From prairie farmland in the east to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the west, Central Alberta offers a varied landscape with lots of great recreation opportunities. While travelling through this part of the province, there is nothing like pulling off the road and finding a quiet, secluded spot to camp for the night. It is even better if it is inexpensive or even free. Overlanders give this type of free camping the name “boondocking”, camping in total autonomy, perfect for self-contained travellers.
As Overlanding grows in popularity, so do the number of apps and programs geared towards nomads exploring the country. Some great apps include IOVERLANDER, which allows users to browse an interactive map to find both free and paid sites and PARK4NIGHT which allows travellers to discover free boondocking options, camping and services. However, the BRMBmaps app, available for IOS and Android, offers much more than any other app. In addition to a Crown (Public) Land layer, which is very useful for finding an amazing number of great camping locations, there are parks and campsites, backcountry campsites, fishing locations, trails and some excellent Overlanding routes.
In Alberta, there are two types of public lands: Agricultural Public Land and Public Land Use Zones.
Agricultural Public Land is Crown land that is under lease for grazing or farm development. If the land is under a Grazing License, you don’t need permission to camp there under any circumstances (but it is recommended to ask anyway). If it is under a Grazing Lease or Farm Development Lease, you need to talk to the leaseholder and ask first.
Public Land Use Zones (PLUZ) were established to manage recreation best suited to its landscape, and each has specific rules for how they can be used. Most of these are along the western side of the province. There are nineteen of these zones that cover 11,200 square kilometres of land in Alberta.
However, those planning to wild camp on Alberta public lands, found mainly along the Eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains from Grande Prairie to Waterton Lakes National Park, now need a camping pass. At just $30 for the whole year, this is a great deal for the backcountry it covers and it should pay for itself quickly. The funds collected also go back into improvements to the PLUZs.
Note: To camp in Jasper National Park, you must obtain a valid national park camping permit AND a national park entry pass. This can be found on the Parks Canada site.
With all these options, it can still be a challenge to find the best spots to find cheap or free camping, and when folks do, it is understandable that they don’t wish to share their locations. Luckily, we don’t gatekeep here. While getting out in your vehicle with a Backroad Mapbook and exploring yourself makes the most sense, below are a few great spots to get you started on your next adventure.
Abraham Lake Camping
Located within the Upper Clearwater/Ram PLUZ in the Kootenay Plains between Nordegg and Saskatchewan River Crossing, Abraham Lake is a manmade lake created by the building of the Bighorn Dam. There are numerous camping spots off the east side of Highway 11 spread along the lake. Some require a four-wheel drive to access while others have fire rings and pit toilets. A Public Land Camping Pass is required here.
Athabasca Ranch Campsite
This PLUZ is accessed off Highway 40 opposite the turn-off to Brule Lake. When you reach a three-way fork, take the middle road which leads to a large flat camping area suitable for about three vehicles. There are also plenty of other turnoffs along the road if this site is busy. A Public Land Camping Pass is required here.
Bailey Creek Campsite
Reached via a forestry road which runs west at the intersection of the Forestry Trunk Road and Range Road 191A, this quiet spot sits along Bailey Creek. There is a small fire ring but no other amenities.
Bear Trap Lake Campsite
Found southeast of Bonnyville off Range Road 443, there are five free campsites on a first-come, first-served basis. One small campsite in particular, situated in a beautiful spot on the edge of Bear Trap Lake, is suitable for a single van or truck camper. It also has a firepit and a small beach. Those with larger vehicles can scope out a larger spot just before this one or try their luck with the three others at the end.
Brule Lake Campsite
Found just west of Hinton, Township Road 504A runs along the west side of Brule Lake where a few quiet camp spots sit along the lakeshore. They are accessed by short side roads and are more suited toward smaller vans/vehicles, but there are other spots made available for larger vehicles. On the opposite side of the lake, the Brule Lake Sand Dunes Area offers a few more spots which could be worth checking out. A Public Land Camping Pass is required here.
Cardinal River Campsite
South of Cadomin, the Grave Flats Road offers a great free wild camping option with this sweet spot right on the Cardinal River. There are a couple of spots right on the rocks along the shore with a backdrop of mountains in the distance. There are a couple of firepits but no other amenities at this site which sits right off the road.
Clearwater River Campsite
Found to the west of Caroline, at the intersection of Highways 22, 54 and 591, this campsite has space for a few vehicles with access to the river and firepits. It can be busy with locals, but it works for a stop for a night and the fishing is known to be quite good here! A Public Land Camping Pass is required here.
Cutoff Creek Road Camping
Cutoff Creek Road runs off the Forestry Trunk Road and provides access to a few spots along Seven Mile Creek. The access road is in good condition, allowing larger RVs to reach the free wilderness camping spots found here.
