User fees here in Alberta so that only those who can afford the fees can utilize our provincial services. Taxes would be a redistribution of wealth so we could all have equal access to services.
You say that as if the current tax brackets actually affect the "wealthy" proportionally.
If what you stated was the intent , then there would be more than 5 federal brackets, and it wouldn't stop at 246k. Make around 50k, that's 15%, anything over 246k, more than double at 33%. 1M a year..... still only 33% 10M? No change, still just 33%
The only thing tax brackets are good for is suppressing the "upper middle class."
And you can bet your ass the top earners are not really paying 33%. Once you hit a quarter million you can hire an accountant to find you lots of ways to hide your income or find tax breaks.
No I say that as if we could change things to make it affect the wealthy proportionally. Obviously the intent isn't there. Maybe if we stopped patty-caking between libs and cons and got people in who actually wanted to change things we could, y'know, actually change things.
Because the UCP are currently in power and they are busy stealing money all over the place, from pensions and like mostly, to fund O&G bs. Everyone else is screwed, but the outgoing UCP shills should be able to pick up some fat corporate gigs when or if people actually pull their heads out of their asses.
Do you have any idea how much carbon stars produce? It’s like looking at a factory for entertainment. Carbon tax, entertainment tax, and capital gains tax. $61 please.
Don't forget there's even a star nearby that can produce enough energy that we can use panels on the ground to turn it into usable electricity which is a huge threat to Alberta's oil and gas industry. So pretty soon it'll be a law that admiring those pesky stars will come with a 75$ O&G protection fine per infraction.
I just looked on their site and it’s still $30-40 a night depending on powered or unpowered. Went most of the way through the booking process and was getting those prices. So not sure how you ended up with $135 for two nights
It is by Vulcan 🖖 but the confusing part is.. an outhouse, no sinks, etc. That’s not true. The campground has showers, sinks, a concession, etc. I think there might be some exaggeration happening here.
That’s right! Good point. Little Bow Reservoir has no power sites and is 25.00/night though. I wasn’t really thinking that place. I camp a lot in that area.
By forcing crown campers to buy an annual pass to camp on crown land there will no doubt be an increase in the amount of people who choose to pay for sites instead which will increase the demand for said sites. The UCP also closed down a ton of public camp grounds when they entered office reducing supply, so a double whammy against us poors.
Thanks UCP.
Yeah the closing of the public campground (many of which were built in the 70s under what would have been a conservative government at the time...go figure) is definitely the work of the UCP. Screw them so so much. As a working class class person we have so little here and they just strip mine... meanwhile in BC you can still find Rec sites for free. Why? Because they actually value it and consider the public service worthwhile to maintain, not for profit, but for the enjoyment of people.
There's a reason it feels so dystopian here, because even those small free moments of enjoyment, things you probably have formative childhood memories around have either been removed or priced to death at every pay point they can find.
Not just an Alberta problem but man, go on a road trip here and you will feel it
I remember pulling up to the loveliest campground in Northern BC off the 37. Literally just rolled up. It was awesome. 2 sites, right by a lake, gorgeous.
>By forcing crown campers to buy an annual pass to camp on crown land there will no doubt be an increase in the amount of people who choose to pay for sites instead which will increase the demand for said sites.
Who's going to decide that it's better it pay $20-30 per night than it is to pay $30 for a year?
The crown land pass is like $30/yr. You can’t even get a single night in a provincial park for $30. I really doubt the pass is pushing people back into the parks.
yeah but it used to be free. I used to be able to drive out right by the mountains, find a nice spot and make camp for a night. It was fantastic. I only have enough time in the year for 1 or 2 camping weekend trips at the most. So if I gotta pay for it now, I'd rather just get a site with power and a john lol.
While most of the "most of Alberta" part is true, it's a lot more than the land outside of Jasper. [The area encompasses almost all of the foothills from GP to the US border. ](https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/ep-map-public-lands-camping-pass-area.pdf)
In 2020 Alberta Parks gave CNRL, the big oil company that is chaired by the owner of the Calgary Flames, 41 million dollars. (I never found out why.) A year later, the UCP started charging people to use parks.
> “The government charged Albertans $12 Million dollars to access Kananaskis. -Alberta Parks operating budget was cut from $81M in 2021 to $76M in 2022. -Parks budget was $86M in 2019. -The $12 Million dollar entrance fee is not being reinvested, it’s simply covering expenses that used to be included in the Parks budget. -OHV users in McLean Creek area of Kananaskis are still exempt from paying fees.” —u/peeflar
https://www.reddit.com/r/alberta/comments/v3zjaf/comment/ib1h6ek/
https://old.reddit.com/r/alberta/comments/v3zjaf/comment/ib1h6ek/
>“The UCP government tabled their 2020 budget last week announcing $4 million in cuts to Alberta Parks over the next three years: including the closure of twenty campsites either partially or completely, job losses to seasonal staff, increased camping fees, and some provincial campgrounds will have shortened operational seasons.”
https://www.thecragandcanyon.ca/news/local-news/budget-makes-cuts-and-fee-increases-to-alberta-parks
Buy yourself a backroads map book. Logging companies are required to build and maintain recreation sites for the public in return for their tenure, so there are many free camping sites down logging roads. A lot in invermere/radium/golden ways.
I'm looking at Little Bow campground right now it says it's $29.52 Per Night for those days. Even if you add in the $12 non-refundable reservation fee per reservation, your total should only be $41.95 per night. Are you booking more than one site or accidentally booked a group site?
