The best mountainous camping near Canmore

·

Set in the Bow Valley—the heart of the Rocky Mountains—Canmore is a picturesque town surrounded by towering snow-covered peaks. A quick one-hour drive from Calgary, it’s a hikers’ paradise with ample trails, lakes, and family-friendly outdoor activities on the doorstep of Banff National Park. Camping and glamping near Canmore, Alberta provides easy access to Kananaskis Country—an area consisting of five national parks and ecological reserves. While summer brings kayaking adventures, biking, and strolls down the Spring Creek boardwalk, the winter season offers just as much fun—try snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or (for the adventurous souls) ice climbing.

87% (108)

Top-rated campgrounds

Onespot Crossing Campgrounds

2. Onespot Crossing Campgrounds

84%
(76)
57km from Canmore · 46 sites · Tents, RVs · Calgary, AB
Learn more about this land:OPEN ALL YEAR!Our campsite is the perfect city escape. We’re 40 minutes away from downtown Calgary but completely surrounded by nature.With over 50 acres, we offer very large, open, and spacious campsites to accommodate all. If you want a group gathering or a quiet secluded weekend, we are here to accommodate everyone and are very flexible with our customers' needs - feel free to message me with any questions. Picnic tables and firepits are provided in all of our unserviced natural sites. There is a toilet available.Onespot Campground is all-natural and has no power or water campground. Generators are permitted. Trailers need to fill water and dump trailer before arriving (we have no water and no dump site yet).Close to West Bragg Creek Provincial for hiking and mountain biking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.We are a family-friendly and pet-friendly campground. To ensure that we respect all guests, we have an 11 pm curfew. We look forward to hosting you!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
CA$40
 / night
Back 40 Outdoor Events

4. Back 40 Outdoor Events

98%
(29)
68km from Canmore · 3 sites · Lodging · Invermere, BC
Cozy glamping tents, breathtaking views, miles and miles of peaceful private mountainside trails plus solitude and serenity – all within 25 minutes of Radium Hot Springs. You’ll feel like you found heaven on earth without having to go to the ends of the earth. Imagine falling asleep to the sound of the nighthawks – or sitting around the campfire to view the incredible night skies far away from light pollution. Back 40 offers boutique glamping with canvas bell tents, each equipped with 4 single beds for that extra bit of camping comfort. The exclusive private camp features plenty of roomy Adirondack chairs, firepits & firewood, a central camp kitchen, picnic tables, campstoves, fashionable outhouses (one without a roof with views galore), a cold-water shower, and bear storage bins to keep your consumables safe and the wildlife wild. Pets are welcome for an additional $50/dog/booking. Maximum 2 dogs per tent. Service animals are free. Back 40 is also a center for outdoor learning, with instructors who can get you up-to-speed on how to stay safe and navigate in the wild. They specialize in beginners but can also design a learning program to challenge the experienced. Unwind, reconnect, discover and explore!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
CA$185
 / night
Glamping Yurt at Radius Retreat

5. Glamping Yurt at Radius Retreat

100%
(2)
70km from Canmore · 2 sites · Lodging · Radium Hot Springs, BC
Welcome to Radius Retreat — a quiet yurt sanctuary tucked into the mountains, just 2 minutes from Radium Hot Springs. Perched above the Columbia Valley and surrounded by wild forest and conservation land, our off-grid haven offers a chance to slow down and truly settle in. No traffic, no timelines — just the whisper of the pines and the night sounds of the hills. Our trails meander through the forest and up to the ridge, are are open to wanderers of all kinds — whether you’re here to hike, bike, journal, sketch, or simply breathe. Stargazing is spectacular thanks to the total lack of light pollution, and dogs are always welcome at no charge. This is a place for people who crave stillness, story, and space — where you can stretch out, feel the rhythm of the land, and reconnect with something quieter.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
CA$232
 / night

Set in the Bow Valley—the heart of the Rocky Mountains—Canmore is a picturesque town surrounded by towering snow-covered peaks. A quick one-hour drive from Calgary, it’s a hikers’ paradise with ample trails, lakes, and family-friendly outdoor activities on the doorstep of Banff National Park. Camping and glamping near Canmore, Alberta provides easy access to Kananaskis Country—an area consisting of five national parks and ecological reserves. While summer brings kayaking adventures, biking, and strolls down the Spring Creek boardwalk, the winter season offers just as much fun—try snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or (for the adventurous souls) ice climbing.