Ethel Lake Campsite
A four-wheel drive or lifted SUV is required to reach this sweet waterfront location on the western shores of Ethel Lake. Accessed off Range Road 432A northeast of Cold Lake, there is a boat launch and a firepit in an open area but no other amenities at the rustic campsite.
Forestry Trunk Road Camping
The Forestry Trunk Road covers almost 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with over eighty percent of the route on gravel surfaces. The route, designated as either Highway 734 or Highway 40, begins in Coleman and finishes at Grande Prairie. While there are several established but inexpensive campgrounds along the road, there are also plenty of free camping spots to set up beside rivers, streams or near old mine sites.
Most of the section running through this part of Alberta is remote with major city centres few and far between. It offers some exceptional scenery and the chance to spot plenty of wildlife. Be bear aware as you will find both black and grizzly bears throughout the backcountry.
Fork Lake Campsite
Along Highway 867, south of Rich Lake, you will find a campsite on the eastern beach of Fork Lake, suited to smaller, self-contained vehicles. You may end up sharing this camping spot with others, but there are picnic tables, a garbage bin, and a fire ring. No other amenities are provided, but it is a free spot to pitch a tent!
Gull Lake Campsite
Gull Lake can be found northwest of Red Deer. This quiet campsite sits at the north end of the lake off Township Road 423. A dirt road leads down to the site, and to avoid getting stuck, it is best to stop when the road turns to grass. Beautiful sunsets, plenty of wildlife to serenade you, and it’s a free spot; what more could you ask for?
Highway 40 Campsite
This spot of Crown Land can be found next to Highway 40 about 6 km north of the Teck Mine boundary. The access road is on the narrow side making it difficult for full-sized trucks, but vans or small RVs will find a nice level site situated beside a small waterfall.
Highways 11 & 93 Campsite
This paved loop with a gravel spot in the middle can be found just east of the Thompson Creek Recreation Area on Highway 11. It is one of the closest free camping spots to the Icefields Parkway, there is space for a couple of vehicles and some stone fire rings. The site is ideally suited for smaller, four-wheel drive vehicles as there is a bit of a rocky climb to the clearing and parking/camping is forbidden on the paved loop.
Hummingbird Creek Road Campsite
Accessed off the Forestry Trunk Road, this road leads to the Hummingbird Recreation Area trailhead. This site sits about three kilometres from the falls along the creek and offers a scenic and quiet camping location. This free campsite is first-come, first-served and is fully user-maintained.
North Fork Road Camping
The North Fork Road runs between Highway 734 in the west and Highway 752 in the east. Numerous side roads lead to secluded locations, some serving as a great base camp for those riding the ATV trails in the area.
North Saskatchewan River Camping
Found off Highway 11 just west of Abraham Lake, a bumpy and dusty road, which requires four-wheel drive (when wet), leads to several spots along the North Saskatchewan River. The campsite is quite scenic, with mountains and pine trees providing a beautiful backdrop to the blue waters of the river.
Preachers Point Campsite
Preacher Point is one of the sites which requires a Public Lands Camping Pass. This campsite sits along Highway 11 at the south end of Abraham Lake, offering a nice location on the shore of the North Saskatchewan River. The site is framed by the nearby mountains and presents a scenic spot to tent down for the night.
Red Deer River Campsite
Just off Highway 54 north of Innisfail, a rough path (turn right after the bridge) leads down from the highway to a spot along the river where camping is possible. Those with a four-wheel drive can head further into the woods, but camping along the river is a nice setup. Plus, the fishing is reported to be quite good as well!
Robb Road Camping
Robb Road connects Highway 47 with Highway 16 at Hinton, offering some great free camp spots to snag. There are also side roads leading to secluded overnight stops along the road. With a little bit of exploration, you can find a great campsite right along the Gregg River where one can relax and even try their luck at catching dinner from the river.
Wild Sculpture Trailhead
This quiet and secluded camping spot is found northeast of Hinton, coming off Emerson Creek Road at the trailhead to the Wild Sculpture Trail. There is a fire pit surrounded by a rock ring and several stumps cut at the perfect height for sitting. The trail is well worth exploring. Leading into Sundance Provincial Park, there is an impressive set of hoodoos located between kilometres 1 and 2 which you can climb and explore.
Ya Ha Tinda Road Camping
Accessed off the Forestry Trunk Road, there are some great areas to camp off the road along the Red Deer River. Or you can head to the Eagle Creek Recreation Area or even Ya Ha Tinda Ranch, a federal government-run horse ranch where horses are trained to work in the western National Parks.
Hopefully, this list of free campsites (or nearly free campsites) sparked some inspiration for your next Central Alberta camping trip. For some extra information, pick up a new 6th Edition Central Alberta Backroad Mapbook or use the BRMB Maps app & web map and start exploring. Be sure to practice Tread Lightly policies on backroads and trails and always leave any campsite cleaner than you found it so sites can continue to be enjoyed by all.