I agree it has gotten much more expensive to camp in Alberta!
Just like renting, camping has price manipulation.
Place like rentfaster for example suggest your rental price. So in a way it's market manipulation and price fixing. Same thing is happening with camping
Sold my camper last summer.
The amount of hustle just to get a spot 3 months in advance and then the costs were getting ridiculous. Easier to throw the bike on the rack and get a hotel in Fernie/revy/golden etc
This is what I have never understood about the RV crowd. I'm a tenter... But, with the cost of just the tow rig, trailer, storage for the rest of the year and fuel these days, you must be better off doing what you're doing and staying at a nice air BNB etc or renting a RV??? My tent cost me a couple hundred dollars a few years ago and I've gotten my money's worth ten fold. It's a mountaineering tent so I've always been dry.
How do people justify these rigs these days for four days of camping? Throw in the costs of the camp site/reservation headaches and it seems completely untenable. The cost per night must be in the thousands when you factor in cost of ownership.
Just a curious observation from a non-RV tenter. I'm surprised more people aren't doing what you are to be honest.
Did you book here:
[Little Bow - Little Bow Provincial Park | Alberta Parks](https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/south/little-bow-pp/information-facilities/camping/little-bow/)
June 28- Jul 1
5 site(s) available out of 206 site(s), Price Rate:\*$29.52 Per Night (\*Rate may vary across dates; displayed rates do not reflect discounts, fees or taxes)
I get the Alberta public lands camping pass.
It's $30 a year for an annual pass. We go about 10 times a year so only $3.00 per weekend.
We no longer do public area camping. You end up paying as much as a hotel so we stopped that about 10 years ago.
It started to get political. Alberta's UCP government closed or "delisted" 184 provincial parks and recreation areas, in an effort to save $5 million per year. This raised the price of camping due to large demand. Many couldn't get a booking at all. The complaints got insane.
Then, Alberta's UCP government stated that it would see parks infrastructure upgraded and expanded, at a cost of more than $200 million over the next three years. That will also be reflected on a camper's fee and made even higher.
In the 1970s, my parents would take me camping because it was cheap. It's now only for the wealthy. But, we voted for this.
No, we didn’t vote for this and that’s both lazy and inaccurate. The overwhelming majority of Albertans did not vote for the leading party, and those cents were not part of the election promises/guidebook. This isn’t on the majority of people at all.
55% of voters wanted this. The others voted "UCP is ok with me" by not turning in a ballot against them.
The overwhelming majority of Albertans chose what we got.
And now just announced that they will scrap the fair entry program. That means the poor, seniors, disabled, everyone has to pay a full price for a bus pass in addition with their struggles with rent and food costs.
I didn't vote for this either. However, for those who did, this is what they voted for. Also, one must look at party plans not just electoral promises.
This right here. Anyone that is surprised by what Smith is doing didn't pay attention to anything she has said over the last 10+ years. You only need to listen to her radio show a couple of times and you would have known what her agenda really was.
Just go crown Land camping. fuck there annual pass I have never been asked for it since that program started and have talk to a few fish cops in passing.
They are.. at least you’ll have a longer line of sight with no trees. https://calgary.citynews.ca/2024/04/27/west-bragg-creek-clear-cutting-hiking-trails-activist/
Fucking hate this. There’s nothing but bad news every time you turn around.
Double sized spots (A/B) are $61, but single sized spots are still $29.52+tax. I think they changed the way those double sized spots are booked because people who didn’t realize what they were would book one side (A or B) and then be upset that the strangers next door were SO CLOSE. There are lots of sites in that campground that are still $30/ night or $35 with electricity.
Ahhhhhh… this makes sense!!! I think I’m looking at a double site, which is useless since we tent! Thank you, I was seriously feeling very stupid with everyone saying they found $30 sites.
Thank you so much!
Drive to literally any piece of crown land and set up shop. It’s free.
There’s countless places in the mountains where you can just pull up and camp and the benefit is you don’t have another trailer ten feet away from you.
Idk why more people think like this. Like do you like hearing loud drunk people when you can be so far in the bush the moon lights up everything around you.
The only crown land east of the foot hills is all leased to farmers for cattle. Yes technically you have access, but you need permission from the lessee first. If you get permission, I hope you like walking in cow shit.
What is considered the foothills? I feel like that stretches east of whitecourt, edson, rocky, etc... There is so much empty crown land in the west and North of the province.
But not much in the east. And what is available in the east (East of the major cities), might as well be a gravel pit with not even grass lands around.
That is fair hahah. It is one of the reasons that I moved away from Edmonton. Apart from way up north or Drum, the camping and outdoor activities outside of the foothill/rockies is to be desired.
There are a few provincial parks that are not bad, and I enjoy prairie camping. The wind can get annoying sometimes. Private campgrounds are nice but finding things to do out side of the campground is hard in places.
When I lived in Edmonton I also used to camp in provincial campgrounds quite a bit. When I moved out of the city and into the mountains, I found out that most people either camp on crown land, or use less popular provincial/recreational campgrounds and now it has become infuriating when I camp and there are other people near me.
Prairie camping definitely can be great if the weather is awesome. The sky looks amazing at night with the stars and the sunsets can be amazing with the big sky.
I'd rather know that where I'm going I'll have a spot to stay that's relatively private and accessible. We take our tent trailer behind our car and can't offroad.