87% (108)

Top-rated campgrounds

Onespot Crossing Campgrounds

2. Onespot Crossing Campgrounds

84%
(76)
57km from Canmore · 46 sites · Tents, RVs · Calgary, AB
Learn more about this land:OPEN ALL YEAR!Our campsite is the perfect city escape. We’re 40 minutes away from downtown Calgary but completely surrounded by nature.With over 50 acres, we offer very large, open, and spacious campsites to accommodate all. If you want a group gathering or a quiet secluded weekend, we are here to accommodate everyone and are very flexible with our customers' needs - feel free to message me with any questions. Picnic tables and firepits are provided in all of our unserviced natural sites. There is a toilet available.Onespot Campground is all-natural and has no power or water campground. Generators are permitted. Trailers need to fill water and dump trailer before arriving (we have no water and no dump site yet).Close to West Bragg Creek Provincial for hiking and mountain biking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.We are a family-friendly and pet-friendly campground. To ensure that we respect all guests, we have an 11 pm curfew. We look forward to hosting you!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
CA$40
 / night
Back 40 Outdoor Events

4. Back 40 Outdoor Events

98%
(29)
68km from Canmore · 3 sites · Lodging · Invermere, BC
Cozy glamping tents, breathtaking views, miles and miles of peaceful private mountainside trails plus solitude and serenity – all within 25 minutes of Radium Hot Springs. You’ll feel like you found heaven on earth without having to go to the ends of the earth. Imagine falling asleep to the sound of the nighthawks – or sitting around the campfire to view the incredible night skies far away from light pollution. Back 40 offers boutique glamping with canvas bell tents, each equipped with 4 single beds for that extra bit of camping comfort. The exclusive private camp features plenty of roomy Adirondack chairs, firepits & firewood, a central camp kitchen, picnic tables, campstoves, fashionable outhouses (one without a roof with views galore), a cold-water shower, and bear storage bins to keep your consumables safe and the wildlife wild. Pets are welcome for an additional $50/dog/booking. Maximum 2 dogs per tent. Service animals are free. Back 40 is also a center for outdoor learning, with instructors who can get you up-to-speed on how to stay safe and navigate in the wild. They specialize in beginners but can also design a learning program to challenge the experienced. Unwind, reconnect, discover and explore!
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
CA$185
 / night
Glamping Yurt at Radius Retreat

5. Glamping Yurt at Radius Retreat

100%
(2)
70km from Canmore · 2 sites · Lodging · Radium Hot Springs, BC
Welcome to Radius Retreat — a quiet yurt sanctuary tucked into the mountains, just 2 minutes from Radium Hot Springs. Perched above the Columbia Valley and surrounded by wild forest and conservation land, our off-grid haven offers a chance to slow down and truly settle in. No traffic, no timelines — just the whisper of the pines and the night sounds of the hills. Our trails meander through the forest and up to the ridge, are are open to wanderers of all kinds — whether you’re here to hike, bike, journal, sketch, or simply breathe. Stargazing is spectacular thanks to the total lack of light pollution, and dogs are always welcome at no charge. This is a place for people who crave stillness, story, and space — where you can stretch out, feel the rhythm of the land, and reconnect with something quieter.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
CA$232
 / night

Stories from the community

Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best mountainous camping near Canmore guide

Where to go

Banff National Park=

An iconic playground of craggy mountains, winding canyon trails, and crystal-clear, glacial-fed lakes, Banff National Park is a dream destination when visiting Canmore. It features 13 campgrounds, including those offering RV park camping, so no matter your mode of travel, you’ll find the ideal home base for your trip. Stop in at the must-see Lake Louise for a canoe on the mineral-rich, turquoise waters, or take a 3.5-km hike up to Lake Agnes Tea House—a traditional 1905 log cabin with over 100 fine loose-leaf teas and homemade meals. Book a horse rental to head up in the most traditional and laid-back way possible. If you’d rather get your heart rate up, cycle the Bow Valley Trail, a 48-km journey with endless views of the Canadian Rockies.

Bow Valley Provincial Park

Bow Valley Provincial Park is less visited than Banff National Park, but that’s a bonus for Hipcampers who crave peace and quiet. Here, the full-service campgrounds are decked out with fire pits and all the desired amenities, as well as rugged sites offering a backcountry experience. Stay at the Three Sisters Campground for easy access to the Bow River and a day of fishing, canoeing, or swimming. You’ll need to snag a Kananaskis Conservation Pass and register your license plate when camping at any provincial park or public land campsite in this area, while Hipcamp properties will put you in close proximity with easy access.

Bragg Creek Provincial Park

On the eastern side of Kananaskis Country, Bragg Creek Provincial Park is a scenic spot worth the visit, even with no camping offered within the park. Whether you’re spending the day exploring hiking trails, picnicking, or snowshoeing in winter, you’ll be surrounded by mountain peaks and water views of Elbow River. Just outside the park, campers can find wide-open parks offering both pet-friendly glamping and off-grid tent camping.

When to go

July and August are the best times to visit the town of Canmore if you’re looking for sunny days and warm weather. Those months also draw the most crowds, so for quieter campgrounds, try for a visit between April and June, or in September or October. Winter (between November and March) won’t be quite as busy as the height of summer, but you should still plan ahead and make sure you’re prepared for those classic cold winters Canada’s known for.

Nearby attractions

  • Unwind to the soothing sound of cascading waters while camping near Bow Falls. The Bow Falls camping experience combines the invigorating rush of the falls with serene woodland trails, creating a picture-perfect outdoor retreat.
  • Ascend to new heights while camping near Tunnel Mountain. Tunnel Mountain camping offers breathtaking panoramic views, scenic hiking trails, and star-studded nights, making it a truly uplifting and refreshing adventure.
  • Surrounded by majestic mountains, the Two Jack Lake camping experience offers picturesque views, serene nature trails, and starlit nights, perfect for a revitalizing outdoor getaway.