The best camping near Bragg Creek Provincial Park

While you can’t actually camp in Bragg Creek Provincial Park, we still think a stop is worth your while. Set on the edge of Kananaskis Country between Calgary, Canmore, and Banff National Park, this park is a gateway to the Canadian Rockies. Have a picnic by the Elbow River or take in mountain views from the park’s hiking and biking trails. With a slew of picnic tables, fire pits, and playfields, the park is a popular destination for families and groups. There’s also lots to see and do in the hamlet of Bragg Creek, a charming community that boasts a collection of unique stores and eateries. If you’re hoping to camp in the area, check out the Gooseberry Provincial Recreation Area or McLean Creek Provincial Recreation Area—both are just a short drive from Bragg Creek Provincial Park.

We love this place any time of the year (and it stays busy year-round), but the Rocky Mountain backcountry is especially magical after a fresh snowfall when visitors can embrace winter fun with campfires, fat biking, and snowshoeing. The parking lots are often packed on weekends and during summer, so you might have to park alongside the road to access trails and picnic sites. 

• The nearby Gooseberry Campground in Gooseberry Provincial Recreation Area has first-come, first-served sites, which fill up early in the day starting in May until mid-September. Save the early morning hunt by booking a site at McLean Creek Campground.

• Bragg Creek is bear country. Don’t leave any food behind after your picnic and never burn scrap food in your fire pit—bears have an extremely good sense of smell.