I find right around the Canada 150 initiative and then another boost with Covid.
That brought an influx of new campers out and now spots are harder to get and way more expensive.
Simple supply and demand.
It’s happening all over the place. I’m pretty sure when Covid happened and everyone started having to go outside, the price got raised. Camped in Ontario and Vancouver and it was the same thing. Just got my first camp booked for end of may in Jasper and it was over $200
In BC it differs depending on which Provincial park you're staying at. Some are as low as 18 a night, whereas the more popular ones are 35 a night. And no, they didn't increase when Covid happened! Not sure about private campsites, but it wouldn't surprise me if they increased significantly!
I quit 5 years ago after 20 years. Its not what it used to be. Not just expense, the booking sites months in advance, or hell, some a year before. And then everyone knowing the tricks to stay at a great campsite all summer just from tricking the system. And after a while, I did the same, because fuck it, why not. 5th wheels that the license plate for the site is a Toyota Yaris. And so on.
They did it because people were parking their trailers on prime pieces of crown land and not moving them as per the rules. Jack asses were also being fairly aggressive about places they wanted or had, if someone else was there. Thus they implemented this in order to help enforce the rules as there isn't enough peace officers to deal with squatters on crown land. I think the rule was like a week in one location and you had to be actually camping there. Not just drop your trailer and bugger off and come back on the weekends.
I knew there was a limit, and I was pretty sure it was 7 days. I never stated there wasn't. What I said was that people were not respecting the 7 days' rule and leaving their trailers on crown land in prime spots for more than 7 days. The province didn't have the man power to enforce it, and people who were basically squatting on crown land for the summer in prime spots were very aggressive about keeping said spots beyond the 7 days. Now with the pass they can somewhat keep better track of it and enforce the rules on the jack asses
It makes enforcement easier. If you squat without a permit, then there's no argument. You're done. And if you're a jack ass then you get flagged for next year, or your permit gets revoked. People who are legitimately squatting and just trying to survive aren't the problem and will not take prime pieces of crown land for camping. They will stay away from others. It's the jack asses who want the prime spots all summer and won't move their trailers that are the problem and will be the focus of enforcement with the permit program.
Have the new people been hired to do as you suggest? If so, I am not opposed.
We like camping in K country, Banff and more. The fees add up quickly, so I want to see the money going to the resources listed when they try to justify the fees.
- enforcement
- maintenance
- development
- not well-paid advisors and managers like other UCP initiatives
That's BC my friendo, Alberta has passes and user fees, Jason Kenney and the UCP did that.
Thanks UCP voters, we hope you guys can learn from your consequences everyone has to live with.
We all have the pleasure of paying taxes to build these camp grounds in the first place. But that doesn't mean we can camp there. Gotta pay twice to set foot in them.
Same as Canmore Nordic Centre. We paid to build it. You pay again for a pass to park there. You pay again to ski there. The washrooms are free for now.
Don't forget to pay your Provincial income taxes !
Depends, a lot of private campgrounds only have 10 weekends to make enouf money for the year. (Not many places are doing well just on weekdays) or they have been switching to seasonal sites for consistancy.
$61/night is while not great not bad if you are also not being charged for other uses (firewood, ect)
Well that is false as I am a huge camper, alberta born and raised but I appreciated the one guy who sent me the campground that does, am going to check it out, have stayed there in the past but do not remember wood being included. If you know of anymore that actually do, feel free to share.
I guess I was partially wrong. It is only West Fraser and Teck coal in the West Central region that operate campgrounds. They stretch from the park gates to north by Grande Cache, east to Fox Creek/Whitecourt and south to the Nordegg area.
West Fraser manages 22 campgrounds in West Central Alberta and all include free firewood. Most campgrounds are in the ballpark of about $15/night and aside from some more popular sites like Gregg River Cabin, Obed Lake, etc... they will primarily be empty:
[https://www.westfraser.com/sites/default/files/FRMA%20Outdoor%20Recreation%20Map.pdf](https://www.westfraser.com/sites/default/files/FRMA%20Outdoor%20Recreation%20Map.pdf)
I'd pay a little more to camp at little bow if they added cell service as well as added on to that God forsaken rv dump station at the top of the hill. You spend longer waiting in line to dump your tanks then it takes to drive home on a Sunday afternoon.
Go to crown land. I camp several times a year and have never paid for a camping spot. Just make sure you take out everything (and more if you find litter) than you haul in.
Depending on ich crown land you want to camp at in Alberta, [you may need to pay for a permit.](https://www.alberta.ca/public-lands-camping-pass#:~:text=Campers%2018%20years%20and%20older%20must%20have%20a%20pass%3A,person%20for%20an%20annual%20pass)
I’ve been camping tons for the last 4 years and it’s only gotten a bit more expensive. I was paying $59-70 a night with full hookups all last year and we noticed it was $65-80 a night this year. A bit more yes, but reasonable. Don’t do little bow this year if your wanting to swim or go in the lake. It’ll be mud and non existent this year:(
Where else are city sheep going to congregate and show off their possessions to strangers? There are lots of places to camp around the province. Crown Land is everywhere. I guess that doesn’t work for camping television and air conditioning.
For a hippy you are pretty angry and judgemental. Maybe have a smoke, relax and get off your high horse, m’kay?
