UCP budgets $275M for campground, park amenity and trail enhancement projects

A file photo of a campfire.

As part of Budget 2026, Alberta plans to spend $275 million over the next three years on new and upgraded trails, expanded trailheads, campsites and improved park amenities.

If the budget is passed, the province has $87 million earmarked for more than 70 campground, day-use area and trail enhancement projects in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Some of the planned projects include:

• improving the Whitegoat Creek Falls Trails and day-use area in David Thompson Country;
• developing the Crowsnest Lake day-use area in the Livingston Public Land Use Zone;
• constructing a new campground loop in Pigeon Lake Provincial Park; and
• replacing the shower building in Kinbrook Island Provincial Park.

“This funding will help support various projects around our province making outdoor recreation easier, safer and more enjoyable for Albertans and visitors alike,” said Todd Loewen, minister of forestry and parks.

The province is also working towards developing 900 new campsites by 2033, expanding trails in the Canmore area and improving outdoor recreation facilities and amenities in “high-use” areas.

Loewen says around 300 new campsites will be coming online this year.

As part of Budget 2026, a mandatory tourism levy on hotel rooms and other short-term accommodations is rising from four to six per cent in April. Loewen says camping fees won’t follow suit this year.

“We don’t want to out-price the ability for families to enjoy the outdoors,” he said. “So we won’t be doing any increases this year along those lines.

“We did some increases here in the past couple of years, and I think we’re sitting in a pretty good position when it comes to those fees.”

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In 2025, more than 280,000 camping reservations were made, a seven per cent increase over 2024, according to the province.

Last summer, Bow Valley and Peter Lougheed Provincial Parks were the most-visited parks. Aspen Beach, Cypress Hills and Pigeon Lake rounded out the top five.

In the last year, 56 campground, trail, day-use or utilities projects on Crown lands were completed, added the province.

Wildfire season is also officially underway in the province. Alberta has information and tips on how to stay safe and what to do in the event of a wildfire online.

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In 2025, more than 670,000 hectares of land was burned by wildfires in Alberta.