Kananaskis Country

About Kananaskis Country

Kananaskis Country ("K-Country") is Calgary's mountain playground: provincial parks, lakes, hiking, cycling, fishing and many vehicle-accessible campgrounds, often with less crowding than the national parks.

A brief history

The Kananaskis River was named by John Palliser in 1858 after a legendary Cree figure. The Alberta government established Kananaskis Country in 1978, partly to ease congestion in the national parks and give Albertans more recreation opportunities. It hosted alpine skiing at Nakiska and cross-country skiing at the Canmore Nordic Centre during the 1988 Winter Olympics.

RV tips

• A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for vehicles parked in the pass area.
• Book Alberta Parks campgrounds early for summer weekends.
• The Highwood Pass section of Highway 40 closes seasonally. Check status before planning a loop.
• Random roadside camping isn't allowed in much of the area. See our Crown land rules page.

Before you go: Hours, road conditions, campground availability, passes and fire bans change. Check the official source below, 511 Alberta and Alberta Fire Bans before you travel. National parks need a Parks Canada pass, and Kananaskis needs a Conservation Pass.

Campgrounds nearby

• Mount Kidd RV Park (Private, typical about $52/night)
• Boulton Creek Campground (Alberta Parks, typical about $41/night)
• Elkwood Campground (Alberta Parks, typical about $39/night)
• Spray Lakes West Campground (Alberta Parks, typical about $31/night)
• Gooseberry Campground (Alberta Parks, typical about $34/night)
• McLean Creek Campground (Alberta Parks, typical about $35/night)
• Sandy McNabb Campground (Alberta Parks, typical about $39/night)
• Bow Valley Campground (Alberta Parks, typical about $36/night)

Costs are approximate (checked October 2026). All Alberta campgrounds →

Sources & more information

• Official site / park page
• Wikipedia: background and history