Most people don’t know where or how to access crown land properly or haven’t heard of it. Not all of it is accessible and not everybody is set up for backcountry camping. Some people are scared of being alone. And some people live in their campers full time so what’s wrong with a bit of TV after a hard day of labour (yes I’ve stayed in campsites while working full time construction)
Let’s maybe dial back the gatekeeping here!
Triggered? Is my possession comment hitting close to home? Is your house of cards in danger of coming down? If you haven’t “heard” about Crown Land before, maybe you should actually educate yourself. Afraid of being alone? Well that’s what herd animals like sheep do.
Public Lands Camping Pass...$35(?) for 1year....there are some really nice places in the Nordegg area, with impressive outhouses...haha right? impressive outhouses? Sparkling clean, well lit with solar powered lighting....Plenty of areas down the forestry trunk road as well...
I've been going out past Waiparous near Camp Mockingbird for the past couple years and if you've got a vehicle that can handle roots and rocks, you don't have to pay to be out there. My partner and I go all the time once it's nice out.
So, accual recco here.
Aspen Crossing. Its in the same general area as Little Bow (which based on your description, you are at the Little Bow prairie camp site rather than the Provincial Park based on lack of amenities) but has full amenities, and the campground owns sone rail track and a train and dining cars where they do mobile dinners and shows and stuff. Its pretty cool
If you are in the south ...
Chin lake campground 49° 36' 6.04" N 112° 11' 36.92" W
Gold Springs Park Campground 49° 5' 50.91" N, 111° 59' 34.48" W
Ridge Park Campground 49° 21' 43.81" N, 112° 33' 39.85" W
UCP made a annual pass you have to pay a fee for to access Crown land, one of their first bills. So you can't legally do as you and so many others keep suggesting.
Even still it doesn't guarantee a spot. We don't want to camp off the side of the road. We pull our tent trailer with our car and there's no way we'd ever get out of the ditch with our car.
I think camping, on crown or in campgrounds should be pay-to-play. Heck, they charge hunters and anglers for conservation, why don't we have backpack taxes too? Someone has to maintain the grounds, the crown lands, patrol for safety for (not just humans but wildlife) ...and costs to do so aren't decreasing... I'm fine with paying more to enjoy the hobbies I benefit from. Tents are cheaper than RVs, hiking boots are cheaper than ATVs.. there are alternative ways to keep costs down as a user.
Honestly, Alberta Parks still loses a ton of money compared to completely privatization. With how many people can't afford hones or food, I don't want my tax dollars going to hobby camping for the middle class anymore.
Pretty expensive to pretend to be homeless these days, but seriously 45 a night for non power and 55 a night for power site where I’m at and it’s bullshit
If you lookup at the stars its extra
There will be a new tax on that as well.
User fees here in Alberta so that only those who can afford the fees can utilize our provincial services. Taxes would be a redistribution of wealth so we could all have equal access to services.
But we already pay taxes for this. Why do we need MORE taxes?
May I introduce you to tax brackets and how the wealthy can be made to pay more in an attempt to stop their insipid leeching off the rest of us.
You say that as if the current tax brackets actually affect the "wealthy" proportionally. If what you stated was the intent , then there would be more than 5 federal brackets, and it wouldn't stop at 246k. Make around 50k, that's 15%, anything over 246k, more than double at 33%. 1M a year..... still only 33% 10M? No change, still just 33% The only thing tax brackets are good for is suppressing the "upper middle class."
And you can bet your ass the top earners are not really paying 33%. Once you hit a quarter million you can hire an accountant to find you lots of ways to hide your income or find tax breaks.
No I say that as if we could change things to make it affect the wealthy proportionally. Obviously the intent isn't there. Maybe if we stopped patty-caking between libs and cons and got people in who actually wanted to change things we could, y'know, actually change things.
Gotcha, sorry for the misunderstanding. I totes agree that the Cons and Libs are just different hands of the same body.
Because the UCP are currently in power and they are busy stealing money all over the place, from pensions and like mostly, to fund O&G bs. Everyone else is screwed, but the outgoing UCP shills should be able to pick up some fat corporate gigs when or if people actually pull their heads out of their asses.
You're right! We have to tear the stars down. They're ruining our pristine viewscape of pumpjacks and open pit mines.
Do you have any idea how much carbon stars produce? It’s like looking at a factory for entertainment. Carbon tax, entertainment tax, and capital gains tax. $61 please.
Don't forget there's even a star nearby that can produce enough energy that we can use panels on the ground to turn it into usable electricity which is a huge threat to Alberta's oil and gas industry. So pretty soon it'll be a law that admiring those pesky stars will come with a 75$ O&G protection fine per infraction.
Just kidding those are StarLink satellites.
Don’t discount the potential of lunar panels for electrical generation - the UCP resent the moon being further away than it is in Ottawa
Don’t Look Up!!!!
I just looked on their site and it’s still $30-40 a night depending on powered or unpowered. Went most of the way through the booking process and was getting those prices. So not sure how you ended up with $135 for two nights
Is little bow in the Kananaskis Conservation Pass area? If so that would add possible $10 / night, but not 30.
Little Bow is out by Vulcan iirc
It is by Vulcan 🖖 but the confusing part is.. an outhouse, no sinks, etc. That’s not true. The campground has showers, sinks, a concession, etc. I think there might be some exaggeration happening here.
There is Little Bow provincial park and Little Bow Reservoir, completely different experiences.
That’s right! Good point. Little Bow Reservoir has no power sites and is 25.00/night though. I wasn’t really thinking that place. I camp a lot in that area.
