lake ... not a whole heck of a lot. Not a well published fact, but "Calgary" is an old Cree word for "not a whole lot of water within 3 hours of there", and not, as some claim, as some Scottish word or some such nonsense.

Seriously, for lakes, that's pretty slim pickings. You're looking at Kananaskis, Minnewanka (holy crap cold), Waterton (holy CRAP cold), Little Bow, Sylvan, Aspen Beach, Old Man, .. um.. Lake Newell ...

Well .. actually, see the thing is, if you say "within 3 hours of Calgary" .. Edmonton is just on the edge of that kind of distance, and there are lot of lakes up that way. But if you're looking for something "comfortably within" 3 hours I'd look up those I just listed (with the exception of Banff and Waterton, all are provincial parks).

I'll plug one in particular - Aspen Beach provincial park - it's on Gull Lake and about 2.5 hours north of here. About 20 minutes north of Sylvan Lake. Sylvan Lake is a nightmare on long weekends, I'd forget going there. But Aspen Beach - wow is it ever nice. I'd camp there in a heartbeat if it wasn't for the fact that my inlaws have a place on that lake. I just spent the last week up there, taking my 2 year old to the beach. If you have little ones, they'll love it. The lake is very shallow (21 feet at the deepest point) so it's warm, but it's remarkably clean for a prairie lake. Aspen Beach is on the south end, which is the shallow end ... you can walk out seriously like 100m before you get to waist deep - so again, very good for little kids as there's less worry about them getting in over their heads so-to-speak.

I can think of about .. hmmm easily about a half-dozen provincial parks within the area with lakes, but not really "beach" spots. Old Man is not bad, but it's sort of a ... well ... if you're not into windsurfing or kite boarding it probably doesn't have a darn thing for you. It's just a body of water with a LOT of wind (seriously, it's kind of worth seeing if you're into windsports - but - kids will probably be bored to tears).

Really it comes down to Aspen Beach or Sylvan for good beach spots. Oh no wait, Little Bow has a nice beach or two, never mind me. But I guess what I'm getting at, Sylvan is too close to Calgary and Red Deer to be a practical long weekend spot. Plus it's full of rowdies on a long weekend.

Aspen Beach on the other hand - only 20 minutes further (so you could go down to Sylvan for the day if you wanted - it IS a nice long beach worth seeing - the beach is, in fact, in the town itself and is a "day use only" provincial park so you'd have to camp in the .. hmm I forget the name now -- but it's about 5 minutes drive from the beach). Ack, I keep digressing from my main point. Aspen Beach is a "dry" park on long weekends - ie, they put in place a liquor ban for long weekends - sort of a drag if you like the occasional beer or Smirnoff Ice or something - but it really drives the rowdies away, making it an ideal family spot.

Anyhow, there's my recommendation: Aspen Beach. I hope you can get it, check to see if you can make a reservation maybe.

EmilyB · #4 07-06-2007, 06:12 AM

Make it four or five hours, hit BC.

Wasa Lake maybe, or other great spots just outside of Cranbrook. Moyie Lake, awesome, you can reserve.

EmilyB · #5 07-06-2007, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0sprey

There's a great campground in Rosedale, just outside of Drumheller. It's called the Kokopelli campground... super quiet. The Rosedale creek runs along the back of the campground and should be good to swim in at that time of year. Plus there's lots of stuff to do in Drumheller, just 10 mins down the road. The Atlas Coal mine also offers tours (2 mins away), and the hoodoos and suspension bridge are worth exploring, too. Bugs were bad earlier, though... bring the skeeter spray.

We tried camping in Drumheller once and ran for it because of the bugs. Yes, be prepared.

Delphinus · #6 07-06-2007, 06:49 AM

Hmmm, Windermere is I guess about 3.5 hours

Sort of thought BC was too far for the "3 hour window", but you're right, it isn't really.

Problem is, checking out the BC parks availability for the long weekend ... and it looks pretty grim. discovercamping.ca is the website to check. I'm not sure about Alberta parks, but in BC the reservable sites are reservable up to 3 months prior. I've never really tried reserving a spot in Alberta (I always camp in BC anyhow

) so I don't really know how it works over here.

SJSobczyk · #7 07-06-2007, 01:52 PM

Thanks for all your suggestions. Aspen Beach has definitly been on our "to go" list, so the wife is going to contact them for availability. We are also considering Cow Lake and Crimson Lake, just outside of Rocky Mountain House. Both are suppose to be beautiful but BUSY for the long weekends.

The folks have a cabin out in Fairmount Hot Springs so we get bored of going out to that area, plus the traffic is outrageous!

Steve