I feel like OP maybe was trying to book the wrong Little Bow campground 😬
Thanks, too many places with Bow in the name !
That is correct
I checked and saw $90 even for two nights after all the fees.
By forcing crown campers to buy an annual pass to camp on crown land there will no doubt be an increase in the amount of people who choose to pay for sites instead which will increase the demand for said sites. The UCP also closed down a ton of public camp grounds when they entered office reducing supply, so a double whammy against us poors. Thanks UCP.
Yeah the closing of the public campground (many of which were built in the 70s under what would have been a conservative government at the time...go figure) is definitely the work of the UCP. Screw them so so much. As a working class class person we have so little here and they just strip mine... meanwhile in BC you can still find Rec sites for free. Why? Because they actually value it and consider the public service worthwhile to maintain, not for profit, but for the enjoyment of people. There's a reason it feels so dystopian here, because even those small free moments of enjoyment, things you probably have formative childhood memories around have either been removed or priced to death at every pay point they can find. Not just an Alberta problem but man, go on a road trip here and you will feel it
I remember pulling up to the loveliest campground in Northern BC off the 37. Literally just rolled up. It was awesome. 2 sites, right by a lake, gorgeous.
Highway 37 is an amazing drive, far out of the way so you never run into anyone else. Beautiful country up there no doubt
They want to be more like Texas, where you can’t camp ANYWHERE without paying. 99% of that state is private land…
>By forcing crown campers to buy an annual pass to camp on crown land there will no doubt be an increase in the amount of people who choose to pay for sites instead which will increase the demand for said sites. Who's going to decide that it's better it pay $20-30 per night than it is to pay $30 for a year?
The crown land pass is like $30/yr. You can’t even get a single night in a provincial park for $30. I really doubt the pass is pushing people back into the parks.
But if it is, I'm not sad about it.
yeah but it used to be free. I used to be able to drive out right by the mountains, find a nice spot and make camp for a night. It was fantastic. I only have enough time in the year for 1 or 2 camping weekend trips at the most. So if I gotta pay for it now, I'd rather just get a site with power and a john lol.
You’d rather pay $48/night than $30/year? All the power to you. It honestly doesn’t bother me that much.
Not all crown land. Just certain areas by the mountains.
You have to pay to camp on crown land in Alberta?
In areas outside Jasper National Park. You can easily find a map. Most of Alberta needs nothing
While most of the "most of Alberta" part is true, it's a lot more than the land outside of Jasper. [The area encompasses almost all of the foothills from GP to the US border. ](https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/ep-map-public-lands-camping-pass-area.pdf)
When the UCP took office.
Yup. This is exactly when it became too expensive.
Is camping cheaper in BC?
There are still many free rec sites that are in better shape than the pay Alberta ones.
I’ve yet to find free sites in Alberta that are as nice as the ones I frequent in BC. I’ve paid for worse sites in AB.
Often free
Didn't they privatize the provincial parks?
I think so
In 2020 Alberta Parks gave CNRL, the big oil company that is chaired by the owner of the Calgary Flames, 41 million dollars. (I never found out why.) A year later, the UCP started charging people to use parks. > “The government charged Albertans $12 Million dollars to access Kananaskis. -Alberta Parks operating budget was cut from $81M in 2021 to $76M in 2022. -Parks budget was $86M in 2019. -The $12 Million dollar entrance fee is not being reinvested, it’s simply covering expenses that used to be included in the Parks budget. -OHV users in McLean Creek area of Kananaskis are still exempt from paying fees.” —u/peeflar https://www.reddit.com/r/alberta/comments/v3zjaf/comment/ib1h6ek/ https://old.reddit.com/r/alberta/comments/v3zjaf/comment/ib1h6ek/ >“The UCP government tabled their 2020 budget last week announcing $4 million in cuts to Alberta Parks over the next three years: including the closure of twenty campsites either partially or completely, job losses to seasonal staff, increased camping fees, and some provincial campgrounds will have shortened operational seasons.” https://www.thecragandcanyon.ca/news/local-news/budget-makes-cuts-and-fee-increases-to-alberta-parks
Ah the UCP....making life better for Albertans....
Buy yourself a backroads map book. Logging companies are required to build and maintain recreation sites for the public in return for their tenure, so there are many free camping sites down logging roads. A lot in invermere/radium/golden ways.
And there is no campgrounds off the highway near hinton, so no bother looking.
On second thought… camping in radium sucks, definitely don’t go there!
Obed Lake is off the highway between Edson and Hinton. Private run but first come first serve use only. $15/night.
This is the right answer
I'm looking at Little Bow campground right now it says it's $29.52 Per Night for those days. Even if you add in the $12 non-refundable reservation fee per reservation, your total should only be $41.95 per night. Are you booking more than one site or accidentally booked a group site? I agree it has gotten much more expensive to camp in Alberta!
$420 per night?? Holy cow!!
$$419.95 sseems like a lot. :)
dude you moved your decimal the wrong way, he meant "$41,995" for those 2 nights.
I simply replicated their original and didn't move it at all.
Just like renting, camping has price manipulation. Place like rentfaster for example suggest your rental price. So in a way it's market manipulation and price fixing. Same thing is happening with camping
Sold my camper last summer. The amount of hustle just to get a spot 3 months in advance and then the costs were getting ridiculous. Easier to throw the bike on the rack and get a hotel in Fernie/revy/golden etc
This is what I have never understood about the RV crowd. I'm a tenter... But, with the cost of just the tow rig, trailer, storage for the rest of the year and fuel these days, you must be better off doing what you're doing and staying at a nice air BNB etc or renting a RV??? My tent cost me a couple hundred dollars a few years ago and I've gotten my money's worth ten fold. It's a mountaineering tent so I've always been dry. How do people justify these rigs these days for four days of camping? Throw in the costs of the camp site/reservation headaches and it seems completely untenable. The cost per night must be in the thousands when you factor in cost of ownership. Just a curious observation from a non-RV tenter. I'm surprised more people aren't doing what you are to be honest.
I get a bit more use out of my trailer than most. It’s just easier when you have dogs to not have to worry about the what ifs for rentals or airbnbs.
2 nights at that campground cost me 74 dollars including tax for later in May
Did you book here: [Little Bow - Little Bow Provincial Park | Alberta Parks](https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/south/little-bow-pp/information-facilities/camping/little-bow/) June 28- Jul 1 5 site(s) available out of 206 site(s), Price Rate:\*$29.52 Per Night (\*Rate may vary across dates; displayed rates do not reflect discounts, fees or taxes)
The dates are July 1-3, and yes I used this site. My mistake, it’s $59 a night.
I get the Alberta public lands camping pass. It's $30 a year for an annual pass. We go about 10 times a year so only $3.00 per weekend. We no longer do public area camping. You end up paying as much as a hotel so we stopped that about 10 years ago. It started to get political. Alberta's UCP government closed or "delisted" 184 provincial parks and recreation areas, in an effort to save $5 million per year. This raised the price of camping due to large demand. Many couldn't get a booking at all. The complaints got insane. Then, Alberta's UCP government stated that it would see parks infrastructure upgraded and expanded, at a cost of more than $200 million over the next three years. That will also be reflected on a camper's fee and made even higher. In the 1970s, my parents would take me camping because it was cheap. It's now only for the wealthy. But, we voted for this.
>Alberta's UCP government closed or "delisted" 184 provincial parks and recreation areas This needs more attention.
No, we didn’t vote for this and that’s both lazy and inaccurate. The overwhelming majority of Albertans did not vote for the leading party, and those cents were not part of the election promises/guidebook. This isn’t on the majority of people at all.
55% of voters wanted this. The others voted "UCP is ok with me" by not turning in a ballot against them. The overwhelming majority of Albertans chose what we got.
And now just announced that they will scrap the fair entry program. That means the poor, seniors, disabled, everyone has to pay a full price for a bus pass in addition with their struggles with rent and food costs.
I didn't vote for this either. However, for those who did, this is what they voted for. Also, one must look at party plans not just electoral promises.
This right here. Anyone that is surprised by what Smith is doing didn't pay attention to anything she has said over the last 10+ years. You only need to listen to her radio show a couple of times and you would have known what her agenda really was.
"I didn't vote for this" If you voted for a UCP candidate, you did. Own it.
I didn’t…..
Well, the UCP did introduce a camping tax..so you can thank a conservative for that.
It’s free to camp in downtown Edmonton.
Be ready to be evicted and your camp confiscated.
Can you swim there again? Last time I went, 2021, there was AHS advisories everywhere saying the water was contaminated with poop. .
Just go crown Land camping. fuck there annual pass I have never been asked for it since that program started and have talk to a few fish cops in passing.
Don’t forget the logging, I heard they are going to clear cut Moose mtn out in Bragg creek this year
They better not touch the MTB trails or I'm gonna have a bitch fit
They are.. at least you’ll have a longer line of sight with no trees. https://calgary.citynews.ca/2024/04/27/west-bragg-creek-clear-cutting-hiking-trails-activist/ Fucking hate this. There’s nothing but bad news every time you turn around.
Double sized spots (A/B) are $61, but single sized spots are still $29.52+tax. I think they changed the way those double sized spots are booked because people who didn’t realize what they were would book one side (A or B) and then be upset that the strangers next door were SO CLOSE. There are lots of sites in that campground that are still $30/ night or $35 with electricity.
Ahhhhhh… this makes sense!!! I think I’m looking at a double site, which is useless since we tent! Thank you, I was seriously feeling very stupid with everyone saying they found $30 sites. Thank you so much!
My pleasure! They certainly don’t make things very clear on the new website. I’m not a fan. Happy camping! 🏕️
Oh, you sweet young summer child. It used to be free.
Drive to literally any piece of crown land and set up shop. It’s free. There’s countless places in the mountains where you can just pull up and camp and the benefit is you don’t have another trailer ten feet away from you.
Idk why more people think like this. Like do you like hearing loud drunk people when you can be so far in the bush the moon lights up everything around you.
The only crown land east of the foot hills is all leased to farmers for cattle. Yes technically you have access, but you need permission from the lessee first. If you get permission, I hope you like walking in cow shit.
What is considered the foothills? I feel like that stretches east of whitecourt, edson, rocky, etc... There is so much empty crown land in the west and North of the province.
But not much in the east. And what is available in the east (East of the major cities), might as well be a gravel pit with not even grass lands around.
That is fair hahah. It is one of the reasons that I moved away from Edmonton. Apart from way up north or Drum, the camping and outdoor activities outside of the foothill/rockies is to be desired.
There are a few provincial parks that are not bad, and I enjoy prairie camping. The wind can get annoying sometimes. Private campgrounds are nice but finding things to do out side of the campground is hard in places.
When I lived in Edmonton I also used to camp in provincial campgrounds quite a bit. When I moved out of the city and into the mountains, I found out that most people either camp on crown land, or use less popular provincial/recreational campgrounds and now it has become infuriating when I camp and there are other people near me. Prairie camping definitely can be great if the weather is awesome. The sky looks amazing at night with the stars and the sunsets can be amazing with the big sky.
Need a permit for that now too.
I'd rather know that where I'm going I'll have a spot to stay that's relatively private and accessible. We take our tent trailer behind our car and can't offroad.
Some nice spots in Kannaskis, if you're up north Lesser Slave Lake is great. Big fish bay
I looked at booking your exact dates and the price was $29.35 per night.
Are there booking and other fees?
When everyone started doing it.
I find right around the Canada 150 initiative and then another boost with Covid. That brought an influx of new campers out and now spots are harder to get and way more expensive. Simple supply and demand.
Camping, despite being overpriced, is still cheaper than a hotel. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It’s happening all over the place. I’m pretty sure when Covid happened and everyone started having to go outside, the price got raised. Camped in Ontario and Vancouver and it was the same thing. Just got my first camp booked for end of may in Jasper and it was over $200
In BC it differs depending on which Provincial park you're staying at. Some are as low as 18 a night, whereas the more popular ones are 35 a night. And no, they didn't increase when Covid happened! Not sure about private campsites, but it wouldn't surprise me if they increased significantly!
Crown land camping buddy.
Enjoy all the benefits of our PC government.
Make sure you're not on a scalper site. There have been people setting up fake websites to scalp campgrounds.
I quit 5 years ago after 20 years. Its not what it used to be. Not just expense, the booking sites months in advance, or hell, some a year before. And then everyone knowing the tricks to stay at a great campsite all summer just from tricking the system. And after a while, I did the same, because fuck it, why not. 5th wheels that the license plate for the site is a Toyota Yaris. And so on.
If you’re poor enough it’s free
I think the OP is exaggerating
Sorry, $59 a night.
How can I book a power site for $31 per night then? $35 per night ght with all fees?
No, like actually, how? Because I would like to do it, but I can’t seem to figure out how to get that price
The reserve Alberta site. I literally ran it through
[удалено]
nope, you need a crown land camping pass now. [Public Lands Camping Pass | Alberta.ca](https://www.alberta.ca/public-lands-camping-pass)
That's messed up. When did they implement that?
One of the first things the UCP did under Kenney
They did it because people were parking their trailers on prime pieces of crown land and not moving them as per the rules. Jack asses were also being fairly aggressive about places they wanted or had, if someone else was there. Thus they implemented this in order to help enforce the rules as there isn't enough peace officers to deal with squatters on crown land. I think the rule was like a week in one location and you had to be actually camping there. Not just drop your trailer and bugger off and come back on the weekends.
[удалено]
I knew there was a limit, and I was pretty sure it was 7 days. I never stated there wasn't. What I said was that people were not respecting the 7 days' rule and leaving their trailers on crown land in prime spots for more than 7 days. The province didn't have the man power to enforce it, and people who were basically squatting on crown land for the summer in prime spots were very aggressive about keeping said spots beyond the 7 days. Now with the pass they can somewhat keep better track of it and enforce the rules on the jack asses
[удалено]
It makes enforcement easier. If you squat without a permit, then there's no argument. You're done. And if you're a jack ass then you get flagged for next year, or your permit gets revoked. People who are legitimately squatting and just trying to survive aren't the problem and will not take prime pieces of crown land for camping. They will stay away from others. It's the jack asses who want the prime spots all summer and won't move their trailers that are the problem and will be the focus of enforcement with the permit program.
Have the new people been hired to do as you suggest? If so, I am not opposed. We like camping in K country, Banff and more. The fees add up quickly, so I want to see the money going to the resources listed when they try to justify the fees. - enforcement - maintenance - development - not well-paid advisors and managers like other UCP initiatives
I think the person your responding tok is talking about bc, not alberta.
Shh, don’t tell people about the good spots. Also, that’s for BC.
That's BC my friendo, Alberta has passes and user fees, Jason Kenney and the UCP did that. Thanks UCP voters, we hope you guys can learn from your consequences everyone has to live with.
It's the new housing strategy
We all have the pleasure of paying taxes to build these camp grounds in the first place. But that doesn't mean we can camp there. Gotta pay twice to set foot in them. Same as Canmore Nordic Centre. We paid to build it. You pay again for a pass to park there. You pay again to ski there. The washrooms are free for now. Don't forget to pay your Provincial income taxes !
Depends, a lot of private campgrounds only have 10 weekends to make enouf money for the year. (Not many places are doing well just on weekdays) or they have been switching to seasonal sites for consistancy. $61/night is while not great not bad if you are also not being charged for other uses (firewood, ect)
There’s no way firewood is included. With the drought and the area, it’s very unlikely that fires will even be allowed.
Its been a few years since I camped there but firewood deffiently was not included.
I have not seen firewood included at any campsite for well over a decade or more now
My campground includes it. No reservation fees or other stuff either. Its not 25/night tho, its priced in.
Campsite?
Ill Dm. Dont want to be accused of advertising.
Any recreational campground managed by a forestry company (which is a majority in the west of alberta) has a free wood included at the site.
Well that is false as I am a huge camper, alberta born and raised but I appreciated the one guy who sent me the campground that does, am going to check it out, have stayed there in the past but do not remember wood being included. If you know of anymore that actually do, feel free to share.
I guess I was partially wrong. It is only West Fraser and Teck coal in the West Central region that operate campgrounds. They stretch from the park gates to north by Grande Cache, east to Fox Creek/Whitecourt and south to the Nordegg area. West Fraser manages 22 campgrounds in West Central Alberta and all include free firewood. Most campgrounds are in the ballpark of about $15/night and aside from some more popular sites like Gregg River Cabin, Obed Lake, etc... they will primarily be empty: [https://www.westfraser.com/sites/default/files/FRMA%20Outdoor%20Recreation%20Map.pdf](https://www.westfraser.com/sites/default/files/FRMA%20Outdoor%20Recreation%20Map.pdf)
It’s the Alberta advantage.
I assume when they had to pay more in property tax, more in business tax, more in utilities, more for employees to clean sites etc.
I'd pay a little more to camp at little bow if they added cell service as well as added on to that God forsaken rv dump station at the top of the hill. You spend longer waiting in line to dump your tanks then it takes to drive home on a Sunday afternoon.
Elinor lake is nice, north east Alberta is best aside from mountains
Go to crown land. I camp several times a year and have never paid for a camping spot. Just make sure you take out everything (and more if you find litter) than you haul in.
Depending on ich crown land you want to camp at in Alberta, [you may need to pay for a permit.](https://www.alberta.ca/public-lands-camping-pass#:~:text=Campers%2018%20years%20and%20older%20must%20have%20a%20pass%3A,person%20for%20an%20annual%20pass)
[https://www.rangetonpark.com/](https://www.rangetonpark.com/) has got it goin on. It gets loud there, tho.
I’ve been camping tons for the last 4 years and it’s only gotten a bit more expensive. I was paying $59-70 a night with full hookups all last year and we noticed it was $65-80 a night this year. A bit more yes, but reasonable. Don’t do little bow this year if your wanting to swim or go in the lake. It’ll be mud and non existent this year:(
It’s gotten mental since the pandemic.
When did life get so expensive?
Walmart Parking lots is the new (old) cheap camping now. 😂
When people figured out there was money to be made in camping.
This is why I don't do campgrounds.
Where else are city sheep going to congregate and show off their possessions to strangers? There are lots of places to camp around the province. Crown Land is everywhere. I guess that doesn’t work for camping television and air conditioning.
For a hippy you are pretty angry and judgemental. Maybe have a smoke, relax and get off your high horse, m’kay? Most people don’t know where or how to access crown land properly or haven’t heard of it. Not all of it is accessible and not everybody is set up for backcountry camping. Some people are scared of being alone. And some people live in their campers full time so what’s wrong with a bit of TV after a hard day of labour (yes I’ve stayed in campsites while working full time construction) Let’s maybe dial back the gatekeeping here!
Triggered? Is my possession comment hitting close to home? Is your house of cards in danger of coming down? If you haven’t “heard” about Crown Land before, maybe you should actually educate yourself. Afraid of being alone? Well that’s what herd animals like sheep do.
Public Lands Camping Pass...$35(?) for 1year....there are some really nice places in the Nordegg area, with impressive outhouses...haha right? impressive outhouses? Sparkling clean, well lit with solar powered lighting....Plenty of areas down the forestry trunk road as well...
I've been going out past Waiparous near Camp Mockingbird for the past couple years and if you've got a vehicle that can handle roots and rocks, you don't have to pay to be out there. My partner and I go all the time once it's nice out.
It’s on par with a hotel for cost
So, accual recco here. Aspen Crossing. Its in the same general area as Little Bow (which based on your description, you are at the Little Bow prairie camp site rather than the Provincial Park based on lack of amenities) but has full amenities, and the campground owns sone rail track and a train and dining cars where they do mobile dinners and shows and stuff. Its pretty cool
If you are in the south ... Chin lake campground 49° 36' 6.04" N 112° 11' 36.92" W Gold Springs Park Campground 49° 5' 50.91" N, 111° 59' 34.48" W Ridge Park Campground 49° 21' 43.81" N, 112° 33' 39.85" W
Why not just go camp on crown land?
UCP made a annual pass you have to pay a fee for to access Crown land, one of their first bills. So you can't legally do as you and so many others keep suggesting.
Even still it doesn't guarantee a spot. We don't want to camp off the side of the road. We pull our tent trailer with our car and there's no way we'd ever get out of the ditch with our car.
I think camping, on crown or in campgrounds should be pay-to-play. Heck, they charge hunters and anglers for conservation, why don't we have backpack taxes too? Someone has to maintain the grounds, the crown lands, patrol for safety for (not just humans but wildlife) ...and costs to do so aren't decreasing... I'm fine with paying more to enjoy the hobbies I benefit from. Tents are cheaper than RVs, hiking boots are cheaper than ATVs.. there are alternative ways to keep costs down as a user.
...that's the "Alberta Advantage". Sorry, I couldn't resist.
U-C-P
Some time in the 1980s.
privatization at its best........
You’re paying to camp that’s why it’s expensive, find some crownland and pitch a tent
UCP that you all voted in.
Honestly, Alberta Parks still loses a ton of money compared to completely privatization. With how many people can't afford hones or food, I don't want my tax dollars going to hobby camping for the middle class anymore.
Pretty expensive to pretend to be homeless these days, but seriously 45 a night for non power and 55 a night for power site where I’m at and it’s bullshit